2024 Speakers

Miguel Rio-Tinto

Abdulla Al-Awadi

With over two decades of banking, real estate, and private equity experience, Abdulla has developed an aptitude, zeal, and skills culminating in a methodical, structured, and effective management style. He is an agile, generalizing specialist, cross-functional, progressive, innovative, and creative thinker capable of applying strategic planning methods to formulate competitive strategies, implement strategic objectives through effective project management, and manage the change brought about by these initiatives.
In 2001, Abdulla started his career at the National Bank of Kuwait gaining exposure to consumer banking, asset management, investment banking, treasury, and corporate banking. In 2004, he joined Ahlia Investment Company handling international investments and progressed to the post of Chairman and CEO until 2018. By 2009, Abdulla was recognized by the Leaders Institute as a leading figure in the local business community. He was also a board director at Credit Bank in Lebanon taking active part in crafting and monitoring the bank’s strategy.
Abdulla was also a board director at Kuwait Real Estate Association from 2012 till 2019 where he was instrumental in drafting and pushing related legislations advocating for the broader interest of real estate stakeholders. In 2020, Abdulla joined KIB and progressed to become the General Manager of Strategy and Change Management handling strategic planning, monitoring, and implementing lean change initiatives to achieve process improvement and enhance efficiency.
Abdulla holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance from Boston University where he also obtained a graduate diploma in Entrepreneurial Management. He’s also a certified Harvard Strategy Specialist, Certified Change Practitioner (CCP), Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified PMO practitioner, and also a Disciplined Agile Senior Scrum Master (DASSM).
Acknowledging the interdependence of strategy-related domains, Abdulla created a proprietary value-based method for strategy development. TheStrategist.me is a comprehensive, cohesive, and sequenced method applying an eclectic toolkit of established and bespoke tools for developing value-based strategies to help organizations pave the way to successfully accomplish their missions. Abdulla divided his method into four clear phases, covering five interdependent process groups, following 12 sequenced processes, applying 36 carefully selected tools to develop and implement the right strategy delivering the right value to the right customer.

Dr. Joseph George

Dr. Joseph George is currently serving as the Group Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) at Doha Bank, having joined in early 2023. His role involves leading the bank's digital transformation, with a focus on building a stable, resilient, and scalable digital technology platform that aligns with the bank’s strategic, operational, and security goals to enhance customer experience.
Before his tenure at Doha Bank, Dr. George was the Head of IT Information Systems and Technology (CIO) at the National Bank of Fujairah (NBF) from 2015. He played a key role in overhauling the banks technology landscape, implementing advanced, scalable digital architecture to support future growth.
His extensive experience in banking and technology, accumulated over more than two decades, was pivotal in driving a digital transformation at NBF.
Earlier in his career, Dr. George held various senior roles in the banking and financial sectors. Notably, as Head of IT Development at the Commercial Bank of Dubai, he spearheaded the launch of several innovative digital services, such as the region's first Facebook branch, an intelligent virtual assistant, and advanced analytics and customer onboarding solutions.
Dr. George's academic background is equally impressive. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, a Diploma in Cyber Law, a Masters degree in Computer Management, an MSc in Psychology, an M.Phil specializing in Software Project Management, and a Doctorate in Software Project Management from the University of Pune. Additionally, he has earned a postgraduate certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from Texas Tech University, Austin, and completed a Post Graduate Program in Financial Management & Analysis from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK).

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.

Hussain Sajjad Ali Al Lawati

Hussain is a passionate and results-oriented business professional with 14+ years of experience in field of Information Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a strong ability to lead and drive transformation, having spearheaded initiatives that increased operational efficiency by 20%.
In the past 10 years, he has been fortunate to receive several recognitions for his achievements, including The World CIO 200 Finalist 2023 - Global CIO Forum, Leader Category winner - World CIO 200 Summit 2023 - Oman Edition, Outstanding Leadership Award - Internet 2.0 Conference and Semi-finalist NTI BizPro Awards 2017 - National Training Institute. His work has also been featured in Book of Titans BOTS 6.0, The Global Game Changers 2023 - Passion Vista magazine, internet 2.0 conference magazine and YouTube channel and Oman Economic Review magazine.

Deepak Mehra

Deepak Mehra serves as the Chief Economist at Commercial Bank of Dubai, where he is primarily responsible for analyzing the macroeconomic landscape to identify emerging risks and opportunities that impact the bank's various functions. He is also a member of the executive board of CBD Financial Services LLC, the equity brokerage subsidiary of the bank.

Previously, at CBD, he was the Head of Investments starting in 2007 and was instrumental in establishing the product and advisory platforms. He was also instrumental in launching the region's first Robo Advisory app from a bank in 2021.

In his career spanning over three decades, Deepak has held leadership positions in banks like Citibank and Credit Suisse.

He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA degree from IMT. A regular speaker at conferences and on television he is also the author of two successful self-help books Ready, Steady, Go and Think Like a Golfer.

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.

Sanjeeb Chaudhuri

Sanjeeb Chaudhuri is a Board member and Advisor to various organisations across Europe, the US and Asia. He is currently Chairman of IDFC First Bank, one of India's fastest growing banks. He is Global Advisor to Intellect Design Arena, a global technology company which provides the world's largest Open Finance Platform for the financial services industry.

He has over four decades of senior multinational business experience across global banks and consumer companies. Sanjeeb has developed products and created numerous iconic, Global brands like Unilever's Taj Mahal Tea and Citibank Cards. He has deep knowledge and operating experience of consumer and commercial markets for products and services across developed and emerging markets in Europe, India, rest of Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

He has been Regional Business Head for India and South Asia and Global Head of Brand and Chief Marketing Officer at Standard Chartered Bank. Prior to that, Sanjeeb was CEO of Retail and Commercial Banking for Citigroup Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before entering the financial services space, Sanjeeb held senior roles at Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive and Procter & Gamble.

His operating experience includes driving digital transformation at global organisations across Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Most recently, he has been intimately involved in IDFC First Bank's digital transformation and created innovative approaches driving Customer Engagement and Delight.

Sanjeeb is a very passionate about ESG and its positive impact on society and business. He was a key driver of Standard Chartered Bank's sponsorship of the United Nations Global Goals in 2015 which reached 3 billion people globally with the UN's Sustainability Goals message in 3 weeks. This was achieved through an innovative mix of online media and partnerships across sports, culture, non-profit and commercial organisations. As Chief Marketing Officer, Sanjeeb was a key driver of the Standard Chartered Marathon across multiple markets in Asia, Middle East and Africa.

Sanjeeb's current portfolio includes Retail, FinTech and Marketing Tech businesses. His consulting roles cover Corporate Strategy, ESG, Risk, Big Data, IT Strategy and Customer Experience.

Sanjeeb has been Director of Citigroup Europe plc, Bank Handlowy, Poland and Standard Chartered Securities Ltd, India. Sanjeeb is Global Mentor at Columbia Business School's Center for Technology Management and Northeastern Business School Center for Digital Leadership.

He is International Advisory Board member at The Open University School of Business and Law, UK. He is a visiting faculty on Business Strategy, Financial Services and New Age Marketing at Wharton School of Business and Judge Business School, Cambridge.

Sanjeeb has an MBA in Marketing and has completed an Advanced Management Program. He is a featured speaker at premier global fintech, marketing and media events in Europe and Asia. He has been listed among the Top 25 Media Visionaries in Asia Pacific.

Anshul Khare

Anshul currently serves as the Director of Products & Business Solutions at Nucleus Software, where he plays a pivotal role in spearheading the Digital Transformational Strategy. His primary focus is to ensure that the FinnOne Product evolves to meet the evolving demands of the next generation of Digital banking Services across all Financial Institutions.
With a diverse background encompassing esteemed organizations such as ADCB, RBS, and Oracle Financials, Anshul brings a wealth of global experience to his leadership role. Having made direct contributions to over 30 financial institutions throughout his career, he has honed his expertise in navigating varied global environments with finesse.
Anshul's proficiency extends beyond borders into product strategy and Value Chain Solution Delivery. He has exhibited strategic leadership in Digital Lending and Core Banking Transformation programs, demonstrating adept management of numerous Digital Transformation initiatives. His efforts have consistently resulted in optimized processes, driving enhanced performance and sustained year-on-year growth for his customers.
In this capacity, he led the charge in spearheading several large and intricate digital transformation programs for financial institutions of varied sizes. Leveraging blended technology platforms, he engineered comprehensive, effective, and cost-saving solutions.
Anshul holds a Masters in Business Administration from IMT, Ghaziabad, and a Bachelor of Technology from NIT, Rourkela. His academic achievements, combined with his extensive professional background, firmly establish him as a key driver behind Nucleus Software's innovation and success in the domain of Digital Transformation.

Mohamed ElSabban

Mohamed Elsabban is a seasoned executive with over 31 years of experience driving innovation and growth in the financial services industry. Throughout his distinguished career, he has held leadership positions across the entire digital value chain, spearheading ground-breaking digital transformation initiatives.
Currently, Mohamed serves as the Chief Innovation and Strategic Ventures Officer at Banque Misr, where he architects the bank's digital future and positions it as a regional leader in
innovation. Prior to this role, Mohamed's leadership extended to other prominent institutions:
● Group Head - Digital Banking & Digital Innovation at Commercial International Bank (CIB) in Egypt (2012-2018), where he established a thriving FinTech Collaboration Hub and led the
creation of the digital banking division from the ground up.
● Executive Manager - Alternative Channels at Boubyan Bank in Kuwait (2011-2012), where he significantly expanded the bank's reach through virtual, digital, and social media presence.
● Director - E-Channels & Payments at National Bank of Egypt (NBE) (2010-2011), where he
designed a comprehensive multi-channel transformation strategy.
● VP, Alternative Channels Strategic Development at National Commercial Bank in Saudi
Arabia (2007-2010), where he led strategic planning for retail banking e-channels.
● Solutions & Services Business Unit Head at Raya e-Finance in Egypt (2005-2007), where he
played a key role in establishing Egypt's first national payment gateway.
● Business Unit Head at Raya Integration in Egypt (2000-2005), where he led a team delivering systems integration and project management services.
Mohamed's expertise encompasses:
● End-to-End Digital Transformation: He possesses a comprehensive understanding of
digitalization, guiding organizations through strategic planning, infrastructure development,
and user-centric implementation.

Sriranga Sampathkumar

Sriranga is the VP and General Manager – Middle East and Africa for Infosys Ltd., which is among the largest IT companies in the world. He has been residing in Dubai for 12+ years now. Sri is the Regional Head of Business for the industry leading banking product – ‘Infosys Finacle’, which is powering banks across 45 countries in the Middle East and Africa region, including banks like Emirates NBD, RAKBANK, Zand Bank, Bank Muscat, Standard Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, ABK, Bank Dhofar and Sohar International, among others. Sriranga comes with over 25 years of experience in the technology industry, spanning various roles from strategy to sales. He is also a passionate mountaineer and has scaled some of the highest peaks across continents.

James Popham

James Popham is the Executive Vice President and Head of Technology Delivery at RAKBANK, where he spearheads the bank's technological advancements and drives the delivery of innovative products and exceptional customer experiences in the financial services sector. With a distinguished career spanning over a decade, James has demonstrated expertise in transforming technology landscapes and enhancing operational efficiency.

Before joining RAKBANK, James was the Head of Technology Delivery, Enterprise Release Management, and Testing at TSB Bank. During his tenure, he successfully led complex technology delivery initiatives and streamlined release management processes. Prior to TSB, he served as the Technology & Innovation Director at Shawbrook Bank, where he oversaw end-to-end technical operations, fostered innovation, and implemented agile development practices to enhance service delivery and customer satisfaction.

James's extensive experience also includes a significant role at Barclays, where he spent over 12 years as Director of Premier Banking Product & Proposition, managing both UK and global client portfolios.

Passionate about leveraging technology to drive positive change, James continues to shape the future of banking at RAKBANK with a focus on delivering sustainable and impactful technological solutions.

Mohammad Helal

Results-driven Technical Architect with 18 years of extensive experience in spearheading the design, implementation, and testing of IT solutions. Specializing in Enterprise, Solutions, and Technology Architecture, with a strong focus on Digital Transformation. Proven expertise in IT Infrastructure, including servers, storage, and network infrastructure, particularly within the banking sector. Contributed to establishing Enterprise Architecture in multiple reputable banks.
Mohammad also has a solid background in IT project management and client relations. Experienced across various industries, including TV broadcasting, manufacturing and banking. A recognized leader, known for applying high-impact technical solutions to achieve major business objectives, with capabilities that transcend traditional IT operation boundaries. Committed to helping organizations maximize their IT investments through the optimal utilization of resources.
Mohammad holds MBA degree along with many other professional certifications.
Profoundly interested in staying abreast of the latest tech trends, with a particular focus on Quantum Computing and AI.

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.

Jimmy Li

With over 20 years of distinguished experience in digital transformation and technology leadership, Jimmy Li currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Zand. His extensive career spans leadership roles across a range of high-profile organizations including Fortune 500 banks, the U.S. public sector, and global fintech firms.

Jimmy has held pivotal positions at Bank of America and Standard Chartered Bank, where he spearheaded critical technology initiatives. He also played a key role at VFinance, the business eWallet provider for Alipay, and at Roxe, a blockchain-enabled global payment platform. His expertise in driving technological innovation and managing complex technology departments underscores his commitment to advancing the future of financial technology.

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.

Prag Jaodekar

Prag Jaodekar is Technology Director at CTO Office of Synechron, based in the UK. He supports Synechron’s business units and clients with strategy, architecture and engineering expertise that spans Synechron’s business and technology capabilities. Prag has more than 18 years of experience as a consultant of technology and application architect specialist creating IT strategies and delivering solutions for many top tier banks across the financial services industry.

Pedro Sousa Cardoso

Pedro Sousa Cardoso is the Chief Digital Officer - Retail Banking & Wealth Management at Emirates NBD, one of the leading banking groups in MENAT.
He drives the bank’s digital transformation agenda, leading all the cross-functional business and engineering teams that bring to life the digital experiences that enable the bank to realize its vision of becoming the most innovative financial institution for its customers, people, and communities. He is also the Head of Liv, Emirates NBD’s digital bank—a global fintech case study and one of the fastest-growing digital ventures in the region.
In his 25+ years of experience spanning strategy, products, digital technologies, and marketing and data across financial institutions in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, Pedro has pioneered several digital banking initiatives and collaborated with both emerging large fintechs as well as the biggest legacy banks. In his previous role as Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Digital Commerce at Standard Chartered’s Singapore headquarters, he was responsible for the group’s digital platforms, digital acquisitions, customer experience, and the global design function across retail and wealth.
Pedro holds executive accreditations from the University of Berkeley, MIT, Harvard, and the Wharton School, an MBA in economics, and a bachelor’s in marketing management. He works and lives in Dubai.

Vikas Sethi

Vikas is a technology and business transformation leader with over 20 years of global experience in leveraging technology to deliver outstanding business outcomes & customer experience in Banking and Financial Services across geographies and at scale. He has a proven track record of driving and executing large programs in the US, Canada, India, Africa and Middle East. His current role involves working with the Wholesale and Transaction banking business on leveraging Digital and Technology solutions across Client Channels, Payments & Open APIs.

George William Faraj​​​​

George Faraj is a highly experienced information technology expert and speaker, with over 19 years of experience in the field. He leads IT Strategy and PMO within NBB Group and previously held multiple positions within Ahli United Bank Group. His focus is banking digital transformation, Fintech Innovation, Al, PMO and IT strategic leadership.
During his career he has delivered and governed programs worth $100M+ across the MEA region enabling business growth and empowering teams through tech.
He holds a BSc degree from Arab Academy for Science, Tech & Maritime transport in Computer engineering and Carleton University in IT System Engineering and a Diploma in Fintech from Georgetown University US.

Satya Mishra

Satya Mishra is the Vice President and Business Unit Head at Tata Consultancy Services. He heads Banking and Financial Services Unit in the Middle East & the UK. Satya has extensive experience in business consulting and his passion for customer success has led to several strategic Growth & Transformation initiatives. He has a keen interest in technology and innovation leading to greater future.

Satya is passionate about Corporate Social Responsibility and is a strong advocate of Diversity & Inclusion at the workplace – he is involved with various partner & TCS initiatives to drive this.

Riccardo Moretti

Riccardo has over a decade of experience working with financial institutions and technology, including roles at the Italian Central Bank, leading complex engagements in the Capital Markets and Risk Management space, and enabling hyper-growth for fintech companies at Oracle. In Salesforce he led the engagement with one of the largest financial institutions in the world from a solution engineering perspective and he is now spearheading the adoption of Financial Services Cloud in the Middle East region.

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.

Dr. Ahmed Darwish

Dr Ahmed is a visionary digital leader experienced in digital banking and digital government with deep knowledge of Digital Strategy, Channels, Open Banking, Open Finance, BaaS, Digital on-boarding, Digital Assets, and Innovation. When organizations are struggling to manage the digital transformation and portfolio, Dr. Ahmed is one to consult for outstanding results, proven by post-implementation benefits realisation. He has led organizations into success with over 32 years of experience working for IBM, Fujitsu, Siemens, Al Rajhi, Alinma, and Al Bilad Bank, accompanied with track record of services, products, projects, and portfolio management.
Ahmed is a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Intergovernmental Information Systems from Newcastle University Business School (NUBS). He is also holding a master’s degree in computer engineering and BSC in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Cairo University (1999 and 1992 respectively.)

Deepak Dastrala

Deepak Dastrala, the CTO of IntellectAI, is a seasoned technology executive with 23 years of experience in the financial and insurance industries. He leads the technology vision, engineering, and delivery of all platforms and products at IntellecAI. Deepak's expertise spans product design, development, delivery, strategy, and innovation.

Previously, he served as Head of Strategy & Innovation at IntellectAI, where he focused on ideation, innovation, and execution of use cases involving frontier technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Mixed Reality, and Quantum Computing. Prior to IntellectAI, Deepak was a Senior Manager at Ebix, responsible for product development and internationalization of their CRM product for financial advisors. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. Deepak is committed to fostering technology innovation and unlocking human potential, driving IntellecAI's vision in Data, AI, and Cloud Computing.

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

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.

Andrea Cianchetti

Andrea Cianchetti currently serves as the Head of Products at Al Etihad Payments, where he oversees the product management of AEP's flagship offerings: the Aani instant payments platform and the Jaywan card scheme. He is responsible for guiding the product vision, defining key features, and leading product development and market rollout to ensure their success.
Prior to joining AEP, Andrea was a Principal at Kearney, specializing in financial services consulting. His expertise spans digital payments strategy, post-merger integration, technology-driven operational transformations, customer experience improvements, and business process re-engineering.
Andrea began his career as a payments strategy consultant in Italy before transitioning to the Middle East as part of a mobility program for top performers. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Bologna, with international experience at the University of Melbourne, Australia.
Known for his analytical mindset and strong problem-solving abilities, Andrea is a Six Sigma Green Belt certified professional with a passion for travel and an open-minded approach to business and life.

Ramy Yassa

With extensive experience in the financial sector, Ramy partners with major banks in the Middle East to drive digital transformation and enhance customer engagement. He specializes in leveraging technology, particularly Salesforce’s Financial Services Cloud, to solve complex challenges. Ramy’s deep industry knowledge and client-focused approach help financial institutions in the region achieve growth and innovation.

Shorouk Abdelfattah

A passionate researcher and CX professional with 14 years hands-on experience in Market Research, Customer Insights, Consumer Behavior Analytics, and Customer Experience Management in various domains (Banking, F&B, Real Estate, Consulting and Healthcare). Being a CX professional enabled Shorouk to create wow customer moments through embedding the customer centric culture projects among organizations along with operationalizing the CX programs efficiently. Shorouk has a non-stop curiosity about consumer behavior, attitude and purchasing patterns which enabled her to design experiences effectively based on a solid consumer behavior knowledge and research ground. Her passion for CX pushed her to work as a freelancer trainer and CX Speaker. She trained more than 750 professionals within CX field and consumer behavior. She works also as a Regional Council Member in Customer Experience Professionals Association to enhance the awareness of CX domain.

Mayank Sharma

With more than 7 years of experience working with leading banks across the Middle East.

As a seasoned banking consultant, he has helped numerous financial institutions across the MENA region shape and refine their customer journeys, ensuring the implementation of the right products and services to meet the evolving demands of the market. His experience includes in-depth consulting with banks on digital transformation, product optimization, and process improvement.

Currently, he works with Newgen Software Technologies, where I leverage my expertise to guide banks in adopting cutting-edge solutions that enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency. My deep understanding of the region, combined with over a decade of experience in low-code platforms and strategic consulting, positions me as a valuable partner for driving innovation in the banking sector.

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.

Linoy Kidd

Linoy Kidd is an accomplished and award-winning technologist with extensive experience spanning five countries. With over 18 years at HSBC, she has made significant contributions across the globe, starting her journey in the UK before moving on to roles in Hong Kong, China, Mexico, and currently serving as the MSS CIO of MENAT in the UAE. Renowned for her proactive leadership approach, Linoy excels in cultivating teams in diverse locations.  Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Linoy is deeply committed to philanthropy, dedicating her time to building schools in underserved regions. To date, she has established eight schools in Africa, Haiti, Nicaragua, and a house for the homeless in Mexico, demonstrating her passion for making a tangible difference in communities worldwide. Linoy Kidd continues to inspire through her technological expertise, philanthropic endeavours, and commitment to driving positive change on both local and global scales.

Vishal Soni

With over ten years of experience in data, analytics and AI, I specialise in developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies and integrating AI-driven solutions to enhance product functionality and customer experience.
I have a proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, influence product roadmaps, and drive product adoption and customer engagement.

Shakeel Shaikh

Shakeel Shaikh is a passionate cybersecurity leader with over 25 years of experience in information and cyber security.  He has 20 years of experience in banking and finance industry with leading banks, which include Citibank, Riyad Bank, and Ahli United Bank.  He is the Head of Information Security of Ahli United Bank, Bahrain.  He is known and recognized for exceptional leadership skills and team management.  Shakeel, a management graduate from Indian Institute of Management Mumbai, holds several industry leading information security certifications.  His interests and expertise include cybersecurity risk management, governance, cybersecurity program management, and board reporting.

Ankur Singh

As the Product Head of Intellect’s Digital Engagement Platform, Ankur Singh plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and transformation within the banking and financial services industry. Under his leadership, the platform has
made considerable progress, assisting financial institutions worldwide in embracing a customer-centric approach powered by AI, data analytics, and seamless integrations. Drawing on his extensive experience in banking and IT,

Ankur spearheads the development and strategic planning of advanced solutions that improve customer experiences, optimize operations, and enable banks to excel in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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.

Nagui BEN LEMRID

Nagui is an experienced Data Science Manager currently working at Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, with a particular focus to leverage on the latest technological advancements in Generative AI and MLOps for the Retail Banking Group.
He has an end-to-end expertise in building and deploying analytics solutions across businesses especially in the banking and fintech industries.

In the past, he has worked with multinational companies like Deloitte Consulting, the French bank BNP Paribas and the scaled African startup Jumia.

Nagui holds a Master’s degree in Data Science. His core expertise in the Artificial Intelligence field includes scoring, fraud & risk detection, customer segmentation, marketing conversion, cost optimization and business process automation.

Saket Newaskar

Saket is responsible for designing and driving the delivery of digital and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions and services to support Expleo's clients across business lines globally. With a robust entrepreneurial background and formidable Tech and Business leadership capabilities, Saket has not only built successful digital products and businesses but also nurtured highly skilled talents and contributed to the transformation of global Fintechs, Automotive, OTAs, Hospitality, and E-Commerce Businesses.

Saket specialises in launching technology incubation centres to breed innovation that has the potential to challenge the status quo and is highly passionate about solving business and tech problems and building and delivering digital products and solutions at scale.

Life beyond a digital enthusiast:

• Saket has actively participated in Paani Foundation efforts for groundwater conservation during 2019.
• In 2018, he raised funds for JCB drilling in Beed District to facilitate villagers and achieve water conservation targets.
• Another passionate undertaking was working as a history tutor for visually impaired undergraduate girls at Samarthanam, Bangalore. By providing continuous mentoring for two (2) years, he helped eight (8) girls pursue a BA degree from Bangalore University.

Dr. Jihad Rashid Al Wahshi

Dr. Jihad Rashid Al Wahshi is the Head of Data Management at the Central Bank of Oman, where he leads initiatives in data governance and science. With 14 years of experience in the banking industry, Dr. Al Wahshi has established himself as an expert in data management and analytics. He holds a Master’s degree in Data Science and recently earned a PhD in Information Governance, both from the University of Sheffield in the UK. His research interests encompass information governance, data management, big data analytics, and business intelligence. Dr. Al Wahshi has contributed to the academic community with several publications in esteemed global conferences and journals, including the Journal of Information Management.

Abdulla Mashaal

Abdulla Mashaal is a seasoned leader in open banking and payments. He has over 15 years’ experience in shaping and delivering innovative payments and open banking experiences that meet cutting-edge customer needs. His career highlights have spanned major global banks, fintech collaborations, payment service companies and working in a tech startup.
At Emirates NBD, Abdulla is Head of Open Banking within Retail, Business Banking and Wealth Management (RBWM). He is at the heart of setting a global vision for open finance both strategically and in compliance with regulations and standards. In addition, Abdulla is an active participant in the UK and UAE industry’s dialogue on standards, supporting the evolution of best practice and ecosystem development.
Prior to Emirates NBD, he worked as Strategy & Consulting Director at Accenture and BCS Consulting, leading the UK payments and open banking practice, and driving leading banks to deliver the world’s first major open banking implementation.

Moataz Gad

Moataz Gad is the Core Banking Development Manager at AlRajhi Bank, overseeing the management and development of key banking applications. With extensive experience in driving digital transformation and implementing core banking solutions, Moataz works across the Retail, Corporate, and Digital business lines. He manages partnerships and strategic project planning to deliver enhanced banking solutions. Moataz is also skilled in leading cross-functional teams, optimizing processes, and ensuring seamless integration of banking technologies to meet evolving customer and business needs.

Charlie McIver

Charlie McIver serves as nCino’s Managing Director - EMEA. In this role, Charlie oversees all of nCino’s customer acquisition, success, and product functions. A qualified engineer, Charlie has more than 20 years of experience in financial technology. Prior to joining nCino in 2017, Charlie was the European Managing Director for Stanchion Payment Systems and a Board Director of data analytics startup, Brytlyt. Charlie holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Communication from the University of Wales, Swansea.

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.

Varun Jain

Varun Jain, Head of Banking & Financial Services at Xebia, is a seasoned leader with 16 years of experience in the BFSI sector. Specializing in intelligent automation and digital transformation, Varun has held pivotal roles at Tata Digital, YES Bank, Mastercard, Fiserv & CapGemini. He has successfully launched multiple products, demonstrating expertise in market research, product development & cross-functional execution.
Varun’s strategic and process-oriented approach ensures alignment with business goals, driving growth and innovation. Passionate about leveraging technology to deliver superior customer experiences and operational excellence, he aims to lead industry advancements in the BFSI sector.

Dr. Yousef Padganeh

Dr. Yousef is a seasoned risk management professional with over 25 years of experience in the banking industry, currently serving as the Group Chief Risk Officer at Bank of Khartoum. He is renowned for his expertise in corporate governance, enterprise risk management (ERM), operational risk management, Basel II & III compliance, and strategist. His professional qualifications include a PhD in Business Science Risk Management from Miskolc University, Hungary, a Certified Global Business Analyst (CGBA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) from ICMA Australia, and a Post-Doctorate Certificate in Business Management from Walden University, USA.
Dr. Yousef has been actively involved in various professional bodies, including the Board Education Committee of PRMIA and the UAE Banks Federation Risk Management Committee, contributing to the development of risk management standards and guidelines. He has successfully led significant banking projects, including the implementation of COSO-ERM frameworks and the re-design of risk management frameworks, empowering CEOs and Boards with strategic risk advice.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Yousef has held academic positions as Vice Chancellor in Finance and Administration and Dean of Business School and has authored a book on operational risk management along with several papers in reputable journals. He is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences and seminars, sharing his extensive knowledge on topics such as enterprise risk management, credit stress testing, and the impact of Basel III on banking technologies.

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

Haroon Durrani

I am a versatile financial services leader with a track record of building highly engaged teams and developing new organizational capabilities. Executive management and governance experience gained via representation on C-Suite Committees. Bringing a leadership disposition, a clear strategic thinker who knows how to frame complex problems, apply business analytics and develop workable solutions. Senior management experience in banking and tech start up under the Agile framework with geographic coverage across Australia, UAE, Asia Pacific and the UK.

Ahmed ElHennawy

Senior Project Manager & Programme Manager with over 14 years of experience managing multi-million dollar projects, coordinating workforce team, and performing budget allocation and analysis. PMP & PRINCE2 Agile® Practitioner Certified aiming to leverage considerable experience and efficiency expertise into the Project Management. along track record of ensuring projects are delivered to the highest quality, within budget by effectively organizing, managing and utilizing all resources, Always wanting to be actively involved in all aspects of the project life-cycle he can deliver high-value projects in matrixed organizations and across different geographies. And takes direction well and works hard to manage stakeholder expectations.

Mohammed Al Zaabi

With over 12 years of professional experience, Mohammed Al Zaabi is a proficient and resourceful individual currently employed at the National Bank of Oman. His expertise spans Transaction Banking, business strategizing, product management, digital transformation, and financial technology. He holds several key professional certifications, including Project Management Professional (PMI-PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (A-CSPO) from Scrum Alliance. Additionally, he has completed specialized courses such as MIT Sloan Executive Education in Digital Transformation: Platform Strategies National University of Singapore: Fintech in Innovation and Transformation in Financial Services Wharton Executive Education: Leading Technology-Driven Organizations.

Mohammed Al Zaabi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Staffordshire University, UK. As Head of Products and Digital Implementation (GTB) at the National Bank of Oman, he spearheads initiatives in global transaction banking, product management, digitalization, and innovation. His responsibilities include crafting and executing digital transformation strategies, enhancing customer experience through UI/UX improvements, and ensuring process re-engineering and improvement. He is also responsible for product quality assurance, governance, and compliance. He collaborates with government bodies and enterprises to strategize solutions tailored to their specific needs and initiatives.

Previously, at ahlibank, he was the Unit Head of Corporate eChannels, managing transaction banking, cash management, and digital product management. He focused on driving digital business projects, implementing digital transformation strategies, and improving customer experience and UI/UX. He also ensured digital quality assurance, governance, and compliance while supporting pre-sales and customer service. Additionally, he handled corporate cards and payment gateway services and worked closely with government bodies and enterprises to develop customized solutions. At TÜV Rheinland Middle East, he managed multiple projects with banks, specializing in business development, digital transformation solutions and cybersecurity.

These credentials and experiences underscore Mohammed Al Zaabi's dedication to achieving excellence and continually driving organizational success in today’s digital era. His strategic approach and ability to align cross-functional teams have consistently driven project success and delivered exceptional value to stakeholders.

Charles Fakhry

IT Sales leader with 22 years of experience in Banking and Telecommunications, currently responsible for the sales of Onespan solutions in the GCC market, served as CTO for Societe Generale in Lebanon, worked with top banks in France like Societe Generale and BNP Paribas.
Ex Oracle France Alumni with expertise in IT Infrastructure and Data.

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.

Amith Rajan

As EVP, Head Wholesale Digital Banking & CEO NeoVentures, Amith leads the transformation of Mashreq Bank into a more digital and analytics-driven organization. He has deep business knowledge and exceptional ability to bridge the gap between business and technology realms, resulting in a seamlessly integrated approach to strategic decision making and delivery.

Amith continuously seeks opportunities to digitize, automate and improve the Banks digital business models through a digital-first mindset. He looks to monetize data through AI/ML and advanced analytics and drive digital transformation in the Wholesale Bank. A key focus for Amith is to break down silos within the Bank and create better customer experiences through digital onboarding, eKYC, and best-in-class client digital channels for internal and external clients.

As CEO of NeoVentures, he is keen to explore opportunities to innovate, partner with and invest in Fintech partners and grow the ecosystem. In a 23+ year career, Amith has moved seamlessly between business and technology. Prior to Mashreq Bank, Amith was in Standard Chartered, Singapore for close to 10 years in diverse roles. Before that he was in Consulting in the US, UK and Germany and began his career as a Derivatives Trader in India.

Keynote speaker and active panelist for industry events, he enthusiastically mentors fintech startups and students in Dubai through startup bootcamps and incubators programs. Amith has successfully completed an Engineering from Pune University India, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from SCMHRD India, and an MBA from University of Chicago.

Zainual Bashar Bhutto

Zainual Bashar Bhutto is a dynamic business leader with over 14 years of experience in driving growth and transformation across the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance sectors. As the Director of Business Growth at Nagarro, Zain is a key figure in crafting and implementing cutting-edge digital transformation strategies that deliver seamless, customer-centric digital experiences, while accelerating business development and fostering long-term partnerships.
Zain’s extensive experience across the Middle East and Asia equips him with a unique perspective, blending deep cultural insights with world-class business standards and advanced technological expertise. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding organizations through the complexities of global markets, consistently driving innovative solutions that enhance revenue and operational efficiency.
A recognized expert in the banking sector, Zain is at the forefront of adopting the latest technological advancements, including Generative AI, Data Engineering, and Digital Experiences. His contributions have been pivotal in reshaping traditional banking models by leveraging emerging technologies like New age lending platforms, Low Code platforms, ON-boarding solutions, IoT, Cloud Solutions, Open banking and RPA to create more agile and responsive banking environments.

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.

Talal Al-Muawed

Talal Almoawed is a data analytics manager at the National Bank of Kuwait; he is a seasoned data analyst with over 12 years of experience in data science and advanced analytics. He is highly skilled in using SQL and SAS to extract, manipulate, analyze, and visualize large datasets to deliver actionable insights to stakeholders. He has a proven track record among several local banks of improving business insights and decision-making through data-driven insights and visual presentations.

Soheyl Kadjani

Soheyl is an all-round Strategic and Entrepreneurial Senior IT Leader with 29 years of Executive.

He is a Seasoned Technology Leader with extensive experience in Technology, Digital and Operating Model Transformations and is awarded for achievements in great Innovation and Technology Transformation programs and accomplishments in most challenging contexts. In addition he is experienced in shaping and executing Long-term technology strategies and Road maps aligning and enabling key initiatives of Business Strategy. Demonstrated the ability of building and leading high performing teams in Complex Matrix Organizations.

In his most recent experiences, he has worked on enabling the Technology and Digital Transformations to serve the organisations’ goals. This was achieved mostly through his former positions at First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) where he was responsible for IT Strategy , Agile Transformation and Digital Capabilities; and at Emirates NBD, one of the largest banks in the Middle East, as Head of IT Retail Banking /Head of Agile Transformation. He has also worked in Emirates Airline as Head of DevOps Transformation / Head of Digital Transformation Cabin Crew. He brings also relevant value from his time at ING Bank (2001 – 2013), where he had various roles; in his last role he was responsible for all global finance reporting systems. Currently, he is working is Chief Digital Officer at Rabo Bank, which is one the largest banks in BeNeLux, operating globally. His mission is to enable and expedite digitization throughout the group.

Soheyl has also won Multiple CIO / CDO awards.

Madhavi Bhatia

Madhavi is a global corporate executive with 19+ years of experience in frontline operations, digital transformation, and regulatory compliance. She brings strategic leadership to major financial institutions, combining deep industry knowledge with business acumen to transform Compliance and Risk departments. Madhavi excels at building and implementing comprehensive compliance policies and governance frameworks that ensure organizational transparency while empowering high-performing, diverse teams to deliver proactive solutions. She has attained her EMBA from HEC Paris, specializing in digital transformation. Looking ahead, Madhavi aims to lead corporate strategies where compliance is a key driver of business success.