Global SME Finance Awards 2025

Information Session on Sustainable SME Financier of the Year

Be recognized, Share impact in SME FINANCE

The SME Finance Forum organizes the Global SME Finance Awards (The Awards) as a core part of its mission to create a unique platform for peer connections, knowledge dissemination, and innovations in SME Finance. The Forum’s extensive 240+ global network, crowds in financial institutions, fintech companies, development banks, policymakers, and industry experts from across the globe, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and partnership building on a global scale. Hence, the Global SME Finance Awards has evolved into a pinnacle of global recognition for those making a real impact in the SME finance landscape.

Since its launch in 2018, The Awards recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of financial service providers in delivering exceptional products and services to scale SME finance in their respective markets. It provides an opportunity for institutions to highlight and share good practices, impact, knowledge, and be recognized amongst the global peer group of world leaders in SME finance and services. 

We are rolling out a series of Information Sessions during the 2025 Awards Season to share with Financial Service Providers (FSPs) and Industry Stakeholders the role and importance of The Awards in showcasing remarkable achievements and impact in the industry. The sessions also aim to provide information on the application process, respective awards categories, and related information on the awards. Speakers include industry leaders and practitioners from the Forum’s global network, as well as past applicants and winners.

Moderator

Eamon Scullin, Bio – Founder of Fern Software

Eamon started his career as an auditor in PWC, a financial manager in General Electric (USA) followed by a change of career to join Fujitsu as a Business Consultant - which led to his permanent conversion to technology.
Fern Software was incorporated in 1979 and focused on developing online banking for systems for credit unions in Ireland and the UK. Based on consistent positive reviews from CGAP, we attracted enquiries from South Africa, the Caribbean and SE Asia. That led to having hundreds of sites in 40+ countries and our software is now available in Arabic (Sharia), English, French and Russian. Clients include microfinance institutions, development banks, SME support agencies and other financial institutions in fund management and other lending platforms.
In 2021 we added Salesforce to our .NET technology skillset. Using Salesforce native development tools we have successfully added 3 AI-embedded packages to the Salesforce AppExchange: AI Loan Decision Engine, AI Financial Reporting Services and AI Core Banking System.
Fern is a founder member of the SME Finance Forum and is recognized as a perpetual innovator and is continuously pushing the boundaries of scalable and robust technology to support sustainable financial inclusion and economic empowerment initiatives in developing regions.

Speakers

Laura Avalos, Sustainability Manager and Correspondent Banking - Banco Promerica El Salvador

Laura is a recognized leader in sustainable finance in Central America. She played a key role in structuring and launching El Salvador’s first sustainable bond for USD$100 million and has mobilized over USD$120 million in green and social financing.
She mentors emerging leaders and speaks on topics such as leadership, capital markets, and climate finance.
A passionate advocate for gender equity, Laura brings strategic insight, regional leadership, and a global perspective to the future of sustainable banking.

Cameron Gough, Head of Structured Finance at FirstRand Corporate Centre

*Categories, objectives and speakers' information will be shared soon