Chalee Asavathiratham
SEVP, Chief Digital Officer

Siam Commercial Bank

Chalee Asavathiratham joined Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) in April 2020, and is currently the senior executive vice president (SEVP) and chief digital banking officer. Asavathiratham has extensive working experience at leading local and foreign companies. Prior to joining SCB, he was the chief research officer at WorldQuant, in charge of researching teams and data scientists in 14 countries worldwide.

He also served as the portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch, New York, and Sun Trading in Chicago, responsible for quantitative trading. He was a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in Bangkok and London and analytics engineer at Pivotal Systems Corporation. Asavathiratham was awarded a King’s Scholarship for his undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees, all in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Lito Villanueva
EVP and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC)

Lito Villanueva is executive vice president (EVP) and chief innovation and inclusion officer at RCBC. He is also concurrently chief digital transformation advisor of the Yuchengco Group of Companies. Under Villanueva’s leadership, RCBC received six global digital awards during the pandemic and was recognised as the Philippines’ best digital bank. Villanueva also created and launched DiskarTech – the country’s first and only Tagalog and English (Taglish) inclusion super app with over three million downloads in three months after its launch. Villanueva is the Philippines’ leading and award- winning thought leader on digital transformation and inclusive digital finance. He has over 20 years of experience in banking, telecommunications, payments, development finance, and financial technology. He has received over 50 global and regional awards, including being one of the Top 100 FinTech Leaders in Asia. He is also founding chairman of FinTech Alliance.ph and has released various publications including the award-winning three-volume Inclusive Digital Finance Report and the Uncharted Beyond: The Taxonomy of FinTech in the Philippines.

David Jimenez Maireles
Chief Experience Officer and Deputy CEO, TNEX

David Jimenez Maireles is the chief experience officer and deputy chief executive officer at TNEX, a digital-only bank. He is focused on making it the first lifestyle digital banking platform for young people, changing the way customers access day-to-day services with ‘invisible’ banking products and lifestyle services that enhance customer experience.

Maireles has built his reputation through leading digital banks, innovation projects and scaling up business-to-customer and business-to-business products in Europe, US and Southeast Asia. He is a speaker, blogger and one of the leading FinTech influencers since 2015. He is also a fintech and financial inclusion practitioner, with more than 15 years of insight across product and customer experience, design, marketing and behavioural economics.

John Gong
Professor and VP-Research and Strategy, University of International Business and Economics - Israel, and a China Forum expert

John Gong currently is the vice president of research and strategy at University of International Business and Economics in Israel. He is also a professor, researcher and expert in the fields of finance, international trade, antitrust, patent dispute and competition policies. He serves as an expert consultant at the Ministry of Commerce’s Antitrust Bureau in China, and acted as the chief architect of the Bureau’s national competition database project. Meanwhile, he is serving as an academic affiliate with Global Economics Group, a leading global economics consulting firm based in the US. He is also the principal author for the China section of the policy position paper by the BRICS New World Bank’s steering committee during its foundation time. He is also a renowned op-ed columnist for several leading newspapers including the South China Morning Post, Global Times and China Global Television Network, on economic and political issues.

Kanokporn Jootar
Deputy Chief and Head of Domestic Transaction Banking, ttb bank

Kanokporn Jootar has over 20 years of combined experiences in transaction banking and financial & technology consulting. She is a seasoned professional who understands the intricacies of both worlds and leverages this knowledge to drive financial well-being for clients. At ttb, Jootar is responsible for providing innovative transaction banking solutions to corporate and SME clients, helping them optimize their cash management and improve operational efficiency and stakeholder well-being. To stay ahead of the curve, ttb is constantly looking for new ways to innovate and improve the transaction banking experience for clients. This includes leveraging technologies and partnerships to develop new products and services that can help clients stay ahead of the competition.

Sam Tanskul
Managing Director, Krungsri Finnovate

Sam is the Managing Director of Krungsri Finnovate. A subsidiary of Krungsri to fully lead on Fintech/ Startup in Thailand and the region, with the key focus in 3 areas, accelerator & academic collaboration, startup project management, and corporate venture capital for Krungsri Group under MUFG with a focus on technological innovation investment in Thailand and ASEAN. He is also one of the board members of Thai Fintech Association. Prior to his current role at Krungsri Finnovate, Sam has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry with several leading organizations including UOB, GE Capital and Krungsri Consumer, in the area of product management and innovation. Since 2014, he has joined Thailand’s startup ecosystem, as one of the core members behind the success of ‘Krungsri Uni Startup’ a platform for the young, creative generation to develop financial mobile applications in pursuit of their aspiration to be professional startups - and ‘Krungsri Rise’, the first fintech corporate accelerator in Thailand.

Steven Beck
Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance
Asian Development Bank

Steven Beck has over 15 years of experience as Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He established the first authoritative source of default and loss data in trade financing, reshaping the regulatory treatment of trade finance and freeing up billions in additional financing capacity. Beck launched ADB's analysis on global unmet demand for trade finance, highlighting the need to create transformative benefits for small businesses in developing Asia. He drives ADB's digitalization efforts in global trade, leading the creation of the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) and promoting gender equality by conducting a gender audit of ADB's partner commercial banks. He serves on industry bodies, including the Governing Board of the DSI and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Working Group for Trade Finance and others. Beck is a member of Advisory Council of the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation, providing strategic advice on international accounting and sustainability reporting standards.

John Howard D. Medina
Chief Operating Officer, PBCOM

John Medina is the Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Bank of Communications. He has more than 25 years of experience driving innovation, change and transformation for financial services in different countries.

He was a pioneer in the process and technology management practice in the 1990s when he helped transform the Asia Pacific operations of one of the largest multinational banks. He subsequently established a private consulting firm in the United States, helping design new digital business initiatives for financial institutions and startups.

Prior to joining PBCOM, he was the Head of Global Operations, Technology and Credit for the Philippine National Bank. He was also the Integration Director who oversaw the merger of Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking Corporation in 2013. Medina also worked at Union Bank of the Philippines where he conceptualised and implemented digital banking products and services.

Noppachai Tungsinpulchai
Head of Information Technology Risk Management, Krung Thai Bank

Noppachai Tungsinpulchai has an extensive experience in financial budgeting control, risk management, technology implementation, process improvement and internal control for over 10 years for financial service institution and large multinational Companies. He actively drive business to achieve the business result and monitoring the goal both financial operation and regulatory compliance.

Pepjin Kok
CISO & Head of Cyber Security, AIS

Pepjin Kok is the CISO and Head of Cyber Security of AIS, Thailand’s biggest telecommunications group. Pepjin has an extensive experience in cybersecurity, risk management, IT governance and compliance. He has led large international projects, devised international policies and operating models for governance and compliance, and supported the implementation of new technologies in a secure manner. He has serviced finance organisations, but he has also supported manufacturing, petrochemical, telecom and utilities sectors.

Henry Aguda
President and CEO, UnionDigital Bank

Prior to joining UnionDigital Bank, Henry was Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer of UnionBank of the Philippines. Currently, he is President and CEO, UnionDigital Bank and also the Chairman of the Board of UBX Philippines. Henry has received numerous accolades from the Philippine National Privacy Commission and The European Global Banking and Finance Awards. Henry also leads the Private Sector Advisory Council’s (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure Group, whose main advocacy, GoDigitalPilipinas, aims to recognize private sector support of digitization in government agencies.

Adisorn Hatairatana
Head of Consumer Credit Risk Management & Technology, Krungsri

Adisorn Hatairatana is currently the head of consumer credit risk model development & technology at Krungsri. Prior to Krungsri, Adisorn was the director of quantitative risk management at Mnementh Analytics, a fintech startup, building a CECL software solution (Janus) and provided model development advisory services to one of the largest monoline credit card providers in the US among others. He also has a wide range of banking experience from community banks, regional banks, and a global bank. He was in market risk analytics at SS&C GlobeOp, a Long-Term Capital Management legacy, supporting chief risk officers from large hedge funds clients.

Paul Ark
Venture Partner, The Radical Fund

Paul is a venture capitalist focusing on sustainability, and is a Venture Partner at The Radical Fund, an early stage VC firm with an investment mandate towards climate mitigation and adaptation in Southeast Asia. His previous venture capital experiences include Partner & Head of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) at Gobi Partners, a pan-Asian venture capital firm with over US$1.5 billion of assets under management, and launching and managing Digital Ventures, Siam Commercial Bank’s US$100 million global corporate venture capital fund. He spent the early part of his career as an investment banker, working on IPOs, acquisitions, and private equity deals for global banks Deutsche Bank and Citigroup in Asia and New York, as well as boutique advisors Tonson Capital and Blackwood Ventures in Southeast Asia.

Theo Priestley
Author of “The Future Starts Now” and global Technology Futurist

Theo is a globally recognised and sought-after futurist and international speaker, author, and authority on the future of business, technology, and society focusing on the convergence of emerging trends, including Web3, Metaverse and Artificial Intelligence. He is widely known and sought after for his forthright views on the negative impacts of technology on society and currently works to inform political and business leaders of the risks and benefits of adoption.

Theo has been listed as a Top 100 global technology influencer and thought leader on the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Fintech multiple years in a row. He has worked with some of the biggest names in tech and business including SAP, Siemens, Bosch, Software AG, AON, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise - consulting, speaking for, and advising on strategic foresight, and emerging technologies. He has mentored a number of startup accelerators including the HTC ViveX VR incubator and Alchemist, one of Silicon Valley's Top 10.

He is the author of “The Future Starts Now”. He has published more than 300 articles on topics including Web3, Artificial Intelligence, Space, Blockchain, Metaverse, and Mixed Reality, for Forbes, the European, WIRED, Huffington Post, and more. He has also contributed op-eds to VentureBeat, GigaOM, and The Times Raconteur, and has been interviewed for radio and national television news on technology trends.

Arvid Swartsenburg
Head of Digital Strategy & Transformation, TMRW Digital Group, UOB

Arvid Swartsenburg is a senior banker with over two decades experience as a financial services practitioner and consultant across Europe, US, Africa and Asia. Arvid currently is Head of Digital Strategy & Transformation for UOB where he supports the wider banks’ vision to build the future of ASEAN leveraging digital to disrupt the conventional banking model.

From 2010 to 2020, Arvid was a Principal at Arete Financial Partners, a boutique Management Consultancy focused on supporting financial services clients manage change. In this role, Arvid led a wide range of complex projects across Asia and Africa focused on Strategy, O&T, digital transformation, risk management and M&A. From 2000 to 2010 he worked at Citi’s Global Consumer Business across the US, Europe and Asia, where he held a variety of senior roles across product, channel, sales & distribution, wealth management & strategy.

Arvid is passionate about digital transformation & innovation and how this is increasingly changing the way we work, live and play. He has gained extensive experience in working with a wide range of FinTechs and startups in his consulting role and remains an investor, mentor and advisor across various startups globally.

Marc Recker
Global Head of Product, Institutional Cash Management, Deutsche Bank

Marc Recker is Global Head of Product, Institutional Cash Management (ICM), at Deutsche Bank where he is responsible for the strategic development and positioning of cash clearing products for Deutsche Bank globally. The ICM Product function is an integral component of the bank’s franchise in terms of strategic direction, product development well as identifying and executing growth opportunities. Recker has been engaged in the financial services industry since 1998 and represents Deutsche Bank in various industry forums/working groups.

David Cooper
Managing Director, Workflow Solutions Head APAC, Deutsche Bank

Based in Singapore, David Cooper runs the Workflow Solutions (WFS) business for the Asia Pacific region. He is responsible for delivering cross border solutions to the Bank´s clients across the Asian markets, utilising robotic process automation to meet client’s treasury objectives across payments, liquidity, FX and documentation. Cooper and his team focus on delivery of technology led, highly scalable solutions for global clients from corporate, financial institution and financial technology segments. He started his career in software sales, followed by mobile technology enabled Micro Finance programs in Indonesia and Philippines and then Telecoms. He has been in Asia for 18 years, 12 of which with Deutsche Bank, working and living across several ASEAN markets prior to Singapore.

Pratyush Khare
Vice President, Systems Engineering, Asia Pacific & Japan Pure Storage

Pratyush Khare is Vice President, Systems Engineering for Pure Storage in Asia Pacific & Japan. He leads a team of systems engineers across the region that provide pre-sales support to customers that are looking for modern data solutions in their digital transformation journeys.

Pratyush joined Pure from Hitachi Vantara where he was the Field CTO and head of pre-sales in the Asia Pacific. With more than 20 years’ experience as a senior executive and technical consultant in enterprise technology, he has worked with leading cloud, infrastructure, software, and applications companies across the Americas, APAC and India. He has a strong track record of helping customers solve complex technology challenges.

Sanphet Sukhapesna
Head of Integrated Risk Management and Analytics, Kasikornbank

Sanphet Sukhapesna is currently the Head of Integrated Risk Management and Analytics at Kasikornbank. His current responsibilities include establishing risk appetite statement/metric and risk limit as well as risk policies with the integration with strategic/business planning, and capital planning processes. He has been responsible for developing innovative transmission-mechanism analytics for scenario analytics/stress testing to better assess impact from unconventional systemic shock including recent pandemic crisis. In addition, he has played crucial roles in developing innovative credit risk analytics and transforming end-to-end credit processes corresponding to customers increasingly relying on digital/mobile platforms. Sanphet is also responsible for preparing the bank’s readiness for new regulatory landscape including IFRS9 and the revision of Basel III.

Mir Arshaduddin
Executive Director, Head of Consumer Business Operational Risk & Control, UOB Thailand

As the Head of Consumer Business Operational Risk & Control at UOB Thailand, Mir Arshaduddin is responsible for overseeing the operational risk and control for asset products (ANR US$ 2.6 Bn) and insurance products (AUM US$ 1.6Bn). With a wealth of experience in the banking industry spanning over 25 years, he has in-depth knowledge of strategic and operational levels, with a specific focus on retail bank sales & distribution, branch operations, operational risk & controls, regulatory compliance, AML & KYC processes, credit risk operations, collections and fraud risk Management. In additional to his current role, he has held regional and country leadership roles in Singapore, Indonesia, Russia and India.

Gaitri Sharma
CRO, Group Global Banking, Maybank

Gaitri Sharma is currently the Chief Risk Officer, Group Global Banking in Maybank. Her role as CRO is to drive the multi-pillar risk spanning from credit, operational, market, liquidity, sustainability and governance frameworks across the region.

She has over 25 years of global experience in various risk, compliance and technology management roles in the financial services industry where she has successfully shaped and aligned business strategies and risk appetite. Prior to that, Gaitri was with AT&T for 8 years in data risk management with experience in product, program and process management.

Suresh Ramasamy
Former Head of Group IT Security Hong Leong Group

Ts. Dr. Suresh Ramasamy is the Chief Research Officer (CISO) at the Center for Advanced Computing and Telecommunications (CACT). Currently, he is pursuing a second PhD at the Malaysian University of Science & Technology, focusing on Cyber Threat Intelligence, an emerging field, and how Artificial Intelligence aids in attribution issues.

Previously, Ramasamy served as the Head of Group IT Security for Hong Leong Group, overseeing 6 countries and 5 entities across the Hong Leong Financial Group. During his tenure, he successfully led the bank's digital transformation, leveraging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, and Digitalization. Prior to that, Ramasamy held multiple positions at Digi Telecommunications, spanning to Telenor Asia. He built the infrastructure hub in Malaysia specifically for the Asian OpCos as the Chief Privacy Officer and spearheaded the initiative to comply with the Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act. He also served as the Head of Security Operations at Maxis, overseeing the Maxis group's cybersecurity deployment.

Rajesh Mehra
Practice Lead - SCF, Trade & TB,
IFC - FIG Advisory Services
IFC - International Finance Corporation

Rajesh Mehra is the Practice Lead for Trade & Supply Chain Finance, Financial Institutions Group covering Asia and Pacific at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. In this role, he leads client engagements and advisory projects covering Supply Chain Finance, Trade, and Transaction Banking across the region. Based in Bangkok, he currently supports the development of SCF business in the APAC through IFC’s Advisory and Investment projects with FIs in the region. With over 30 years of experience in Corporate Banking, Trade, and Supply Chain Finance, Product Management, and Operations primarily with Standard Chartered Bank, Mehra is a seasoned Transaction Banker. He has worked in leadership roles in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa managing business across a wide footprint. He specializes in Open Account Trade, Documentary Trade, Receivable Purchases, Distributor and Supplier Finance Solutions, Structured Warehouse Financing, and SME Banking.

Barney Frank
Former Chairman of House Financial Services Committee, United States Congress

Congressman Barney Frank is the former chairman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee between the turbulent global financial crisis years of 2007–2011. As one of the sponsors of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, also known as the Dodd-Frank legislation, his efforts at closing the gaps in financial oversight such as creating a financial stability council, finding ways to liquidate systemically important firms, and strengthening the financial system against further shocks, were crucial for the recovery of the US financial services industry. Congressman Frank is also credited with many grassroot initiatives, including creating a low-income housing tax credit in the 1980s. He is widely respected by chairmen and CEOs of banks in the US, regulators, and fellow lawmakers.

Sonja Davidovic
Advisor, Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Deputy Director, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Sonja Davidovic is currently an Adviser at the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub (BISIH) Singapore, leading the Hub’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) work. In this position, she co-leads project Mariana and also leads the post-Dunbar multi-lateral CBDC arrangement work. Davidovic is seconded from the Monetary Authority of Singapore while on leave from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At the IMF, she worked as an Economist and Digital Expert on Transformative Technologies. She provided capacity building, policy recommendations and technical advice to IMF member countries on digital currencies, including CBDCs.

In addition to numerous analytical and research papers on financial technology and digital currencies, she has also contributed to the analytical work for the G20 agenda to enhance cross-border payments. Prior to joining the BIS, Davidovic worked as Market Infrastructure Expert on the digital euro investigation phase at the European Central Bank (ECB).

QAMAR SALEEM
Head, Financial Services Advisory APAC International Finance Corporation, IFC

Qamar Saleem is the Head of Financial Services Advisory, Financial Institutions Group for Asia and Pacific at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. In this role, Qamar leads IFC’s Financial Institutions advisory services business driving client engagements spanning across 30 countries aimed at providing client solutions in sustainability, climate change and digital context. The key Practices are focused on sustainability, ESG and climate change; digital bank transformation and digit bank set-up; financial sector resilience, risk, and governance; Trade, Transaction Banking and Supply Chain Finance; Social Impact advisory focused on MSMEs, gender equality and housing.

Qamar has 30 years of global financial services experience having worked across over 60 countries managing large business lines, leading business transformations, and implementing performance improvement solutions across a broad range of financial services while leading large multi-cultural and cross-functional teams. Prior to joining IFC, Qamar was associated with international organizations like HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank as well as large regional banks while serving in several emerging markets.

Alicia García-Herrero
Chief Economist, Asia Pacific Natixis

Alicia García Herrero is the Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis CIB. She is also a Director with the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI). She serves as Senior Fellow at the Brussels-based European think-tank BRUEGEL and a non-resident Senior Follow at the East Asian Institute (EAI) of the National University Singapore (NUS). She is also Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Finally, Alicia is a Member of the Council of Advisors on Economic Affairs to the Spanish Government and an advisor to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s research arm (HKIMR) among other advisory and teaching positions.

Colin Richard Dinn
Chief Information Technology and Digital Transformation Officer, Vietcombank

Colin has worked across financial services, consulting and vendor management in Asia and Europe. His role in VCB is to drive the transformation of the business to leverage digital and data ‘leap-frogging’ the traditional evolution, and positioning the bank to exploit new digital and data 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. He was the CTO and Head of Operations of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB).

Previously, Colin was Group Executive for ANZ assigned with overall delivery responsibility to build a new wholly-owned ANZ subsidiary bank ANZ Thai in 9 months. This encompassed all aspects of the business and technical design, as well as property and resourcing with the final regulatory approval. Other roles in ANZ included strategic planning and solution de-livery, design and build of a regional-based retail and corporate banking model.

Colin has worked in Asia for 29 years, with various roles such as Managing Director of Fidelity Information Systems and Head of IT Strategy of Standard Chartered. Early in his career, he worked at HSBC (Midland Bank) in the UK covering technical and business roles.

Axel Winter
Technology Leader; former Global Head of Enterprise Architecture & Technology Strategy for Standard Chartered Bank

Axel Winter is a highly experienced technology leader with strong hands-on experiences in the banking, retail and startup worlds. He was previously Global Head of Enterprise Architecture & Technology Strategy for Standard Chartered Bank and had similar roles at GE Money and Cisco Systems. He also had consulting roles at Accenture and Deloitte. He recently founded a corporate startup that partnered with Grab and JD.Com, two leading platforms operating across the Asia Pacific region. He currently serves as Chief Digital Officer for a luxury mall operator and is also a venture partner and advisor to startups in the asset tokenisation and eCommerce space which keeps him at the frontiers of the digital world. Axel is also an advisor to a special-purpose acquisition company in Singapore and contributed to the world’s second largest retail IPO in 2020.

Takeshi Kito
Vice-chair, Fintech Association of Japan and Committee Member, Government of Japan's Regulatory Sandbox

Takeshi is a Fintech entrepreneur, and Vice-chair of Fintech Association of Japan and leads international partnerships. Aside from those activities, he sits on a committee for the Government of Japan's Regulatory Sandbox and an experts’ group of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry for cross-border transfers of data. Prior to establishing his own startup, he worked for Merrill Lynch as an investment banker and has 12 years’ experience in capital markets in total. Before joining Merrill Lynch, he worked at Boston Consulting Group.

Tim Scheffmann
CEO, LTS Ventures

Tim Scheffmann is the chief executive officer of LTS Ventures, a Southeast Asian fintech company based in Vientiane, Laos. He leads LTS in running one of the largest shared microfinance platforms in the region. It is based on distributed ledger technology with online and offline capability and serves over 225,000 client accounts and 858 village banks. Scheffmann has worked on digital financial inclusion in Southeast Asia over 11 years. He was previously a regional director for a blockchain company and assumed chief roles in mobile money, remittance and payments startups. Having worked with Credit Suisse from 2008 to 2012 in almost every financial hub across the world including Frankfurt, Zürich, London, New York, Hong Kong and Singapore, Scheffmann managed global projects valued at more than $25 million. Prior to Credit Suisse, he was IBM’s executive business consultant on global projects in the financial sector.

Kumardev Chatterjeen
Metaverse Mastermind, Technology Thought-Leader; Member of INTERPOL Expert Group on Metaverse

Kumardev Chatterjee is a globally known Metaverse Mastermind, Industry thought-leader and expert on Web3, AI and a range of technology areas, a serial tech innovator, founder and entrepreneur, and futurist in technology, author, speaker and investor. He is an Expert of the World Economic Forum, Research and Innovation Independent Expert at the European Commission, Official Member of the INTERPOL Expert Group on the Metaverse, and Official Advisory Board Member to the Government of Finland for their National Metaverse Strategy.

Mr. Chatterjee has more than 25 years of strategy, deep tech and executive leadership experience at start-ups and Fortune 500s across Europe, USA and Asia and has been responsible for more than 100 MN USD in total sales, revenue, delivery and P&L across different geographies, organisations, and roles. During 2021-2022 at NEOM, he was the co-founder the multi-billion-dollar NEOM Cognitive Metaverse. He advises and works closely with governments, official institutions, Fortune 100 companies and startups, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Family Offices and UHNWs, and mainstream media on metaverse, web3, AI, smart cities, innovation and Investments. He was named one of the most innovative global AI executives by Analytics Insight magazine and inducted into the prestigious Progress 1000 list of London’s most influential leaders in technology. Mr. Chatterjee is co-author of Digital Minds for a New Europe.

Howard Davies
Chairman, NatWest Group
Former Chairman, Financial Services Authority, UK

Sir Howard Davies is the chairman of NatWest Group, one of the largest players in the UK financial services industry. He was instrumental in restoring the bank to profitability, strengthening its capital position, and introducing new products and services.

Prior to this, he was the founding chairman of the Financial Services Authority (FSA). During his time at the FSA from 1997 to 2003, Davies led initiatives aimed at enhancing financial stability, consumer protection, and promoting a well-regulated financial sector in the UK.

Davies has been a member of the International Advisory Council of the China Banking Regulatory Commission since 2003 and chairman of the International Advisory Council of the China Securities Regulatory Commission since 2012. He chairs the Risk Committee at Prudential and serves as a member of the Regulatory and Compliance Advisory Board of Millennium Management, a hedge fund based in New York with more than $50 billion in assets under management.

At The Asian Banker Future of Finance Summit, Davies will share his insights on the future of finance in a digital world, the impact of geopolitical conflict and deglobalisation, as well as the threat posed by climate change to global economic growth and the world order.

Jirayut Srupsrisopa
Founder and Group CEO, Bitkub Capital Group

Jirayut (Topp) Srupsrisopa is a renowned figure in the blockchain and digital asset industry, serving as the Founder and Group CEO of Bitkub Capital Group Holdings Co., Ltd., the most prominent and trusted blockchain and digital asset group of companies in Thailand. With over 8 years of extensive experience, he has established himself as one of Thailand's foremost experts in bitcoin and open blockchain technologies. Prior to his current role, he successfully founded Coins.co.th, Thailand's largest bitcoin wallet company. Under Jirayut's visionary leadership, Bitkub has achieved remarkable milestones, emerging as Thailand's Unicorn startup within a remarkable three-year timeframe since its inception in 2018. In recognition of his expertise and contributions, he holds key positions in notable organizations, including Executive Board Member and Vice President at the Thai Fintech Association, as well as a Subcommittee member at Thailand's Office of the Trade Competition Commission.

Eli Shoshani
Head of APAC, Bottomline Technologies

Eli Shoshani is the Head of APAC for Bottomline. Based in Singapore for the last 18 years, he is leading the sales team and managing the overall Bottomline business in the region. With more than 20 years of leadership experience in the financial technology industry within Asia, the UK, and South Africa, Shoshani has participated in numerous industry events across Asia as a keynote speaker focusing on growing market trends and innovation in the ASEAN financial landscape. Prior to Bottomline, he held several senior management positions in other financial technology firms such as Finastra, D+H, and Fundtech.

Ng Poh Yee
Head of Corporate Trade Sales, Financial Supply Chain Management, Group Transaction Banking, UOB

Poh-Yee joined UOB in 2017 to head corporate trade sales and financial supply chain management under group transaction banking, based in Singapore. She brings over 20 years of banking experience drawn from different international banks. In her current role, she is responsible for driving the business strategy. In addition, she leads a team in supporting clients across MNCs, regional large corporates to small medium sized businesses to capture trade opportunities, mitigate payment and collection risk and manage their working capital requirements.

Kelvin Teo
Co-Founder and Group CEO
Funding Societies | Modalku

Kelvin Teo is the co-founder and Group CEO of Funding Societies | Modalku. He has been a key member of the Singapore FinTech Association’s Digital Finance Subcomm since 2018 and recently named by the Association as among the Top 12 Fintech Leaders in Singapore in 2020. As one of the Top 200 FinTech Influencers in Asia, Teo has spoken at major conferences such as LendIt Shanghai, Boao Hainan and Money20/20. He has also been featured on Bloomberg, BBC and Business Times. Prior to this, Teo served as a consulting professional at KKR, McKinsey and Accenture.

Phattharaphon Ratanasuvan
SVP, Trade Finance Product, Bangkok Bank PCL

Phattharaphon Ratanasuvan is a highly accomplished trade finance professional with over 25 years of experience. He is currently looking after Trade Product Management at Bangkok Bank, where he leads the efforts in driving trade business as well as trade digitization and innovation. He has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation in the trade industry and has played a key role in the successful implementation of several trade digitization projects. He is known for his in-depth knowledge and insights into the latest trends and developments in the field. Prior to this, he held several Trade Finance positions at Siam Commercial Bank and Citibank Thailand.

Henky Sulistyo
Managing Director, CRO, CIMB Niaga

Henky Sulistyo is an experienced risk professional in the banking industry, with 25 years of expertise in credit (wholesale & retail), asset & liability, market, operational, and enterprise risk management. He relocated to Indonesia in 2012, after spending a decade working in Singapore for global and regional banks, primarily focusing on the Asian market. Henky is a certified financial risk manager by GARP.

Johnson Poh
Chief Data Officer, Group Executive VPBank

Johnson Poh is currently chief data officer and group executive at VPBank, based in Vietnam. He has been a practicing data scientist for the past decade, with experience spanning across finance, consulting and government sectors. His prior professional appointments include being head of enterprise AI and data at UOB Group; head of data science / practice lead at DBS Bank; chief data scientist of ASEAN region at Booz Allen Hamilton and head of data science / principal data scientist at Ministry of Defence, Singapore. He also serves as an adjunct faculty at Singapore Management University (SMU).

Kanishk Upadhyay
EVP, Head Liabilities, Cards and Payments, Techcombank (TCB)

Kanishk Upadhyay has 18 years of experience successfully managing retail banks, strategy, and digital transformation, including new business launches and restructuring across ASEAN, and South Asia. He has been leading the digital and payments transformation for banks, driving multiple large implementations through agile at scale, working with fintech partners and vendors. He is adept at conceptualisation and leading the creation of neo digital bank (BaaS), bringing together diverse industry leaders and technology partners to create a winning offering.

Roongthip Angkasirisan
Managing Director, Country Head of Credit & Risk Management, UOB Thailand

Roongthip Angkasirisan currently serves as the managing director of United Overseas Bank (Thai) Public Company Limited (“UOBT”). With almost 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Roongthip is responsible for overseeing and supervising the credit approval and risk management functions of the bank. Her role covers a range of areas, including credit underwriting, credit risk, market and balance sheet risk, operational risk, collection, and asset management. She has championed new initiatives within UOBT, such as IRB implementation, stress test, ESG, risk culture, and more.

Ng Ying Zhong
VP of Product, Cake Group

Ng Ying Zhong is the VP of Product at Cake Group, a leading digital asset innovator in Southeast Asia. Cake Group empowers investors through secure and transparent decentralized finance (DeFi) services, with its core businesses - Cake DeFi and Levain.

As an accomplished VP, Ying Zhong has transformed Cake Group into a product-led organization. With a team of over 50 professionals, he fosters innovation, drives growth, and develops advanced solutions across key product verticals and the research arm.

Before joining Cake Group, Ying Zhong founded successful startups focused on leveraging AI and automation for enhanced efficiency and outcomes. His entrepreneurial spirit, ability to identify opportunities, create value, and lead teams in dynamic environments have been key to his success. In 2022, he was recognized as a Singapore Fintech Leader Under 30 for his significant contributions to the fintech space.

Supakorn Kungpisdan
Chapter President, Cybersecurity & Governance, Thailand Chief Information Officer Association

Supakorn Kungpisdan is the chapter president of The Thailand Chief Information Officer Association (TCIOA). He has more than 22 years of experience in cybersecurity as a researcher, system integrator, lecture, and head of cybersecurity of leading organisations in various industries including banking, finance and government agencies.

Jose Antonio Pastoral
Business Head, Trade & Supply Chain Finance, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)

Jose Antonio "J.A." Pastoral is a distinguished banking expert and the Business Head for Trade and Supply Chain Finance at the Bank of the Philippine Islands(BPI). With a specialization in Transaction Banking, he possesses expertise in Cash Management and Trade and Supply Chain Finance. Pastoral holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the esteemed Asian Institute of Management in Manila, Philippines.

Phitha Tanpairoj
Head of Products, Transaction Banking, Krungsri

Phitha Tanpairoj is the Head of Products, Transaction Banking at Krungsri. He is a product development executive with a strong focus on digital transformation and payment solutions. After joining Krungsri in 2019, he helped launch several B2B2C digital payment solutions, QR cross border in Japan and actively participated in Thailand’s digital payment initiatives. Prior to his current position at Krungsri, Phitha had more than 20 years of experience working in the tech and financial service industry with several leading organizations in the field of solution delivery, digital banking and found two successful startups.

Yi Shuen Chin
Director, Global Strategy and Solutions, APJ, Pure Storage

Yi Shuen Chin is the Director, Strategy and Solutions, APJ. In this role, he manages a team of technical specialists across Asia Pacific that help Pure Storage’s customers turn data into business advantage. Chin has more than 20 years of experience in technology, particularly around Content Delivery Networks, Storage and Cloud Services. He also has a proven track record in building out technical services teams across Asia Pacific. Prior to Pure Storage, He worked at Limelight Networks where he was responsible for the pre-sales Solutions Engineering team in Asia Pacific and Japan as well as more than 10 years in regional roles at Akamai Technologies.

Thadpong Pongthawornkamol
Managing Director and Head of Machine Learning, KASIKORN Business Technology Group (KBTG)

Thadpong Pongthawornkamol is a Managing director and head of Machine Learning team at Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG), Thailand. Under his lead, the team of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and AI research engineers has been using Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI to transform the organization. So far, the team has made technical accomplishment on many fronts such as advanced marketing analytics, deep image processing, and Thai natural language processing (Thai NLP). Prior to his current job, Dr. Pongthawornkamol has spent his adventurous years in US, working as a Software Engineer in a variety of Wall Street and Silicon Valley technology companies including Bloomberg and Google. His main interests include data analytics, artificial intelligence, and software engineering best practices.

Mike Breen
Head of Sales, Standard Chartered nexus

Mike Breen is the Head of Sales for Standard Chartered nexus, a Banking-as-a-Service proposition by Standard Chartered. Based in Singapore, Mike has been leading go to market strategy and customer engagement for the white-label plug and play banking solution with a vision to redefine the banking experience for customers globally by digitally marrying ecosystems to banks. The first market is Indonesia, where the Bank has announced two partners, Bukalapak and Sociolla, with further plans to expand in the region. Mike has led sales and product organisations from start-ups to enterprise over the last 15 years. He has worked in several hypergrowth businesses which were ultimately acquired by larger organisations. Most recently, Mike was at Mastercard Asia Pacific where he was responsible for delivering numerous new multimarket initiatives such as network tokenization for mobile wallets, digital only onboarding experiences and industry standard e-commerce checkout flows. Prior to that, Mike has held multi-dimensional roles in Financial Services and Telecommunications delivering on next generation digital consumer experiences. He has worked in the UK, Netherlands, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan.

Sundeep Rawal
Senior Director Asia Pacific, Euronet

Sundeep brings to the table more than two decades of distinguished leadership experience in the payments industry and high-end tech solution consulting across a wide range of products including hardware, software, and enterprise applications, as well as services encompassing outsourcing and consulting. His remarkable expertise lies in providing strategic solution consultations to C-suite executives, translating conceptual ideas into captivating investment prospects. Having spent nine successful years at Euronet, Sundeep has also made significant contributions to other esteemed organizations such as ACI, IBM, ICICI Bank, Electracard, and Tata Teleservices. His unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results and his ability to navigate complex challenges have earned him a reputable standing in the industry. Sundeep's profound leadership acumen, combined with his comprehensive domain knowledge and unwavering dedication to excellence, has positioned him as a trusted advisor and sought-after expert in the payments and technology sectors.

Peter D. Finn
Co-founder and CEO, Synectify

Peter Finn, PhD, National University of Singapore (NUS) and King’s College London (KCL) is a blockchain expert and early AI adopter with over twenty-five years of information technology experience. He has lectured on blockchain and business transformation at Singapore Management University (SMU) and developed IBF-accredited courses for industry professionals. His broad academic and industry experience covers both theoretical and technical disciplines ranging from political theory and classical philosophy to software development, decentralised finance, systems engineering, aviation, marine operations, and renewable energy. He is a serial entrepreneur, confident leader, passionate educator, and life-long learner.

TS Shankar
Asia Representative, BAFT

Shankar is a consummate professional with over three decades of experience in financial services across banks. Non-banks, FinTech's and now with BAFT, (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, a 103-year-old advocacy organization for Trade and Payments). He has worked in Global and regional responsibilities including the US, Singapore, and India in various leadership roles in sales and product development. Currently based in Singapore, Shankar’s remit includes all of Asia Pacific where BAFT constituents are based.

A keen follower of developments across the banking industry with a specific focus on transaction banking, Shankar has also invested in and advices Fintechs, working with bright minds with brilliant ideas.

Yap Kwee Hong
Managing Director, Head of Global Trade Finance, OCBC Bank

Yap Kwee Hong is Managing Director and Head of Global Trade Finance in OCBC Bank where she is responsible for strategic development and building the bank’s trade franchise. Kwee Hong has over 25 years of transaction banking experience managing teams in Trade Finance covering trade sales origination, trade product development, structured trade finance, risk distribution and working capital solutions in a regional capacity across markets and client segments from FI/MNC, large local corporates and SMEs. Prior to joining OCBC Bank, Kwee Hong spent 17 years in Citibank N.A. assuming regional and country roles in Trade Finance in various capacities including sales and product management. Her notable professional contribution included driving trade growth in Asia Pacific and was instrumental in setting up the Asia Trade Hub in Singapore. Kwee Hong has been conferred the IBF Fellow in Corporate Banking by the Institute of Banking and Finance in 2019.

Chrisada Sookdhis
Head of Data Science, AIA Thailand

Chrisada is currently Head of Data Science at AIA Thailand. He established and led successful data science departments, which excelled in delivering AI/ML solutions across a myriad of business facets. Prior roles include serving as Head of Risk Management at SCB Asset Management, overseeing USD 30+ Billion AUM. He started his career as Physicist and Lead Engineer, achieving significant revenue growth at Fabrinet. Combining technical acumen with strategic leadership, he is an influential voice in today’s data-driven financial services landscape.

Voranuch Dejakaisaya
Executive Chairman, Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG)

Voranuch Dejakaisaya is an accomplished executive with over 40 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. She is presently serving as the Executive Chairman at Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG). Throughout her career, Voranuch has held prestigious roles across well-established institutions. In the past, she was instrumental in the transition to digital banking and agile solutions as the Chief Information and Operations Officer (CIOO) at Siam Commercial Bank. Her expertise was also employed in her capacity as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at SCB X Public Company Limited.

Voranuch also served as the CIOO at Bank of Ayudhaya and the Chief Information Officer (SEA/IT Regional Head) at GE Capital (Thailand). Voranuch has a proven track record of achievements in innovation and technology within the banking and finance sector. She has led complex technology integrations, supported the growth strategies of organizations, and leveraged emerging technologies to deliver improved analytical insights. Her expertise and leadership have made her a respected figure in the industry, driving the digital transformation of banking operations and ensuring banks are ready for the digital era. With her deep knowledge of banking technology, Voranuch continues to contribute significantly to the growth and success of the financial sector in Thailand. Voranuch awards and recognitions include Top ranked of CIO50 technology leader in ASEAN from IDG in Y2019 and Chief Information Technology of the Year in The Asian Banker’s Business Achievement Awards 2019 event

Martin Buchholz
Advisory to CIMB Thai Consumer Digital Banking, CIMB

Martin has spent most of his career in the Financial Services and IT Services space in Asia Pacific pioneering through several waves of digital transformations. His career began in the development labs at IBM Corporation in the US and UK. After moving to Asia Pacific, he became VP and Chief of Staff at Citibank Asia Pacific Corporate Bank and later the CTO of Asia’s first Internet only bank and a founder of Internet startup Book-n-go.com during the Internet boom. Martin went on to be an advisor and managing consultant in the Financial Service and Telco industries with major engagements with banks in Singapore and Thailand as well as leading the technical build of the Continuous Link Settlement (CLS) utility for the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Martin joined CIMB in January of 2018 as Programme Manager in CIMB Fintech delivering solutions across the CIMB Group. Shortly afterward he moved to be Head CIMB Thai Consumer Digital Bank responsible for Digital initiatives as part of five-year transformation programme. And now at the end of that programme, Martin is now Advisory to CIMB Thai Consumer Digital Banking.

Venkat ES
Head of Asia Treasury Product, Global Transaction Services, Bank of America

Venkat ES is Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific (APAC) Treasury Product, Global Transaction Services, part of Global Banking & Markets (GBAM) at Bank of America. He joined Bank of America in January 2013 in Hong Kong and is responsible for developing and executing the integrated strategy for the Treasury Product for Asia Pacific (APAC) region. His role encompasses comprehensive product management, product development, strategy & innovation, risk and compliance functions for the business unit serving commercial, corporate and institutional clients. Venkat has 25+ years of experience in the financial services industry across multiple regions and geographies. Prior to joining Bank of America, most part of his earlier career was with Citibank, predominantly in Global Transaction Services (Treasury, Trade and Custody) in India, Middle East and the US across multiple functions in product, sales, client coverage, relationship management and credit in country, regional and global roles. He has served on various forums and committees of Central Banks and industry bodies, promoting digital payments.

Ashutosh Kumar
Managing Director, Head of Global Transaction Banking, Asia & Oceania Mizuho Bank

Ashutosh Kumar has over 20 years of experience in the Global Transaction Banking industry across Asia. At Mizuho, he is responsible for the strategy and execution of the business, as well as expanding its franchise in Asia. Kumar joined Mizuho from Standard Chartered, where he held many senior roles including Global Head of Working Capital; Global Head of Transaction Banking Sales, Commercial Banking and Regional Head of ASEAN & South Asia, Transaction Banking amongst others. He is also a member of the task group on Traceability and Sustainability of Supply Chains at Enterprise Singapore. Before joining Standard Chartered Bank, he worked in ABN AMRO’s Global Trade business in Asia Pacific region.

Sandeep Sethi
Consultant, Financial Services Solutions and Corporate Treasury Advisory APAC

Sandeep is an experienced Corporate and Transaction Banking Professional with over 27 years of experience across multiple countries, with the majority of that time spent in Hong Kong as the Asia-Pacific Relationship Manager for Top Global corporates. He has held leadership positions, leading cross-country and cross-functional teams in Corporate banking, Cash Management, and transaction banking operations. In his previous banking role, Sethi served as the Managing Director, Regional Corporate Coverage and APAC Coverage Sector Head for Diversified Industrials and Chemicals at Deutsche Bank. Currently, he is focusing on financial services solutions consultancy and corporate treasury advisory with a specific focus on the APAC region, leveraging his comprehensive understanding of Asia's diverse jurisdictions. Sethi is a certified expert in Sustainable finance from the Frankfurt School of Management and has also completed courses in leadership and fintech from prestigious universities such as the National University of Singapore and the London Business School.

Virag Thakkar
Regional Information Security Officer, Allianz Partners

Virag Thakkar is Regional Information Security Officer (APAC) at Allianz Partners, located in Bangkok. He has 20+ years of leadership experience in Cyber & Information Security Covering Audit Compliance, Privacy Frameworks, Risk Management & establishing Security Operations.

He received his bachelor’s degree at Gujarat University. Having Industry leading certifications like CISSP, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, PCI-SI, ITIL Foundation & Cyber Laws.

Peter Deans
Advisor, The Asian Banker Risk Management Awards Programme

Peter Deans was the former Group Chief Risk Officer of the Bank of Queensland (BOQ) in Australia and comes with a finance career of over 32 years. He has been awarded multiple times by the Australian Banking & Finance magazine for his achievements. Currently he is a Non-Executive Director of Trade for Good Pty Ltd and The Regtech Association and an advisory board member of several startups ventures. Peter is also the Creator & Founder of the 52 Risks management framework.

Shekhar Bhandari
President of Global Transaction Banking Kotak Mahindra Bank

Shekhar Bhandari is President of Global Transaction Banking at Kotak Mahindra Bank and is responsible for Technology, Digital, P&L on Trade, Foreign Exchange, Investment and Supply Chain Finance, International Trade Finance, Domestic and cross border payments culminating into liquidity and working capital solutions for the entire bank. With over 25 years of experience, he has held diverse positions of increasing responsibility across the group. He is instrumental in making Kotak synonymous with innovative and customized solutions, the latest addition being Kotak FYN - a new enterprise portal that offers comprehensive digital banking and value-added services across all products, including trade, account services, payments and collections. Bhandari is passionate about technology, and endeavors to make Banking “Simple and Fast”. Under his stewardship, the bank has strengthened capabilities in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Signatures, Open banking, machine learning, and data analytics.

Somprawin Manprasert
FEVP, Chief Economist and Chief Strategy Officer, Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)

Somprawin Manprasert has extensive experience and expertise in in-depth macroeconomic and industrial research management, the driving force behind the Economic Intelligence Center's (EIC) mission to support SCB's strategic plan “To Be a Better Bank” and to further sustain sustainable growth. On the strategic front, he is in charge of the Strategy Office to formulate and facilitate the execution of SCB’s strategic plans with aspiration to benefit the bank, customers, and the society as a whole. Manprasert previously served as EVP, chief economist of Bank of Ayudhya's research team and as Associate Dean of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Economics. He has conducted research for government agencies such as the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Budget Bureau, and the Ministry of Commerce.

Chartsiri Sophonpanich
Board Member, Thai Bankers’ Association, President, Bangkok Bank

Chartsiri Sophonpanich is President of Bangkok Bank, which is the 6th largest bank in Southeast Asia and the largest in Thailand by total assets. Under Sophonpanich’s leadership, Bangkok Bank has doubled its international branch network with an international network of 310 branches in 14 economies. One of Sophonpanich’s personal milestones is the $2.7 billion acquisition of Indonesia’s Bank Permata. It was not only the largest acquisition in the bank’s history, but was also the largest intra-ASEAN bank acquisition. Sophonpanich also accelerated the Bangkok Bank’s digital transformation and broke new ground in areas such as enterprise blockchain for trade finance, a new digital platform to digitise end-to-end from the procurement to payment process and real-time cross border cash management and payments. Sophonpanich is currently board member of Thai Bankers’ Association.

So Lay Hua
Head of Group Transaction Banking, UOB

So Lay Hua has more than 35 years of banking experience across product management, sales & technology, drawn from both major foreign banks and local banks. She oversees product, digitalisation and business strategy for Cash Management, Trade Finance and Financial Supply Chain Management worldwide. Under her leadership, UOB Group Transaction Banking grew to contribute almost half of UOB Group Wholesale Banking’s income and has won trophy deals and garnered prestigious industry awards. She remains actively involved in Singapore and the banking sector, playing an ongoing role in influential industry-led committees such as the permanent committee for the ASEAN Banking Council's 2022 Co-operation in Finance, Investment and Trade Technology (COFITT). She also serves on the 2022 Standing Committee for Trade Finance Registry for ABS Council, the Digital Steering Committee for Trade Pillar, and FAST2.0 within the Singapore Clearing House Association (SCHA)

Devashis Das
Managing Director and Deputy Head of Transaction Banking, Asia Oceania, Mizuho Bank

Devashis Das is the Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Transaction Banking, Asia Oceania. He joined Mizuho in 2015 after 19 years in Citi Japan & Singapore, 1.5 years in RBS. He also has 4 years of IT consultancy experience. In his current role, Das oversees intelligence, strategic planning, training and market presence for Transaction Banking in Asia Oceania. His role includes internal content management and external marketing and awards programs as well as extensive RM education & customer training at all locations to grow transaction banking business. Das brings with him extensive experience in cash management client solutions, strategic planning, establishing operations centre of excellence (COE), document imaging and back-office automation.

Daniel Li
Chief Digital Officer, Personal Banking & Wealth Management, Bank of China (Hong Kong)

Daniel Li held the role of Chief Digital Officer at Bank of China (Hong Kong) in December 2021, where he spearheads the development and implementation of the digital transformation strategy for the Personal Banking & Wealth Management business. Additionally, he oversees BOCHK's Digital Banking Division, playing a pivotal role in steering the institution towards becoming a Digital Bank.

Fueled by an unwavering commitment to growth and a penchant for experimentation, Daniel is deeply passionate about ensuring customer satisfaction. His expertise lies in leveraging data-driven insights and adopting lean, agile methodologies tailored to meet customer needs.

Under Daniel's leadership, Bank of China (Hong Kong) has undergone a significant transformation towards becoming a Digital Bank, marking a paradigm shift in the financial landscape. Prior to joining BOCHK, Daniel accumulated 25 years of experience in Singapore, working with esteemed global and regional banks such as Citibank, Standard Chartered, and DBS. His diverse background encompasses Digital Transformation, Digital Banking, Data Management, and Wealth Management, contributing to his comprehensive skill set in navigating the evolving financial landscape.

Karin Boonlertvanich
EVP, Corporate Strategy and Innovation Division Head, KASIKORNBANK

Karin Boonlertvanich is currently the Executive Vice President at Kasikornbank, Thailand, where he oversees the Corporate Strategy and Innovation Division. His main responsibilities include formulating corporate strategy, building and cascading the corporate scorecard, developing digital banking and digital asset businesses, customer segmentation, and exploring innovation beyond traditional banking. Additionally, he is responsible for the Treasury department, overseeing the bank’s investment portfolio decisions, liquidity management, and balance sheet management. Furthermore, he holds the position of Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Accountancy and Commerce, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Frankie Shuai
APAC CISO, DWS (Deutsche Bank Asset Management)

Frankie Shuai is the APAC Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at DWS, Deutsche Bank Asset Management, with over two decades of experience in Financial and IT industries. As a seasoned leader, he previously directed cyber and technology risk at UBS for Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, and has held positions at Citibank, Microsoft, and HP. Frankie is renowned for bridging the gap between cybersecurity and business agendas, evidenced by his frequent speaking engagements at industry events. His commitment to digital transformation and innovation is underscored by a patent for next-generation wireless networking filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where he serves as the sole inventor. In his current role at Deutsche Bank Asset Management, he leads regional Information Security, contributing significantly to the institution's cybersecurity resilience.

Neil Tan
Chairman, FinTech Association Hong Kong (FTAHK) and a Member of the Hong Kong Government, Web3 Task Force

Neil Tan brings over 20 years of extensive experience in Corporate Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Business Development, and Partnerships, spanning roles in Banking (HSBC, Deutsche Bank), Management Consulting (Boston Consulting Group BCG), and Industry (Philips Electronics, Siemens). Currently, he is the Chairman of the FinTech Association Hong Kong (FTAHK) and a Member of the Hong Kong Government Task Force on Promoting Web3 Development (Web3 Task Force). He is also a Steering Committee Member of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and a Conference Ambassador of the Hong Kong Tourism Bureau (HKTB). In addition, he serves as the Managing Partner at Tsunami Advisors, Neil leads an advisory and consulting firm dedicated to assisting FinTech, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Asset, and Web3 companies in expanding, growing, and scaling within the Asia Pacific Region. Prior, he served as the CEO of Neptune Digital, an award-winning blockchain start-up under the Cyberport Incubation Program (CIP). Earlier in his career, he served as the Head of Business Development, Asia Pacific, in the Digital Partnerships & Innovation Team at HSBC, focusing on Banking-As-A-Service (BaaS) and Embedded Finance, which included digital payments, lending, wealth, and insurance.

Gerald Goh
Co-Founder and CEO Sygnum Singapore

Gerald is Co-Founder and CEO Sygnum Singapore, a global digital asset banking group. Previously, He was the Head of Alternative Investments for CrimsoNox Capital, a single-family office. Prior that, Gerald was a Managing Director with global investment consultant Cambridge Associates, where he focused on private investments and worked with numerous sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, pension funds, and single-family offices to build and monitor their global private investment programmes. He also co-established its Beijing office in 2011.

Akina Ho
Co-Founder of AllStarsWomen DAO and Advisor, Pi Labs

Akina Ho is currently service as an Advisor for Pi Labs as their Venture Partner for Asia. She is also the Co-Founder of AllStarsWomen DAO, Founder of HedGrowth Limited, and also the Co-Founder and Advisor for Hong Kong Proptech Alliance. She has been in the hospitality industry for close to 20 years and now she is a well-respected thought leader in innovative tech like space like AI, PropTech and the Web3 space covering NFTs, Metaverse, blockchain, GameFi, DeFi, and DAOs. She is also on the Board of Web2, Web3, and AI companies. She was one of the Executives that helped a built a Unicorn in Hong Kong 2017 with investors from FoxConn and Softbank. Akina is an Adjunct Professor for HKUST, teaching how to use Art of War for business transformation. She is a well-known global keynote speaker and panelist with notable media appearances on Bloomberg and Fox International about the latest innovations and technology business trends.

Hakan Eroglu
Advisor – Innovation Hub, Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Hakan is an Advisor for Technology & Innovation at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub in Hong Kong with a focus on Open Finance, Digital Currencies and Payments. Before joining the BIS, he was the Global Open Banking & Open Data Practice Lead at Mastercard, based in Zurich. Hakan is an expert for open data ecosystems, open banking & open finance regulation, API standardization, instant and cross-border payments.

He is an internationally recognized thought leader in his area of expertise, and a member of various international working groups. He brings more than 14+ years of technology & strategy consulting and product development experience at Mastercard, Accenture and Infosys – in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

John Wong
Head of Global Payments Solutions, Commercial Banking,
Hang Seng Bank

John Wong oversees Hang Seng Bank’s wholesale banking cash management, encompassing sales, product management, digital banking channel development, and client implementation. With over 30 years of banking experience, primarily in transaction banking, John is recognized for his substantial contributions to business growth and transformation. Before his tenure at Hang Seng Bank starting in 2015, he spent 25 years at Standard Chartered in Hong Kong and China, spearheading significant change management initiatives. His leadership extends across the Asia Pacific, with professional stints in China, Hong Kong, and various APR countries, showcasing his ability to navigate multi-cultural environments effectively. In 2018, he was honored as Transaction Banker of the Year by The Asian Banker.

Shekhar Bhandari
President - Small and Medium Enterprises, Kotak Mahindra

Shekhar Bhandari holds the role of President & Business Head of SME Banking at Kotak Mahindra Bank, leading the bank's efforts to drive growth and innovation in the SME sector. With a focus on developing comprehensive banking solutions tailored for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), he emphasizes open banking and other non-traditional services. Shekhar is also responsible for implementing technology-driven transaction banking solutions to meet the distinct financial needs of the vast SME market in India. With a career spanning over 25 years at Kotak Mahindra Group, he has demonstrated expertise across various banking domains, including Transaction Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Insurance, Mutual Fund, Securities, Corporate Finance, Strategy, and Compliance, successfully pioneering new revenue channels and fostering growth across six businesses under his leadership.

Gregory Hendra Lembong
Deputy President Director, BCA

Gregory Hendra Lembong, oversees the Transaction Banking Director, Finance & Corporate Planning Director, and manages the Operational – Services Strategy and Development Division along with Strategic Information Technology. Additionally, he supervises the progress of PT Central Capital Ventura and PT Bank Digital BCA, both subsidiaries operating in venture capital and digital banking respectively. Over the course of his career, he has gained substantial expertise across diverse domains, encompassing IT transformation strategy and implementation, transaction banking, global trade finance, corporate cash management, regional strategy, planning, and product management.

Michael Spiegel
Global Head of Transaction Banking , Standard Chartered

Michael Spiegel is the Global Head of Transaction Banking at Standard Chartered Bank. Before assuming his present role, he served as the Global Head of Trade. Prior to joining the bank, he amassed over three decades of dedicated experience at Deutsche Bank, where he held various leadership positions in Transaction Banking.

Voranuch Dejakaisaya
Executive Chairman, Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG)

Voranuch Dejakaisaya is an accomplished executive with over 40 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. She is presently serving as the Executive Chairman at Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG). Throughout her career, Voranuch has held prestigious roles across well-established institutions. In the past, she was instrumental in the transition to digital banking and agile solutions as the Chief Information and Operations Officer (CIOO) at Siam Commercial Bank. Her expertise was also employed in her capacity as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at SCB X Public Company Limited.

Voranuch also served as the CIOO at Bank of Ayudhaya and the Chief Information Officer (SEA/IT Regional Head) at GE Capital (Thailand). Voranuch has a proven track record of achievements in innovation and technology within the banking and finance sector. She has led complex technology integrations, supported the growth strategies of organizations, and leveraged emerging technologies to deliver improved analytical insights. Her expertise and leadership have made her a respected figure in the industry, driving the digital transformation of banking operations and ensuring banks are ready for the digital era. With her deep knowledge of banking technology, Voranuch continues to contribute significantly to the growth and success of the financial sector in Thailand. Voranuch awards and recognitions include Top ranked of CIO50 technology leader in ASEAN from IDG in Y2019 and Chief Information Technology of the Year in The Asian Banker’s Business Achievement Awards 2019 event

John Howard D. Medina
Chief Operating Officer, PBCOM

John Medina is the Chief Operating Officer of the Philippine Bank of Communications. He has more than 25 years of experience driving innovation, change and transformation for financial services in different countries.

He was a pioneer in the process and technology management practice in the 1990s when he helped transform the Asia Pacific operations of one of the largest multinational banks. He subsequently established a private consulting firm in the United States, helping design new digital business initiatives for financial institutions and startups.

Prior to joining PBCOM, he was the Head of Global Operations, Technology and Credit for the Philippine National Bank. He was also the Integration Director who oversaw the merger of Philippine National Bank and Allied Banking Corporation in 2013. Medina also worked at Union Bank of the Philippines where he conceptualised and implemented digital banking products and services.

Gordian Gaeta
International Resource Director, The Asian Banker

Gordian Gaeta has been an investment consultant for more than 25 years. He has advised and served many of the leading financial services organisations across Asia and close to half of the top 100 banks worldwide. He specialises in developing and implementing analytical solutions for complex strategic issues in financial services-related industries undergoing significant change or being exposed to intricate risk issues. He is currently the principal of Leopard Capital. As chairman, he convenes the advisory boards in their core function of validating the matrices used in the programmes ratings, rankings and awards to ensure that they are conducted in a professional, impartial and accountable manner.

Emmanuel Daniel
Founder, The Asian Banker

Emmanuel Daniel is the founder of TAB Global which includes The Asian Banker, Wealth & Society, RadioFinance, The Banking Academy and The Skill Store. He is an award-winning writer and author with a background in management consulting. He previously served in several government advisory councils, interviewed some of the leading chairmen, chief executive officers, policy makers and entrepreneurs around the world and currently consults with banks on investor, media relations and strategy formulation. His first book on the future of the finance industry, “On the Eve of Finance 5.0”,is set to be published soon.

Anthony Ng
Co-Founder & CEO of Hong Kong Virtual Asset Exchange (HKVAX)

Anthony Ng possesses over 20 years of experience in finance and business operations, with a specialisation in fintech and virtual assets. Throughout his successful career, he has held prominent positions at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, and Myriad Asset Management. Notably, as the former Managing Director of CITIC Futures International, he provided global electronic trading support.

With a focus on research in Artificial Neural Networks, Algo Trading, and Trading Systems, Anthony has gained unique insights into cutting-edge financial innovations. Currently, he serves as the Vice Chairman of the Global Investment Fund and the Financial and Treasury Services Committee at the HKGCC. Additionally, he contributes as a member of the Industry Expert Committee of the Greater Bay Area Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Foundation. Recognised as a Web 3.0 Innovation Pioneer by Forbes China in 2022, Anthony’s dedication to fostering innovation in finance and technology remains steadfast.

Lord Chris Holmes
Member of the House of Lords
Former Member, Science and Technology Select Committee, UK

As a distinguished member of the House of Lords, Lord Chris Holmes is a leading advocate for the transformative potential of technology, particularly in financial sectors like fintech and trade. His legislative work, focused on the regulation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, makes him a key figure in shaping the future of digital finance and tech-based economic growth. Holmes has been instrumental in the passage of significant legislation, such as the Electronic Trade Documents Bill, showcasing his expertise in legal and regulatory frameworks that impact the financial sector.

Holmes' insights extend to financial inclusion, where he's been recognized for his efforts to ensure equitable access to financial services. His amendments to the Financial Services Act 2021, advocating for issues like cashback without purchase, highlight his commitment to practical financial solutions. This, combined with his role in advising fintech companies, positions him uniquely to address the evolving landscape of financial services.

In Parliament, Holmes has co-authored reports on crucial subjects like Democracy and Digital Technologies, and Artificial Intelligence, indicating his depth of understanding in how technology intersects with governance and societal structures. His involvement in the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee further reinforces his proficiency in navigating the complex interplay between technology, policy, and social impact.

Tuan Nguyen
Chief Information Officer, Techcombank

Tuan is an innovative and proven technology leader with P&L accountability and a wealth of experience spreading across the banking, fin-tech, insurance, high-tech, and energy sectors. He works across three continents: the US, Europe, and Asia. This diversified understanding has allowed him to be culturally sensitive, empathizing with different cultural expectations, and effectively leading transformation leveraging each of the regional strengths.

During his tenure as Chief Information Officer at Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) and as a Board Advisor to Vietnam's CIO community, he revolutionized the country's technology landscape. Techcombank became the first financial institution to fully embrace a "Cloud First" strategy, pioneering comprehensive cloud migration. Additionally, under his guidance, the bank led the charge in digital transformation, simplifying customer experiences across retail and commercial channels with a unified platform. He championed an agile work culture, breaking down traditional hierarchies and fostering innovation. Through his focus on engineering excellence, simplicity, and continuous learning, he drove a cultural shift, placing people at the forefront of Vietnam's banking sector evolution.

Eric Tan
Senior Director, Business Development & Portfolio Management, Head of Banks & Remitters, Visa Direct, Asia Pacific

As Visa Direct's Head of Bank & Remitters Business Development, Eric drives sales growth by collaborating with Account Executives and regional teams to engage decision-makers and establish cross-border payment programs. His leadership also focuses on optimizing existing initiatives for maximum scalability. Previously, Eric served as Head of Transaction Banking for North Asia & Greater China at ANZ Bank in Hong Kong, amassing extensive expertise across the Asia region. His tenure included leading teams in digital banking innovation and implementing payment solutions for ANZ and ABN Amro clients. With over two decades in banking, Eric's leadership spans diverse markets, including Singapore, Sydney, and Taiwan, across international and pan-regional institutions like ANZ and ABN AMRO.

Jody Aldridge
Head, Installed Base, Solutioning and Customer Success, APAC
Visa Cross-Border Solutions

Jody Aldridge built a career focusing on at scale technology and is currently leading expansion as the growth director in APAC for Currencycloud, a foreign exchange and cross-border payments company recently acquired by Visa. Before moving to Singapore, Aldridge spent 7 years at Currencycloud in the UK supporting pioneering fintechs and banks around the world to launch innovative cross-border payment solutions to empower the global population. Prior to joining Currencycloud, he spent 9 years working within network security solutions, IT managed services and cloud computing infrastructure across both UK and global companies, helping organisations to scale their infrastructure needs.

Sunil Mascarenhas
Senior Investment Specialist, Trade & Supply Chain Finance Program, Asian Development Bank

Sunil Mascarenhas has been part of Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program since 2019. He oversees the Supply Chain Finance Program (SCFP), focusing on maximizing transaction volumes through global bank partnerships, delivering exceptional client service, and maintaining rigorous risk assessments. Mascarenhas is also dedicated to expanding supply chain finance in new developing markets, assisting local banks in launching these services to support SMEs. With a career in banking that began in 1998, Sunil has extensive experience across commercial banking, and risk management, previously working at the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) in various international roles.

Anthony Lin
Head, Transaction Banking Asia and Global Head, Market Management, Standard Chartered

Anthony Lin, appointed head of transaction banking asia and global head of market management in March 2024, has had an extensive career in banking spanning over 25 years. Previously, Lin served as CEO of the Greater Bay Area at Standard Chartered from 2020, overseeing the bank's operations in the region. Before this, he was CEO of Standard Chartered (Taiwan) from March 2017. His earlier roles include president of Bank of America (China) where he was responsible for governance, strategy, and franchise development, and EVP at Deutsche Bank (China), heading corporate banking coverage and trade finance and cash management. Lin began his career at Standard Chartered in 1995 as a management trainee, ascending to managing director, head of transaction banking for China. His leadership excellence was recognized in 2012 when he was named “Leading Talent in Shanghai” by the Organisation Department of Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, and he received the "Elite Foreign Bank Trade Finance Manager Award" from the Credit Rating Centre, Ministry of Commerce.

Anand Ramachandran
VP, Global Banking Solutions Practice, Oracle Financial Services

Anand Ramachandran, as vice president, is the global head of banking solutions at Oracle Financial Services. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked closely with senior executives, including CXOs from 30 of the top 50 banks worldwide. His expertise lies in providing business solutions that help both global and regional banks as well as financial institutions innovate and enhance operational efficiency. He advises on adopting the right architectural frameworks and paths for progressive transformation, enabling banks to capture new opportunities, reduce costs, and expand market share. Anand has been instrumental within Oracle in championing the adoption of ISO 20022 within the Oracle technology stack.

Geetika Chopra
Senior Director, Product Management and Strategy, Oracle Financial Services

Geetika Chopra is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience, primarily at Oracle, where she leads product management for insurance and banking applications that target accounting standards. She possesses extensive knowledge in risk management for banks and insurance companies, which she has leveraged to develop industry-leading solutions for financial disclosures and risk mitigation. In addition to products aligned with accounting standards, she has also pioneered a service focused on climate change analysis and reporting, complying with ISSB, ESRS, and SEC guidelines.

Winnie Chen
Head of Treasury Services, Asia Pacific, Singapore Country Chief Executive, BNY Mellon

Winnie Chen, based in Singapore, holds dual leadership roles at BNY Mellon. As head of treasury services for Asia Pacific, she oversees all regional functions including relationship management, sales, product management, and client enablement. She also serves on the Treasury Services Global Leadership Team and the Asia Pacific Enterprise-wide Leadership Council.

As the country chief executive, she is pivotal in advancing the bank's growth and commercial objectives in Singapore, ensuring operational excellence and compliance with both internal policies and regulatory standards.

With extensive experience in global transaction banking and relationship management, Winnie has previously held senior positions at United Overseas Bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Bank of America, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo.

Ashutosh Kumar
MD, Head of Global Transaction Banking, Asia & Oceania, Mizuho Bank

Ashutosh Kumar is the Managing Director and Head of Global Transaction Banking for Asia & Oceania at Mizuho Bank. Based in Singapore, he oversees the strategy and execution of the bank's transaction banking operations and is focused on expanding its franchise across the region.

With over 20 years of international experience, Kumar has a profound understanding of the Asian market and transaction banking globally. Renowned for his commitment to innovation and expertise in digital ecosystems, he has led the transformation and growth of various banking businesses. He also serves on the Task group on Traceability and Sustainability of Supply Chains at Enterprise Singapore.

Prior to joining Mizuho, Kumar held several senior positions at Standard Chartered, including Global Head of Working Capital and Transaction Banking Sales, Regional Head of Transaction Banking for ASEAN & South Asia. Before joining Standard Chartered in 2005, he worked in ABN AMRO’s global trade business in the Asia Pacific region.

Foo Boon Ping
President and Managing Editor, TAB Global

Foo Boon Ping is the President and Executive Director, TAB Global. He manages its publishing and research business in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa and regularly engages the financial services community on transformational issues shaping the industry. He has more than 25 years of experience in strategic brand, corporate and marketing communication as well as research and consulting, covering retail, corporate and transaction banking, financial markets, risk management, compliance and financial technology. Foo started his career as a financial journalist, worked as a senior consulting manager at Ernst and Young and served in senior management positions at UOB and DBS Bank.

Chris Kapfer
Head of Research, TAB Insights

Christian Kapfer is Research Director, managing TABInsights, leading research and consulting engagement with top-tier financial institutions in benchmarking business and strategic capabilities across leadership, commercial, retail and transaction finance, financial markets, risk management, financial technology, and wealth management. Kapfer joined The Asian Banker in 2014 and was responsible for starting many of the company's research programmes, such as Excellence in Retail Financial Services, AB 500 Strongest Banks Ranking and Working Groups.