Where payments are going, learn more with Una Dillon, eCommerce Summit in Tralee, October 2nd, 3rd, 2019

We interviewed Una Dillon who will be sharing her insights at the eCommerce Summit in Tralee, October 2nd and 3rd, 2019

1 min pitch for what you are doing now?

I head up the European leg of the Merchant Risk Council, a trade association for the large eCommerce global brands. We provide training, content, conferences and education to our members. 85% of the top global brands are customers of the Merchant Risk Council and we facilitate networking and engagement between payments, risk and fraud specialists.

We just completed our MRC Madrid Autumn conference for members only and we’re planning for our 20th Anniversary Spring events in Las Vegas and Paris now. Our Community groups are of particular interest to our members and bring together specific sectors with their own unique challenges in payments, e.g. we have a GSA group, the Gaming Safety Alliance Community made up of fraud and payments personnel from the top gaming companies.

We also have a Fraud Community, Payments, Ticketing & Travel, Subscriptions, Betting, Law Enforcement, etc. etc. These communities are open 24/7 where people from all over the world can ask questions such as ‘what is the real impact of PSD2 on my business?’, etc. and they will always receive an informed answer. Our Women in Payments & Fraud Community continues to grow and we ensure there are several events held for this group each year where women can learn how to grow their careers and overcome any challenges faced in real-world scenarios. MRC is expanding into APAC right now with our summit taking place in Singapore on 7th November.

As well as the day job, I am Chair of the European Payments Council Card Fraud Prevention Forum (CFPF), I’m on the judging panel of the UK & Ireland Card & Payments Awards and I’m a regular guest speaker at annual conferences for organisations such as Mastercard, Discover, EWPN, IAFCI (International Association for Financial Crimes Investigators), and Europol, among others.

Where payments are going

What are your plans for the future?

I plan to further grow the Merchant Risk Council in Europe and beyond, looking at new markets especially where eCommerce is lacking, to help bring retailers in these regions into the industry. We continue to help eCommerce companies become profitable and keep transactions as secure as possible by facilitating engagement between our merchant and vendor customers.

There is more change taking place in the Payments Industry now, than ever before. We aim to help our members to keep up with that change, know what is going on in their industry and ensure they are moving at the same pace. We currently have 560 members and aim to reach 1,000 in the next three years.

Learn more with Una Dillon, eCommerce Summit in Tralee, October 2nd, 3rd, 2019

What will you be talking about at this event? 

A customer produced a Global Payments Report in recent weeks. I’ve worked with them to put together a synopsis of the most relevant information on eCommerce payment growth for this audience, where payments are going, what are the challenges and what people working in our industry need to look out for.

Re-opened #earlybird tickets offer for 48 hours + extra discount with code HAPPY15 #happyfriday ?

If you're up for it..we're hosting a hike on the Tues Oct 01 sponsored by @CruaOutdoors up one of the highest peaks in Kerry – email [email protected] to book in ?? pic.twitter.com/eeaWwG1291

— eCommerce Summit 2019 (@ECSKerry2019) September 20, 2019

What inspired you to attend it?

This is such an overdue initiative and I’m absolutely delighted that someone (Vinny) took the reins to get it off the ground. There are so many financial companies in Kerry and an abundance of highly educated people. Kerry is close to two international airports, has affordable housing, amazing scenery and social outlets – what is not to love about Kerry and why would companies not decide to set up shop here. For me, I was inspired by the energy and thought leadership of the organisers. I wanted to play my small part in this first of, I’m sure, many eCommerce Summits to be held in Kerry.

Have you seen the line-up for the #ecommerce summit that's happening in #Tralee this October? Check it out now. More info ? Follow @ECSKerry2019 for updates and early bird offers. #lovekerry #globalambition #event https://t.co/tct6xUGNaE pic.twitter.com/B7mppjA8xO

— KerrySciTech (@kerry_SciTech) September 5, 2019

Which influencers and websites do you follow to keep up to date with the latest developments?

I keep up to date with our customer organisations by following their LinkedIn pages, e.g. Google, Amazon, Sony, Microsoft, Visa, Mastercard, Arvato, etc. For latest payments information, I subscribe to the European Commission, EBA and European Payments Council news reports. For day to day updates, Finextra is a must, plus The Paypers, PCN,  For those I follow, the list is a mile long, including: Enterprise Ireland, Women in Payments, European Women Payments Network, Europol, EMVCo, EAST, Connect Ireland, etc.

How can people find out more about what you are working on?

See our website at www.merchantriskcouncil.org, check out our Social Media pages and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

More about Úna Dillon

Managing Director, Merchant Risk Council (Europe)

Úna is Managing Director of the Merchant Risk Council (Europe), the leading global trade association for eCommerce fraud and payments professionals. She is currently chair of the European Payments Council Card Fraud Prevention Forum and has been a Board Director of several companies including EAST (the European Association for Secure Transactions) which is responsible for providing advice and information to POS and ATM vendors, owners and operators, on detecting and preventing payment crime.

She was General Manager responsible for Laser Card, the Irish national debit card scheme for 12 years and was Head of IPSO Card Services, responsible for driving the development of policy on major initiatives such as SEPA.

MRC Member @GoCardless is entering the US market! The London-based company is shaking up the recurring payments in the world's largest market. https://t.co/jiMQQdIpAz

— The MRC (@MerchRisk) September 19, 2019

See more about the eCommerce event here.

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