Revealed at Open Banking Expo Canada: The Top Five Pioneers of 2025 in Financial Innovation
The Open Banking Expo Canada 2025 concluded with a momentous announcement, unveiling the Standout Five - a prestigious list celebrating 42 individuals who are driving change in Open Banking, Open Finance, and Smart Data in Canada. The Powerlist, voted for by the industry, recognised the key figures leading the charge in these sectors.
One of the standout individuals is Abraham Tachjian, who, having served as Canada's federal Open Banking lead, designed the framework now being implemented through legislation. Tachjian is currently heading PwC Canada's Open Banking practice.
Saba Shariff, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy, Product & Innovation Officer at Symcor, is another notable figure on the list. Shariff is celebrated for her bold calls to action, propelling Canada’s Open Banking future. She is also known for her ongoing efforts to shape the industry through public advocacy, mentorship, and strategic leadership. Shariff expressed her gratitude for being named among the Standout Five and acknowledged the support of her team and the Open Banking ecosystem in Canada.
Shruti Awasthi, the Director of Open Banking strategy at CIBC, is another member of the Standout Five. Awasthi brings international experience and a human-centred lens to scalable innovation. She is also a passionate inclusion advocate, mentoring through initiatives such as Women in Open Banking and Microsoft Women in Tech. Awasthi also hosts The Sunkissed Souls podcast to amplify untold stories.
Eyal Sivan, known globally as Mr. Open Banking, is another member of the Standout Five. Sivan leads North American growth for Ozone API and hosts an award-winning podcast with over 100,000 listeners.
Michelle Beyo, the founder and CEO of Finavator, is another prominent figure on the list. Beyo is a driving force behind the country's push toward inclusive, collaborative innovation. She is also the president of the Open Finance Network of Canada and continues to expand the national conversation beyond Open Banking to Open Finance.
More than 1,000 votes were cast in the first three days of voting for the Powerlist. Kelly Stanley and Adam Cox, co-founders of Open Banking Expo, announced the five individuals who received the most votes in industry voting for the Powerlist.
These five individuals - Abraham Tachjian, Saba Shariff, Shruti Awasthi, Eyal Sivan, and Michelle Beyo - are highlighted as driving real change and leadership within Canada’s Open Banking, Open Finance, and Smart Data sectors, making significant contributions to the development and implementation of open financial frameworks and technologies in the country.
- Abraham Tachjian, having served as Canada's federal Open Banking lead, is one of the individuals driving change in Open Banking, Open Finance, and Smart Data in Canada, currently heading PwC Canada's Open Banking practice.
- Saba Shariff, celebrated for her bold calls to action in the Open Banking sector, is recognized as a leader in Canada, known for her ongoing efforts to shape the industry through public advocacy, mentorship, strategic leadership, and hosting The Sunkissed Souls podcast.
- Shruti Awasthi, with her human-centered approach and focus on scalable innovation, is another member of the Standout Five, also an inclusion advocate, mentoring through initiatives such as Women in Open Banking and Microsoft Women in Tech.
- Eyal Sivan, globally recognized as Mr. Open Banking, leads North American growth for Ozone API and hosts an award-winning podcast, making significant contributions to the Fintech industry.
- Michelle Beyo, a driving force behind Canada's push toward inclusive, collaborative innovation, is another prominent figure on the list, serving as the president of the Open Finance Network of Canada, and expanding the national conversation beyond Open Banking to Open Finance.
- Over 1,000 votes were cast in the first three days of voting for the Powerlist, highlighting Abraham Tachjian, Saba Shariff, Shruti Awasthi, Eyal Sivan, and Michelle Beyo as individuals driving real change and leadership within Canada’s Open Banking, Open Finance, and Smart Data sectors, making significant contributions to the development and implementation of open financial frameworks and technologies in the country.
