Christo Georgiev

CEO and Founder, LenderLink

Christo Georgiev is a seasoned financial technology executive with a strong track record in driving business growth and operational excellence across Southeast Asia. He is the founder and CEO of LenderLink, a company focused on advancing credit and lending innovation.

From 2019 to 2024, Christo served as Group COO and Country Manager (Philippines) at FinScore, a leading alternative credit scoring company. Under his leadership, the firm achieved 100% year-on-year revenue growth, forged strategic partnerships with over 30 top-tier financial institutions, and significantly broadened its market footprint and data capabilities. He led initiatives that processed millions of alternative data points monthly, advancing financial inclusion for the underbanked and unbanked.

Christo played a key role in raising $1.9 million from investors, including UBX Ventures (UnionBank of the Philippines’ CVC arm), and co-led FinScore’s successful exit to CTOS Digital of Malaysia in 2023. Following the acquisition, he remained with the company through its transition before stepping down in 2024 to launch LenderLink. Since 2012, Christo has held leadership roles across Operations and Business Development in Southeast Asia, building a reputation for strategic impact and execution in emerging fintech markets.

Sina Wulfmeyer

CDO @Unique FinanceGPT, AI Leader, AI Governance, #1 Woman in Banking and Fintech 2024 by Handelsblatt, Secure GenAI for Financial Services: Data Protection, IT Security & AI Governance Expert

Sina is Chief Data Officer at Unique AG – a rising European startup providing a GenAI-driven platform called Unique.AI to better understand customers and build more meaningful client relationships. Unique.AI is a tailored solution for the financial industry that aims to increase productivity by automating manual workload through AI and ChatGPT solutions.

Sina is a proven GenAI and data transformation specialist for financial applications with over 20 years of experience. Before Unique AG, Sina led data strategy projects at Credit Suisse AG and worked as a consultant at Accenture AG. She lectures on GenAI, AI Governance, and Data Protection at top universities like HSG St. Gallen and HEC Paris, inspiring future tech leaders. Sina also mentors startups on GenAI applications and serves on the ISO expert council in Switzerland. She was recently honored with the “Women in Banking and Fintech 2024” award for her Thought Leadership on Data Protection and AI Governance for GenAI applications for Financial Services by Handelsblatt (#1 business newspaper in Germany). Sina holds a PhD in Financial Modeling from the University of St. Gallen (HSG, Switzerland) and a Diploma in Economics from the University of Mannheim (Germany).

John Januszczak

Former President & CEO of UBX Philippines, the fintech venture studio and fund of Union Bank of the Philippines

John Januszczak is a seasoned fintech leader and the President & CEO of UBX Philippines, the fintech venture studio and fund of Union Bank of the Philippines. He was appointed to this role after joining UnionBank as a Consultant in 2018. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Manulife Philippines and held leadership roles such as Head of Global Business Process Management at Manulife Financial and Vice President of Product Management at Meta Software Corporation. His extensive experience in operations, technology, and financial services has positioned him as a key driver of digital transformation in the fintech space.

Under John’s leadership, UBX has grown into Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing fintech, building a robust ecosystem that helps startups and fintech founders access expertise, funding, and customers. He has spearheaded the incubation of award-winning ventures such as i2i, SeekCap, and BUX, while also managing a corporate venture fund that successfully invests in and scales fintech startups. By leveraging corporate ecosystems, open finance, and embedded finance, John continues to drive financial inclusion, innovation, and strategic growth in the Philippine fintech landscape.

Helen Child

Founder & CEO of Open Banking Excellence

Helen Child is the Founder and CEO of Open Banking Excellence (OBE), the world’s leading community of Open Banking and Open Finance pioneers. With a legacy of innovation rooted in her family’s 400-year history in banking, Helen’s journey includes founding the UK’s first e-Money Licence Issuer to be awarded licences by Mastercard and Visa. She has played a pivotal role in the development of the UK’s Open Banking ecosystem and has become a global ambassador for the movement, advising governments and regulators in emerging markets like Brazil and Saudi Arabia.

Jonny Fry

Former Group Head, Digital Assets Strategy,ClearBank

Jonny Fry led initiatives around blockchain and digital assets within the regulated banking environment at ClearBank. With over three decades of experience in financial services, Jonny is widely recognised as a thought leader in digital innovation. He is currently the CEO of TeamBlockchain, Chairman of Gemini Capital UK, and author of Digital Bytes, a weekly publication analysing blockchain developments. At ClearBank, he focused on integrating digital asset strategies to support institutional-grade infrastructure for next-generation financial services. In 2022, he was named CryptoAM’s “Influencer of the Year.”.

David Parsons

Chief Technology Officer, NiftyOne

David Parsons is an accomplished technology executive with over 25 years of experience leading digital financial infrastructure initiatives across the US and Europe. As Chief Technology Officer at NiftyOne, he drives innovation, technology strategy, and platform development. His expertise spans go-to-market strategies, business development, and regulatory frameworks, underpinned by a strong track record of working with global technology providers, hardware manufacturers, and software developers. David’s strategic vision and hands-on leadership have consistently enabled the successful deployment of scalable, secure, and compliant digital solutions in the financial sector.

Sandeep Deobhakta

Former President and CEO, Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation; and Author of Banking by Design

Sandeep Deobhakta is a veteran financial services leader and design innovator with over 35 years of experience spanning banking, wealth management, and bancassurance across ten countries. He has held senior roles at major institutions including Citibank, Shinsei Bank in Japan where he helped transform it into an award-winning digital retail bank using Human-Centered Design and VP Bank in Vietnam, where he drove significant retail banking growth. Most recently, he served as President & CEO of Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation in the Philippines, steering innovation in bancassurance and strategic partnerships.

A champion of innovation at the intersection of finance and design, Sandeep is currently pursuing PhD research focused on AI and Design Thinking in financial services. He is the author of Banking by Design (2024) and teaches fintech at Dai Nam University in Vietnam.

Sachin Garg

Head of Debt Services Management, ICICI Bank

Sachin Garg leads debt services management at ICICI Bank since March 2024. He brings over 14 years of expertise in data science, analytics and digital transformation within the bank. Previously, he served as Chief Data Officer and Practice Head for Data Science and Analytics, driving large-scale cloud migration, artificial intelligence implementation and application programming interface integration. A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Sachin focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience by leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data. He has built scalable digital frameworks that enable hyper-personalised banking and robust risk management.

Denny Woo

Executive Deputy General Manager and Head of PMO & Strategy
China CITIC Bank International Limited
Hong Kong

Denny Woo leads the project management office and strategic planning office at China CITIC Bank International. He established the enterprise PMO in 2022 and drives agile frameworks, blockchain pilots and API marketplaces. He holds a Certified Fintech Professional (Management) credential and an MBA in Finance. With over twenty years’ banking experience, he aligns technology roadmaps with business objectives to deliver complex digital initiatives on time and within budget.

Sunny Quek

Head of Global Consumer Financial Services
OCBC, Singapore

Sunny Quek leads OCBC’s Consumer Financial Services division, overseeing retail banking and wealth management across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China. Since joining OCBC in 2012 he has driven digital and product innovation—including next-gen programmes for youth, personalised platforms for high-net-worth clients and technology-enabled branch transformations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the National University of Singapore and serves on the boards of OCBC Securities and Lion Global Investors.

Sachin Garg

Head of Debt Services Management ICICI Bank

Sachin Garg leads debt services management at ICICI Bank since March 2024. He brings over 14 years of expertise in data science, analytics and digital transformation within the bank. Previously, he served as Chief Data Officer and Practice Head for Data Science and Analytics, driving large-scale cloud migration, artificial intelligence implementation and application programming interface integration. A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Sachin focuses on enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience by leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data. He has built scalable digital frameworks that enable hyper-personalised banking and robust risk management.

Dennis Lee Wee Keong

Head of Group Risk and Prevention and Group Service Channels and Transformation
OCBC, Singapore

Dennis Lee leads risk governance and service channel transformation for OCBC’s Global Consumer Financial Services. He champions a strong risk culture, leveraging data analytics, AI and surveillance to prevent fraud and protect customers. He co-chaired the MAS Payment Council workstream on mitigating e-payment fraud and chaired ABS guidelines for vulnerable consumers. With over 20 years in retail banking risk and operations, he joined OCBC in 2017 from HSBC and began his career at Citibank in 1999. He holds a Master in Business Economics from NTU and a Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Analysis from NUS.

Tan Siew Lee

Head of Group Wealth Management
OCBC, Singapore

Tan Siew Lee leads OCBC Wealth Management arm in Singapore, overseeing product development, advisory strategy and client engagement since 2005. She holds a Bachelor’s in Business from Nanyang Technological University, a Master of Science in Wealth Management from SMU and an Executive Strategy certificate from Stanford. She champions life-goals planning, digital advisory tools and intergenerational wealth programmes within OCBC’s consumer franchise.

Serene Koh

Head, Group Digital Business & Digital Transformation
OCBC, Singapore

Serene Koh leads OC’s Group Digital Business and Digital Transformation in Global Consumer Financial Services. With over 25 years in retail banking and digital strategy, she drives AI-powered straight-through processing, cross-border payments integration and inclusive design. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the National University of Singapore and an Executive MBA from INSEAD.

Bruce Leung

Head of Branch Distribution & Services Department
The Bank of East Asia, Limited (HKBEA), Hong Kong

Bruce Leung serves as Head of Branch Distribution and Services Department at The Bank of East Asia, Limited (BEA), where he has been responsible for retail banking distribution management, branch network management, bancassurance, wealth management, cross-boundary business, SME banking, compliance and risk control, transformation, RegTech, and digitalisation since October 2021. With over two decades of experience in Hong Kong's banking sector, he brings extensive expertise in consumer banking, cross-boundary financial services, and digital transformation initiatives.

Prior to joining BEA, Leung held senior leadership positions at OCBC Wing Hang from January 2018 to October 2021, where he served as Assistant General Manager and Head of Sales and Distribution Department, managing the branch network and leading business development across consumer banking operations. His earlier career included significant tenure at Hang Seng Bank from 2005 to 2017, progressing through multiple senior roles including Regional Head of Personal Financial Services for South China, overseeing consumer banking operations and sub-branches across the Greater Bay Area, Fujian Province and Yunnan Province. Leung holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Quantitative Analysis for Business from City University of Hong Kong and is a Certified Financial Planner

Sanjay Wijemanne

Chief Operating Officer
Hatton National Bank PLC (HNB), Sri Lanka

Sanjay Wijemanne serves as Chief Operating Officer at Hatton National Bank PLC, having been appointed to this position in April 2024, following his tenure as Deputy General Manager of the Retail Banking Group since January 2018. With over 29 years of banking experience, including 14 years in corporate management, Wijemanne brings extensive expertise in digital transformation, retail banking operations, and strategic business development to his current role. Prior to joining HNB, he held senior leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank, serving as Country Head of Retail Banking from November 2010 to March 2017, where he managed comprehensive retail banking operations and led distribution strategies.

His earlier career included significant roles at HSBC Retail Banking and Wealth Management, where he served as Head of Sales and Head of Branches, including Premier Banking services. Wijemanne commenced his banking career as a financial analyst before joining HNB as a Management Trainee, where he gained broad exposure to core banking functions and steadily progressed through the corporate banking unit. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance from Mount Saint Mary's University in the United States. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated strong leadership in branch management, sales, and business development across both local and international banking institutions.

Dhiraj Mirchandaney

Lead – Digital Channels, Retail Digital Transformation, Consumer Banking Group
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), United Arab Emirates

Dhiraj Mirchandaney serves as Head of Retail Banking Digital Channels at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), where he leads the digital transformation of the Consumer Banking Group's retail banking operations. With over two decades of experience in digital banking and financial services, he has been instrumental in driving ADCB's digital innovation agenda and establishing the bank as a leader in mobile banking excellence across the UAE. His expertise spans digital channel management, retail banking transformation, and fintech innovation, positioning him at the forefront of the region's banking digitalisation efforts.

Prior to his current role at ADCB, Mirchandaney gained valuable experience at Emaar Properties PJSC, where he developed expertise in technology solutions and digital transformation initiatives. He also served as Chairman of the Technical Advisory Committee, demonstrating his leadership in technology governance and strategic planning. Mirchandaney holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, one of India's premier business schools, providing him with a strong foundation in strategic management and business leadership.

Teh Tiong Khim

Group Chief Financial Officer
Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad (HLFG), Malaysia

Teh Tiong Khim serves as Group Chief Financial Officer at Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad, having been appointed to this position on 1 December 2020. With 25 years of diverse experience in senior finance roles across global business services, global IT services, and public listed companies, he brings extensive expertise in financial strategy development and commercial initiatives to his current role. His career trajectory spans large multinational organisations with exposure to different industries including banking, fast-moving consumer goods, and information technology.

Prior to joining HLFG, Teh served as Chief Financial Officer of Standard Chartered Global Business Services, where he supported the Standard Chartered Global Head of GBS in executing financial strategy and played a key role in developing various finance and commercial initiatives for the GBS network of organisations. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated expertise in financial management across multinational corporations, with particular strength in developing strategic finance functions and supporting organisational transformation initiatives. At HLFG, he provides financial leadership for the diversified financial conglomerate that encompasses commercial Berhad, life and general insurance operations, and investment banking services.

So Lay Hua

Managing Director and Head of Group Transaction Banking
United Overseas Bank Limited (UOB), Singapore

So Lay Hua serves as Managing Director and Head of Group Transaction Banking at United Overseas Bank Limited, where she oversees products, digitalisation and business strategy at Group and Countries for cash management, trade finance and financial supply chain management since joining UOB in 2006. With over 35 years of banking experience across product management, sales and technology, drawn from both major foreign banks and local banks, she has been instrumental in building UOB's Transaction Banking business and continues to play an imperative role in collaboration with clients in corporate and institutional client segments.

Under her leadership, UOB Group Transaction Banking has seen strong and double-digit growth year on year, with heavy investments in people, capabilities and regional platforms solidifying UOB's positioning as a leading Transaction Bank in the region. So holds a business degree in Management Information Science and has been actively involved in establishing Singapore's digital payments infrastructure, including her work on the Fast And Secure Transfers (FAST) platform 12 years ago, which served as a catalyst for adopting digital payments in Singapore.

Erwin Lu

Chief Technology Officer, Lexin

Erwin Lu is the chief technology officer at Lexin, responsible for leading the company’s overall technology development. He has over 20 years of experience in technology R&D and management, having held senior leadership roles at major internet companies in both China and the U.S. Before joining Lexin in 2021, he was the chief information officer at Ping An Life Insurance. He also served as CTO at 51Talk and Sina Mobile, and as general manager of the advertising division at Sina Weibo. Lu began his career in 2003 as a software engineer at Microsoft’s Seattle headquarters and later worked at Facebook as a senior software engineer. He holds five U.S. technology patents.

Su Bo

Vice General Manager, Spark Enterprise Group, iFlytek

Su Bo is an AI solutions expert with extensive industry experience. As Vice General Manager of Spark Enterprise Group at iFlytek, he has led and participated in over 100 intelligent solution and large model projects for major Chinese financial institutions including ICBC, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, PICC, and China Life Insurance, covering solution design and implementation.

Juergen Rahmel

Generative AI Lecturer, University of Hong Kong

Juergen Rahmel is the artificial intelligence lead in the chief digital office at HSBC Hong Kong, where he drives fintech engagement and oversees emerging technologies, including generative AI. With almost three decades of international experience in technology and business, he specialises in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and information security. He has held a range of leadership roles within HSBC, including head of IT of transaction sector at HSBC Germany, research director AI for the HSBC-ASTRI Lab, and chief digital officer at HSBC Germany. Rahmel began his career at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and has since served in senior IT management roles across multiple banks. In addition to his industry work, he is currently a part-time lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, focusing on the applications of generative AI in financial services.

Charamporn Jotikasthira

Executive Director, Bangkok Bank

Charamporn Jotikasthira is currently holding the position of Executive Director at Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited., Independent Director, Chairman, Risk Management Committee, and Member of Audit Committee at Minor International Public Company Limited., Independent Director, Chairman of Risk Management Committee, and Member of Audit Committee at Singha Estate Public Company Limited., and Independent Director and Chairman of Risk Management Committee at Osotspa Public Company Limited.

He has held former positions as the President & Chief Executive Officer at Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and The Stock Exchange of Thailand, Chief Information Officer at Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited., Chairman at Electronic Transactions Development Agency, Member the Financial Institutions Policy Committee (FIPC) at the Bank of Thailand., and a Director at Thai Institute of Directors Association.

He holds an MBA from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Kris Lerdchanapornchai

Head of Product, LINE BK

Kris is Head of Product at LINE BK, where he helps redefine how people connect with their money in the digital age. Bringing curiosity, creativity, and a human touch to the world of finance, Kris thrives on solving real-life problems with simple, delightful solutions. With a background in building customer-centric products and leading diverse teams, he enjoys turning big ideas into meaningful experiences that make finance feel approachable — and even a little fun. Kris believes that financial services should empower people, not intimidate them, and is passionate about designing with empathy and impact.

Dr Nongnuch Tantisantiwong

SVP, Head of Enterprise Risk and Infrastructure, Risk Management, CIMB Thai Bank

Dr Nongnuch Tantisantiwong is Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Risk and Infrastructure at CIMB Thai Bank. She leads key areas including credit risk modelling, data governance, system implementation, climate risk management and monitoring of risk appetite. She brings over 20 years of experience in financial system development, modelling, portfolio analytics and risk management. Before joining CIMB Thai, she held senior roles at Krungthai Bank, including SVP of Corporate Strategy and Head of Credit Risk Modelling and Analytics.

Earlier in her career, she served as Head of Financial System Policy Development at Thailand’s Ministry of Finance. She also spent over a decade in the UK, where she was a university lecturer and Programme Director in Risk and Finance and collaborated with the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. She has published extensively on banking, investment, risk modelling, and sustainability and continues to contribute research to leading journals.

Chatchawat Asawarakwong

Vice Chairman & Group CISO, Kasikorn Business Technology Group (KBTG)

Chatchawat Asawarakwong is Group Chief Information Security Officer (Group CISO) at KASIKORNBANK and Vice Chairman of the Thailand Banking Sector CERT (TB-CERT). He brings over 20 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity management, with a deep focus on securing digital transformation in the banking sector. At KBTG, he oversees the bank’s enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, risk governance, and resilience initiatives, playing a key role in defending critical infrastructure against emerging threats. He also contributes to industry-wide collaboration and security policy development through his leadership role at TB-CERT.

Before joining KASIKORNBANK, Chatchawat served as Head of Information Security and Business Continuity Management at a regional bank in Thailand. His prior experience includes working as an IT security consultant with Big Four firms in both Thailand and the United States, advising major financial institutions on risk, compliance, and cyber defence. His extensive background combines hands-on technical expertise with strategic leadership across risk management, regulatory readiness, and security innovation in high-stakes financial environments.

Axel Winter

Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Partner, & Advisor

Axel Winter is a highly experienced technology leader with strong hands-on experiences in the banking, retail and start-up 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 has consulting experience at Accenture and Deloitte, and has recently founded a corporate start-up partnering with Grab and JD.Com. He is currently the Chief Digital Officer for a luxury mall operator and advises start-ups in asset tokenization and eCommerce. His expertise in technology infrastructure for banks and large businesses makes him a valuable contributor.

Liu Gongrun

Deputy Director and Research Fellow, CEIBS Lujiazui International Institute of Finance

Liu Gongrun is the deputy director and research fellow at the CEIBS Lujiazui International Institute of Finance. He also serves as secretary general of the CEIBS Lujiazui Finance 50 Forum (CLF50), executive member of the Shanghai Finance Society, specially appointed expert of the Shanghai Payment and Clearing Association, deputy director of the economic committee of the Xuhui District Political Consultative Conference, and deputy director of the financial technology special committee of the Shanghai Modern Service Industry Federation.

His research focuses on macroeconomic policy, financial center development, and emerging areas of finance. He has led dozens of major government advisory and commissioned research projects and has published five monographs, including Exploring Certainty.

Li Jianggan

Founder & CEO, Momentum Works

Li Jianggan is the founder and chief executive officer of Momentum Works, a Singapore-headquartered venture outfit that builds, advises, and invests in emerging market ventures. He previously served as managing director of Foodpanda Singapore, where he was appointed by investors to focus on sales and delivery operations. Earlier, he launched the Singapore operations of Easy Taxi under Rocket Internet, a Germany-based company that incubates, builds, and invests in internet ventures globally and grew it into the platform’s largest Asian market. He later oversaw operations across six Southeast Asian countries, driving regional expansion, product innovation, and strategic partnerships with Tencent, Huawei, VISA, and Microsoft. He also co-founded and successfully exited a licensed consumer fintech company in Southeast Asia. Li is the co-author of Seeing the Unseen: Behind Chinese Tech Giants’ Global Venturing, written with INSEAD Professor Chen Guoli, which examines the rise of Chinese internet firms overseas.

John Gong

Vice President, Research and Strategy, University of International Business and Economics - Israels

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.

Oliver Oehms

Executive Director & Board Member, German Chamber of Commerce in China - North China

Oliver Oehms serves as the chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Beijing and is the executive director and a board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in China – North China. Prior to this, he held the position of CEO at the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK), which encompassed five Gulf countries and Pakistan, and he also served as an ex officio delegate to Iraq. From 2016 onwards, Oehms led the German Chamber Abroad (AHK) in Riyadh, managing operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen. Earlier in his career, he worked with GIZ in Jakarta, where he contributed to the establishment of a new service unit at KADIN Indonesia. From 2003, he directed the foreign trade and trade fairs department of a regional German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Oehms began his career at the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein e.V.), where he advanced to the role of Regional Manager for Western Africa.

Rafiza Ghazali

CEO, KAF Digital Bank

With over 25 years of experience in strategy, finance, banking, and innovation, Rafiza Ghazali currently serves as the CEO of KAF Digital Bank, where she is responsible for the development and operationalisation of the retail/consumer digital bank. She brings deep expertise in corporate finance, Islamic finance, and fintech to her leadership role.

Previously, she was the Group CEO of Cradle Fund, where she played a key role in transforming Malaysia’s early-stage funding and venture capital ecosystem. Her extensive C-suite experience spans across various sectors including consumer products and services, energy, property, and media—where she has contributed to enhancing performance, governance, and sustainability. Rafiza is a Chartered Accountant with the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the University of Oxford and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. She is passionate about creating meaningful impact through digital innovation in banking and advancing financial inclusion. She is also deeply committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, diversity, and excellence across her teams and stakeholders.

Ankur Kanwar

Head of Transaction Banking & Cash Management, Singapore and ASEAN Standard Chartered

With over 22 years of experience in transaction banking, treasury, and finance across Asia and the USA, Ankur Kanwar drives strategic growth and innovation in his dual leadership roles. As Head of Transaction Banking for Singapore and ASEAN, he oversees business growth and operational excellence in one of the region's most dynamic markets. In his global role as Head of Structured Solutions Development for Cash Management, he leads a team of experts in creating advanced cash management solutions for clients worldwide.

Ankur has helped large corporates optimise cash and treasury operations and spearheaded the adoption of transformative digital solutions to meet evolving industry needs. Before joining Standard Chartered, he held senior roles at JP Morgan Chase in Singapore and New York, leading transaction banking regulatory products and enhancing liquidity structures for corporate clients. His expertise in regulatory insights, treasury management, and balance sheet optimisation makes him a key influencer in transaction banking across ASEAN and beyond.

Allen Ng

Group Head and Principal Economist, ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO)

Allen Ng is Group Head and Principal Economist at the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). He leads the Regional Surveillance group, which is responsible for the annual flagship ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook and related updates.

He was previously the Chief Economist of Securities Commission Malaysia (SCM), where he was also a member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ Committee on Emerging Risks and a board member of the Institute for Capital Market Research Malaysia. Prior to SCM, Allen was Director of Research at Khazanah Research Institute, and before that he spent more than a decade in the Central Bank of Malaysia.

Sebastien Avot

Managing Director, Regional Head Institutional Cash & Trade, APAC Deutsche Bank

Sebastien joined Deutsche Bank in 2010 and currently leads Institutional Cash & Trade for APAC, based in Singapore. He oversees cash and trade businesses for institutional clients across the region, supported by a team of 50. Previously, he headed Trade Finance Distribution for APAC and led the Distribution franchise for the Middle East & Africa. With experience spanning Europe, Russia & CIS, and MEA, he has managed syndications and trade finance across major markets. Before Deutsche Bank, he spent nine years at BNP Paribas, focusing on loan syndications in the oil, gas, and commodities sectors.

Frankie Shuai

APAC CISO, 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.

David Gee

Seasoned CIO, CISO, and Award-Winning Technology Leader

David Gee is a distinguished former Global Head of Technology, Cyber, and Data Risk at Macquarie Group, celebrated for his transformative leadership across multiple industries and geographies. With over 25 years at the helm as CIO and CISO, including pivotal roles at HSBC Asia Pacific and MetLife, David has been instrumental in driving major digital transformations. He is notably recognized as the CIO of the Year 2014 for his strategic overhaul at Credit Union Australia, significantly enhancing their core and digital banking platforms. His latest book, The Aspiring CIO & CISO, published in July 2024, is a comprehensive guide for emerging leaders aiming to excel in top IT roles, offering strategies to develop leadership skills, build personal brands, and navigate executive challenges effectively.

Stephen Tjokro

Business Development Director, Global Fraud Solutions, GBG

Stephen Tjokro is a Business Development Director, Global Fraud Solutions at GBG. He has a keen interest in fraud management, cybersecurity, digital risk protection and enterprise software. With deep expertise in fraud management, he helps businesses navigate fraud risk challenges in an evolving digital landscape. Beyond his professional expertise, Stephen prioritises fitness and stays informed on emerging technology advancements, ensuring he remains at the forefront of innovation.

Aurora Unnanuntana

Senior Director
Technology Risk Supervision Department, Bank of Thailand

Aurora is the Senior Director of the Technology Risk Supervision Department at the Bank of Thailand. She worked in payment policy and supervision for 7 years and more than 15 years in Technology risk policy and supervision, setting IT and payment regulatory and supervisory frameworks, guidelines, best practices, and collaborating with the industry and other stakeholders to build a trusted and secured banking community for IT and Cyber defenses.

Aurora earned her Master of Business Administration in Finance from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Thammasat University.

T.S. Shankar

Asia Representative
Bankers Association for Finance and Trade

T. S. Shankar has served as Asia Representative for the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) since August 2022, overseeing engagement and advocacy across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore, he brings over three decades of leadership in international transaction banking, with senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank—where he managed global payments, liquidity and trade finance initiatives including SWIFT GPI and blockchain pilots—and at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he built correspondent banking and trade finance operations in Southern Asia. Between 2019 and 2022, Shankar led Asia operations for the fintech firm Traydstream and served as Senior Principal at Infosys Consulting. He holds a BSc in Physics from Nowrosjee Wadia College and an MBA from the University of Pune, and regularly speaks at industry forums on payments innovation and trade digitization.