Toronto Centre Podcasts

Ep.167: Insights on FATF Guidance - Financial Inclusion and AML/CFT Measures (Part Two)

This is the second in a two-part podcast series published in partnership withCGAP.In June 2025, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), issued guidance on Financial Inclusion and Anti-Money Launderin

Ep. 159: Financial Education and Literacy: Strengthening the Stability and Resilience of Financial Systems

This podcast explores why financial literacy matters, its impact on financial stability and inclusion, and what can be done to improve it at all levels, from individuals to policymakers and supervisors. The speakers discuss how tailored literacy initiatives can help to bridge socio-economic gaps and will lead to people making better financial decisions. They explore how to assess the impact of the initiatives and the importance of updating them to keep pace with technological change.  Speaker: Pedro Duarte Neves, Advisor, Board of Directors, Banco de PortugalHost: Demet Çanakçı, Senior Program Director, Toronto CentreRead the transcript here. Read their biographies here.The views expressed in the podcast are those of Pedro Duarte Neves and do not necessarily reflect those of Banco de Portugal or the Eurosystem.

Ep. 158: Women's Financial Inclusion - A Catalyst for Sustainable Development

Toronto Centre and CARE Canada co-hosted a virtual panel session to mark Canada's International Development Week.Closing the financial inclusion gender gap is essential for sustainable economic growth and stability. It empowers women socially and economically while strengthening financial systems. Safeguarding and accelerating the progress made over the past 15 years is critical to ensuring continued advancement.The panel explored strategies to drive women’s financial inclusion, focusing on policy innovations, digital financial services, savings and loan groups, and public-private partnerships. Panelists also discussed how evolving financial ecosystems can support women entrepreneurs, expand access to credit, and promote lasting economic participation.Panelists:May Abulnaga, First Sub-Governor, Central Bank of Egypt; New Chair, Gender Inclusive Finance Committee, Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)Sophie Sirtaine, CEO, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)Claudine Mensah Awute, Vice President, International Programs and Operations, CAREModerator:Babak Abbaszadeh, President and CEO, Toronto CentreWatch the webinar here.Read the transcript here. Read their biographies here.Écoutez le podcast en français ici.Escuche el podcast en español aqui.

Ep. 157: Artificial Intelligence and Prudential Supervision

This podcast highlights the benefits and challenges of using artificial intelligence (AI) in prudential supervision.The speakers discuss how AI can be used as a supervisory tool to improve fraud detection and risk monitoring, as well as supervising industry use. They also explore the importance of human oversight to ensure fairness in decision making, and the need for ongoing cooperation and flexibility while learning more about AI’s potential.Speakers: Manoj Singh, Deputy General Manager, Central Quality Assurance, Reserve Bank of IndiaKangyu Wang, PhD Candidate, Department of Philosophy, Logic & Scientific Method, London School of EconomicsHost: Wynnell De Landro-Robinson, Program Director, Toronto CentreRead the transcript here. Read their biographies here.

Ep. 156: The Supervision of Financial Institutions' Climate-related Transition Planning

There is an increasing focus on the role of financial institutions in contributing to climate-related change as a result of their financing of the activities of customers and counterparties. A key element in financial institutions’ efforts to limit their contributions to climate-related change is the development of transition plans.This Toronto Centre Note and accompanying podcast focuses on two types of transition plans: those focused primarily on strengthening financial institutions’ own internal risk management in the face of climate-related change, and those aimed at reducing institutions’ own contributions to such change.Speaker: Paul Wright, Program Leader, Toronto CentreHost: Demet Çanakçı, Senior Program Director, Toronto CentreRead the transcript here. Read their biographies here.