Speakers
Amidst the rapid digital transformation of the Philippines' banking and fintech sectors, open source is changing how financial systems are built by enabling innovation and interoperability. UnionDigital Bank (UD), a fully cloud-native digital bank, is a key demonstration of open source's game-changing capabilities, particularly in the finance sector. Central to UD's data architecture is Apache Kafka, an open source distributed event-streaming platform that acts as the nervous system of the bank's data infrastructure. Kafka's key capabilities—namely high-throughput ingestion, topic partitioning, schema registry, and fault-tolerant replication—power critical banking functions and help create a foundation for proactive risk management & customer engagement. By leveraging Kafka, UnionDigital is redefining how digital banks operate in real-time, and positioning itself as a pioneer in building a truly AI-ready, inclusion-focused, and intelligent financial institution for the Philippines and beyond.
Von Rolfe Velasco
Data and Architecture and Engineering Director,
UnionDigital Bank
Von Rolfe is a technology and data leader with over eighteen years of experience in information technology, digital transformation, and financial innovation. He finished his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Technological Institute of the Philippines, and Master of Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Management. Prior to being a technology leader in the digital banking sector, he worked for Accenture, where he managed large-scale transformation programs for major financial institutions across Asia and Europe, modernizing legacy systems, leading cloud migration initiatives, and driving operational efficiency through data and technology. In 2019, he was granted a U.S. patent for an innovation in data and automation systems. Beyond his corporate leadership, Von is a strong advocate for responsible AI, financial inclusion, and technology-driven governance. He believes that innovation must be guided by ethics and a genuine desire to improve people’s lives. Currently, he is the Head of Data Architecture and Engineering and Acting Chief Data Officer at UnionDigital Bank, where he also chairs the Data Governance Council, leading the bank’s efforts to ensure data integrity, regulatory compliance, and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
