Judges

Jennifer Lassiter is Managing Director and Head of Digital Assets, Americas, UK and Europe at Standard Chartered. She works across the Bank to expand digital asset capabilities, deepen partnerships across the ecosystem, and advance the development of secure infrastructure to support future growth in the digital asset space. 

Jennifer brings 20 years of industry experience, previously working as Executive Director of the Digital Dollar Project, a non-profit financial research center in Washington, DC, as well as holding innovation roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB). 

Jennifer is on the Board of Directors of the Digital Dollar Project, an active member of the Fintech and Crypto community, and passionate about bridging traditional finance and the Web3 ecosystem. 

Jennifer Tescher founded the Financial Health Network in 2004, pioneering the movement to improve financial health for all. As CEO, Jennifer focuses on the long-term vision of the organization and financial health ecosystem, exploring new frontiers in financial health, influencing discussions among business and policy leaders, and expanding the movement’s shared impact. She plays a leading role in rallying business leaders to build a world where all people can thrive financially – especially the most vulnerable among us.

An entrepreneur, innovator, and powerful voice for change, Jennifer has worked relentlessly over the last two decades to turn financial health from a niche concept to a national priority. Her efforts have galvanized a movement of financial services providers, employers, policymakers, and innovators fiercely committed to the financial well-being of those they serve. Under her leadership, the Financial Health Network has illuminated financial struggles and disparities, built a movement of nearly 500 organizations, and catalyzed a wave of new solutions – ultimately
improving the lives of more than 200 million Americans.

Jennifer drives the national discussion on financial health through frequent media and speaking engagements, including as the primary host of the EMERGE Everywhere podcast and as a columnist for Forbes. She is regularly quoted in the national and financial press, such as The New York Times, CNBC, NPR’s Marketplace, Fast Company, and American Banker. Prior to founding the Financial Health Network, she gained valuable experience collaborating across sectors, engaging with evidence, and shifting perspectives as a journalist for the Charlotte Observer and in the financial sector at ShoreBank.

A longtime Chicago resident, Jennifer earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago. She also holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She currently serves as Vice Chair of Elevate and as a board member of FORWARD and Attune. She also serves as an advisory board member for several organizations, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Bank of America, U.S. Bank, and the Chicago chapter of Facing History & Ourselves.

Matt Denham is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Prizeout, an ad-tech startup with fintech behavior that works within the finance, gaming, crypto, gig economy & payroll industries to turn consumer funds into a growth solution for e-commerce & retail businesses. After 8+ years in banking where he helped build & grow Australia’s largest Neobank, he transitioned to Director of Product at DraftKings where he launched the first online sportsbook in New Jersey in August 2018 and the DraftKings iGaming product later that year. In 2019 he co-founded Prizeout and oversees building the right products for each vertical. Matt is currently focused on building CashBack+, a rewards program for financial institutions that will give Bank customers and Credit Union members up to 20% instant cash back when they shop with digital gift cards, help financial institutions earn more noninterest income and provide up-leveled exposure and support for local community merchants,  Personally, he enjoys sports, real estate investing, and travel.