Being recognised for advancing Open Banking in Canada
In this episode, hear from the winner of the inaugural Andrew Moor Award, Neela Maharaj, director, Open Banking and APIs at RBC. The Award was created to honour the former president and chief executive officer of EQ Bank, who passed away suddenly last year and who was widely regarded as one of the strongest advocates for Open Banking in Canada. Neela reveals what it means to be recognised, and why it prompted her to take stock of all that she has achieved. She considers how winning the Award will influence her work in the future and how she is feeling about the momentum behind Consumer-Driven Banking in Canada.
Neela Maharaj
Neela Maharaj
Director, Digital Product & Strategy, Open Banking & APIs Royal Bank of CanadaNeela Maharaj is the Director of Open Banking Digital Product at RBC Royal Bank. In this role, she leads the development and execution of RBC’s Open Banking and API product strategies and delivery. With over 15 years in the financial services sector across technology, innovation, and strategy, Neela has built a reputation for delivering complex, market-shaping solutions.
A proven leader in Open Banking, Neela is known for turning vision into scalable execution, forging high-impact partnerships, and reshaping how banks and fintechs collaborate. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering from York University and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business.
Ellie Duncan
Ellie Duncan
Head of Content Open Banking ExpoFormer Financial Times Group journalist Ellie Duncan has a decade of experience across financial services. While arguably best-known for her asset management work, she has also covered open banking, credit, private equity and entrepreneurship.
