Travel and Learning Award for Dr Isa Alade
Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award
Isa’s plan
Isa will use the Borrin Foundation Travel and Learning Award to attend the 2026 Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The Forum brings together central banks, regulators, and policymakers from around the world to develop legal and regulatory approaches that promote financial inclusion. Through the award, Isa will examine how different jurisdictions are designing laws and regulatory frameworks to improve access to financial services, particularly for underserved communities. The knowledge gained will inform his research on New Zealand’s evolving financial inclusion framework, including open banking and consumer data rights, and will be incorporated into his teaching at the University of Canterbury. He also plans to share the insights through policy-focused research, public engagement, and collaboration with policymakers and regulators, helping to strengthen approaches to financial inclusion in Aotearoa New Zealand.
About Isa
Dr Isa Alade is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Canterbury. His research focuses on financial regulation, fintech, and financial inclusion, examining how legal and regulatory frameworks can expand access to financial services for underserved communities. Before joining academia, Isa practised commercial law in Nigeria, where he became a Partner at Banwo & Ighodalo and led the firm’s Financial Technology Practice. He also contributed to major financial sector reforms, including fintech, payments, data protection, and anti-money laundering initiatives. Isa completed his PhD at Deakin University, Australia, and has published widely in leading international law journals on fintech regulation, corporate governance, and financial inclusion. His current research explores how law can support more inclusive financial systems in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific, particularly for Māori, Pasifika, and other communities that face barriers to accessing financial services.
Grant Amount
$6,150 in 2026 to support travel
“This award is an opportunity to learn from leading regulators across the Pacific and beyond, and to bring those insights back to Aotearoa New Zealand to support more inclusive financial laws and policies that expand opportunity for everyone.”