DR MARK NASILA is a luminary in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science and the Chief Data and Analytics Officer at First National Bank Risk. He also shares his expertise at the Singularity Group, specialising in AI, data science, and data strategies. He’s a leading member of the National Institute for Theoretical Physics and Computational Sciences (NITheCS), a research fellow at Stellenbosch University, and a Professor of Practice in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Johannesburg.
Dr Nasila’s innovative approach at FNB has revolutionised risk management and forensic due diligence through advanced AI systems, setting new benchmarks in banking technology. He is a renowned speaker, gracing stages at the likes of the Business-Tech Digital Banking Conference, Chief Data & Analytics Officer forums, and the SingularityU South Africa Summit, sharing his insights into the future of AI and big data. He is also known for writing the bestseller African Artificial Intelligence.
His academic accolades include a PhD in Mathematical Statistics from Nelson Mandela University and participation in the SingularityU South Africa Executive Programme. Dr Nasila’s contributions to technology and innovation have been widely recognised. He was named among the 2020 Global Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics by Corinium Global Intelligence, received the 2022 Southern Africa Finnovator of the Year at FINNOVEX, and won the Excellence in Data & Analytics award at the DigiBank Summit.
Dr Nasila is also a board member of Moody’s Analytics Europe and Africa advisory board, where he has been able to share his insights with a broader audience and establish himself as an expert in his field. He’s also the recipient of an Honorary Member award from the Golden Key International Honour Society, which extends honorary membership to a few individuals who epitomise its values of integrity, collaboration, innovation, respect, diversity, engagement, and overall excellence in their chosen field.
As a 2023 Technology Excellence Award winner at the IITPSA Annual President’s Awards, Dr Nasila’s work exemplifies the transformative power of emerging technology in finance and beyond, making him a distinguished figure in the global tech landscape.
