Bridging
the Divide

Dr Leonore Riitsalu is a behavioural scientist dedicated to advancing financial wellbeing through interdisciplinary research and evidence-based policymaking. She lectures on behavioural insights in policymaking at the University of Tartu, Estonia, and leads the financial wellbeing research team at the Centre of Excellence for Well-Being Sciences. Her research has been published in leading journals, including Nature Human Behaviour, Journal of International Marketing and Journal of Economic Psychology. She also chaired the IAREP 2025 Conference on Behavioural Insights in Research and Policymaking, bringing together economic psychology scholars from nearly 30 countries.

Dr Riitsalu led the multi-stage mixed-method research project Human-centred Approach for Increasing Financial Well-Being of Individuals and Societies (2022–2025), funded by ERSTE Foundation and Erste Group. Its key findings are presented in the book Beyond Money — Exploring Financial Well-Being through a Human Lens.

As the founder of Nügila, she advises governments, central banks and financial institutions on applying behavioural insights to improve financial wellbeing. Her advisory roles include work with the OECD, the Saudi Arabian Central Bank and the Central Bank of Armenia on developing national strategies for financial education, and advisory board positions with FLiP, the Foundation of Česká spořitelna and Open Future Lab.

Gareth is a leading authority on financial inclusion, community finance and local welfare provision, with almost 25 years’ experience shaping policy, developing innovative solutions and delivering programs that improve financial resilience and support people experiencing financial vulnerability. He is Co-Director of the not-for-profit Financial Inclusion Centre, where he leads research, policy development, evaluation and practical initiatives working with national government, local authorities, social landlords, financial institutions and the voluntary sector. His work focuses on tackling financial exclusion, improving access to affordable financial services, strengthening community-based support and developing preventative approaches to financial hardship that help individuals and households build long-term financial resilience.

Gareth recently served on HM Treasury’s Financial Inclusion Policy Forum, contributing to national discussions on financial inclusion policy and its practical delivery. In 2020, Gareth founded Cash Perks, a multi-award-winning payment innovation working with over 70 councils, housing associations and charities. Cash Perks has enabled the distribution of more than £15 million in emergency welfare assistance, providing people with immediate, 24/7 access to cash through local ATMs without requiring a bank account or bank card.

Dr Archana Voola is a senior social policy and financial inclusion leader whose work spans research, policy, advocacy and systems change. She has built a career connecting evidence, lived experience and institutional decision-making to advance financial resilience, inclusion and equity.

Her contribution includes academic research on financial exclusion and vulnerability, early leadership with the Academics Stand Against Poverty Oceania network, and strategic engagement across government, community and academia.

As Principal Advisor to the NSW Financial Inclusion Network, Archana contributes to strategic direction and policy development, convening stakeholders and translating evidence into opportunities for systems reform.

An experienced conference MC and facilitator, she has led national and international forums and moderated discussions with community leaders, researchers and policymakers, fostering meaningful dialogue and action.