BLOCKCHAIN
RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
AFRICA

Discover a global network of blockchain experts driving digital transformation in Africa

About BRI AFRICA

The Blockchain Research Institute Africa (BRI Africa) is an African think-tank launched by Standard Bank Group in partnership with the Blockchain Research Institute. We bring together Africa’s top industry leaders, academics, policy-makers, entrepreneurs and researchers to undertake ground-breaking research on blockchain technology and to bridge the gap between the technological functionality of blockchain and the real market need.

Funded by a membership consisting of international corporations and government agencies, the BRI Africa program is founded on 100+ research projects documenting the strategic implications of blockchain on business, government and society.

BRI Africa provides member organizations with in-depth research exploring the opportunities, challenge and implementation hurdles of blockchain in their industry, as well as the impact of technology on corporate management. Our current program introduces new deliverables in addition to our research, designed to help our members not just navigate the blockchain revolution, but lead it.

OUR TEAM

Ian Putter

Ian Putter

Head of DLT and Blockchain, Standard Bank Group; Founder, BRI Africa

Ian currently holds the title of Head DLT/ Blockchain in the Innovation team at Standard Bank. He collaborates and partners with specialists and organisations locally and internationally as well as Standard Bank teams to determine how this emerging technology can be leveraged best for enhanced efficiency and controls including focusing on new business models focusing on customer first. He also performs in the role of Training Officer for the CA Graduate Training Program.

Ian received a Master’s degree in Banking and Economics from the University of Pretoria and thereafter completed an Honors and CTA at the University of Johannesburg to qualify as a Chartered Accountant. He started his career as an Economist and later joined Standard Bank in 1996 in the Treasury Audit Department. Ian participated in the original SAP General Ledger implementation at Standard Bank and later became the Global CFO of the Global Markets business for the Corporate and Investment bank “CIB” – where he spent a large part of his career and gained extensive local and international accounting, tax and regulatory experience. This was invaluable when he was appointed the Legal Entity Controller for CIB South Africa and the lead on the Global CIB Accounting Rules Engine project – which further enhanced his technical skills. He spent two years as the Head of Africa Finance Integration and had the privilege of traveling to nearly all the Standard Bank franchises in the Rest of Africa. Ian has worked in various areas and functions in the Bank working across the group in many African countries as well as internationally.

With more than 26 years of industry expertise, comprehensive academic training and practical professional development, Ian Putter is a future-focused Executive at Standard Bank, the largest financial institution in Africa, where he heads up Blockchain focusing on multiple use cases and platforms some in production and some starting – working and collaborating with local and global experts. He is a blockchain evangelist and has spent the last two years focusing on this technology.

Yushika Reddy

Yushika Reddy

Scrum Master, Blockchain and Innovation Team, Standard Bank Group; Main Contact, BRI Africa

Yushika is BRI Africa’s main contact and the Scrum Master for the Blockchain Innovation team at Standard Bank of South Africa. She began her career at Standard Bank in 2005 and in her 16 years at the Bank she has obtained extensive knowledge and held numerous roles in the bank covering diverse areas. Yushika works with the Blockchain development team supporting the implementation and building of the Blockchain platform for Standard Bank.  She takes ownership of key non-technical functional deliverables as well as design components.

She also participates in the Blockchain Centre of Excellence in Innovation as a Service initiatives across the group.

She has been in this team for the last three years of her career and also support the blockchain education initiatives in the centre of excellence.

Don Tapscott

Don Tapscott

Executive Chairman, Blockchain Research Institute

Alex Tapscott

Alex Tapscott

Co-Founder, Blockchain Research Institute

Dr. Joan Bigham

Dr. Joan Bigham

Managing Director, Blockchain Research Institute

Our Members

Our ground-breaking multi-million-dollar research program is funded by our members, which include leading corporations and governmental agencies around the world. We’re proud to have partners that are committed to driving innovation and entrepreneurship in the blockchain space.

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