Speakers

Jamal Saleh

Jamal Saleh joined UBF (UAE Banks Federation) in July 2018 and became UBF's Director General on 1st January 2019. Prior to joining UBF, his last role was Head of Credit & Risk and Acting Regional Chief Risk Officer with a leading GCC bank.

Jamal Saleh spent 29 years in banking (Conventional and Islamic) and covered Credit and Enterprise Risk Management (Credit, Market, Operational, Liquidity, and IT Risks).

His first 10 years were in the USA (in Private Banking and Credit) and the last 19 were in the UAE in Corporate Banking, Credit, and Risk Management with three leading UAE banks.

He served as PRMIA's UAE Director General for 7 years (2007-2014) and was concurrently Member on British University's Advisory Board.

Jamal Saleh graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude, from New Jersey (USA) in Finance and Banking, and held 6 professional certifications in credit, finance, investment, and risk management.

He was a frequent TV quest on local and international business channels and newspapers, as well as a key speaker at tens of regional and international forums in UAE, MENA, Singapore, Europe, USA, etc., including 11 years at the renowned RiskMinds of Geneva/Amsterdam from 2006-2016, and the Commonwealth of Nations at Westminster Palace's Central Hall in London.

Miguel Rio-Tinto

Srinivasan Sampath

Srinivasan Sampath is the Group Chief Information Officer at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). Sampath has the responsibility for driving the Group’s Technology and Transformation Strategy to ensure that FAB is ready for the next generation of Digital Banking services. Sampath has more than 25+ years of experience in the banking industry. He has delivered several large integration programs in multiple regions. Specialized n creating business value, employee engagement and strengthening business relationships. In the recent years, Sampath has also been involved in leading digitization programs covering end to end digital customer experience and process automation. He was also involved in implementing the first cross border blockchain remittance transaction between two major banks. Sampath has been a chairperson and member of several advisory boards. Sampath holds ACIB from institute of Financial Services (UK) and BSC (Hons) from Manchester University (UK).

Saket Saith

Saket Saith is a seasoned professional at the forefront of digital transformation, specializing in the convergence of strategy and execution.

Currently serving as the Group Chief Technology and Data Officer at RAKBANK, UAE, Saket has over 25 years of experience in leading technology and data initiatives, ensuring the delivery of innovative and customer-centric solutions. Prior to this, he held pivotal roles, including Chief Technology Officer at Barclays in the United Kingdom, and various leadership positions at DBS Bank in Singapore, where he played a crucial role in digital transformation, enterprise architecture, and IT Strategy. He is passionate about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, and big data, and how they can be leveraged to create value for customers, businesses, and society at large.

Saket's career spans the globe, contributing significantly to the growth and innovation of renowned financial and technology organizations. His expertise encompasses enterprise architecture, IT business strategy, software engineering, and operating models. Saket holds a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore and a Bachelor's degree in Electronics & Communications from Delhi College of
Engineering.

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.

Dr. Joseph George

Hasan Fardan Al Fardan

Hasan Fardan Al Fardan, CEO of Al Fardan Exchange, guides the strategic direction of the organisation, currently spearheading its digital transformation, to optimise efficiencies and broaden digital revenue streams.  Before joining Al Fardan Exchange, Hasan Fardan Al Fardan held various key positions within the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA).
As the CEO of an Emirati family-owned business in the UAE, Hasan serves on the Executive Board of the Emirates Family Office Association (EOFA). Additionally, being a subject matter expert in fintech, Hasan is a board member of the UAE's Foreign Exchange & Remittance Group (FERG) and head of the FinTech Subcommittee. He also lends his visionary insights as a director of Ajyad Capital B.S.C., a prominent Bahraini investment company. He is a supervisory board member at Evocabank, a leading digital bank in Armenia.
Hasan Fardan Al Fardan holds a Master's degree in Real Estate, Finance and Investment from the internationally esteemed Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK.

Mai AlOwaish

Mai AlOwaish is the Chief Executive Officer of CINET, Kuwait's Credit Bureau; She is a seasoned banking information systems and data analytics executive with over 20 years of experience between Kuwait and the United States where she spearheaded a variety of data analytics and e-commerce initiatives and enabled digital transformation and innovation for financial institutions, retailers, airlines, and more.

Mai is a published author, speaker and an award winner; her thought pieces were featured in Harvard Business Review, the Applied Marketing Analytics journal and the Analytics Interpreted book. Mai was also a board member of the Digital Analytics Association(DAA) and the recipient of the DAA President’s Awards. Mai was a featured presenter on Google Summits and The Economist events.

Christoph Koster

Chris has been building financial services and investment platforms for banks, governments and tech companies. He is currently serving as the CEO of ruya, the UAE’s digital-first Islamic community bank. With a focus on ethical Islamic banking practices, exemplary customer service and community engagement, together with his team at ruya he champions a fairer and more sustainable world.
Prior to ruya, Chris held executive roles at G42 and Abu Dhabi Investment Office. He led award-winning strategy and customer experience teams in Emirates NBD’s Private Banking, Asset Management and Retail Banking verticals.
He started his career in restructuring and turnaround consulting, corporate development and M&A.

Anand Krishnan

Anand Krishnan brings with him 25 years of IT experience, almost all of it in Banking and Financial Services. His experience include product development, software consultancy services and as a technology provider in financial institutions. His forte has been Private Wealth Management and Treasury though he has worked and led Retail and International banking technology units. From building ground up platforms in-house, to integrating and consolidating technology landscape across organizations, to helping businesses re-engineer and optimize processes through process automation and impactful analytics, Anand has facilitated wealth management transformation in banks in the middle east and southeast Asia across front, middle and back office.

Competencies include:

• Expertise in delivering large scale, transformation programs across multiple platforms and spanning geographies for leading banks.
• Treasury , Private and Wealth Management business and operational process in the Middle East and Asia Pacific covering order management, trade management, settlement, cash management, payments and messaging and reconciliation
• Core Banking implementations
• Lean and Agile practitioner
• Technology driven process re-engineering to drive operational efficiencies through robotic process automation
• Programs spanning geographies, large teams and multi-cultural environments.
• Strong technical and communication skills that foster positive and effective working relationships with the team, peers and stakeholders
• Right sourcing and right shoring

Ali Hassan Moosa

Highly motivated and talented leader with 30 years of experience in banking, technology & innovation, and real-estate & hospitality development. A speaker at several local and international events and a lecturer at the College of Banking & Financial Studies. Member of the Finance & Insurance committee at the Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Member of the CBO-Omantel Fintech Accelerator Program. A Gold member of the Global Young Presidents’ Organization.

Reece Merrick

Reece Merrick is the Managing Director of Middle East and Africa at Ripple where he leads the company’s business operations and strategic initiatives from Ripple’s MEA headquarters in Dubai. Prior to his current role, Reece was Senior Director of Global Strategic Partners at Ripple where he led relationships with key financial institutions and crypto partners adopting blockchain-based payments and crypto liquidity solutions to enable cross-border payments. He has spent over half a decade working on Ripple’s payments products across Dubai and London. Reece has over 15 years of experience working within the fintech and payments industry, with expertise focused on foreign exchange risk management and building best-in-class payment solutions for large financial institutions and corporations. Prior to Ripple, Reece spent 10+ years working within the fintech and payments space, focusing on FX risk management and building out cross-border payment solutions for large FIs & corporations.

Omar Khalifouh

An accomplished professional with nearly two decades of experience in the banking sector, Omar currently serves as the Deputy General Manager for Digital Transformation at Burgan Bank in Kuwait. His extensive background spans key roles in reputable financial institutions, including Ahli United Bank, Warba Bank, and Kuwait International Bank. Omar’s diverse journey within the banking industry has seen him excel in various departments such as treasury and investments, showcasing his versatile expertise. With a passion for driving digital transformation, he has been instrumental in establishing multiple digital factories under agile methodologies. Omar brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, backed by a proven track record of delivering innovative digital solutions across corporate, retail, real estate, and investments sectors. His strategic approach and hands-on experience have played a pivotal role in steering organizations towards a tech-savvy future. Beyond his operational roles, Omar has held significant leadership positions, including being a board member and chairman in multiple investment companies. His governance experience has not only enhanced his strategic vision but has also contributed to the success of the organizations he has been associated with. Omar’s career has been marked by continuous innovation, strategic leadership, and a commitment to driving positive change in the banking sector.

Ramkumar Balasubramaniam

Ram is an International Banking CFO with over 23 years of Finance experience working in Retail, Corporate and Investment Banks. He has led several Finance transformation projects and has leveraged the unique position of the CFO at the intersection of finance, technology and strategy to drive digitalization and inspiring a data-driven decision making culture. He is also engaged with the wider Finance community, often speaking at events on the challenges facing the function and how to be ready for the future or making the function future proof. He is on the board of advisors of the MEA CFO Group.

“CFOs are the go-to experts in the finance domain, but need to escape from the ‘curse of expertise’ that could make them over estimate their own knowledge and become closed-minded.

They would do well to cultivate a ‘beginner’s mind’ and approach the new technologies with openness, curiosity, flexibility and a desire to learn thereby unlocking many possibilities to become a value-adding finance function and the ultimately the custodian of performance for the firm.”

Dyota Marsudi

Dyota Marsudi is the President Director of PT Bank Aladin Syariah Tbk. (“Bank Aladin Syariah”), the first sharia digital bank in Indonesia. Under his leadership, Bank Aladin Syariah is steered towards reaching the vision of making digital-based financial solutions more accessible to all levels of societies in the country.
Dyota started his career as a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group. During his tenure at BCG, he has had the opportunity to serve the region’s largest banks, TMT and private equity firms crafting their strategy, executing organizational restructuring and their M&A initiatives. Dyota’s entrepreneurial drive was subsequently manifested through Happy5, a Software-as-a-Service company focused on performance management which he built together with his co founders to profitability.
Prior to Bank Aladin Syariah, Dyota was the Senior Executive Director for Vertex Ventures, a global venture capital firm with USD 5bn assets under management with offices in 6 countries. At Vertex, Dyota was responsible for investments in SEA with an Indonesia focus. During his time at Vertex Dyota supported and led investments in Sunday Insurance, Binance Singapore, Tanihub, RateS, RPG Ventures and Daily Co.
Dyota obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Indonesia and MBA from INSEAD.

Vikas Sethi

Abdullah Al-Obaidi

Adel Alrajhi

Mr. Adel Alrajhi, General Manager of Cards & Payments at Alinma Bank, is a dynamic leader with over 18 years of expertise in banking, fintech, and e-commerce. He holds advanced degrees from King Saud University and Hochschule Furtwangen University, driving innovation and growth in the financial sector.

Nahim Bassa

Nahim Bassa is a Strategy & Digital Transformation expert with over two decades of experience designing, building, and operationalizing new businesses and brands in the Financial Services industry globally. Winner of the Most Innovative Islamic Bank in 2022, Best Digital Transformation in 2021, nominated for the 2019 Global PMO Awards, and Best Business Leader in Ops in 2018 and 2017, Nahim is a double master's holder and doctoral candidate with ASU's Thunderbird School of Management focusing on AI, Digital, and ESG. Nahim has completed the Senior Executive Programme (SEP94) at London Business School, the Innovation Programme at Harvard Business School, Singularity University Executive Programme (SU) and has coached executives on the MIT Sloan Executive Education course on Organization Design for Digital Transformation.

Mohamed Hicham Chraibi

I am currently serving as a Senior Vice President at Riyad Bank, spearheading the Banking as a Service and Metaverse strategies and directing the design and implementation of cutting-edge digital solutions to shape the bank’s future. I am also an adviser to the CEO of Jeel, the digital innovation arm of Riyad Bank.

Thiruvilasen Pillay

Thiru Pillay is a South African retail banking professional with the last seven years at Qatar National Bank. He is a champion of financial services sustainability projects, including green loans, customer service charter, and personal financial management. His career milestones include pioneering data-driven credit scorecards and digital banking in the Middle East. He holds degrees in Computer Science and business management, with professional designations in marketing, banking, and project management. Thiru is an active conference speaker in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Gopal Kiran

Abhishek Pratap Singh

Abhishek Pratap Singh, an alumnus of King's college London, is a seasoned Information Security leader with proven track record. With approximately one and a half decade of work experience with one of the biggest names in  Banking, Finance and Insurance sector such as RBS group, Bank Muscat, MetLife he  evolved as a professional with in-depth business acumen. He is CISO of National Bank of Oman, founder and president of Oman 'Cloud Security Alliance Chapter' and Deputy Chairman of Oman Bank Association - Cyber council.

Manal Meshal

Manal has been spearheading retail banking strategies, innovation, and transformation for over 16 years. She currently leads Customer Excellence and Change Management at Ahli United Bank. As a Lean Six Sigma enthusiast, she firmly believes that the customer must always come first

Islam Nabil Awad

Islam is a seasoned Digital Solutions Architect at Banque Saudi Fransi, with over 20 years of expertise in Full Stack Software Development, Digital Transformation, and Cloud Technologies. He holds multiple certifications and advanced degrees in computer science and software engineering.

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.

Rahul Otawat

Top 100 AI Influencer ’23

Established professional with 15 years of diversified global banking experience in Retail, Wealth, Transactional and Challenger Bank. Covering Marketing, Risk, Collection, Wealth, FX, CRM, Investment, Leverage Product, Credit Cards & Credit Bureau, Digital Analytics, Social Media.

Presently I am spearheading analytics for 6 banking verticals includes Private, Wealth, Priority, Commercial, Emirati, and Digital Bank, covering Strategy, AI, Modeling, Digital Engagement, Analytics, Performance Deck, Reporting & Data Architect at Mashreq Bank (UAE).

New team setup for Private, Commercial, Wealth Analytics, Investment, and Insurance Product Analytics, Customer Analytics, Campaign Analytics, CLV, Loss Forecasting, Mortgage Analytics, Risk and Collection Analytics, Credit Cards Analytics, Bureau Analytics, Digital Analytics, Agile, Digital Banking and Project Management.

Moreover, I am tech-savvy with proven excellence in SAS, E-miner, Hadoop, MS, Power BI, Python & Big Data

Mai Momani

Mai is an experienced CX leader & enthusiast responsible for designing & implementing cross-channel customer engagement strategies, launching relationship deepening programs and improving retention levels who has been at the forefront of helping organizations accelerate their transformation to a “customer obsessed” culture. Her forte lies in driving CX transformational change through human-centric delivery models, innovation and process re-engineering programmes.
She is currently the Head of Client Experience at Invest Bank, where she oversees the development & implementation of the bank’s enterprise wide CX strategy & framework across channels. She has also worked with organizations like United Arab Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank & Arab Bank. She also has a demonstrated history of building and managing highly engaged customer facing teams

Alex Bak

Head of Transformation with 14 years’ experience managing Transformation programs in Banks and Financial Institutions. Running corporate strategy, innovation partnerships, customer experience and the Venture Investments for the bank.

Abdul Rehman Parkar

Sagar Sanap

Sagar Sanap is a seasoned marketing professional with over 15 years of expertise in digital sales, marketing, and transformation initiatives. His career spans lead roles at renowned blue-chip brands, including Citibank, Mashreq, Axis Bank, ICICI, and TCS. Sagar is renowned for his deep understanding of driving digital transformation strategies aimed at creating a seamless, customer-centric digital experience.
Throughout his career, Sagar has successfully spearheaded numerous digital transformation initiatives across both India and the Middle East. His extensive experience in the retail banking sector has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of various banking products, allowing him to deliver exceptional digital campaigns that meet and exceed revenue objectives.
Currently, Sagar leads digital sales and transformation initiatives at Mashreq, with a particular focus on investment products. His strategic vision and innovative approach have been instrumental in advancing the bank's digital footprint and enhancing customer engagement through cutting-edge digital solutions.
Sagar's professional journey is marked by his ability to blend strategic insight with practical execution, driving significant growth and transformation within the organizations he serves. His commitment to excellence and customer-centricity continues to position him as a key influencer in the digital marketing landscape.

Ghaus Bin Ikram

Ghaus Bin Ikram is the Head of Financial Crimes Compliance(FCC) & Money Laundering Reporting Officer at United Arab Bank(UAB) PJSC since 2023. He is currently managing Client Acceptance & Advisory, AML/CFT and Sanctions team. With over 19 years of experience within the domain of Compliance at Global and regional banks in the Middle east, his core area of expertise is within FCC comprising KYC/Client on boarding, AML/CFT, Sanctions ,Anti-Bribery and Corruption, Regulatory Compliance, Risk Assessments, Internal Controls , FATCA & CRS, Investigations, AML/CFT Applications Optimization, technology and AI tools etc. Led various Compliance project implementations and automations including AI. Prior to working for UAB, he held  Head of AML/CFT and Acting Chief Compliance Officer positions at one of the largest banks in Qatar. Ghaus is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist , ICA certified Diploma in International Financial Crime Prevention, Certified Internal Controls Auditor and Certified Fraud Specialist.

Flo Akinbiyi

Flo Akinbiyi is a presenter and public speaker. With 19 years of experience in experiential marketing and event management, he has worked with many of the world's most well-known brands. His professional knowledge and experience allow him to build an emotional connection between brands and their customers.

His German and Nigerian roots have given him the knowledge and first-hand experience of different cultures. Since 2010, he has called the buzzing hub of Dubai home. His curated experience has provided the opportunity to work internationally and create business relationships throughout the globe.

Flo has a unique ability to captivate an audience and build longlasting, interpersonal relationships that make a memorable impact. He offers premium services to professionals looking to host an unforgettable event with a renowned presenter.

He has spent the last decade deep-diving into the art of public speaking, learning and harnessing the tools and methodologies of some of the world's most talented communicators, such as Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Winston Churchill.

His philosophy in life and the professional world is: "Each one teach one - the wisdom is all around you - you just have to find it."

Zaheer Mubarak Shaikh

Zaheer Shaikh is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Al Maryah Community Bank LLC, with 22 years of experience as an Information Technology (IT) professional with strong expertise in IT management, Information, Cyber Security, and IT enterprise architecture.
Being a founding team member of the bank Mr. Shaikh has been demonstrating expertise in establishing and implementing large information security and cybersecurity programs. Has designed and implemented an automated tool-based vulnerability management framework that continuously monitors and detects Cyber threats and vulnerabilities. He has also performed evaluations and selection of IT security tools and successfully implemented IT security systems to protect the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of critical business information and assets.
Mr. Shaikh is a multi-certified C-suite IT security and operations leader and is an alumnus of the Great Lakes Institute of Management and Harvard University. In past, he has worked with multinational banks like Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and Mashreq and has successfully delivered critical digital transformation and security programs.

Ahmed Nabil Mahmoud

Ahmed Nabil has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Information Security, Technology/Systems, Infrastructure, Project Management, Cyber Defense, Application Automation, Cloud Architecture, IT management and holds several professional certifications from Microsoft, CISCO, ISACA, ISC2, PMI, IAPP, CWNP, PECB, CSA and EC- Council.
Ahmed is an industry expert in Information Security and Digital Transformation, public speaker at several international conferences (Microsoft Ignite the Tour, ITCamp Cluj, CISO Africa Summit, GISEC UAE, Egypt CSCAMP, Cyber in Africa, Arab Security Camp, SAYA, SharePoint Saturdays, CloudWeekend, Credence, Global CISO Forum…..etc.) and author of several international published articles and a book on M365 Security technologies co-authored with other fellow MVPs.
Ahmed Nabil has a BS in Electrical and Control Engineering, MSc in Business Information Technology and Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Ahmed is currently the Head of Cyber Defense and Security Operations in a Leading bank. Prior to this Ahmed was the Corporate Chief Information Security Officer, Regional Security Manager and Chief Security Architect in multiple Organizations in Egypt, UAE and Middle East across different segments as Banks, Payment services, utilities, Oil and Gas organizations.
Ahmed was awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Award in Enterprise security/Cloud and Data Center Management for 11 years in row from 2013 to 2023 for his exceptional knowledge sharing and community leadership in Egypt and Middle East Region.
Recently in July 2020 Ahmed was awarded the Microsoft Regional Director (RD) award as well.
Ahmed recently received the MESA CISO 100 Award from the MESA conference held in Dubai for the top CISO executives in the Middle East, CISO 50 Award, CISO 100 award, EGYPT CISO of the Year Award 2018, Arab CISO of the year 2021, 2022 and was finalist in EC-COUNCIL CISO awards 2018 (Atlanta, US).

Viji Mohan