CTO at National Intellectual Solutions (Gorgona AI), building AI-driven automation for banks and regulators in Uzbekistan. With 8+ years leading teams of up to 200 in fintech, GovTech, and industry, his experience spans instant payments, earned wage access, and secure AI deployments in regulated environments.

Anthony Thomas brings over 27 years of leadership experience across banking and fintech, and recently joined GFTN as Chief Strategy & Growth Officer.

Before joining GFTN, Anthony was the Global Managing Director for FinTech at Berlin-based Delivery Hero, where he led the company’s Payments and Embedded Financial Services businesses across nearly 70 countries.

A recognized fintech leader in Southeast Asia, Anthony serves as Chairman of MoMo, Vietnam’s leading financial services super app, and was previously the CEO of GCash in the Philippines, part of Ant Group’s network of digital wallets.

Earlier in his career, he spent 17 years with Citibank across seven markets in Asia, the United States, and Latin America.

Anthony’s extensive experience underscores his commitment to leveraging financial technology to foster innovation and inclusion in emerging markets.

Until December 2025, Ari was the President - Asia-Pacific, at Mastercard and was a member of the company's Global Management Committee, a position he held for over a decade. Ari’s global experience in building businesses and driving growth, with P&L management and building diverse teams in an environment of rising regulations and nationalism, has been the hallmark of his career.

Prior to Mastercard, Ari was with the General Electric company, spanning a career of 13 years, starting in Corporate Audit, to GE Capital’s financing businesses, and lived and worked in multiple geographies including USA and India.

Ari has held, and continues to hold, a few independent board directorships and Advisory Board positions in his career. Most prominent amongst those served: Independent board director of Airtel Payments Bank Limited in India (2016-24), Cuscal Limited in Australia (2018-19), and board member Pine Labs Pte Limited (A fintech in Singapore) (2020-24).

Ari is also a member of the Global Advisory Council of ServiceNow, inc.; and an Advisory Board Member of the Singapore Management University Lee Kong Chian School of Business; and has previously served as a member of the International Technology Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore; and served on the US-ASEAN Business Council board (2019-24).

Ari is also an advisor and mentor to a few AI-enabled growth companies based out of San Francisco and London. Passionate about the subject of AI, personally investing in the AI infrastructure space and investing in personal development. Completed a course with MIT Professional Education on “Applied Agentic AI for Organizational Transformation”.

Ari is a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) graduate from Delhi University, a Master of Business Administration from Cardiff University, and is a qualified chartered accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

Arif Khan is the Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) at Razorpay. As the CIO, Arif is primarily responsible for leading the Banking, Risk Management, Regulatory Affairs, and Public Policy teams toward the larger organizational vision of fine-tuning Razorpay’s offerings in the digital payments space. He plays as key role in leading engagement with banks, networks, regulators, and strategic partners to drive innovation at
Razorpay. Arif is responsible for accelerating the adoption of new payment and banking platforms and products. As a veteran of the Banking and Financial services industry, Arif brings his expertise in working with various stakeholders and an in-depth understanding of the sector spanning over two decades.

This is Arif’s 2nd stint as the CIO of Razorpay. He held the role earlier between 2017-2019. Prior to rejoining Razorpay, he held a stream of leadership positions at organizations such as NPCI, MasterCard, PWC, and
HDFC Bank.

Arif holds a Postgraduate degree in Business Management from XLRI–Jamshedpur and has been instrumental in pushing the boundaries of organizational growth throughout the span of his illustrious decades long career.

Arjun is a Partner with Arthur D. Little's (ADL) Financial Service Practice. His areas of focus are Fintech, Payments and Digital Assets.

Arjun is deeply involved in the Finance & Technology Ecosystem as an advisor, investor, community builder, mentor and commentator

He is also the host of a podcast called ‘Couchonomics with Arjun’ which focusses on the Future of Finance and Technology. In 2022, Arjun was recognized by LinkedIn as a ‘Voice of Gulf Region’.

Arvind is a senior fintech expert at the Asian Development Bank, having joined through a secondment by the Singapore Government/Ministry of Finance. Leveraging three decades of experience as a C-suite banking leader, tech investor, board member and advisor, Arvind helps fintech startups to accelerate value creation and inclusive impact. He was previously a Venture Partner at Jungle Ventures, a leading South-East Asia focused VC. He was also a senior advisor at McKinsey’s Asia FIG practice. His board roles include AFG Partners, an Asia-focused fintech fund; Gosree Finance, an Indian MSME digital lender; and Powercred, a SEA-based data solutions provider.

Central banking professional with 25 years of experience across open market operations, international relations, and financial inclusion. Serves as AFI focal point and National Coordinator of the We-Fi initiative in Uzbekistan. Leads partnerships with international organisations and manages projects advancing innovative financial market solutions.

# Abdel Aziz Nossier

**Executive Director, Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI)**

Dr. Abdel Aziz Nossier is an executive, board member, educator, and thought leader with more than 30 years of experience in strategy, leadership, governance, organizational transformation, and executive development across the financial services and higher education sectors.

Since 2017, he has served as Executive Director of the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI), where he has led a significant expansion of the Institute’s reach and impact, growing its market share sixfold and extending its footprint across Africa from eight to forty-four countries. He also spearheaded the launch of an e-learning platform and mobile application, expanding access to banking and financial education.

Alongside his executive career, Dr. Nossier has been teaching executive education and postgraduate programs since 2005. He has delivered courses in strategic management, organizational behavior, corporate governance, organizational excellence, and leadership at leading universities and executive education institutions.

Dr. Nossier serves on the Board of the European Banking & Financial Services Training Association (EBTN), representing Associate Members, and was re-elected for a second consecutive term for 2026–2028. He has also served on the boards and board committees of financial institutions, contributing practical expertise in corporate governance, strategy, and executive leadership.

He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, completed the Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School, and is an IFC Certified Board Director. A frequent keynote speaker and executive educator, Dr. Nossier focuses on strategy execution, leadership, corporate governance, organizational change, and executive effectiveness, bridging academic insight with practical boardroom and executive experience.

please refer here: https://www.bnm.gov.my/committees/sac/members

Dr. Dinesh Tripathi is an innovator, technology serial entrepreneur with successful exits, and founder with more than 25 years spent
building businesses and products at the intersection of software, connectivity, and user experience.
A mathematician turned technology entrepreneur, he has a rare ability to see complexity early, simplify it into something usable, and build a business around that insight.
He currently leads that vision as Founder and CEO of WOW Finstack, a platform powering scalable fintech solutions for banks, SMEs, and fintech companies, where he is focused on making fintech infrastructure more scalable, accessible, and effective. His work reflects a consistent theme throughout his career: simplifying
complex technology into practical platforms that create measurable value for businesses and their customers.
Before WOW Finstack, Dinesh was CEO and a founding member of WOW Vision Pte. Ltd., Singapore, a full-service R&D, software consulting, design and support firm specializing in wireless solutions for digital signage, IoT, and real-time collaboration.
He is a recognized authority in wireless presentation and collaboration technology, having advised hundreds of senior IT and AV leaders on BYOD, mobile, and communications strategy. Dinesh pioneered the shift from complex, unpredictable AV setups to simple, software-driven experiences, delivering measurable cost savings
and faster, more reliable meetings. His guiding mantra: “Life is a Presentation — Present Yourself Well.”
Across education, retail, government, and corporate sectors, Dinesh has built a reputation as an industry visionary. He holds patents in wireless display technology and earned a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia.
Dinesh is a Singapore Resident for the past 26 years.

Dr. Ghiath Shabsigh is the Secretary-General of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), a prominent international standard-setting body of regulatory and supervisory authorities with interest in ensuring the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial services industry.

Dr. Shabsigh is an economist with broad experience in financial sector issues. Prior to his appointment as the Secretary General of the IFSB, he served as Assistant Director at the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Monetary and Capital Markets Department, where he had
broad responsibilities covering IMF’s work on central banking and fintech. Prior responsibilities at the IMF included working on economic reform programs, financial sector development, and
financial stability assessments, in a wide range of countries from low-income to advanced economies. His previous work experience includes working as a financial analyst and university lecturer.
He led the IMF’s work on Islamic Banking for the past 25 years helping to build international institutions, developing policies and standards for the sector, and providing technical assistance on Islamic banking regulatory frameworks, central banking operations, and sukuk markets for large number of IMF member countries.
Dr. Shabsigh holds a PhD in Monetary and International Economics, an MA in Economic Development, a BSc. in Economics and Business, and several professional qualifications in banking and securities market operations.

Dr. Patrick Njoroge served as the ninth Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya from June 2015 to June 2023, after a 20-year career at the International Monetary Fund. He is currently a member of the Advisory Boards of the "Yale Program on Financial Stability" and the "Global Finance and Technology Network," chair of the "Africa Financial Industry Summit" (AFIS) Supervisory Council, and a member of the Africa Expert Panel for South Africa’s G20 Presidency. He has received several awards and recognitions, including four awards for Africa’s Central Banker of the Year, and recognition in 2023 as a Top 25 African Finance Leader. He holds a PhD in Economics from Yale University. He is MLK, Jr. and Phyllis Wallace Visiting Scholar at MIT Sloan School of Management.

Dr Saeeda Jaffar serves as Managing Director for Circle Middle East & Africa, where she leads the region to advance Circle’s vision of creating global economic prosperity through the frictionless exchange of value.

Drawing on deep experience scaling financial ecosystems across the region, Dr Jaffar partners with financial institutions, enterprises, fintechs, and regulators to accelerate the adoption of secure, programmable digital currency infrastructure across payments, treasury, and cross-border flows.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Dr Jaffar is known for translating complex strategic challenges into practical, scalable outcomes. She has worked across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States on strategy, transformation, M&A, and performance initiatives, with deep specialization in financial services, including banks, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, government institutions, and family-owned businesses.

Prior to joining Circle, Dr Jaffar served as Senior Vice President at Visa in the GCC and held leadership roles at McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company, and Alvarez & Marsal.

Dr Jaffar currently serves as a Member of the Board of Trustees at Kuwait University, a Board Advisor to Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center, and a Member of the Advisory Council of the Dubai International Chamber. She previously served as a non-executive board member of United Arab Bank.

Tarık Akın (PhD.) currently serves as the Head of Finance Department at Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye. The Department has four main units, namely, participation finance, fintech, financial investments, and financial markets. Dr. Akın was the Head of the Department of Participation Finance at Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye between 2021 and 2025. Dr. Akın also worked at the Undersecretariat of Treasury, Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), World Bank, UNDP, Silatech-Qatar, and Center for International Development (CID) at Harvard University. He was SC–OCIS Visiting Fellow in Islamic Finance at University of Oxford for the academic year 2019-2020. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Bilkent University, master’s degree from Harvard University and PhD. degree from INCEIF University. His main areas of expertise include Islamic finance, capital markets, macro-financial linkages, and redistribution policies.

Veerathai Santiprabhob is a distinguished macroeconomist and financial professional with over 30 years of experience spanning economic policy design, commercial banking, and capital markets. He served as the 23rd Governor of the Bank of Thailand (2015–2020), where he led the digital transformation of Thailand’s financial system and steered the country’s macroeconomic and financial stability through a period of global uncertainty.

Prior to his governorship, he held senior executive roles at the Stock Exchange of Thailand and Siam Commercial Bank, and contributed to national economic and financial policy as a member of several high-level committees.

Internationally, he served on the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the IMF and chaired key groups including the BIS Central Bank Governance Group, the BIS Asian Consultative Council, and the SEACEN Board of Governors.

Currently, Veerathai serves as an independent director of leading listed corporations, including SCBX, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, Minor International, and Thai Airways International.

Deeply committed to social impact, he focuses his efforts on sustainability, education, and Buddhism. He chairs the Independent Oversight Advisory Committee of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the board of Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). He also serves on the board of Chiang Mai University as well as on the International Advisory Board of Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN).

Veerathai holds a Ph.D. and A.M. in Economics from Harvard University, and a B.A. in Economics (First Class Honors) from Thammasat University. He is a recipient of the Anandamahidol Foundation Scholarship and the Eisenhower Fellowship.

Mr. Ghulam Muhammad Abbasi is currently holding the positions of Executive Director Islamic Finance and Financial Inclusion Groups at State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). He has around 30 years of diversified experience at senior management levels in various regulatory arms of the central bank, which includes on-site inspections, offsite surveillance, banking supervision, Banking Policy & Regulation, infrastructure finance, housing finance, SME finance, green finance and Islamic banking.

Leading the Islamic finance at SBP, he has played a pivotal role for development and promotion of Islamic banking in the country since 2015. He has led various regulatory and policy interventions to put in place an enabling and conducive policy environment for Islamic banking. The leading initiatives interalia include strengthening Shariah governance framework, augmenting regulatory environment, providing a conducive liquidity management regime, and instituting reforms for capacity building and awareness promotion. Currently, he is playing a leading role in transformation of conventional banking into Islamic after the judgement of Federal Shariat Court on RIBA.

Mr. Abbasi has delivered key note addresses in several international conferences, seminars and training programs on Islamic banking, banking supervision, SME Financing and Housing Finance. He has also represented SBP in various high-powered international forums on Islamic banking. He has been an important part of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB)’s Technical Committee mandated to develop prudential standards for global Islamic finance industry. He remained the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of various working groups/taskforces constituted for the development of IFSB Standards and other related important initiatives.

Under his able leadership, SBP has won the most coveted international Award as the Best Central Bank for Promoting Islamic banking for the years 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2026. The award has been bestowed based on the results of poll conducted by Islamic Finance News (IFN), an arm of REDmoney Group, Malaysia.

Gulanor Atobek possesses extensive and varied experience in finance and auditing. She is currently the CEO of Alif Bank, a leading digital bank in Tajikistan, having joined the team almost 5 years ago.

Before her tenure at Alif Bank, Gulanor accumulated 18 years of experience in auditing across various sectors in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. She spent 13 of those years leading the Deloitte office in Tajikistan.

Gulanor also served on the Board of Directors of AmCham Tajikistan for 12 years, including 4 years as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

She holds several professional qualifications, including US CPA and FCCA, and has an MBA from the American University in Central Asia.

ATTY. ARIFA A. ALA
Senior Assistant Governor
Financial Supervision Sub-Sector III

Atty. Arifa A. Ala, a CPA-lawyer and a Certified Internal Auditor, is a career central banker with extensive experience and broad technical expertise in banking supervision and regulation. She has been assigned to various departments within the Financial Supervision Sector and tasked with supervising different types of financial institutions, both banks and non-banks alike.
Atty. Ala has made significant contributions to the development and enhancement of various policies that have had a notable impact on the conduct of the BSP’s supervisory functions and processes. She also played a vital role in developing programs aimed at strengthening rural and cooperative banks, such as the Strengthening Program for Cooperative Banks, the Strengthening Program for Rural Banks, and the Consolidation Program for Rural Banks.
Atty. Ala is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) point person for Islamic banking and finance. She chairs the Islamic Finance Coordination Forum, which aims to establish an Islamic banking system in the Philippines that can viably operate alongside the conventional banking system.
Her leadership and advocacy has earned her multiple recognition. She was named one of the “Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance” for two consecutive years and recognized as a “WOMANi Five-Star Alumni and Influencer” at the Cambridge IFA’s 5th Annual WOMANi Symposium and Awards in Dubai. Most recently, she received the “Woman Influencer in Financial Services Industry” award from the World Financial Innovation Series on 24 September 2025.
Atty. Ala earned her BSBA in Accounting from Mindanao State University as Magna cum Laude (17th placer, May 1993 CPA Board Examinations), her Master of Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila University, her Law degree from San Beda College, Manila, and her Master in Public Management from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Harvard Kennedy School. In addition, she holds a Certified Qualification in Islamic Finance – Banking from the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute Malaysia.

Serey Chea is the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the first woman to hold this position. A PhD economist with over two decades of experience in central banking, she has been a driving force behind Cambodia's financial sector transformation and a tireless advocate for financial inclusion and women's economic empowerment.
Under her leadership, the NBC has pioneered initiatives that have placed Cambodia at the forefront of regional financial innovation including the establishment of Credit Bureau Cambodia in 2012, the introduction of financial literacy into the national education curriculum in 2017, and the launch of Bakong in 2020, a blockchain-based national payment system that has become a global reference for emerging economies.
Recognized as an A- rated Central Bank Governor by Global Finance magazine in both 2024 and 2025, Governor Chea regularly shares her expertise at premier international forums, including the World Economic Forum and the Boao Forum for Asia.

Vusal Khalilov is the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan. He has extensive experience in digital transformation, financial technologies, information technology, and banking. Prior to joining the Central Bank, he held senior leadership positions in the private banking and telecommunications sectors, leading large-scale digital innovation initiatives.

He holds degrees in Computer Science and an Executive MBA in International Business Management, and has completed executive education programs at Harvard Business School and Copenhagen Business School.
His current work focuses on digital finance, innovation, and the modernization of the financial sector in Azerbaijan, with a particular focus on payment systems and services, digital payments, and the development of modern payment solutions.

Hamza K. Bawazir is the Secretary General of the General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI), bringing over 20 years of leadership experience in Islamic finance, Shariah governance and compliance, product development, risk management, corporate governance, and Islamic financial market development. Prior to joining CIBAFI, he served as Head of the Shariah Division at Saudi National Bank (SNB), where he led Shariah advisory, governance, development, and control functions across corporate, retail, treasury, and investment banking. He is also actively engaged in international Islamic finance standard-setting, serving as a Board Member of AAOIFI and contributing to the International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM). He holds the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation, an Executive MBA (EMBA), and bachelor’s degrees in Islamic Jurisprudence/Shariah and Business Administration.

Mr Iqbal Jumabhoy is the founder and chief executive officer of Edge Capital Pte. Ltd., an investment vehicle and consulting platform focused on travel and real estate sectors since 2015. He currently sits on the board of several companies such as Freemont Capital Pte. Ltd, SIG (S) Pte. Ltd. and BlackBook Technologies Pte. Ltd. He chairs the Risk and Audit Committee of GFTN.

He was previously an associate director of Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago from 1984 to 1987, an executive director of Scotts Holdings Limited from 1987 to 1996, and the chief financial officer of The East Asiatic Company Limited from 1998 to 2005 and has also served as the chief executive officer of companies in the hospitality and real estate development industry such as the Encorp Group from 1997 to 1998, the WIRE Group from 2006 to 2009, Rendezvous Hospitality Group Private Limited from 2009 to 2011 and Silver Needle Hospitality Pte. Ltd. from 2012 to 2015.
Mr Jumabhoy was previously a member of the Asian Executive Board at MIT Sloan School of Management and a member of Young Presidents Organisation. He is also a Fellow Member of the Singapore Institute of Directors.
Mr Jumabhoy graduated from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne with a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in both Ocean Systems Management and Management.
In 2026, he was conferred the Darjah Sultan Ahmad Shah Pahang (DSAP) by His Royal Highness the Sultan of Pahang in 2026.

Jahanzeb Khan, President & CEO, easypaisa digital bank

Jahanzeb is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of global banking experience and a strong track record in leading transformational agenda. He has recently launched the first digital retail bank in Pakistan where he serves as the President & CEO of easypaisa digital bank, having previously held the roles of Chief Product Officer and Chief Strategy Officer within the organization.

Jahanzeb has demonstrated success at large scale in digital banking, payments, fintech, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and business growth across North American and Asian markets, He brings a wealth of leadership experience from global blue-chip institutions, including JP Morgan Chase & Co. where he spent two decades in multiple leadership roles including Digital Banking, Emerging Payments, Consumer Banking, Technology and Operations.

James Boey currently is the CEO for China, India, ASEAN and Central Asian regions at GFTN. Besides that, he also is the Co-CEO for GFTN’s Forums pillar.

As the CEO of China, India, ASEAN and Central Asia, James heads business strategy for entry into those markets. He also serves as the Co-Head of GFTN Forums, where he brings his wealth of experience in business operations, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem development to shape global dialogues at the intersection of finance, technology, and public-private collaboration.

James has held senior leadership roles across both public and private sectors. Prior to GFTN, he was Senior Vice President at Constellar and Director of Business Events & Corporate Development at SingEx Exhibitions. His career also includes a role as Senior Assistant Director at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, where he contributed to national-level industry development. He has led the design and execution of major B2B events in Singapore and the broader APAC region, covering diverse sectors such as FinTech, Advanced Manufacturing, Trade, Build Environment, and Process Engineering.

Khyati Chauhan is the Chief of Staff to the Group CEO of GFTN, where she oversees strategy execution, day-to-day operations, and drives high-impact engagements across global financial and regulatory stakeholders.

In her role, she manages the CEO Office, orchestrates cross-border initiatives with central banks, multilaterals, and industry partners, and ensures alignment. Her work spans governance, partnerships, and the delivery of complex multi-country programs that advance inclusive and technology-driven financial ecosystems.

Kiyan Zandiyeh is the CEO and CIO of Sturgeon Capital, a London-based investment firm focused on private investments across the Middle Corridor, with a particular emphasis on Central Asia and the Caucasus. Backed by leading international institutions, Sturgeon is amongst the largest private-sector financial investor in the region, managing dedicated funds across private equity and early-stage venture capital. Kiyan serves as an active board member for several of the firm’s portfolio companies. Prior to joining Sturgeon, he worked with renowned economist Nouriel Roubini, leading Emerging Market Investment Strategy. He is a graduate of Imperial College Business School.

Mr. Leiming Chen is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Sustainability Officer of Ant International. Mr. Chen is responsible for Ant International’s strategic development, including public policy and government affairs, strategic partnership and new market expansion. He also leads Ant International’s sustainability initiatives and the formulation and implementation of the sustainable development strategy. Mr. Chen joined Ant Group as a Senior Vice President in March 2016 and served as Ant Group’s General Counsel from March 2016 to May 2020.

Prior to joining us, Mr. Chen was a partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, a New York-based international law firm where he led the China practice and worked on a variety of equity and debt offerings. He was also responsible for mergers and acquisitions involving PRC companies, including his lead U.S. counsel role in advising Alibaba Group in its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014. Mr. Chen has extensive experience in corporate governance and regulatory matters. He is qualified to practice law in the State of New York and is a solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong.

Madhusudanan. R, aka Madhu, co-founded M2P Fintech in 2014. As CEO, he drives broader strategy and execution on the back of his deep-rooted experience building payments businesses across Asia as part of Citibank and Visa earlier. Prior to starting M2P, Madhu served as the Director of Products at Visa for South Asia, where he incubated and developed several new payment products, including Visa’s Aadhaar-based payments system, working closely with the Government of India.

Madhu graduated from the Institute for Technology and Management with a Master’s degree in Marketing. He also holds a patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for healthcare and prepaid payment processing.

Maha is Chief Executive Officer, GFTN Solutions. GFTN (Global Finance and Technology Network) bridges policy, capital and technology to build resilient, efficient and inclusive ecosystems.

Prior to this Maha served as Centre Head, BIS Innovation Hub Singapore. The centre develops public goods in the technology space to support central banks in how they discharge their roles in a digital economy and improve the financial system using emerging technologies.

In previous roles, Maha was Head of Department for Early and High Growth Oversight leading the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) response to the Kalifa review of Fintech. She served as Chief Payments Officer at Pay.UK on secondment from the FCA, responsible for running the payments operations of the UK’s payment operator.

Maha joined the FCA in 2017 to set up the first Payments Department and was responsible for crafting and implementing the FCA supervisory strategy for the UK Payments Sector.

Maha has a keen interest in observing and participating in the many exciting changes that are unfolding in the financial services, innovation and fintech environment. She mostly enjoys crafting and implementing solution with tangible impact.

She is the author of Fintech Regulation in Practice. A book that provides a clear, hands on guide to the practical considerations that fintechs, banks adopting fintech and other key players in the fintech ecosystem need to take into account when embedding regulation.

She serves as the independent reviewer of the Australian Regulatory Sandbox, appointed by the Australian Treasury.

Maha has a Degree in Commerce from Macquarie University and a Masters in Public Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Mr. Shibata is currently in charge of FINOLAB community operation since 2019. In his former position at The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, he was leading R&D initiatives in emerging technology and online/mobile financial services as Head of Global Innovation Team. He also held positions in corporate planning, accounting, corporate finance, and retail customer services at the bank. He is one of the founders of FINOVATORS, a mentor group consists of FinTech experts. He also became an external board member at new digital bank, UI Bank, when it acquired a banking license in 2021. For his undergraduate course, he studied Economics at the University of Tokyo, with a year at Harvard University. And for his graduate course, he studied at the University of Oxford to obtain Master of Science in Development Economics.

Mr. MU Changchun is appointed Director-General of the Digital Currency Institute, People’s Bank of China in June, 2019. Mr. Mu joined the People’s Bank of China in 1995 and was appointed as the Deputy Director-General of Payment & Settlement Department in 2017. Mr. MU is a member of CPMI, a member of CGFS Working Group on Stablecoins, a member of FSB Financial Innovation Network and also a member of IMF High-level Advisory Group on Finance and Technology.

Murat Kastan is a graduate of Istanbul University’s Faculty of Business Administration and brings over 19 years of experience in the financial institutions sector. He joined UPT in March 2019 as EVP of International Partnerships, later being appointed as Chief Commercial Officer. In October 2023, he was appointed CEO of UPT, Turkey's first licensed payment company.

Since joining UPT, Murat has successfully built a platform and payment network where all UPT’s partners meet, thereby creating a global network. Today, the platform consists of 185 global partners, offering services such as cash payouts, bank account/card/wallet transfers, mass payouts, collection accounts, and virtual TRY IBAN.

Murat has also taken significant steps in the digital world with UPTION Wallet, an all-in-one app that allows customers to meet their daily financial needs. Beyond being a multi-currency wallet, UPTION also offers direct SEPA access, QR code payments, bill payments, UPTION cards, and more.

Mustafa Adil is the Head of Islamic Finance for the London Stock Exchange Group. He is responsible for leading the Islamic finance business for the organization, providing knowledge solutions and bespoke services to support the continued growth of the Islamic finance industry. He works in collaboration with government entities, multilateral organizations and financial institutions to support them in fulfilling their aspirations and executing their strategies in the Islamic finance space. These include the delivery of content solutions, research, consulting services and market engagement. He also spearheads the development of new initiatives or services that meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of the industry across markets.

Prior to joining LSEG, Mustafa was a leading consultant in the Islamic Financial Services team at Ernst & Young, providing advisory services to some of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the GCC and globally. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and holds a Bachelors degree in Mathematics from Imperial College in London.

Naveed Khawaja is a seasoned professional with over 18 years of diverse experience in strategic planning, financial advisory, private equity investments, and public-private partnerships (PPP). He brings a rich blend of expertise in project finance, corporate finance, venture capital investments, and greenfield developments. Previously, Naveed spearheaded the PPP Program at the Department of Finance, Government of Dubai, where he played a pivotal role in developing and executing Dubai’s PPP strategy and policy. Since joining the Dubai Government in 2011, he has delivered numerous high-impact projects across a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, public transport, green energy, healthcare, utilities, and real estate. With extensive experience in financial valuations, business modelling, and project management, Naveed has been an integral contributor to a wide array of transactions across both public and private sectors. Additionally, his areas of expertise include PPP development, strategic planning, financial modelling, and financial planning.

In his current role, Naveed leads Parkin's Corporate Strategy, where he oversees the development and execution of the organization’s strategic roadmap. His responsibilities include identifying and capitalizing on growth opportunities, fostering innovation, and driving initiatives that strengthen competitive positioning in the parking and mobility sector. Naveed plays a critical role in aligning the company’s objectives with evolving market trends and customer needs, ensuring the delivery of sustainable, long-term value. By integrating insights from market analysis and leveraging his expertise in project finance and PPPs, Naveed ensures that Parkin remains at the forefront of industry advancements while achieving its expansion and profitability goals.

Naveed holds an MBA in International Finance & Investment from NUST Business School, reflecting his strong academic foundation and dedication to driving excellence in financial and strategic leadership.

Neil serves as the Group Deputy Chairman and Board Director at the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN). He is also Vice Chairman, Asia Pacific for Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Group. He was invited to join the Global Board of PwC. Until recently, he was Partner and Head of Asia and Australia at Tikehau Capital. He previously held the position of CEO, Asia at National Australia Bank.

Neil is a Council Member of the Singapore Business Federation and the Singapore Institute of Directors and serves as an Advisory Board Member of the James Cook University, Singapore, and the Singapore Fintech Association. He also serves as a Senior Adviser to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC. and is a Fellow of the Singapore Institute of Directors as well as the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

He served as a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore from 2023 to 2025. He has also served on the Governing Council of the Association of Banks in Singapore and as Chief Executive Officer of Pegasus Asia, a company listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

Nobuya "Nobu" Kawasaki serves as President Director of PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk, a role he has held since being appointed at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 31 March 2026. He is also a Japanese citizen currently domiciled in Indonesia.

With more than 29 years of international banking experience, Mr. Kawasaki has built an extensive career across MUFG's operations in Japan, Singapore, and the broader Asia Pacific region. Prior to becoming President Director, he served as Commissioner of Danamon from 2019 to March 2026, providing strategic oversight during a significant period of transformation and growth for the bank.

Before joining Danamon's Board of Directors, Mr. Kawasaki was Chief Executive for Asia Pacific at MUFG Bank, Ltd., where he led the bank's regional business across one of the world's most dynamic markets. Throughout his career, he has held a series of senior leadership positions spanning corporate banking, investment banking, business planning, technology, innovation, and strategic management. He is particularly recognized for his expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate finance, and regional business expansion, having played a key role in several of MUFG's landmark investments and strategic initiatives across Southeast Asia.

Mr. Kawasaki holds both a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Mechanical Engineering from Keio University, Japan. His combination of international leadership experience, strategic vision, and deep understanding of the Asian financial services landscape enables him to guide Danamon's continued growth and strengthen its position as a key member of the MUFG Group.

Otabek Nasirov is the Chairman at Central Asian Fintech Association, a member of the expert council at Cyber Park, AICA, and the working groups of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Otabek actively participates in the development of the fintech market and community in Central Asia, regulatory sandboxes and local legislation of the fintech industry, including education on blockchain technology, convergence technologies such as AI, digital assets, cyber security and others. Represents and lobbies for the interests of the fintech community within key regulators of the digital economy in Central Asia, including ministries of digital technologies, central banks, antitrust agencies, tax and customs authorities, and others.

Otabek is a member of the UMAY Angels Club, ICLUB by Venture Found TA Ventures and cooperates with the Uzbekistan Venture Capital Association (UzVCA), the National Venture Capital Fund (UzVC), the AloqaVentures, the IT Park Ventures, the United Ventures, international venture funds, and business angel communities.

His knowledge and experience are the result of working in international and global companies such as Coca-Cola, Carlsberg Group, General Motors, Ernst & Young, and SIT Learning within the Swiss International Research Institute Schaffhausen Institute of Technology and others.

Graduate of the Tashkent State Law Institute, Moscow State University and the Moscow School of Management "Skolkovo".

Otabek is an ambassador for the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), Chapter Zero Uzbekistan (Climate Governance Initiative | CGI ), and Employer Brand Award and Summit (EMBRAS).

Pavel Khristolubov is the Chief Operating Officer at Wallet in Telegram, where he leads global operations, compliance and customer support. Today, Wallet serves more than 150 million registered users, making it one of the world's largest crypto platforms embedded within a messaging ecosystem. With more than 20 years of experience in banking, fintech, and technology, Pavel has built and led large-scale operational teams supporting millions of users worldwide. He specializes in scaling high-growth businesses, driving operational excellence and delivering trusted financial products at global scale.

Prajit Nanu is CEO and Founder at Nium, the global leader in real-time payments. Nium provides payments and card issuance services that redefine how businesses around the world pay and get paid. As CEO, he leads the company’s corporate and product strategy as Nium moves toward a vision of frictionless global commerce.

Based in the company’s co-headquarters in San Francisco, Prajit is currently focused on expanding the breadth, depth, speed, and reach of the Nium platform. Today, Nium’s payout network supports 100 currencies and spans 190+ countries, 100 of which are in real-time. Funds can be disbursed to accounts, wallets, and cards and collected locally in 40 markets. Nium's growing card issuance business is already available in 34 countries. Nium holds regulatory licenses and authorizations in more than 40 countries, enabling seamless onboarding, rapid integration, and compliance – independent of geography. Prajit was responsible for setting up Nium operations in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Prior to co-founding Nium, Prajit held leadership positions in various global organizations. He was the Global Sales Director at TMF Group, a multinational professional services firm headquartered in Amsterdam, and was the Vice President of Sales and Account Management at WNS Global Services, a business process management company. Prajit holds a Bachelor’s in Commerce & Economics from the University of Mumbai.

Ravshan Kadirov, started his career at Citibank, with an extensive track record of more than 18 years in various areas of commercial and corporate banking, such as financial risk management, corporate finance, international capital markets and treasury.

Throughout his career as the Chief Financial Officer he successfully led the strategy and innovation driven capacity building programs, as well as planning and execution of transformation of large private and state owned banks in areas of financial management, corporate governance, compliance, treasury and risk management.

Roman Tretyakov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board for IT & Digital Transformation at JSC Octobank, is an international technology executive with more than 20 years of experience in banking technology, digital financial infrastructure and payment systems.
He currently leads Octobank's technology strategy, Digital First transformation, AI adoption, data platform development and Open Banking initiatives. He also serves as Strategic Technology Advisor to the CEO of Asterium, advising on technology strategy, digital asset architecture, cybersecurity and scalable financial infrastructure.
Previously, he held executive technology leadership positions at VK, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and Sberbank, where he led large-scale transformation programmes, including the Digital Ruble Platform, modernization of payment infrastructure, enterprise technology platforms and next-generation banking systems.
His areas of expertise include digital banking transformation, AI, Open Banking, payment infrastructure, enterprise architecture, cloud-native platforms and technology strategy. His achievements include Best Digital Bank 2026 (Global Banking & Finance Review, JSC Octobank), VK People Awards 2024, the Bank of Russia's Persistent Pursuit of Excellence Award, and recognition by The Tech Media Central Eurasia among Central Asia's leading technology executives driving innovation in fintech, artificial intelligence and digital banking. Roman's LinkedIn profile:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rvtretyakov/

Rosalia V. De Leon is a member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines). She was appointed as a private sector representative of the highest policymaking body of the country’s central bank with a six-year term on 20 September 2023.

Prior to joining the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, MBM De Leon served as the Treasurer of the Philippines from November 2012 to January 2015 and from February 2017 to September 2023. As the Head of the Bureau of the Treasury, she championed projects on capital market development, led the country’s efforts on sovereign debt management by directing the formulation of policies on borrowing, spearheaded the development of digital platforms and financial products that promoted better market access to a wider investor base, and advocated for financial inclusion through the creation of investment products that allowed previously untapped sectors to invest in sovereign bonds.

Prior to her reappointment as Treasurer of the Philippines, MBM De Leon was seconded as Alternate Executive Director to the World Bank Group in Washington D.C., USA; held key positions at the Department of Finance, including Undersecretary of the International Finance Group and Chief of Staff of the Secretary of Finance; and served as an Advisor to the Executive Director at the Asian Development Bank.

MBM De Leon earned her Master of Arts in Development Economics from Williams College, Massachusetts, USA and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of the Philippines.

Sami is the CEO of OMPAY, Oman's licensed payment service provider, majority-owned by Omantel. Under his leadership, OMPAY has built a full-suite digital finance ecosystem: wallet, card, remittance, payment gateway, and SoftPOS, while advancing new initiatives such as digital bank license and Wage Protection System offering. Sami brings over two decades of leadership across fintech, telecom, and management consulting, with senior roles spanning the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Sergio Mello is the Global Head of Stablecoin Solutions at Anchorage Digital, where he focuses on the business development and platform offerings for stablecoins. Prior to joining Anchorage Digital, Sergio served as the Founder and CEO of Lago Finance, a consortium of financial institutions who enhance settlements with tokenized cash. Sergio is a serial entrepreneur who has achieved exits in web1, web2, and web3. He also advises Reddit Crypto, shaping the future of cryptocurrency communities. Additionally, as an angel investor, Sergio supports startups and entrepreneurs driving disruptive change. With his extensive knowledge, strategic vision, and influential presence in the tech industry, Sergio stands at the forefront of the digital revolution.

Sopnendu Mohanty is the Co-founder and Group CEO of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a global advisory and investment firm. At GFTN, he leads innovative strategies that drive development and transformation in the financial sector through four operating arms: Forums, Advisory, Platform, and Capital.

He served at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as its first Chief Fintech Officer for nearly a decade, establishing Singapore on the global map as a leading center for innovation in the financial sector and a dynamic hub for fintech development. He continues to advise MAS on technology and innovation.

He currently serves on several boards, including the board of A*STAR, Singapore’s leading public sector agency dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation. Before his leadership role in the public sector, he spent nearly two decades at Citigroup. He is credited with developing many public goods, including the notable PayNow, Singapore’s digital public infrastructure for payments. He conceptualized the globally well-known Singapore Fintech Festival and its global network of forums; today, the GFTN forum is the world’s largest convenor of tech, policymakers, and the financial sector community. Mr. Mohanty has co-authored several patented works in digital finance and received numerous industry accolades. He advises governments and various institutions on policies and implementation strategies for innovation, infrastructure, and ecosystem development in the financial sector.

Stefan has more than 25 years of experience in the international payments and banking technology space as Advisor, Operator and Investor. He is an early investor and advisor to founders of N26, Tide, Bitpanda, Moove, Wayflyer, Wefox, Abhi, Primer, Fairmoney amongst others. Also, Stefan has successfully exited payworks (to Visa), iyzico (to payU/Naspers) and Holvi (to BBVA). His main focus and interest currently are scale ups in Africa, MENA and other Growth Markets.

Previously, he was President of Central and Southern Europe at First Data, Partner at Roland Berger, and Principal at A.T. Kearney, based in New York and Vienna. He holds Master’s degrees from Columbia University and Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration.

Name : Sung Kyun Son / Organization : Fintech Center Korea(FCK)

Sung Kyun Son is General Director(Head of Global Business) in Fintech Center Korea (FCK) under Financial Services Commission. He works closely with overseas fintech associations, development agencies, financial institutions, MDBs home and abroad. He is in charge of Global Business to promote and enhance overseas fintech partnerships around the World.

Before joining Fintech Center Korea, he was in charge of organizing Korea National Pavilion in MWC Barcelona, Shanghai, ITU Telecom World and Global ICT Partnership programs in KAIT, under Ministry of Science and ICT. He is a frequent moderator and speaker in fintech and ICT related seminars in Fintech Center Korea.
His interest areas are Fintech, SME internationalization, SME competitiveness, Korea ICT and Fintech Industry. He holds a Master of Science in Business Administration, Seoul National University.
Education:
Masters of Science in Business Administration, Seoul National University
B.A in Economics, University at Albany, State University of New York
Work Experiences
Senior Manager, Korea Association for ICT Promotion (KAIT) (2014~2019)
International Coordinator, Korea Communications Standards Commission
Languages: Korean, English and basic Spanish

Waleed Sadek is the Founder & Group CEO of FinTra Holding, a leading financial technology group building next-generation payment infrastructure, digital banking platforms, and global financial networks across emerging markets. With over 20 years of experience in fintech and digital payments, he previously held senior leadership roles at Visa, leading innovation across the Middle East, North Africa, and the CEMEA region. As the founder of PaySky, Yalla Super App, UPN, and UNU, he has led the development of national payment infrastructure in 10 countries and expanded operations across 18 markets. Recognized as a leading fintech innovator, Waleed is passionate about advancing financial inclusion, digital transformation, and the future of cross-border financial services.

Walid is the CEO of Valu. Previously, Walid served as Chairman of Paytabs Egypt and Vice Chairman of EFG EV Fintech. He currently sits on the board of KarmSolar and previously served on the board of Bedaya for Mortgage Finance. Walid’s leadership of the NBFI platform at EFG Holding over 5+ years has seen it grow multiple businesses and launch innovative brands. Prior to joining EFG Holding in 2016, Walid had a successful 17-year banking career. He was General Manager and Head of Structured Finance and Investment Banking at Bank Audi, where he closed structured and project finance transactions in excess of USD 15 billion. He first started at Misr International Bank, structuring and executing several award-winning deals, in project finance and M&As within Egypt and the GCC. He was the Head of structured finance and syndication in Banque Misr where he successfully managed to top the league table of the MENA region in syndicated loans.

Walid holds a Cairo-University B.B.A with highest honors, an MBA from J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University, and an Islamic Finance Qualification from CISI- UK.

Dr Wu is CEO and Founder of Surfin Meta Digital Technology (SMDT) Pte Ltd, a Singapore-headquartered financial technology solutions provider for the underserved.

He began his career as a research scientist in the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center as well as the Los Alamos National Lab, where he published several academic papers on first-rate physical journals.

Dr Wu then kickstarted his financial career by joining a hedge fund for quant trading, before moving on to TD Bank for 13 years as a senior portfolio manager, managing $30 billion in AUM for global asset allocation and quant strategies. Following that, he moved to Asia to join Citic-Prudential as Head of Quantitative Investment Director, and was responsible for managing $4 billion in AUM with a focus on Asian equities for 5 years.

SMDT was founded in 2017, inspired by Dr Wu’s passion for bringing financial inclusion to the unbanked and underbanked. He hopes to utilize his financial training combined with his love for technology to create a unique cross-border platform that will aim to provide financial services such as consumer lending and credit cards, payments and remittances, wealth management as well as B2B solutions to those who are unable to access traditional financial institutions.

Zaahirah Adam is a global payments and fintech leader focused on the intersection of emerging markets, financial infrastructure, technology and socio-economic change. She is currently Chief of Staff at TransferTo and Thunes, a worldwide payment network that became Singapore’s first B2B payments unicorn.

Earlier in her career, Zaahirah held executive strategy and operating roles at Crown Agents Bank, Liberis, Nova Finance and Capita, working across payments, lending, digital assets, international expansion, transformation and growth. She is also a founder, having built and scaled a bootstrapped consumer app, and was named one of Brummell’s Ones to Watch in the City in 2025.

Zaahirah brings a distinctive perspective on how technology, regulation, capital and changing consumer behaviour are reshaping the future of money, particularly in markets where access, speed and trust matter most.

Zuhursho Rahmatulloev is an entrepreneur and fintech executive with more than a decade of experience building technology-driven financial institutions across Central Asia, the UAE, and the United Kingdom. He is Co-Founder of Alif Bank, Alif Uzbekistan, and Ayan Capital, with a focus on Islamic finance and digital banking.

He has helped build one of Central Asia's leading fintech ecosystems. Under his leadership, Alif expanded beyond Tajikistan into new international markets and grew into a technology-driven organization of more than 350 software engineers.

In 2023, he co-founded Ayan Capital in the United Kingdom to expand access to Shariah-compliant financial services, and is now developing it into a broader Islamic digital banking platform.

Based in Dubai, he continues to work at the intersection of Islamic finance and technology, with a focus on expanding access to ethical financial services across emerging markets.