Building Inclusive and Resilient Financial Ecosystems in the Digital Age

Dr. Bronson Mutanda is a Lecturer in the Department of Applied Business Sciences at Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Zimbabwe, and a Researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. With over 16 research papers published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, his research focuses on SME financing, financial inclusion, financial reporting, the informal sector, digital finance, personal financial management, and microfinancing. Mr. Mutanda is also an accomplished grant research project expert, having contributed to the INSETA grant project in South Africa.

Professor Bomi Cyril Nomlala is a Professor of Auditing at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and Director of the Self-Funded Teaching Programme. He holds a PhD in Accounting and has published extensively on financial capability, governance, ESG, and forensic auditing. Prof. Nomlala has successfully led large-scale research projects funded by INSETA, Liberty, and other national entities. His research interests focus on insurance transformation, investment behavior, and the intersection of digitalization and financial literacy. He has served on national academic panels, including the NRF CPRR and Y-Rated committees, and chaired program reviews for UNISA and CPUT.

Admire Mthombeni is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Graduate School of Business and Leadership at the University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. He is also a Senior Lecturer at the Applied Business Sciences Department, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Zimbabwe. His research focuses on Environmental Social Governance (ESG), Corporate Governance, Strategic Management, Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Business