LISTEN TO THE Event Speakers
Shadab Taiyabi
President, Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), Singapore
Shadab Taiyabi
President, Singapore Fintech Association (SFA), Singapore
Shadab is the President of the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA), the national industry association and a cross-industry initiative designed to facilitate collaboration between all market participants and stakeholders in the FinTech ecosystem. SFA brings together a strong community to foster collaboration, innovation and partnerships among members and the industry at-large, with the goal of strengthening Singapore’s position as a global FinTech hub. As the elected President since March 2021, Shadab leads the SFA Executive Committee, which sets the strategic direction for its activities related to representation and advocacy, fostering business growth, facilitating access to capital and opportunities as well as growing the FinTech talent pool.
Shadab has over 17 years of experience working in the financial services industry with over 14 years at FinTech companies. He has a strong track record of growing businesses in the fintech space and is a thought-leader across multiple diverse fintech segments such as wealthtech, insurtech, payments, digital financing as well as web3.0 applications in financial services.
Shadab also sits on the MAS Payments Council as an Observer. The Payments Council convenes key providers and users of e-payments in Singapore, to collaborate on strategies to drive the adoption of e-payments, promote interoperability among e-payments solutions, and advise MAS on payments-related policies. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Point Carbon Zero Programme which is launched by Google and MAS to drive the innovation, incubation and scaling of climate FinTech solutions in the region.
Ali Safri
Chief Technology Officer, Avanza Innovations, UAE
Ali Safri
Chief Technology Officer, Avanza Innovations, UAE
Ali Safri serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Avanza Innovations, where he stands as a pioneer, architect, and visionary in the realm of cutting-edge technologies such as Blockchain, Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and the Metaverse.
Throughout his career, Ali has conceptualized and brought to life numerous innovative products, demonstrating real-world applications of emerging technologies like Web3 across diverse sectors. His portfolio includes achievements such as pioneering Real World Asset Tokenization with Fragments, establishing NFT Marketplaces, Developing the Blockchain Orchestration Engine (CIPHER), Enterprise Metaverse Product (ORION), and AI-driven Enterprise Oracles (Impulse). Notably, Ali has led national infrastructure initiatives such as Haifen, a groundbreaking system leveraging Blockchain and AI to combat invoice duplicate finance fraud, adopted by 16+ financial institutions in the UAE. Along with it Ali architected and delivered the Invoice Verification eco-system for ARAMCO and its partners over blockchain, Lost Passport use case over blockchain for UAE, e-KYC Eco-system over blockchain deployed within Bahrain and Pakistan, Shipping Nomination over blockchain use case for K-Companies of Kuwait, E-Commerce eco-system over blockchain for Dubai Customs along with 20+ partners and Tokenization of loyalty points using blockchain.
Beyond his role at Avanza Innovations, Ali also serves as the CTO at ourPol, a platform specializing in real estate tokenization, where he is one of the co-founders.
Drawing from his extensive experience in delivering blockchain-based solutions, Ali is a sought-after speaker at various conferences, where he shares insights on the practical implementation of emerging technologies. Along with Technology, he addresses topics ranging from the risks and compliance considerations to the legal aspects of Crypto and Web3, enriching the discourse on the transformative potential of these technologies.
Guy Sheppard
Chief Commercial Officer, Aboitiz Data Innovation, Singapore
Guy Sheppard
Chief Commercial Officer, Aboitiz Data Innovation, Singapore
As Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI)’s Chief Commercial Officer, Guy Sheppard plays a key role in continuing the advancement of ADI’s mission to drive the adoption of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence tools and solutions that can help reduce operational cost, drive effectiveness within financial crime processes, collections, alternate lending, data sharing processes, and ultimately accelerate more inclusive financing.Guy has over 16 years of experience in Financial Crime, Cyber and Fraud having led Financial Crime commercial and markets teams for SWIFT in the Americas, UK and the Asia Pacific. In his career, he has worked for Bankers Almanac (now Accuity), Wolters Kluwer Financial Services, LexisNexis and with the Metropolitan Police Terrorist Finance Investigations Unit on a Joint Venture. As a recognized domain expert and speaker in Due Diligence, Fraud, Cyber and Sanctions technology assurance, he is also an active individual in the community, having held various positions such as being a former member of the Singapore FinTech Association’s RegTech sub-committee and Course Director for the Wealth Management Institute’s InfoSec Central Bank training programme. Guy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Medieval Literature from the University of Exeter and holds a Master of Arts in Marketing from Kingston University.
Arjun Chib
Managing Director Financial Crime, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore
Arjun Chib
Managing Director Financial Crime, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore
Arjun Chib, Managing Director Financial Crime at Standard Chartered Bank, brings over 2 decades of experience from esteemed institutions such as Citi, ABN, and SCB, where he has demonstrated expertise in Retail, BB, and Wealth Products. With a comprehensive background spanning operations, technology, financial crime, risk, governance, digital, transformation, data standards, and client journey, Arjun is recognized as a thought leader in the field. He possesses a proven track record in leading large-scale transformation programs, driving new business growth, overseeing product and platform buildout, and spearheading digitization efforts. Arjun's core expertise lies in running large-scale multicultural diverse operations teams, managing close to 1000 team members, leading significant transformation initiatives, transitioning manual operations to digital platforms, and building greenfield end-to-end digital client journeys
Oonagh van den Berg
CEO & Founder, RAW Compliance, Portugal
Oonagh van den Berg
CEO & Founder, RAW Compliance, Portugal
Oonagh van den Berg is an award winning Compliance Officer and recognised as one of the leading voices and trainers globally in compliance risk management, with over 20+ years’ experience. She has built and led various compliance risk framework developments and teams across the industry for a diverse range of financial entities, including traditional banks, Fintech, and Crypto firms, and is known for her proven expertise in management of complex compliance remediation challenges. She is an advocate for ethical compliance leadership and framework development, with increased automation, including AI and Machine Learning integration.
Aly Madhavji
Managing Partner, Blockchain Founders Fund, Singapore
Aly Madhavji
Managing Partner, Blockchain Founders Fund, Singapore
Aly Madhavji is the Managing Partner at Blockchain Founders Fund which invests in and venture builds top-tier startups. He is a Limited Partner at Loyal VC and Draper Goren Holm. Aly consults organizations on emerging technologies such as INSEAD and the UN on solutions to help alleviate poverty. He served as Senior Blockchain Fellow at INSEAD and was recognized as a “Blockchain 100” Global Leader.
He is an internationally acclaimed author, publishing three books, and a columnist for leading Web3 publications. Aly served as a board member of Soluna Holdings (NASDAQ: SLNH) and on various advisory boards including the University of Toronto’s Governing Council, which manages a $2.5B budget. He is a mentor with Orbit Startups, an elite accelerator program operated by the venture fund SOSV with $1.5B+ AUM and the Mobile Only Accelerator (MOX).
Aly holds a Master of Global Affairs as a Schwarzman Scholar from Tsinghua University (清华大学), a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD (Singapore and France), and a Bachelor of Commerce with Distinction from the University of Toronto.
Peter Hoogervorst
Regional Head of Transaction Banking Products Asia & Middle East, Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, Singapore
Peter Hoogervorst
Regional Head of Transaction Banking Products Asia & Middle East, Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, Singapore
Having worked in the Transaction Banking space for the past 18 years, across various geographies, Peter heads the Internation Trade & Transaction Banking Product Management team in Asia for Credit Agricole CIB for the last 9 years. He has extensive experience in payments, cash management and supply chain finance.
Celine Wan
Assistant Vice President, Emerging Tech & Fintech Ecosystem, OCBC, Singapore
Celine Wan
Assistant Vice President, Emerging Tech & Fintech Ecosystem, OCBC, Singapore
Celine specializes in fintech ecosystems, emerging technologies, and digital transformation. With over 7 years of experience at OCBC Singapore and Bank Negara Malaysia, she has driven digital adoption initiatives through fintech regulations, ecosystem enablement, and program management. Trained as an engineer, Celine holds an MEng, MA, and BA from the University of Cambridge. She has worked in both engineering and financial services sectors across London, Newcastle, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore.
Abhijit Dey
Vice President, Digital Banking and Transformation, Axis Bank Ltd, India
Abhijit Dey
Vice President, Digital Banking and Transformation, Axis Bank Ltd, India
Mr. Abhijit Dey is an accomplished Product Head with a rich background in the Banking and Fintech industries. With a demonstrated track record of driving innovation through API management and monetization, Mr. Dey has made substantial contributions to the industry. His expertise extends to the creation of an Open API framework tailored specifically for banks, showcasing his forward-thinking approach and proficiency in navigating the dynamic landscape of financial services. With a keen understanding of how technology and banking intersect, Mr. Dey is poised to share invaluable insights in his abstract.
Dr Edwin Lee
Group CEO, Focus Digital Technology Group, Singapore
Dr Edwin Lee
Group CEO, Focus Digital Technology Group, Singapore
Edwin Lee has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, largely involved in technology consulting with leading consulting organisations such as Accenture, Avanade, HP, CenturyLink and DXC Technology prior to his appointment as Group CEO of Focus Digital Technology Group.
As a highly experienced Technologist, Edwin has extensive systems architecture and design experience on various platforms and applications, as well as project management experience that spans across multiple industries and solutions.
He is a certified PMP with over 20 years of experience in building, managing and leading teams as well as an extensive enterprise systems integration experience. In his extensive career, Edwin has worked in Asia and North America, with clients in the government, education, healthcare, financial, products and resources industries.
Kaia R. Parv
Partner and Chief Investment Officer, CrediLinq.Ai, Singapore
Kaia R. Parv
Partner and Chief Investment Officer, CrediLinq.Ai, Singapore
Kaia is an experienced investment executive, having spent over a decade in asset management and banking related roles. She is currently the Chief Investment Officer at CrediLinq.Ai, responsible for managing the embedded lending portfolio, establishing partnerships well as capital raising activities.
Ms. Parv was previously the Head of Investment Research at a European brokerage house. She gained experience in private credit working for a Singapore based US$ 1.3 billion credit hedge fund, overseeing a US$ 250.0 million portfolio. She also spent six years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in various roles in investment banking, global markets and operations.
Ms. Parv holds a degree from Estonian Business School and is a CFA® charterholder.
Danny Lung
CEO, PQA Labs, Hong Kong
Danny Lung
CEO, PQA Labs, Hong Kong
Danny is the Co-Founder and CEO of PQA Labs, an issuer of a post-quantum stablecoin and a company dedicated to building best-in-class blockchain applications that are resistant to the vulnerabilities presented by quantum computing. Prior to founding PQA Labs, Danny honed his expertise through a 20+ year career in traditional finance, with extensive experience in banking, private equity, and venture investing across North America and Greater China. He holds an MBA from NYU Stern and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University. Danny's career began at Ericsson Canada, where he was an early contributor to the Bluetooth technology.
David Hanna
Chief Executive Officer, Finmo, Singapore
David Hanna
Chief Executive Officer, Finmo, Singapore
David is the CEO and co-founder of Finmo and has over 20 years of expertise in the financial services and payments sector. Prior to founding Finmo, he held global leadership roles in Risk and Compliance for Financial Services companies headquartered in various locations globally. He has held senior roles across companies such as PayPal, Ernst & Young, Zurich, ING Bank, Banxa and others. He serves on several advisory boards and has invested in many startups around the world.
Henry Wang
Founder, World Web3 Alliance (W3A), Singapore
Henry Wang
Founder, World Web3 Alliance (W3A), Singapore
Henry Wang is a visionary entrepreneur known for his pioneering work in Web3.0 and universal connectivity. During his Computer Science PhD studies at Washington University in St. Louis, he conceptualized "One World One Web" in 2003. Wang's achievements include developing Moki, the first cross-lingual social network, and defining Token Switching for the Value Internet. As Founder and CEO of SmartMesh (https://www.smartmesh.io), Wang leads the creation of an InterPlanetary Decentralized Autonomous Mesh Network, driving innovations like the MeshBox hardware protocol. SmartMesh pioneers "Internet over Blockchain," facilitating peer-to-peer mobile connections and offline cryptocurrency payments. Wang's commitment to advancing Web3.0 led to founding the World Web3 Alliance (W3A), advocating for data/application separation and users' data ownership. His vision extends to MetaLife, a platform supporting NFTs, DeFi, and DAOs. Henry Wang is also a Fellow of SUSS (Singapore University of Social Sciences) and advises LingoAI.io and MeshBox.io, shaping the future of technology and society.
Saim Yeong Harng
Founder & Director, Evolvx, Singapore
Saim Yeong Harng
Founder & Director, Evolvx, Singapore
Saim is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in digital transformation across consulting, financial services, and technology sectors. He's excelled as an analyst, consultant, CEO, and board director, with a strong track record in venture building. Notably, he spearheaded the growth of CardsPal, a digital venture backed by Standard Chartered Bank, culminating in its successful acquisition by a travel technology company in 2023.
In the realm of education, Saim is a guest lecturer at NUS, SMU, and SUSS, offering paid workshops and keynote speeches at esteemed events. He's deeply involved in mentoring initiatives, guiding students, young professionals, and startup founders alike. Saim is also committed to community service, serving as an independent director for a non-profit empowering disadvantaged children and youth. Furthermore, as an executive coach, he aids CEOs and business owners in achieving strategic innovation and operational excellence.
Dr. Nashwa Joy Saleh
Independent Non Executive Director (INED), United Bank for Africa (UK) Ltd., United Kingdom
Dr. Nashwa Joy Saleh
Independent Non Executive Director (INED), United Bank for Africa (UK) Ltd., United Kingdom
Dr. Nashwa Joy Saleh, CFA. Nashwa has more than 25 years experience across global EM with a special focus on EMEA. She is a Chartered Director (CDir) by the UK IoD. She has held various senior equity, debt and capital markets roles with a number of international organizations and regulatory bodies. Her track record spanned mandates with USAID, EBRD, AfDB, Central Bank of Egypt, S&P Global and KPMG Corporate Finance.
She holds a PhD in Finance from Cass Business School on Early Warning Signals for Financial Crises, is a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA) an MSc in Finance from London Business School and an undergraduate degree from the American University in Cairo and is author of An Anatomy of the Financial Crisis: Blowing Tumbleweed, 2010. Anthem Press Publishing.
Qin En Looi
Partner, Saison Capital, Singapore
Qin En Looi
Partner, Saison Capital, Singapore
Qin En Looi is a Partner at Saison Capital where he actively leads pre-seed and seed investments in startups across fintech, B2B commerce and web3. He is advisor to Southeast Asia-based web3 startups including Avium, Avarik Saga, Helix, D3 Labs, Magically and Mythic Protocol, and also co-founded a web3 growth blog and Asia’s first real-world asset conference. He is also a board director / observer for fintech companies across Southeast Asia including Helicap, Lista and SkorLife.
Qin En was previously the Co-Founder and COO at Glints, the leading talent ecosystem in Southeast Asia (Series D). During his tenure, he was recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 and Entrepreneurs 27 Under 27 for being one of the youngest founders to have raised venture capital in Southeast Asia.
In his personal time, Qin En is also the creator and host of Parents in Tech, a podcast for parents in Southeast Asia that has topped charts in Singapore, Indonesia and Philippines in the Parenting and Kids & Family Categories.
Kohei Ueda
Head of Digital Transformation/Global Transaction Banking Department, Mizuho Bank, Singapore
Kohei Ueda
Head of Digital Transformation/Global Transaction Banking Department, Mizuho Bank, Singapore
Kohei Ueda is the Head of Digital Transformation, Global Transaction Banking Department at Mizuho Bank, Limited. Based in Singapore, he leads the overall DX initiatives globally with a focus on transaction banking related services/products. He actively engages with government agencies, regulators, financial institutions and corporates to implement new services for customers by leveraging the latest technologies.
Colin Dinn
Managing Director - Platinion, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Thailand
Colin Dinn
Managing Director - Platinion, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Thailand
Colin has worked across financial services, consulting and vendor management in Asia and Europe. His role in VCB has been to address the technology, designing and building for the future, growing digital and data, while ensuring the resilience and growth within core technology and delivery. This has been coupled with the wider accountability of designing the next stage of transformation for the bank, across business and technology positioning the bank to exploit new business models alongside the traditional banking capability.
Prior to this Colin has worked across several transformations in different Asian markets with a mandate to revamp the technology and operations capability, while driving through a transformation agenda. These included roles within a major consultancy as well as in the ‘C’ Suite, leveraging technology to exploit the new market capability. In the role of CTO and Head of Operations for Siam Commercial Bank (SCB). Colin created new technology capability to provide advanced digital and data services, coupled with an increase in stability of the core technology capability. This journey entailed a leapfrog in technology architecture using core components such as Data and Orchestration API building out the decoupling layer and deployment of micro services to increase speed and agility into the delivery. Incorporated in the migration is the move from traditional to agile delivery with customer centric design thinking, ‘tagging’ this as assembly architecture in reducing time and cost to market. The journey into Cloud Computing progressed to provide scalability and more adaptable solutions for improved business agility. Additionally, disruptive technologies were exploited such as block chain to provide the first live international remittance in Asia, second worldwide.
Previously Colin was Group Executive for ANZ assigned with overall delivery responsibility for build of a new wholly owned ANZ subsidiary bank ANZ Thai in 9 months, this encompassed all aspects of the business and technical design, property, recruitment training with the final step being regulatory approval. Other roles in ANZ included strategic planning & solution delivery, design and build of a regional based retail and corporate banking model. Colin has worked in Asia for 29 years, with various roles; Managing Director with Fidelity Information Systems and Head of IT Strategy with Standard Chartered. Colin’s early career in banking was in HSBC (Midland Bank) in the UK covering technical and business roles.
Akina Ho
Co-Founder, AllStarsWomen DAO, Hong Kong
Akina Ho
Co-Founder, AllStarsWomen DAO, Hong Kong
Akina Ho is a seasoned business executive specializing in driving growth through digital transformation and innovation across various industries. With a track record of doubling and tripling businesses, Akina excels in change management, corporate strategy, and market expansion.
Her expertise extends to web3 technologies such as Metaverse, NFTs, blockchain, DeFi, GameFi, and DAOs. From leading product management teams in Silicon Valley to building a Unicorn valued at $1B USD in Hong Kong, Akina brings startup experience and P&L responsibility.
Passionate about creating better customer experiences and increasing sales, Akina drives operational efficiencies through innovative technology. Skilled in marketing, branding, and franchise development, she believes in nurturing diverse teams for business expansion. As a results-driven leader, Akina connects with professionals and leads by example in driving aspirations.
Ethan Seow
Director and Co-Founder, Centre for AI Leadership (C4AIL), Singapore
Ethan Seow
Director and Co-Founder, Centre for AI Leadership (C4AIL), Singapore
Ethan Seow is ISACA Singapore�s 2023 Infosec
Leader, ISC2 2023 APAC Rising Star Professional in
Cybersecurity, TEDx and Black Hat Asia speaker,
educator culture hacker and entrepreneur with over 11
years in entrepreneurship, training and education.
His passion for effective technical training led him to
form a cybersecurity training organisation that has, to
date, trained more than 200 individuals and supported
the entry of more than 100 individuals into the industry.
Currently the director and co-founder of Centre for AI
Leadership (C4AIL), a non-profit dedicated to fill in the
gap in artificial intelligence regarding actionable
intelligence, best practices and talent development,
Ethan works with private and public organisations and
top AI experts to support the next technological wave -
artificial intelligence.
His expertise in adult education and training has lent a
great value to adapting top-notch cybersecurity and AI
training designed for other cultures to be relevant and
effective for Singapore and Asia.
Rana Bhattacharjee
Director and Senior Client Advisor, Alpha Quest Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Rana Bhattacharjee
Director and Senior Client Advisor, Alpha Quest Pte. Ltd., Singapore
Rana Bhattacharjee is the Director and Senior Client Advisor at Alpha Quest Pte. Ltd., a licensed fund management company, regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, providing wealth and portfolio management services to its clients.
Rana has an extensive experience of over 20 years in the wealth management industry and worked for Private Banks including Fortis, Standard Chartered Private Bank and CIC Banque Privee before setting up Alpha Quest with his partners. He focuses on allocation across all traditional and alternative asset classes to achieve the portfolio goals for his clients.
He is a CAIA, CFP, CMT and CFTe charterholder and has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
Jag Foo
Partner, Safeheron, Singapore
Jag Foo
Partner, Safeheron, Singapore
Jag Foo is an experienced management professional with more than 15 years of track record in the field of security, technology and artificial intelligence.
Jag is currently a Partner in Safeheron, an institutional-grade self-custody solution specializing in Multi-Party Computation technology to help enterprises enhance security and governance on digital asset management.
Srivatsan TA
CTO/Chief Platform Architect, UOB, Singapore
Srivatsan TA
CTO/Chief Platform Architect, UOB, Singapore
A technology transformation leader, Srivatsan is a full-stack technologist with 20+ years of experience driving innovation in global financial institutions. As a CTO/Chief Platform Architect, he has spearheaded mission-critical programs, including the TMRW Digital Bank, Infinity Corporate Banking, and real-time data services platforms.
His expertise spans technology strategy, architecture, and delivery, having successfully led teams in the execution of over $1 billion in pivotal banking projects. A recognized industry advisor, Srivats serves on the PolyFinTech100 advisory board, contributed to Project Ubin, and mentors various regional initiatives. His passion extends beyond finance to agritech and healthtech, where he seeks to leverage technology for positive social impact.
Meital Raviv
Founder & CEO/Chief FS Strategy, GTM and Partnerships, MERA/Amdocs, Israel
Meital Raviv
Founder & CEO/Chief FS Strategy, GTM and Partnerships, MERA/Amdocs, Israel
Meital is a highly experienced executive with over 23 years of fintech and financial services expertise.
Recently, she joined Amdocs FS management in its endeavor to shape the future of the Financial Services industry and founded MERA, a consulting firm that specializes in growth and innovation strategies.
Meital has held significant leadership positions throughout her career, including General Manager and CEO of a European Digital Bank and CEO of a startup company, EVP at Bank Hapoalim, where she was responsible for digital strategy, innovation lab, open banking, and fintech. Meital also served as Managing Director and leader of the fintech and innovation practice at KPMG Israel and Chief Digital Officer (CDO) of Bank Leumi, where she oversaw all digital channels.
What sets Meital apart is her unique blend of technology and business experience, acquired from working in both startup environments and large financial corporations. This diverse background gives her a broad vision and effectively leverages the vast knowledge accumulated throughout Meital’s career.
Additionally, Meital is a board member of the Israeli Fintech Community and several startups. Moreover, she mentors startups and teaches at the academy. Meital’s guiding principle is maintaining a proactive, creative, and visionary approach without compromising professionalism.
Rahul Bhargava
Founder Director, Avivate, Singapore
Rahul Bhargava
Founder Director, Avivate, Singapore
Rahul is a seasoned global financial services executive with 21+ years of business leadership & advisory experience with international organisations like The World Bank and Swift, global banks, fintechs, consulting firms and think-tanks. He has led complex multi-market financial sector community initiatives from strategy to live services, that involved extensive public-private coordination and strategic relationship management with international bodies, government agencies, central banks, regulators, payment market infrastructures, banks and fintechs. He has managed geographically & culturally diverse, cross-functional teams globally and is a recognised payments expert, trainer, facilitator, speaker and thought leader in key industry & regulatory forums including Sibos, Global Payment Summit, World Bank Global Payments Week, Central Bank Payments Conference, Money 2020, World Economic Forum, India’s Global Fintech Festival and Singapore Fintech Festival.
He is currently engaged in strategic advisory roles with the World Bank, supporting G20 agenda alignment in close coordination with central banks in emerging markets, and has established Avivate, a management consultancy firm focused on payments & banking advisory. He is a Board Advisor plus Singapore Hub & Chapter Lead for AI2030 - a global think tank driving and driving responsible AI agenda in the wider APAC region. He is also helping drive various policy advocacy initiatives as an Ambassador for the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA).
Previously he was the Global Head of Payments Market Infrastructure (PMI) Strategy at SWIFT, where he led global payments capability development & strategic innovation initiatives, helping streamlining domestic, cross-border & emerging forms of money movement. He was instrumental in launching next generation payment solutions in a collaborative and consultative manner, including the cross-border instant payments, domestic instant payments, CBDCs, and leading Swift engagements with the G20 program & associated international agencies like BIS, CPMI and FSB. As designated business lead for key innovation projects he helped explore new business models & technologies with the global community, including use of tokenisation, DLT, AI, cloud, open data, open APIs and new settlement models via CBDCs, stablecoins, wallets, real-time payment linking, ISO 20022 etc.
Prior to SWIFT, he led regional banking and payments portfolios across APAC and middle east with leading technology firms like NTT Data, CSC and FIS, consulting firms like Accenture and global institutions like ICICI Bank and RBS (Dubai). He has an MBA in Information Systems & Marketing.
Farrell Tirtadinata
Global Head of Solutions, Avertro, Singapore
Farrell Tirtadinata
Global Head of Solutions, Avertro, Singapore
Farrell has worked for 18+ years in cybersecurity, online brand protection, technology, and innovation. Currently serving as the Global Head of Solutions for Avertro, an Australian cybersecurity organisation, empowering people to make data-driven decisions about their cyber resilience and AI safety with their CyberHQ® suite of SaaS platforms. Elevating security/AI leaders and teams to where they deserve to be: the heroes in the story.
Additionally, in the spirit of giving back to the community, he also leads the Singapore and Western Australian chapters of Cyber Risk Meetup - an international meetup group for Cyber, Risk, InfoSec, and AI professionals.
Siwei Feng
Vice President, Head of Product and Business Solutions South East Asia, Securities Services, Deutsche Bank, Singapore
Siwei Feng
Vice President, Head of Product and Business Solutions South East Asia, Securities Services, Deutsche Bank, Singapore
Siwei has a strong background in securities services with over 14 years of experience across major securities services providers. Currently leading Product and Business solutions for South East Asia at Deutsche Bank, his experience covers all 4 major products of Securities Services. Custody, Fund accounting, Performance Analytics and Investment compliance. With a current focus in digital transformation.
In addition he has covered multiple client segments from Asset owners, Asset/Investment/Wealth managers, Private banks to Central banks and sovereign funds
Vikram Pandya
Director Fintech, SP Jain School of Global Management, India
Vikram Pandya
Director Fintech, SP Jain School of Global Management, India
Vikram Pandya is a Chartered Accountant (CA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a focus on AI and Identity Management. With over 17 years of extensive experience in Finance and Technology, Vikram is a recognized leader in the FinTech industry globally. He is also a researcher in Applied AI field where he has published paper on various topics including AI Assisted Dynamic Curriculum Design, Content Discovery, and Delivery.
He serves as the Director of the FinTech program at SP Jain School of Global Management, where he designed Asia’s first interactive FinTech program featuring Blockchain, API Banking, AI/ML, and IoT labs. He also heads research at Varanium NexGen, a FinTech-focused venture capital fund. He mentors various FinTech startups globally and serves on advisory committees for several state governments. He has been a visiting faculty at prestigious global institutions, sharing his expertise and insights on FinTech and emerging technologies.
Vikram has been honored with the CA Educator of the Year award by Hon. Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and was named one of the CA Business Leaders 40 Under 40 by CNBC TV18. As a prolific author, he has penned numerous white papers, research reports, and articles on FinTech, making significant contributions to the field.
Vikram's academic and professional credentials are further enhanced by numerous certifications from prestigious institutions. He holds certifications in Fintech and Transformation in Finance from Copenhagen Business School, FinTech by Oxford Saïd Business School, Building Web 3.0 Solutions from the National University of Singapore, How Software Ate Finance from Stanford, The Future of Payment Technologies from the University of Michigan, FinTech: Foundations & Applications of Financial Technology from Wharton, AI & Prompt Engineering from Microsoft, and Generative AI for Everyone from Andrew Ng’s Deeplearning.ai For more information, visit his LinkedIn
Dr Ritesh Jain
Founder, Infynit, UK
Dr Ritesh Jain
Founder, Infynit, UK
Dr. Ritesh Jain, a top 10 Global Fintech Leader, 2X founder, tech enthusiast, and seasoned board advisor, has over two decades of experience in global Digital Technology, Business Transformation, and Operations. As a regular speaker at global conferences on Fintechs, Emerging Tech, Banks, and Payments, he has made a lasting impact on the industry. Formerly the COO and Global Head of Digital Tech at HSBC, he led the future of Payments at VISA and introduced Apple Pay. At Maersk, he spearheaded technology and innovation, establishing Digital Centers of Excellence and robust high-availability platforms. His contributions earned him a PhD in Payments Innovation, Open Banking, and Financial Inclusion. Dr. Jain is a founding member of the World Metaverse Council, Blockchain Associations, IBM/Informa’s AI Community, and a visiting faculty member at leading business schools. He also serves as a member advisor of the G20 GPFI and offers guidance to major payment programs and banks worldwide while advising banks and central banks on emerging tech and the future of banking and payments.
Murli Adury
Managing Director and Global Head of Affluent Segment Propositions and Wealth Sales and Distribution, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore
Murli Adury
Managing Director and Global Head of Affluent Segment Propositions and Wealth Sales and Distribution, Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore
Murli Adury is currently the Managing Director and Global Head of Affluent Segment Propositions and Wealth Sales and Distribution. He has been with Standard Chartered in Singapore since January 2020. In this role, he is responsible for client acquisitions and the launch of new propositions such as Priority Private, as well as RM sales management and productivity. Prior to this, he was at HSBC in Hong Kong as Head of Premier and Jade client propositions. He started his banking career with Citibank in New York before moving to Singapore in 2009, where he was responsible for the launch and management of Citi’s HNW business – Citigold Private Client.
Murli has an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and previously worked as an Engineering Consultant in the United States. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, Thai cooking, and reading history.
Bidhan Biswas
Assistant Vice President Strategic Fintech Alliances, Yes Bank, India
Bidhan Biswas
Assistant Vice President Strategic Fintech Alliances, Yes Bank, India
Bidhan Biswas is an accomplished Fintech Innovation Leader, specializing in Digital Banking. With extensive experience in managing fintech partnerships and driving digital transformation initiatives, Bidhan has played a crucial role in launching several innovative digital loan products and enhancing customer journeys on mobile banking platforms. His leadership in the fintech ecosystem includes fostering strategic collaborations and contributing to financial inclusion and digital innovation. Bidhan's efforts in creating impactful partnerships and initiatives have significantly advanced digital banking services and contributed to the broader fintech landscape. He is poised to share invaluable insights into the future of fintech and bank-fintech alliances at Fintech Week 2025.
Rajesh Ranjan
Vice President, Solutions Architect- Digital, API and Payments, Citi, Singapore
Rajesh Ranjan
Vice President, Solutions Architect- Digital, API and Payments, Citi, Singapore
As a seasoned technology professional in the field of Banking/Financial industry and technology, Rajesh has over 17 years of experience in leading and delivering multiple successful digital transformations, Open Banking API Partnerships and Open Banking Regulations across the APAC and EMEA regions. Rajesh has made substantial contributions to the industry with his expertise in Digital, Payments, API Integrations
Currently he is working as a Payments Solution Architect responsible for strategy and architecture for Payments.
Akhil Bhaskar
Head of Compute Specialist SA, Asia Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Australia
Akhil Bhaskar
Head of Compute Specialist SA, Asia Pacific & Japan, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Australia
Akhil Bhaskar (he/him) leads the Asia-Pacific & Japan team of Compute Specialist Solution Architects in the WWSO (Worldwide Specialists Organization) at Amazon Web Services. The WWSO Solution Architects are the leading technical experts across AWS’ entire portfolio of Compute services.
Prior to joining AWS, Akhil has worked in a variety of application development, architecture, and executive roles at both Fortune 50 companies and startups in the United States, Europe, and across Asia-Pacific & Japan. In his spare time, he volunteers at a startup accelerator mentoring startups in the energy, finance, and AI/ML space.
Dr Dennis Ng
Adjunct Senior Lecturer & Payments Consultant, Singapore Management University & National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dr Dennis Ng
Adjunct Senior Lecturer & Payments Consultant, Singapore Management University & National University of Singapore, Singapore
Dennis is a consultant and adjunct faculty at the Singapore Management University and National University of Singapore where he teaches new product development, pricing and digital transformation. He holds a doctorate in cashless innovation research from the Singapore Management University, a masters from Nanyang Technological University and a professional certificate in blockchain and digital assets from the National University of Singapore. In his early career he worked for United Overseas Bank, Maybank and VISA where he piloted various fintech products. His later career included roles with fintech startups Neural Technologies UK, Fiteq Inc and a consulting stint in Bain & Company. He continues to publish in various academic and practitioner journals including Electronic Commerce Research & Applications and the Journal of Payments Strategy and Systems.
Dan J Sleep
Senior Vice President, Digital Assets and Financial Markets, Northern Trust, Singapore
Dan J Sleep
Senior Vice President, Digital Assets and Financial Markets, Northern Trust, Singapore
Dan serves as the Senior Vice President representing the Northern Trust Digital Assets and Financial Markets Team for the APAC region.
Based in Singapore, he is responsible for assessing the impact of regulatory and market infrastructure changes on Northern Trust’s operating model and identifying innovative operating structures and revenue opportunities. Dan also informs and executes the bank’s strategy related to FinTech developments, including initiatives in blockchain, digital and crypto assets, cryptocurrency custody, artificial intelligence, and market access strategies.
Joining Northern Trust in 2010, Dan has held multiple change management leadership roles in the EMEA region before moving to Singapore in 2015 to establish the company’s Derivatives Practice in Asia. Prior to joining Northern Trust, he spent five years with J.P. Morgan in the UK.
Dan has over 17 years of banking experience, primarily within the global derivatives space. He holds a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance and professional qualifications as a PRINCE2 practitioner and a certified Business Analyst under IIBA.
Jonathan Zhu
Founder, North Beta Labs, Hong Kong
Jonathan Zhu
Founder, North Beta Labs, Hong Kong
Jonathan Zhu is the Founder of North Beta Labs and co-founder of RunSun Cloud. He was
named a Forbes China 30 Under 30 in 2017. North Beta Labs focuses on high-potential
Generative AI startups. Leveraging GPU Cloud as a foundational resource, we lead our team to assist portfolio companies in embracing Generative AI.
Dexter Leow
CEO and Cofounder, Sumotex, Malaysia
Dexter Leow
CEO and Cofounder, Sumotex, Malaysia
Dexter Leow is the CEO and Cofounder of Sumotex, a Real World Asset Layer-1 blockchain protocol focusing on tokenization, internal/external financial settlements between banks, financial institutions like VCPE funds. He is working closely with multiple financial institutions, government agencies and government linked companies to spearhead tokenization adoption in their organisation. He is the one responsible in designing the framework for tokenization in Sumotex which are now widely adopted in multiple enterprises.
Reedev Taneja
Director - Analytics & MarTech, APAC, eClerx, Singapore
Reedev Taneja
Director - Analytics & MarTech, APAC, eClerx, Singapore
Reedev sits at the intersection of business, data and technology to help businesses drive growth, customer experience and overall marketing effectiveness. He brings 15+ years of experience where he has designed and implemented data-driven digital marketing, CRM, loyalty and customer data strategies for large global organizations such as DirecTV, Singapore Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board, ExxonMobil, Chanel, Standard Chartered Bank, ST Electronics to name a few.
Julia Chin
Principal Consultant, JFourth Solutions, Singapore
Julia Chin
Principal Consultant, JFourth Solutions, Singapore
Julia Chin aka Compliance Blackbelt, Principal of JFourth Solutions, is a multi-lingual financial industry professional with over 25 years of working experience. She is a subject matter expert on Correspondent Banking, Securities Services and most recently Fintech in the areas of Financial Crime and Regulatory Compliance and Fraud Management.
She is a member of the APAC Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime (“GCFFC”) Secretariat.
Having worked in consultancy, global banking and regulatory entities which include Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, KLOFFE and KPMG, she has considerable experience on client lifecycle management, and design and implementation of control frameworks in Asia and Middle East.
She is passionate about the culture of compliance, fintech and financial inclusion.
Shumin Lin
Director, Drew & Napier, Singapore
Shumin Lin
Director, Drew & Napier, Singapore
Shumin has an active disputes practice and is experienced in complex contractual disputes, shareholder's disputes, company law issues, and tortious actions. She also has particular experience with cryptocurrency and blockchain disputes, and freezing injunctions. In addition, she has handled judicial reviews, competition investigations and dawn raids. Shumin has acted for a wide range of clients from various industries before the Singapore Courts and in international arbitrations. This includes acting for companies in the web3, retail, hospitality, and shipping industries as well as venture capitalists and high net individuals
Alvin Wong
Executive Director, DBS Bank, Singapore
Alvin Wong
Executive Director, DBS Bank, Singapore
Alvin Wong is the Global Head of Non-Bank Financial Services (NBFS), a key growth segment of Financial Institutions (FIG) within the Institutional banking Group (IBG) for DBS Bank.
NBFS leverages DBS’ Asian insights, connectivity, and capabilities to provide tailored solutions and services to non-bank financial institutions including Fintechs, finance companies, leasing companies and securitisation related counterparties.
Alvin rejoined DBS in 2022 to spearhead the NBFS segment and prior to his current role held a variety of roles in Global Financial Markets and Global Financial Institutions Group across coverage, sales, structuring and arranger roles driving growth in multiple regions including Singapore, South East Asia, North Asia and Middle East; with deep expertise in securitisation, derivatives, structured products, market and cash management solutions. Alvin holds a B.Eng in Electrical Engineering from National University of Singapore.
Vaibhav Gupta
APAC Head of Integration, Consolidatus, Singapore
Vaibhav Gupta
APAC Head of Integration, Consolidatus, Singapore
I am passionate about enterprise data management, data architecture and Data Privacy. I have 18 Years of experience in capital markets and retail banking with top tier banks in Asia, EU and AU. In my current role as senior data architect, I am setting up the best of breed next gen data architecture and data management function in FedEx ACoE to push the data science driven transformation and optimize the way we work and utilize our data securely.
Additionally, as head of technical Integrations for APAC with Consolidatus, I help organizations implement a robust data management framework, enjoy turning advice into practical improvements and assist them in implementing best of breed data management tooling to manage regulatory, compliance and ESG data obligations.
Merlin Gerhard Kwan
Founding Member & Chief Executive, Shelev Capital, Vietnam
Merlin Gerhard Kwan
Founding Member & Chief Executive, Shelev Capital, Vietnam
With 25 years of experience across Europe, Asia, and the digital landscape, Merlin is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur. In the early part of his career, he served as a consultant and director in consulting firms. Since then, he has established and grown both digital and IRL businesses, with particular expertise in finance, technology, and marketing. Currently, he is actively building Shelev Capital Group, an international next-generation transport finance group that includes Vietnam's leading fleet finance company. As a General Partner at Generations Fund, Merlin is contributing to the development of a future-forward, tech-enabled carbon credit private equity fund. He is also an active Web3 builder and deeply involved in several blockchain communities.
Beh Sheue Chee
Founding Partner, Travel and Payments Consulting, Singapore
Beh Sheue Chee
Founding Partner, Travel and Payments Consulting, Singapore
SheueChee (Chee) is a seasoned payments executive with 20 years of experience in the industry. Based in Singapore, she has held significant roles, former Head of APAC Payments at Uber and spearheaded APAC Merchant Services business development at JPMorgan. Known for a strategic mindset and a commitment to leadership excellence, Chee is passionate in fostering talents growth and payment innovation. With a deep understanding of the evolving digital payments landscape, she is dedicated to helping organizations navigate complexities and seize opportunities in the dynamic Asia-Pacific market.
Tuan Nguyen
Chief Information Officer, Techcombank (TCB), Vietnam
Tuan Nguyen
Chief Information Officer, Techcombank (TCB), Vietnam
Tuan is an innovative and proven technology leader with P&L accountability, with extensive experience in the banking, fintech, insurance, high-tech, and energy sectors across the US, Europe, and Asia. His cultural sensitivity and ability to empathize with diverse expectations have enabled him to effectively lead transformations by leveraging regional strengths.
As CIO of Techcombank, and Board member of the Vietnamese CIO community, he has significantly improved Vietnam’s technology landscape, achieving several accomplishments on multiple fronts:
CLOUD FIRST - First FI to adopt public cloud full scale with Cloud First strategy.
TRANSFORM - First FI with a breakthrough in transforming the digital channel, simplifying the customer experience across retail and commercial channels supported by one common platform.
CULTURE – Breakdown the hierarchy that slows the productivity & innovation. Embracing and transforming to agile mindset and agile way of working.
PEOPLE – Driving a culture revolution by focusing on engineering excellence, simplicity, and learning.
Axel Chagnoleau
Head of Cybersecurity APAC, Senior Manager, Wavestone, Hong Kong
Axel Chagnoleau
Head of Cybersecurity APAC, Senior Manager, Wavestone, Hong Kong
Axel C. has a MSc in Innovation and Digital, and over 12 years of international work experience in Cybersecurity (with several certifications - including CISM), large-scale digital transformation and in Data protection and transformation (in Europe and Asia).
With a strong experience background in Project Management, Target Operating Models and Cybersecurity, he has a proven track record in Digital Transformation and Digital Trust for multinational corporations, Regional Leaders and Local Innovators. From Strategy and Ideation to Execution, Axel is experienced in supporting clients in diverse industries including Finance, Insurance, Luxury and Retail.
Romain Gagliardi
Head of IT & Digital APAC, Senior Manager, Wavestone, Singapore
Romain Gagliardi
Head of IT & Digital APAC, Senior Manager, Wavestone, Singapore
Romain has a MSc in Computer Science & Electronics, and over 13 years of international work experience in large scale digital transformation, in IT M&A and in Data transformation (in Europe, US, Mexico and Singapore).
With a strong experience background in Project Management, functional & technical architecture, he has a proven track record in Digital Transformation for multinational corporations (e.g.: BNP Paribas, Sanofi, Henry Schein, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, Stellantis, Suez, Total, etc.) but also for start-ups (Contineo, WeHealth by Servier, etc.).
Romain is leading the CIO and CTO advisory offer in Wavestone Asia delivering strategic transforming program from ideation to execution in various industries including Finance, Utilities, Automotive, Retail and Health Care.
Apoorav Vyas
Founder, ActualOne, India
Apoorav Vyas
Founder, ActualOne, India
Young founder working actively to bring a change in areas of climate finance through a tokenization platform and global student community in the Web3 Space.
Effendy Zulkifly
Founder & CEO of Blockworq, and Founding President of Crypto Valley Malaysia, Malaysia
Effendy Zulkifly
Founder & CEO of Blockworq, and Founding President of Crypto Valley Malaysia, Malaysia
Effendy Zulkifly is a distinguished technology leader celebrated for his exceptional expertise in blockchain technology and Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0). As the Founder and CEO of Blockworq, and the Founding President of Crypto Valley Malaysia, Effendy has established himself as a key influencer in the tech space. He holds an MBA in FinTech from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak and a Certified Blockchain Expert certification from the Frankfurt School Blockchain Center. Effendy is also the author of "The Techno Revolution: Blockchain Manual 101" and "The Power of ABCDs: How AI, Blockchain, Connectivity, and Data are Changing the World". His pioneering strategies in software development, system integration, and the implementation of advanced technology solutions have positioned him at the forefront of the tech industry.
Nikolay Novozhilov
Head of Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Bank of Singapore, Singapore
Nikolay Novozhilov
Head of Data Science and Advanced Analytics, Bank of Singapore, Singapore
Nikolay Novozhilov is the Head of Data Science and Advanced Analytics at Bank of Singapore, Asia Global Private Bank, a subsidiary of OCBC. His team is building AI applications and analytics solutions to create business value from data. He was previously Head of Digital Products at NTUC Link and a Chief Data Scientist at Wego. Nikolay holds an MBA degree from INSEAD.
Pei Si Lai
CEO, GXBank, Malaysia
Pei Si Lai
CEO, GXBank, Malaysia
Lai Pei Si is currently the CEO of GX Bank Malaysia, the first Digital Bank in Malaysia. The start up Bank opened its doors in Malaysia in September 2023. Her role sees her leading a team of dynamic financial professionals and technologists who are passionate about transforming and redefining financial services. They aim to make financial services more inclusive and catering to the needs of all, including the unbanked, underbanked and underserved segments.
A veteran in the financial services industry, Pei Si comes with an extensive experience and deep customer centricity honed over 25 years in retail banking, wealth management, corporate finance, product and business management, as well as governance, in both local and international markets. Prior to her current role, she held senior management positions in Standard Chartered Bank in the region and specific markets in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
Pei Si graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) at National University of Singapore, with a major in Economics & Political Science.
Shobhit Garg
Principal Manager Product Management, Security Division, Microsoft, Singapore
Shobhit Garg
Principal Manager Product Management, Security Division, Microsoft, Singapore
Shobhit Garg is a visionary leader with a passion for customer success and a proven track record in the software industry. As a leader in Microsoft's Security Customer Experience Engineering team, he supports, coaches, and empowers his team to prioritize customers and leverage Microsoft technologies for cutting-edge solutions. Shobhit also contributes to Microsoft's Generative AI solution in security as part of the Copilot for Security Engineering team.
With 20 years of IT experience in product engineering, solution architecture, consulting, and cybersecurity, Shobhit has delivered diverse and complex projects globally. His expertise in security solutions and digital strategies has transformed businesses, making him a trusted leader in program management, product management, and customer success. Since joining Microsoft in 2008, Shobhit has held key roles in India, Malaysia, and Singapore, earning a reputation for innovation and exceptional customer experiences.
Adi Saadon
Compliance Officer for Singapore and APAC, Venturebeam, Singapore
Adi Saadon
Compliance Officer for Singapore and APAC, Venturebeam, Singapore
Adi launched his career as a Senior Investigation Officer with the Singapore Police Force, where he was instrumental in leading sophisticated analytical processes and investigations. In this pivotal role, he adeptly synthesized reports from both regional and global Financial Intelligence Units and engaged in close collaboration with the prosecutorial branch of the Attorney General's Chambers.
Since 2011, Adi has developed an extensive expertise in managing risks related to business corruption, money laundering, and regulatory compliance. His in-depth experience has been shaped by significant roles in consulting and project management across globally renowned advisory firms. Throughout his career, Adi has delivered strategic guidance to a varied clientele, including Fortune 500 financial service companies, multinational conglomerates, and innovative startups.
Adi's professional trajectory has also included notable periods at leading banking institutions, spanning both regional and global contexts. Here, he applied his advisory and enforcement expertise in real-world settings, solidifying his status as a subject matter expert in risk and compliance.
A significant turning point in Adi’s career was his embrace of Agile methodologies. Adopting Agile Governance and Data Analytics, Adi pioneered a forward-thinking approach that effectively addresses the escalating costs of compliance and transforms data into valuable insights.
Currently, Adi serves as the Compliance Officer for Singapore and APAC at Venturebeam, a distinguished venture capital network. In this capacity, he not only oversees the network's adherence to a broad spectrum of regulations—including Anti-Money Laundering, Financial Crime, Business Continuity, Data Privacy, and Market Surveillance as mandated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)—but also plays a crucial role in fostering meaningful connections and collaborations among a carefully selected group of investors, including Venture Capital Firms, Private Equity, Family Offices, and entrepreneurs. Adi's efforts are focused on enabling Venturebeam to create substantial positive impacts on society and the environment, positioning him as a key facilitator in driving transformative change within the investment ecosystem.
Shivani Mukherjee
Fintech Partnerships & Product Leader, Singapore
Shivani Mukherjee
Fintech Partnerships & Product Leader, Singapore
With over 13 years of experience in digital transformation, core banking, payments and fintech innovation across Asia and Europe, Shivani excels in driving product strategy, partnerships, Channel sales & revenue. Her career is marked by strategic leadership, fostering high-performing teams, and building robust relationships with key stakeholders in Fintechs and BFSI sector. She is adept at scaling startups to global unicorn status and consistently achieving ambitious revenue targets through innovative partnership strategies, GTM directions and marketing. Shivani has held roles at early stage disruptive fintech startups like Grab, N26,Rapyd and Thought Machine.
Kevin Pereira
Managing Director, Blu Ltd - Artificial Intelligence, Hong Kong
Kevin Pereira
Managing Director, Blu Ltd - Artificial Intelligence, Hong Kong
Kevin Pereira is currently a Managing Director at Blu Artificial Intelligence, a consulting firm that specializes in Artificial Intelligence. After growing up in Hong Kong, he started his career in Private Banking with Citi in New York. He then moved back to Hong Kong and joined Bank of New York Mellon’s Asset Management business, where he helped to start a new group that specialized in products tailored to High Net Worth Individuals.
After obtaining his MBA, Kevin worked at a technology startup in Myanmar that was building internet infrastructure which included fiber optic, cell towers, and data centers. Kevin is also a part-time lecturer at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where he teaches an MBA course titled “Artificial Intelligence for Business Leaders.†At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), he teaches “Big Data in Finance†and “AI in Marketing†to MBAs and other Masters’ students.
Kevin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentrations in Finance, Management, and Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has an MBA from INSEAD.
Arvin Singh
Executive Committee Member, Fintech Association of Malaysia, Singapore
Arvin Singh
Executive Committee Member, Fintech Association of Malaysia, Singapore
Arvin was the co-founder and CEO of hoolah, a leading 'Buy Now, Pay Later' service provider that revolutionized the retail industry in Singapore. Under his leadership, hoolah quickly gained market traction and became the go-to BNPL platform for thousands of retailers and consumers alike. In late 2021, Arvin successfully led the sale of hoolah to ShopBack, Asia's leading shopping & rewards platform.
With his extensive experience, deep industry knowledge, and strong track record of success, Arvin also advises tech startups seeking to drive innovation and growth.
Prior to founding hoolah, Arvin held key positions at global payments giants Visa and Worldpay, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the future of payments and fintech innovation in the Asia Pacific region.
Queenie Mo
Group CFO, Member of Board, Office of HH Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi (Member of Ruling Family in UAE) & Chief Investment Officer, Quanton Capital Group, UAE
Queenie Mo
Group CFO, Member of Board, Office of HH Sheikh Ahmed Al Qassimi (Member of Ruling Family in UAE) & Chief Investment Officer, Quanton Capital Group, UAE
Queenie brings over 15 years of multifaceted expertise spanning Management Consulting, Financial Operations (FinOps), executive leadership, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) oversight, Government Relations (including Public-Private Partnership projects), investment strategies, corporate structuring, and stakeholder engagement, among other domains. Her prior engagements include esteemed affiliations with the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community, executive roles in educational institutions, and a distinguished athletic career as a backstroke gold medallist for over five consecutive years during her youth. Presently, Queenie is dedicated to advancing initiatives that drive impactful outcomes towards enhancing sustainability and fostering a more resilient global ecosystem. Leveraging blockchain technology, advanced digital solutions, and innovative methodologies, she orchestrates collaborative endeavors targeting Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) interfaces. Her focus remains steadfast on forging strategic partnerships and investments, and implementing responsible innovations to catalyze positive change both economically and environmentally.
Scott Thiel
CEO and Co-founder of Tokinvest
Scott Thiel
CEO and Co-founder of Tokinvest
Scott is a futurist, multi-jurisdiction qualified lawyer, and responsible officer for a regulated virtual assets business. He is a fintech entrepreneur, value creator, public speaker, and thought leader. As co-founder of Tokinvest, Scott aims to democratize access to the world's most desirable assets.
He has been a director of Hedera LLC for over five years and an observer on the Hbar Foundation board. Previously, Scott founded and led TOKO, a tokenization and digital assets management platform, securing the first full-market Broker-Dealer and Exchange Services VASP Licenses and structuring the world's first debt tokenization transaction.
Scott has received multiple industry awards and recognition, including:
- Recognized as "Most Innovative Lawyers," Financial Times, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
- Ranked as a leading individual by Chambers & Partners Fintech Guide 2022
- Ranked by Chambers & Partners, TMT, Greater China Region 2022
- Recognized as a "Leading Individual for TMT," The Legal 500, Hong Kong 2022
Edwin Hui
COO, Mox Bank, Hong Kong
Edwin Hui
COO, Mox Bank, Hong Kong
Edwin is the Chief Operating Officer at Mox, overseeing Mox's overall operations. As the first Mox-grown C-Suite executive, Edwin joined the bank as Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs in 2018 and was part of the founding team. In this capacity, he played a
crucial role in the bank's launch, including setting up the joint venture partnerships and shaping the Strategy, Partnerships and Corporate Affairs function. Edwin is passionate about driving the growth of the banking industry in Asia and believes that virtual banks will be a game changer in Hong Kong.
Prior to joining Mox, Edwin was Managing Director, Regional Head of Investor Relations for Standard Chartered, overseeing external engagement with institutional investors, equity research analysts and rating agencies in Asia. Immediately prior to this role, Edwin was an equity research analyst at bank of America Merrill Lynch, covering Hong Kong and Chinese financials. He started his career with Standard Chartered in 2003 as a management trainee. Edwin is a CFA Charterholder, holding a master's degree in finance and an undergraduate in business administration.
Kate Hancock
Founder, Global AI Council, USA
Kate Hancock
Founder, Global AI Council, USA
Kate Hancock is a serial entrepreneur and an international speaker. Kate built four highly successful businesses in less than ten years. She grew an e-commerce store from a $20 investment into a million-dollar revenue in just a year, and $20 million after a few years using AI in 2013.
She is the founder of Facial Center, recognized twice by Inc Magazine as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US. Kate also created a hotel brand in Asia using AI. She is an influencer and community builder on a social audio app with 122,000 members and 20 million listeners. Additionally, she is the founder of the Global AI Council and serves as a business advisor to tech projects.
Her speaking engagements include speeches at Harvard Business School, American Express, TEDx, CNN, and many conferences around the world, focusing on Web3 and ChatGPT. She is also the co-host of a show on CNN Philippines called "The Future."
Daniel Robbins
Advisory Board Member, Global AI Council, USA
Daniel Robbins
Advisory Board Member, Global AI Council, USA
Daniel Robbins is a dynamic media producer and entrepreneur dedicated to making a meaningful impact on entrepreneurs globally. Drawing on his extensive background in PR and marketing, he has empowered clients to achieve heightened exposure and visibility through strategic placements on TV, in publications, and on various podcasts.
Daniel not only co-hosts but also produces several shows, including "The Future" on CNN Philippines, and "Founder’s Story". Through these platforms, he showcases remarkable leaders and builders in the realms of business, leadership, and technology, fostering inspiration and insights for a diverse audience.
He was a computer programmer at a young age and pursued a college degree in computer programming. Starting his career in a corporate job in 2002, Daniel worked his way up from a sales position to a regional manager overseeing over 150 employees, eventually becoming a consultant for the company.
Sandra Tan
Strategic Investments & Partnerships Associate, MoneyHero Group, Singapore
Sandra Tan
Strategic Investments & Partnerships Associate, MoneyHero Group, Singapore
Sandra Tan is a seasoned Strategic Investments and Partnerships Associate at MoneyHero Group, a leading financial comparison and education platform across Southeast Asia. She excels in driving strategic initiatives and leveraging AI for operational efficiency. Sandra has successfully guided high-growth startups from Series B to IPO, consistently delivering successful outcomes in corporate strategy, M&A, and innovation. Her work spans multiple developed and emerging Southeast Asian markets and functions, including marketing, commercial, product, and technology.
Saiprasad Raut
Strategy Advisor - Crypto & Web3, Worldpay, UAE
Saiprasad Raut
Strategy Advisor - Crypto & Web3, Worldpay, UAE
Saiprasad is acting as Strategic Advisor for partnerships for Worldpay Crypto and Web3 team. With 23+ years into the fintech industry, he held many leadership positions with blue chip organizations including FIS, Fiserv, Global Payments & Capgemini. Leading Strategic Innovation teams, and setting up the Product & Business roadmap and execution for these organizations, Saiprasad has been instrumental in growing the business and driving the innovation journey into emerging trends and GTM strategies. He is currently serving as Co Chair of Technology Steering and Product Committee, Corporate Utilization Committee for Hedera Hashgraph and made his presence as a speaker for various blockchain/web3 industry forums and events. He is also an active advisor for various web3 startups.
Samuel C.F. PANG
Lead Consultant (Crypto/ Blockchain), JFourth Solutions, Singapore
Samuel C.F. PANG
Lead Consultant (Crypto/ Blockchain), JFourth Solutions, Singapore
Samuel has over 15 years of business experience in financial markets (FX, derivatives, futures, commodities), SWIFT payment, blockchain/crypto/web3. Since 2006 he has worked with fintechs, aiding in the GTM, growing business, advising on local and regional regulatory landscape. From 2019, he moved into the blockchain space and held senior roles at a crypto liquidity firm, at major crypto custody provider Ledger and crypto treasury management infrastructure provider, Fortris.
His past experiences include roles at United Overseas Bank, Saxo Bank, CMC Markets, ClearTrade Exchange. As the family business commercial director, he successfully expanded into Myanmar. He started his career with the Singapore Armed Forces following a scholarship. He currently serves as country manager at Blue Ocean Trading, and is the lead blockchain consultant with JFourth Solutions. He is engaged as a mentor at IIT Bombay and Tenity Swiss incubator. He was recognized with the FinTech Leadership Award in Dubai 2022.
Robin Lee
General Manager, APAC, Hawk, Singapore
Robin Lee
General Manager, APAC, Hawk, Singapore
Robin is currently the General Manager, APAC for Hawk, a RegTech technology solution that offers an Anti-Financial Crime platform. He started his career as a developer in Silicon Valley before moving to Wall Street where he worked as an analyst in the hedge fund space covering Technology. He then moved to the Regtech/Start Up space which included 7 start up launches, 2 acquisitions, multiple board roles and 2 books. This included a product role at the International Compliance Association, a strategic role at Thomson Reuters/Refinitiv/LSEG and VP, APAC/Head of APAC/Board Advisor for Napier Technologies which he helped grow headcount from 35 to 260 (0 to 60 in APAC).
In addition to his role at Hawk, he is also currently the Vice Chair for the APAC Chapter of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime and recently the Global FinTech Liaison for a US Department of Justice’s FinTech Sector Public Dialogue (FSPD), the DOJ’s Public-Private Partnership focusing on the FinTech space.
Patrick Tay
Chief Operating Officer, Data Connect Technologies (Co. Konica Minolta) and Member of ISACA Chapter Singapore, AISP and SCS
Patrick Tay
Chief Operating Officer, Data Connect Technologies (Co. Konica Minolta) and Member of ISACA Chapter Singapore, AISP and SCS
Patrick is a certified CISO and seasoned IT leader with over 20 years in IT leadership, cybersecurity, GRC, and digital transformation. As Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Data Connect Technologies, he oversees IT Operations, PMO, GRC, and Cybersecurity teams. Previously, he was Director of Digital Transformation and Global Head of PMO at Rakuten. Patrick holds a Chester MBA and a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science and Business IT from Birmingham University, with certifications including PMP, CISM, CISA, CCISO, AI, and AWS. He ensures compliance with ISO 27001, NIST, COBIT, and GDPR, and frequently speaks at CIO/CISO conferences. He is a member of ISACA Singapore Chapter, AISP, and SCS.
Jitendra Tekchandani
Regional Director Wealth Management (UHNI/HNI, DBS Bank, Singapore
Jitendra Tekchandani
Regional Director Wealth Management (UHNI/HNI, DBS Bank, Singapore
Jitendra Tekchandani is a seasoned Product & Digital Transformation Leader with over 15 years of experience in consumer banking and wealth management, driving business success through digital products and cross-functional collaboration, with a proven track record of leadership roles at DBS and Citibank across APAC, EMEA, US, and LATAM, delivering key achievements such as leading #DBSClientConnect, a regional wealth management platform leveraging data and AI, founding DBS Ecosystems to develop alternative revenue channels through Open Banking and Digital Partnerships, launching open banking in 13 markets and forming multiple partnerships at Citibank, and recognized as an industry specialist in Data/AI, Open Banking, and Wealth Management.
Kim Yan Lim
Founder & Director, Kim Global Consultancy, Singapore
Kim Yan Lim
Founder & Director, Kim Global Consultancy, Singapore
Kim is the Founder & Director of Kim Global Consultancy and a seasoned insurance sales and distribution leader with extensive experience across the Asia region. With a strong focus on partnerships channel distribution and business development, Kim has successfully spearheaded numerous initiatives that have significantly enhanced market presence and revenue growth. She brings a wealth of knowledge and valuable insights to discussions on the future of insurance distribution in Asia.
Asih Karnengsih
Executive Director, Indonesia Blockchain Association, Indonesia
Asih Karnengsih
Executive Director, Indonesia Blockchain Association, Indonesia
A doctor candidate in anthropology and a Master in management. Having experience in the blockchain industry for nearly half a decade, Asih Karnengsih is actively involved in multiple international engagements, one of many, as a council member of the International Digital Asset Exchange Association (idaxa) and executive committee for ASEAN blockchain consortium while taking her role as the Executive Director of the Indonesia blockchain association. Leading the association, she has actively supported Indonesian policymakers and business actors inregulatory approaches toward sustainable, secure, and progressive blockchain implementation. She is eager to see the future, which is blockchain technology's potential for advancing civilization.
Esther Wong
Founder and CIO, 3Capital Investment, Hong Kong
Esther Wong
Founder and CIO, 3Capital Investment, Hong Kong
Esther is the founder and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of 3Capital Investment, a venture capital firm with a focus on AI-driven global opportunities. Before launching her venture, she was among the founding members of SenseTime, one of China's largest AI software companies, where she spearheaded the establishment of the strategic investment and capital markets teams. During her tenure at SenseTime, she successfully raised over USD 5 billion and led several key investments and collaborations with strategic partners both domestically and internationally. She played a pivotal role in implementing AI applications across various industries, including robotics, education, and healthcare. With over 20 years of experience in finance and banking, Esther has held leadership positions at notable institutions such as Cazenove (now part of J.P. Morgan), CICC, Barclays, and Bocom. She earned an Executive MBA from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. Committed to youth development, she serves as a board member for the Greater Bay Area Youth Committee and Junior Achievement Hong Kong.
H Chiu
Founder, Chapter 2 Ventures, Canada, China & Singapore
H Chiu
Founder, Chapter 2 Ventures, Canada, China & Singapore
H Chiu is the founder of Chapter 2 Ventures, a leading digital transformation agency operating in Canada, China (Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR) and Singapore, she brings over two decades of experience in navigating the evolving landscapes of Web1, Web2, and Web3. Her expertise spans digital transformation, FinTech innovation, and AI-driven strategies and go-to-market, with a focus on helping businesses harness emerging technologies for sustainable growth. With a proven track record of driving successful transformation projects, she is passionate about guiding organizations through the complexities of the digital age, ensuring they remain competitive and future-ready. She also leads various board of director positions at global and regional Web3 and communications related organizations.