Industry Thought Leaders at MEBIS 2026

Jamal Saleh

Norman Tambach

Norman Tambach is a leading voice in modern banking finance. As Group CFO of Mashreq, he plays a central role in shaping how one of the region’s most progressive banks uses technology to strengthen financial strategy and long-term growth. His leadership combines deep financial expertise with a strong focus on innovation, supported by his global experience at ING and KPMG. He was recently recognised among the region’s top CFOs for 2025, reflecting his standing across finance and technology. Tambach has also been a strong advocate for the responsible adoption of AI in banking.
Through interviews, panels, and industry engagements, he consistently highlights how AI can improve decision-making, enhance forecasting, and elevate customer experience — while emphasising the importance of culture, data ethics, and risk discipline when embracing new technologies. Under his guidance, Mashreq has expanded its use of AI tools and automation to improve agility and reinforce governance.
His strategic direction has helped position Mashreq as a leading digital bank in the Middle East, supporting intelligent digital services and advanced financial planning capabilities that simplify processes for retail and corporate clients alike. Through a mix of financial discipline and forward-looking thinking, Tambach continues to guide Mashreq’s transformation and its drive toward the future of banking.

Noman Rasheed

Noman Rasheed's career reflects his dedication and innovation in banking and telecommunications. With over twenty years of experience, Noman has consistently delivered transformative results and led significant digital advancements.

Currently serving as the Chief Information Officer at Dubai Islamic Bank, Noman leads the charge in implementing cutting-edge technology solutions. His previous role as the Chief Information Officer & Head of Operations at Noor Bank showcased his ability to drive operational excellence through digital innovation. Under his guidance, both institutions embraced innovation, enhancing customer experiences and streamlining operations.

Before joining Noor Bank, Noman served as the Director, Regional Head of IT and Operations, MENA at Barclays. During his tenure, he implemented forward-thinking strategies that propelled the bank's success in the region. His role as a Senior Project Manager at Mashreq Bank also saw him overseeing large-scale transformation projects, laying the foundation for his future achievements.

Noman's reputation as a visionary leader stems from his ability to anticipate industry trends and implement practical solutions. His passion for digital transformation has reshaped the banking landscape, setting new standards for innovation and efficiency. As he continues to make strides in his career, Noman Rasheed's impact on the industry will be felt for years to come.

Noman holds the postgraduate degrees of Masters in Computer Sciences as well as Masters in Management.

Fernando Plaza Lopez

With over two decades of experience in the digital and payment industry, Fernando is an accomplished industry expert with a proven track record of driving growth in fast-paced businesses. Throughout his career, Fernando has navigated the digital and payment industries at all levels, from startups to large corporations. He has held senior leadership roles at reputable organisations such as Lloyds Banking Group, Vodafone Group, Emirates Group, Al Rajhi Bank, and Arab National Bank. As the Group Chief Digital Officer at Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Fernando leads the digital strategy and execution across the Group. His remit covers Retail, Corporate, and Business banking, as well as ADIB’s subsidiaries and international operations.

Sean Sarginson

Sean Sarginson is the Group Head of Digital Innovation & Partnerships at Emirates NBD, responsible for advancing the bank’s innovation, and enabling fintech strategy across the Group. He leads strategic partnerships, ecosystem engagement, and cross functional initiatives that translate emerging technologies into scalable business outcomes. Working closely with fintechs, technology leaders, academia, and industry partners, Sean drives innovation at scale to enhance customer experiences, strengthen operational excellence, and create sustainable growth. His focus is on positioning Emirates NBD at the forefront of the future of financial services through responsible innovation and strategic collaboration.

Sebastian Walter

Sebastian Walter is the leader of the AI Innovation Hub at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), where he is driving the bank's AI strategy and accelerating enterprise-wide innovation through artificial intelligence. With more than 20 years of international experience spanning consulting and industry, Sebastian specializes in AI, digital transformation, business building, and performance improvement. His leadership experience includes heading the Digital & Consulting division at the Otto Group, including Data Works GmbH, where he spearheaded large-scale digital and data transformation initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as a Partner at Bain & Company and held leadership roles with global organizations including Olympus Optical and Unilever. He is passionate about translating emerging technologies into practical business value and helping organizations build AI capabilities that deliver measurable impact at scale.

Ross McNaughton

Ross McNaughton is a business-focused Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) with over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and information security within the financial services sector. He is recognized for aligning cybersecurity strategy with business objectives, enabling organizations to manage evolving digital risks while supporting innovation and growth. With deep expertise spanning cyber resilience, threat management, and security governance, Ross brings a pragmatic, leadership-driven approach to safeguarding complex banking environments in an increasingly AI-driven threat landscape.
Currently serving as Chief Information Security Officer at Gulf Bank in Kuwait, Ross leads enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and resilience initiatives. His career includes senior leadership roles across leading regional financial institutions, where he has built and scaled security functions, strengthened regulatory alignment, and enhanced organizational awareness of cyber risk. An active voice in the cybersecurity community, he contributes to industry dialogue on topics such as AI in security, threat evolution, and the future role of the CISO, bringing practical insights grounded in real-world experience.

Archana Shetty

Archana Shetty is Vice President – Group IT Projects at Qatar National Bank (QNB), one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East and Africa. With more than 25 years of experience, she leads enterprise-scale digital transformation and AI initiatives across QNB's international operations, helping shape the future of banking through intelligent automation, modern payment platforms, digital channels, and emerging technologies. Known for combining strategic vision with practical execution, Archana has led enterprise AI and complex transformation portfolios spanning payments, trade finance, treasury, compliance, retail banking, corporate banking, asset and wealth management.

Her interests lie at the intersection of AI, business strategy, and human-centered leadership, with a particular focus on helping organizations translate AI investments into measurable business outcomes while strengthening trust, customer experience, and organizational capability.

Beyond her executive role, Archana is an award-winning executive coach and internationally recognized thought leader. She has been named among the Top 100 Global Thought Leaders by PeopleHum and received the Stevie® Award for Coach and Mentor of the Year. Drawing on her experience as both a banking leader and executive coach, she brings a practical perspective on how organizations can successfully scale AI by aligning technology, people, and business strategy. She is a sought-after speaker at global conferences including MEBIS, IDC CIO Summit, PMI, ICF, and Digital Transformation Summit Qatar, where she shares practical insights that help leaders move beyond AI experimentation to enterprise-wide business impact.

Ferenc Böle

Ferenc Bole has nearly 25 years of experience in IT. Started his career at EY then moved to banking when joined K&H Bank as senior project manager. Then he moved to CIB Bank to lead Application Development department. He continued at OTP Bank where he was responsible to manage the PMO, Enterprise architecture and IT units of the foreign subsidiaries in 8 countries and participated in the acquisition process of Sociate General subsidiaries. He was member of Board in Sebia, Bulgaria and Russia during the merges. Then he continued at MBH Bank as Head of IT Development during the integration of 3 former banks which led MBH Bank to be the second largest bank in Hungary. He moved to Oman in 2023 to join National Bank of Oman as Head of IT.

Islam Gomaa

Islam Gomaa is a distinguished technology executive with more than 23 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector, recognized for leading large-scale digital transformation initiatives and driving engineering excellence across some of Egypt’s leading financial institutions.
As Chief Technology Officer at Arab African International Bank (AAIB), he is responsible for shaping and executing the bank’s technology vision, accelerating digital innovation, strengthening operational resilience, and delivering customer-centric technology solutions that support sustainable business growth.
Prior to joining AAIB, Islam served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait – Egypt (ABK-Egypt), where he led the bank’s digital transformation agenda, overseeing the modernization of critical infrastructure, enhancement of cybersecurity capabilities, and optimization of digital customer platforms.
His career also includes nearly a decade at Commercial International Bank (CIB), where he held the role of Infrastructure Management Head and played a key role in major transformation and infrastructure initiatives. Earlier, he spent almost ten years with IBM Egypt as an Advisory Consultant, delivering complex technology, systems design, and data center transformation projects for leading banking and telecommunications organizations across the region.
Known for his strategic vision and customer-first leadership approach, Islam has a strong track record of delivering technology-driven business value and operational excellence.

Mohamed Roshdy Elbastaweesy

Multi-faceted information technology professional with more than 20 years of extensive experiences in different industries and business segments, financial services (conventional, Islamic), conglomerate, real estate, consulting/advisory services, and software services, attaining 15 years’ experience as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and CXO advisor in leading organizations in GCC. Demonstrated success leading and fostering teams in completing major business and digital transformation programs conforming to unique and challenging goals and timelines while keeping Customer Experience and Innovations as a key pillar. Solid background and knowledge in Technology, different business industries, financial services as well as strategic management. Charted success constructing the IT organization and systems of four financial services start-ups (Banks) in MENA as well the first conversion ever for conventional to Islamic Bank. Manchester Business School Distinguished Ambassador of the Middle East Centre were obtained MBA degree focusing on strategy management. Experienced professional about Fintech (Payments, SME Finance, BNPL), Proptech and disruptive technologies: Open Banking & Finance, Banking As A Service (BaaS), Banking As A Platform (BaaP), Blockchain & Digital Assets, CBDC, AI/ML, IOT and Big Data, as well one of the main Fintech and Digital Banking contributors in the Middle East, and member of the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) Fintech Working Group (FWG). Proven technology leader equipped with advanced communication and interpersonal skills, fluent in both English and Arabic. Technically proficient in multiple back-office solutions, core banking, ERP, and digital solutions spanning across different industries.

Hani Khalil

Hani Khalil is a distinguished banking transformation executive and a recognized leader in digital innovation within the financial services industry. In his capacity as Chief Transformation Officer, he has successfully led enterprise-wide initiatives spanning digital banking, core modernization, and advanced analytics, consistently delivering strategic impact and sustainable growth.

Hani has been instrumental in forging high-value partnerships across financial services, fintech, telecommunications, and adjacent industries - enabling the creation of scalable ecosystems and pioneering embedded finance solutions that expand access and redefine customer engagement.

With deep expertise in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS), digital payments, and emerging financial models, he has also contributed to shaping forward-looking regulatory and market frameworks, including early-stage Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) initiatives in developing markets.

Driven by a vision to position banks at the forefront of innovation, Hani continues to champion the integration of technology, data, and AI to unlock new opportunities, elevate customer experience, and accelerate the evolution of digital banking.

Zaid Kamhawi

Zaid is a senior executive with 25 years of experience building data-driven financial infrastructure across the GCC. Currently Chief Innovation & Ventures Officer at SIMAH, Saudi Arabia's national credit bureau, he leads AI, innovation, ESG, and corporate venture capital. Zaid founded Qarar, the region's first advanced analytics and decisioning firm, growing it into a recognized leader across the KSA, UAE and Pakistan. He built Emcredit the UAE's first credit reporting infrastructure. His broader career spans banking at HSBC, consulting at Mercer and Peppers & Rogers, and trade credit at Euler Hermes. A recognized voice on AI in financial services, Zaid holds a BSc in Banking & International Finance from Bayes Business School, London, with certifications in Board Governance and Risk Management.

Jonathan Holman

Jonathan is a Digital Executive, Technologist / Banking Enthusiast and a pioneer in Open Finance. He is leading the creation of Open Finance for the UAE, and he runs its centralised operator Nebras Open Finance, a world’s first. This follows his role shaping this initiative with the Central Bank of the UAE, as part of their Financial Infrastructure Transformation. He has held c-suite positions in Open Banking, digital, strategy and operations in addition to banking roles in coverage, credit risk and change. He has been selected in the top 60 Fintech leaders in the world on more than one occasion.

He’s a mechanical engineer by undergraduate degree and has a masters' in banking management and practice. He researched and wrote his masters' dissertation, using scale social data in credit risk modelling, using machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), which was a global first.

Jonathan and his teams have won nine global industry awards for their work in banking technology and innovation. Jonathan is a Module Tutor and Author for the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and a Visiting Scholar and Chief Examiner at the LIBF University College, where he authors textbooks, advises, examines and teaches on Open Finance, banking, strategy, alternative data, credit risk, fintech and regtech.

Hasan Jaber

Hasan Jaber is the Chief Executive Officer of AlfaNow, where he leads the cross-border payments subsidiary of Al Fardan Group, an Emirati family business with multiple interests established over 55 years. He drives AlfaNow’s strategy and international expansion in digital remittances and payments.
He also serves as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Al Fardan Exchange, playing a key role in the organisation’s digital transformation and entry into strategic partnerships and customer segments. With more than 20 years of experience across strategy, operations, and financial services in the GCC, Australia, and New York, he brings a global perspective to building scalable, customer-centric payment solutions.
Hasan holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Sharjah and a project management degree from the Auckland University of Technology.

Adil Belhouri

Adil Belhouari has over 22 years of extensive Executive Management and Leadership experience at varying positions in multiple lines of businesses and technologies.

A seasoned Data, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence & Digital Banking Strategist well known in the Industry of Banking Intelligence & Financial Analytics, Digital Banking, Customer Experience & Loyalty, Enterprise Data Management, Data Science & Insight Strategy, Business Planning, Financial Reporting as well as leading solutions in the area of Digital Transformation, Risk Management, Customer Acquisition, Segmentation, Retention, Relationship Management (CRM), Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence (BI), Innovation, Fintech Partnership and Open Banking Strategy.

Proven track records of superior achievements with cash flow and credit driven lending products development, Business planning, Data Monetization, Business Information Strategy, Sales’ Strategy and delivery management.

Adil is currently working as Senior Vice President/ Head of AI, Analytics & Data Science for Riyadh Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in Saudi Arabia.

Prior to Riyad Bank, Adil was a leading Analytics and Data mining Expert at SAS Institute Inc., one of the largest software and consultancy companies in the world focused on delivering superior software & Solutions in Business Analytics.

Adil also worked as a professor of analytics and statistics at HEC - Montreal. He has contributed in several applied scientific researches and papers published in high-level Journals.

Adil has been a speaker and presenter at many highly rated events, conferences and summits across different countries and continents.

Saad Farooq

Saad is the Head of COO Transformation at SAB. Since joining in 2023, he has led transformation programmes delivering USD 54m in savings and uplifting staff productivity by 25%, while accelerating automation, strengthening insight-driven performance through enterprise dashboards, embedding stronger quality assurance across transformed processes.
Earlier this year, his team’s work was recognised by International Business Magazine as the “Fastest Transformation to Digital Operations in Saudi Arabia” and most recently received the “Best Innovation in Operational Excellence” award at the CX Live Awards 2025.

Mai Hegazi

Mai Hegazi is a banking and digital transformation executive with extensive experience in business relationship management, digital initiatives, governance, and technology-enabled transformation within the financial services sector.
She currently holds the position of Assistant General Manager and has led and contributed to strategic initiatives spanning digital transformation, IT-business alignment, governance frameworks, customer-centric innovation, and emerging technologies.
Mai is a recognized thought leader and writer on AI, digital banking, cybersecurity, and innovation, with published articles featured in leading business and economic publications. Her work focuses on helping financial institutions bridge the gap between business strategy, technology, and regulatory requirements.
She is passionate about the future of AI-powered banking, digital trust, customer experience transformation, and the evolving role of technology in shaping financial services across the Middle East.

Mohammad Sayeed Bakhsh

Mohammad Sayeed Bakhsh is the VP Open Banking and BaaS Products Lead within the Digital Banking & Innovation Division at Bank Albilad, bringing more than 20 years of experience in digital banking, transaction banking, cash management, and financial technology innovation.
He leads the bank's Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Open Banking initiatives, working closely with regulatory authorities to advance Open Finance, Embedded Finance, API ecosystems, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), virtual assets, and blockchain-enabled banking solutions. His expertise lies in transforming regulatory frameworks into scalable, compliant, and commercially successful digital banking platforms.
Throughout his career, Mohammad has led the development and delivery of innovative banking products across API monetisation, white-label banking, Cards-as-a-Service, digital wallets, omni-channel payments, and next-generation banking platforms. He also has extensive experience managing both retail and corporate banking products, AI strategy, SWIFTNet services, and digital transformation programmes while leading multidisciplinary teams and collaborating with fintechs and multinational corporate clients.
A passionate advocate for banking innovation and ecosystem partnerships, Mohammad is committed to shaping the future of financial services through Open Banking, embedded finance, and customer-centric digital experiences.

Moataz Gad

Moataz Gad is a core banking technology leader with a track record of driving large scale digital transformation across major financial institutions. He brings deep expertise in core banking platforms and regulatory delivery. His work sits at the intersection of technology strategy and execution, shaping how banks navigate transformation in an increasingly complex regulatory and digital landscape.

Shorouk M. Ali

Shorouk M. Ali is a Customer Experience Manager at Boubyan Bank, Kuwait, with over 15 years of experience in customer experience management, consumer behavior analytics, behavioral science, customer insights, and market research across the GCC and MENA region.

As a Certified Customer Experience Professional, Recognized Training Provider, and Regional Council Member of the Customer Experience Professionals Association, she is passionate about advancing the customer experience profession and building CX capabilities across the region. To date, she has trained more than 750 customer experience professionals, helping individuals, organizations, and entrepreneurs strengthen their customer-centric thinking and practical CX competencies.

Her expertise focuses on the evolving relationship between customer behavior, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and behavioral economics. Through her work as a practitioner, speaker, trainer, and advisor, she helps organizations better understand changing consumer expectations and design experiences that drive both customer value and business growth.

Mohammad Shooqur

Mohammad Shooqur is an AVP - Data Science in the Chief Data Office at the National Bank of Kuwait. Leads AI and advanced analytics initiatives that translate data into real business impact.
With deep experience in machine learning and applied AI, he focuses on responsible and scalable AI adoption. Mohammad works at the intersection of technology, strategy, and execution.
His passion lies in demystifying AI and turning innovation into value.

Arvind Kaushal

Arvind Kaushal is a technology leader with over 26 years of experience in banking, payments, digital transformation, and financial technology innovation. As Chief Technology Officer at PayNways Worldwide, he leads the strategy, architecture, and delivery of next-generation payment systems, digital banking platforms, fraud management solutions, and AI-powered financial technologies serving banks, financial institutions, and payment networks globally.
Throughout his career, Arvind has been instrumental in designing and implementing large-scale payment infrastructures supporting real-time payments, card processing, cross-border transactions, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance. His work includes national payment switch implementations, high-volume transaction processing platforms, and digital banking modernization initiatives across multiple regions.

Zsombor Brommer

Board-level compliance and governance executive with 25+ years of international banking experience across the UAE, UK and Europe, operating in complex, multi-jurisdictional environments.
Recognised for building regulatory-credible operating models that align growth, innovation and supervisory expectations. A trusted partner to CEOs, Boards and Executive Committees on regulatory risk, supervisory engagement and transformation.
Recipient of Chief Compliance Officer of the Year (2024 - Middle East Banking AI & Analytics Summit). Increasingly focused on AI governance, digital risk architecture and public-sector-grade regulatory frameworks.

Yusuf Yasin

Yusuf Yasin is a risk management practitioner and thought leader on AI governance and Responsible AI, bringing over 25 years of non-financial and operational risk leadership.
Currently serving as Head of Group Operational Risk at Bank ABC, a leading international bank licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain with operations spanning the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Yusuf leads second-line oversight of operational and non-financial risk across the Group's global footprint and is a Central Bank of Bahrain approved person.
Yusuf's work at the intersection of AI and risk governance spans both practice and scholarship. He is designated as AI Champion for the Group Risk Department and has developed several AI use cases. His current research examines how GCC banking institutions can build the oversight mechanisms, accountability frameworks, and regulatory controls that agentic and autonomous AI systems will demand.
He holds an MBA and MSc, along with professional certifications in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Blockchain, and FinTech. His industry designations include FRM, PRM, CRISC, and CFRP.
Prior to Bank ABC, Yusuf held senior operational risk roles at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore and Lehman Brothers in Tokyo. He is an established speaker and trainer on risk frameworks, governance, AI governance, and Responsible AI in banking.

Atul Chandorkar

Atul Chandorkar is a seasoned Data & AI leader with over 20 years of experience in the banking industry across the Middle East. He currently leads Data Science and AI initiatives at a leading financial institution in Qatar, where he drives enterprise-wide AI strategy &  delivering impactful, data-driven solutions across business functions.

Atul has a strong track record of translating advanced analytics and AI capabilities into measurable business outcomes, including customer personalization, risk analytics, and digital transformation initiatives. He has worked closely with senior executives to enhance data-driven decision-making and establish robust data and AI governance practices.

His expertise spans AI strategy, machine learning, data engineering, and analytics transformation, complemented by hands-on experience in implementing large-scale data platforms and AI solutions.

A certified AI Governance professional (AIGP) and CDMP Practitioner, Atul brings a rare combination of technical depth and strategic leadership. He holds a Master's degree in Data Science from Liverpool John Moores University and an Executive MBA from Bayes Business School, City University of London.

Arun Mehta

Arun Mehta is a global Chief Data & AI executive with 25+ years of experience leading enterprise data transformation, AI &; Agentic strategy, and digital modernization across Tier 1 banks in the UAE, UK, USA, Singapore, and India. As Head of Data & AI for First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and with prior leadership roles at HSBC, Credit Suisse, NatWest, Capital One, and Morgan Stanley—Arun is recognized for shaping board level data strategy, scaling AI driven value creation, enterprise AI lead growth and delivering multimillion dollar value via scaling AI for operational efficiency, enhanced customer experience & generating AI lead innovative revenue streams. A respected industry thought leader, Arun is guest faculty at NUS Singapore and a keynote speaker at global conferences such as Gartner. He plays an active role in shaping industry innovation through UAE Banking Federation (UBF) and serves as an executive member of the UBF AI Committee responsible for AI adoption and Innovation at scale in the region. As regional Innovation head, he has successfully led FinTech ecosystem partnerships, AI capability build outs, and enterprise-wide innovation and data/ AI literacy programs. Arun is widely recognized for building high performing global data organizations, modernizing complex data estates, and leading cross border delivery models for large scale transformation. He was recently recognized with the industry award for driving AI Leadership Transformation in UAE by the MEA Finance.

Ananth Srivatsa

Ananth Srivatsa is a senior payments executive with nearly two decades of experience spanning digital payments, cross-border remittances, and financial inclusion across the MENAT and APAC regions. Ananth currently leads RAKBANK's digital payments business with end-to-end P&L accountability - spanning cross-border transfers, domestic payments, bill payments, and strategic partnerships. He also oversees the financial inclusion agenda delivering digital financial services including wage disbursement, remittances, and micro credit to the UAE's large migrant workforce - one of the most underserved segments in the region's financial system.

Ananth has previously held senior leadership roles at First Abu Dhabi Bank and MoneyGram International, where he led Marketing across 65+ countries. His experience straddles both sides of the global remittance equation - having directly managed the world's largest outbound remittance markets in the Middle East, as well as the world's largest inbound destinations in South and Southeast Asia such as India, China and the Philippines.

Aftab Shaukat

Aftab Shaukat is a senior banking professional with more than 26 years of experience across operations, product development, compliance, audit, Islamic banking, financial performance, and people management. He is currently serving as Chief Operating Officer at Al Maryah Community Bank in Abu Dhabi, where he leads day-to-day operations, digital transformation, process optimization, and service excellence. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at Habib Bank AG Zurich, Al Hilal Bank, and Finance House PJSC, with a strong focus on launching and managing Islamic banking, operations, and product development. His background also includes compliance and audit roles, reflecting deep expertise in governance, AML, KYC, and regulatory frameworks. Academically, he holds an Executive MBA, an LLB, multiple professional accounting qualifications, and specialized certifications in Islamic finance, compliance, fraud examination, and strategic execution.

Dr. Mohamed Hamed

Dr. Mohamed Hamed is a seasoned strategic executive with over 20 years of experience across leading financial institutions in the UAE, KSA, and Egypt. He specializes in translating corporate vision into actionable, measurable strategies, with deep expertise in strategy development and execution, enterprise transformation, balanced scorecards, and business intelligence. Known for his data-driven approach, Dr. Hamed enables executive decision-making through advanced analytics, KPI frameworks, and enterprise-wide performance systems, consistently driving organizational alignment and performance optimization.
Currently serving as Head of Strategy at National Bank of Umm Al Quwain, Dr. Hamed leads enterprise strategy, transformation initiatives, and PMO functions while advising executive committees on strategic direction and governance. His career includes senior leadership roles where he has successfully built corporate strategies, implemented real-time intelligence platforms, and enhanced operational efficiency across complex organizations. A recognized thought leader in performance management and strategic execution, he brings a forward-thinking perspective on building agile, insight-driven organizations equipped for sustainable growth.

Thomas Boele

Thomas Boele is Global Director, Solutions Engineering – AI Security at Check Point Software / Lakera, based in Munich. He leads the global solutions engineering team for Check Point's newly formed AI Security pillar, building the technical go-to-market function for a category that barely existed two years ago.
With over 20 years of solutions engineering leadership across EMEA, Thomas has guided technical teams through several shifts in the security landscape — from network and cloud security to the current wave of AI-driven threats and AI-native attack surfaces. His focus today is on securing large language model applications and agentic systems: prompt injection, data exfiltration through AI interfaces, and the governance questions enterprises face when AI moves from pilot to production.
Thomas is an accredited press spokesperson and a regular keynote speaker on cybersecurity, known for cutting through vendor noise with a practitioner's view of what actually works.

Mohamed Hussein

Mohamed Hussein is a banking technology leader with extensive experience in core banking transformation, digital banking solutions, and enterprise delivery management. As Head of Banking Solutions – Center of Excellence, he leads strategic initiatives across core banking, payments, and enterprise platforms, with strong expertise in Temenos Transact (T24), digital transformation, and operational excellence.
Mohamed is recognized for building high-performing teams, driving innovation, and aligning technology delivery with business growth and customer experience objectives within the banking sector.

Hoseyn Khosravani

Hoseyn Khosravani is Head of Strategy & Business Management at Bank of Sharjah. He leads the strategy and business management function, driving long-term value creation and disciplined execution. He works closely with the CEO and Executive Committee to shape strategic priorities, oversee corporate planning, performance management frameworks, and support digital transformation and innovation.
He brings over 16 years of experience in financial services across the UK, North America, the Middle East, and North Africa.
He has held progressive leadership roles in strategy, corporate banking, investment
banking, business development, capital management, compliance, and transformation at international and regional institutions, including HSBC and Royal Bank of Canada.
His experience bridges frontline banking and enterprise management, combining strategic design with structured execution, strong governance, and regulatory awareness to align growth ambitions, optimize the balance sheet, enhance operational performance, and ensure oversight.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Business & Management from Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Management Consulting from George Brown College (Canada).

Kamran Khan

As the Executive Director of Product Innovation & Implementations at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Kamran Khan is responsible for delivering transaction banking products across the EMEA and international regions. With well over a decade of experience in transaction banking, Kamran has a strong track record of launching innovative solutions that improve financial lives and deliver best-in-class customer experiences.

Kamran is currently leading the implementation of the CB UAE Open Finance framework and UAE central bank digital currencies (CBDC) initiative, ensuring FAB Payments achieves market-leading capabilities. He is also a member of the MENA FinTech Association and The Berlin Group openFinance Advisory Board, actively engaging with startups and enterprises.

A proven digital product leader and strategic thinker with a broad range experience in working with Engineering, Design, and GTM teams, passionate about launching new businesses and deliver best-in-class customer experiences.

Mais Kayed

Mais Kayed is a well-recognized expert in customer experience, digital transformation, business excellence and customer care. As an expert Mais has been helping organizations and individuals deliver remarkable customer experience for over 20 years.
Mais works with Telcom organization and Banking institution to create extraordinary customer experiences, streamline contact center operations, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. Where she has been instrumental in designing and implementing strategic initiatives that enhance customer engagement, optimize digital touchpoints, and improve operational performance. Her expertise spans across customer journey mapping, service excellence models, retention strategies, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI-driven chatbots and CRM enhancements, to improve customer interactions and internal workflows.
She is a member in FWOC (Female Wave of Change), she is also a volunteer in INJAZ Program to support Jordanian youth sector to support entrepreneurial business and its practices.

Ashish Gupta

Ashish Gupta is the Head of Digital, Retail SME and Sales at BankDhofar, bringing over 19 years of experience in digital banking, payments, and customer channel transformation. He holds an MBA in Marketing from the Institute of Management Technology and has built an extensive career leading digital innovation across retail banking and financial services.
His expertise spans mobile banking, mobile wallets, internet banking, payment gateways, cards, e-commerce, ATMs, CDMs, kiosks, branch transformation, and IVR solutions. Throughout his career, he has successfully conceptualised and delivered a range of digital banking and payments initiatives, including mobile wallet platforms, mobile banking applications, digital branch solutions, bill aggregation and presentment systems, and customer engagement applications.
Ashish has a proven track record of driving business growth, revenue generation, operational excellence, and profitability through strategic leadership and effective execution. Recognised for his ability to identify opportunities and deliver successful transformation programmes, he combines deep industry knowledge with a strong understanding of the evolving digital banking landscape. His experience in developing customer-centric digital ecosystems continues to support innovation and growth within the banking sector.

Haseeb Iqbal

Haseeb Iqbal is a seasoned product management leader with 20 years of experience driving innovation within the global financial services and digital payments industry. Recognizing the intersection of business, marketing, and technology, he possesses a unique multinational perspective gained from leading initiatives across several countries. He spearheads key digital transformation initiatives and agile financial innovation streams. Additionally, Haseeb is an active international angel investor supporting emerging fintech’s and fostering startups.

Anton Baranenko

Anton Baranenko is a full-time Product Manager at Guardsquare, responsible for mobile application protection solutions. He is passionate about technology and has more than 20 years experience in secure software development.