Patrick McHenry is a leading authority on banking regulation, financial markets and technology-driven innovation. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 2005 to 2025, including as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee (2023–2025), where he oversaw the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury, Securities and Exchange Commission and other key financial regulators.

Widely recognised for his pragmatic and bipartisan approach, McHenry played a central role in shaping policy responses to market disruption, financial instability and technological change. He was a principal architect of landmark legislation, including the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act and the Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act, aimed at providing regulatory clarity for digital assets, payments and blockchain-based financial systems while safeguarding market integrity.

During a critical period of political transition in 2023, McHenry served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the U.S. House of Representatives, reinforcing his reputation as a steady leader during times of uncertainty. His work has consistently focused on modernising financial regulation to keep pace with innovation in areas such as digital assets, payments infrastructure, data and emerging financial technologies.

Today, McHenry is a sought-after global voice on the future of banking and regulation, advising financial institutions and policymakers on how to balance innovation, resilience and trust in an increasingly digital and AI-enabled financial system. His keynote at The Asian Banker Summit 2026 will offer APAC leaders invaluable insights from the policymaker who helped shape the global digital finance playbook.

YB Liew Chin Tong is the Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, appointed in December 2025. He brings extensive experience in economic strategy, industrial transformation and geoeconomic resilience to the country’s fiscal and investment agenda.

Prior to his current role, he served as Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (2022–2025), where he played a key role in advancing the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030) and the National Semiconductor Strategy. His work focused on strengthening Malaysia’s position in high-value global supply chains, particularly in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and green investment, while promoting initiatives that emphasise technology transfer, local capability building and supply chain resilience.

A seasoned policymaker, YB Liew has consistently advocated for Malaysia’s “Second Takeoff” — a structural shift towards higher-value industries, stronger productivity and more resilient growth in an increasingly fragmented global economy. He is the author of Second Takeoff: Strategies for Malaysia’s Economic Resurgence.

At The Asian Banker Summit 2026, he will deliver the Opening Keynote on how fiscal policy, capital allocation and public-private collaboration can support innovation, strengthen financial resilience, and position economies for growth in an increasingly AI-driven global landscape.

YB Gobind Singh Deo is Malaysia’s first Minister of Digital and a key architect of the country’s transition towards a digitally enabled, AI-driven economy. He also serves as the elected Member of Parliament for Damansara.

Under his leadership, Malaysia has accelerated its national digital agenda through a series of landmark initiatives, including the Cyber Security Act 2024, the Data Sharing Act 2025, and the National Cloud Computing Policy. He has also overseen the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), positioning Malaysia to coordinate AI strategy at a national level and drive adoption across sectors. His efforts have strengthened Malaysia’s role as a regional leader in digital transformation and emerging technologies, including through initiatives such as the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit. Previously, as Minister of Communications and Multimedia (2018–2020), he played a central role in advancing digital inclusion and expanding affordable connectivity, laying important foundations for Malaysia’s digital economy.

At The Asian Banker Summit 2026, he will deliver the Closing Keynote on “Imagining Malaysia as an AI-native ecosystem”, sharing perspectives on how governments can drive AI adoption across industries, build digital infrastructure at scale, and position national economies for the next phase of technological transformation.

Dato' Sri Khairussaleh Ramli is the President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Maybank, one of Southeast Asia's largest and most prominent financial institutions. Appointed in May 2022, Dato' Sri Khairussaleh oversees Maybank's strategic direction as Chairman of its Group Executive Committee and a key member of its Credit, Sustainability, and Technology Committees. Prior to this, he has also held other senior roles such as Group Managing Director of RHB Banking Group, President Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank Internasional Indonesia (Maybank Indonesia), Group Chief Financial Officer of Maybank, and Chief Financial Officer of Bursa Malaysia Berhad.

Beyond Maybank, he chairs The Association of Banks in Malaysia, serves as Vice Chairman of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers, and Co-Chairs the Emerging Markets Advisory Council of the Institute of International Finance.

Kevin Lam is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Leong Bank, a leading financial institution with 120 years of heritage in Malaysia and across the ASEAN region. He possesses over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, having assumed various key senior leadership roles covering five key markets in Southeast Asia, namely Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. 

He has a broad range of experience in strategic planning, business management, marketing, product development, sales and distribution, banking infrastructure development, and digital and technology innovation. Notably, he has consistently championed strategic AI integration in HLB, democratising AI by empowering every HLB employee with AI tools to support operational efficiency.  

A Chartered Banker with the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers ("AICB"), Kevin serves as a Council Member for both AICB and The Association of Banks in Malaysia ("ABM"). Additionally, he is a member of the Visa Asia Pacific Senior Client Council.

Simon See is one of Asia-Pacific’s most influential voices on scaling AI and high-performance computing for enterprise and national deployments. At NVIDIA, he leads the global AI Technology Center, designing the architectures that power the next generation of intelligent, real-time financial infrastructure.

He was recently appointed Executive Director of the ASEAN Applied Research Centre (AARC), where he drives regional AI initiatives alongside his leadership in multiple international computational science projects and national AI programmes across Asia-Pacific. With more than 200 peer-reviewed papers, and multiple international awards, his expertise spans high-performance computing, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and simulation methodologies. Prior to NVIDIA, he held key roles at SGI, DSO National Laboratories (Singapore), IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle. He also serves on the Steering Committee of Supercomputing Asia (SCA) since 2018.

At The Asian Banker Summit 2026, Prof See will share practical insights on what it really takes to power AI at scale — infrastructure, governance, and measurable outcomes — under the real-time, data-intensive demands of modern banking. 

Raad Khraishi, PhD, is Head of AI R&D for the central AI team at NatWest Group, where he leads the development of generative AI and advanced machine learning products and solutions across the bank. His work spans areas including financial crime, credit risk, marketing, pricing, and customer relationship management, with a focus on delivering robust, responsible, and commercially impactful capabilities. Raad is also an Industrial Professor at University College London’s Institute of Finance & Technology, where he teaches a short course on generative AI for banking and finance. His research interests include generative AI, LLM behaviour and evaluation, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and responsible AI.

Balaji Rajagopalan is the Chief Technology Officer of State Bank of India, where he is responsible for shaping the technology direction of one of the world’s largest and most complex banking institutions. An IT veteran with deep global experience, he has spent his career working closely with banks to ensure technology genuinely supports business priorities at scale.

Before joining SBI, Balaji led the Bank Technology Group at ICICI Bank, overseeing technology for treasury, capital markets, corporate functions, and intelligent automation. Earlier, he held senior roles at Intellect Design Arena and Infosys, working across product development and large transformation programmes for global financial institutions.

Balaji is known for his practical approach to IT strategy, core banking modernisation, digital transformation, and AI adoption, with a strong focus on governance and risk. He regularly works with senior leadership and boards, helping organisations make thoughtful technology decisions while building resilient, future-ready banking platforms.

Lawrence Chan brings over 30 years of leadership experience across global payments and financial services as Group CEO of NETS. He leads NETS Group in its role as Singapore’s national payments infrastructure operator, driving digital payment adoption across its extensive merchant network and expanding cross-border connectivity with regional payment rails. Under his leadership, NETS continues to strengthen its value proposition through innovation, aligned with its purpose of “Connecting Communities, Empowering Lives.”

Before joining NETS, Lawrence held senior leadership roles at Visa, PayPal and American Express. He was Vice President – Regional Client Management, Asia Pacific at Visa, and previously Vice President and General Manager for Japan and Southeast Asia at PayPal, where he also served on the board of PayPal Pte Ltd. At American Express, he led the Merchant business in Japan and later served as Senior Vice President, Global Payment Options, Asia Pacific.

Lawrence serves on the Singapore FinTech Association’s Payments Sub-committee and is a Fellow at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Dr. Norhana Endut is the Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia, overseeing the Financial Regulation Sector, including financial surveillance, prudential policy, payment services policy, and consumer and market conduct. She previously led the Economics Sector, covering monetary policy, international affairs, and data and statistics.

A seasoned monetary economist, Dr. Norhana has held various senior roles at the central bank, including Director of the Monetary Policy Department. She is a member of the Monetary Policy Committee, Financial Stability Committee, and several key decision-making bodies, and also oversees the Bank’s Digital Currency Hub.

Dr. Norhana serves on the Board of the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) and represents Malaysia at the Basel Consultative Group under the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), as well as in the EMEAP Working Group on Banking Supervision.

Jutaro Kaneko has served as Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs at the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of the Government of Japan since July 2024. In this role, he represents the FSA in various groups of international standard‑setting bodies and international organizations, including the FSB, IOSCO (Fintech Task Force, among others), OECD (Working Party on Financial Consumer Protection, Education and Inclusion), INFE, FinCoNet, CPMI‑IOSCO, and ROC. He is also a frequent speaker at international seminars and forums on Japan’s financial policy.

Prior to his current position, Dr. Kaneko held a number of senior roles at both the FSA and the Bank of Japan, and served as Chief Representative in Brussels for the Japan Center for International Finance, a government‑affiliated think tank. He was Co‑Chair of the ASEAN Plus Three Finance Process (China, Japan, and Korea) Task Force in 2020 and 2023. He has published extensively on financial policy through journal articles, book chapters, and academic reports. He also teaches EU law on a part‑time basis at Hakuoh University.

Kenneth Gay is the Chief FinTech Officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a role he assumed on February 1, 2025. Prior to this, he served as the Executive Director of the Enterprise Knowledge Department at MAS, where he led data transformation initiatives by developing platforms and applications to enhance financial supervision and central banking operations. With over two decades of experience at MAS, Kenneth has held various leadership positions, including heading the Prudential Policy Department, where he was instrumental in formulating capital and liquidity standards and implementing Basel III. His expertise also encompasses international financial relations, financial stability surveillance, reserves management, and enforcement. Kenneth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Wong Huei Ching is the Executive Director of Digital Strategy and Innovation at the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). She currently oversees the development and innovation for digital markets. Huei Ching joined the SC in 2017 and has been involved in strategic planning and market development, focusing on alternative fundraising, market vibrancy and industry digitalisation.

Prior to joining the Commission, she was with a global management consulting firm and one of Malaysia’s largest banks. She has over 17 years of experience, largely in financial services.

Muhammad Zikri has over 25 years of experience in central banking, including more than a decade focused on data, statistics, and analytics. He has played a key role in advancing evidence-based policymaking across monetary policy, macroprudential oversight, and payment systems.

In recent years, he has been closely involved in driving digital transformation initiatives, focusing on strengthening data governance, modernising data management, and improving institutional decision-making. This includes championing the strategic use of AI, advanced analytics, and integrated information systems to enhance policy effectiveness and support stronger digital leadership within the organization.

Prof. Andy Chun is a renowned AI visionary with over 30 years of experience leading technological innovation across industries. Widely regarded as the “grandfather of AI” in Hong Kong, he pioneered some of the city’s earliest large-scale AI deployments, including Hong Kong’s first commercial AI system at Kai Tak Airport in the 1990s to optimise operational capacity. He also created the world’s first Java constraint programming engine, now part of IBM’s Decision Optimization suite, and developed AI systems adopted by MTR in Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as by multiple government departments. His work focuses on practical AI applications that enhance operational efficiency, decision-making and public service delivery.

A strong advocate of responsible AI, Prof. Chun emphasises ethics, governance and trust in real-world AI deployment. He is currently Professor of Practice at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Department of Computing, concentrating on digital innovation and emerging technologies. Previously, he served as Regional Director of Technology Innovation at Prudential plc, where he championed AI adoption and strengthened digital ecosystem strategies to support customer health and wealth initiatives.

Earlier in his career, he was Associate Professor and CIO at City University of Hong Kong, leading major technology transformation initiatives. He founded the Hong Kong Computer Society’s AI Specialist Group and served as its first Convenor, and continues to advise HKSAR Government committees. He has been recognised as a Computerworld Premier 100 IT Leader, Hong Kong CIO of the Year, and one of the Top 5 CIOs in Greater China.

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

Andrew McCormack is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Nexus Global Payments. Andrew brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across global payments, digital infrastructure, and financial innovation. He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Payments, the national payments entity of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he played a key role in modernising the UAE’s domestic payment infrastructure. Prior to that, he was the founding Centre Head of the BIS Innovation Hub in Singapore and Chief Information Officer at Payments Canada, where he led the delivery of the country’s real-time payments platform.

Samuel Ding currently leads the Transaction Banking team for Standard Chartered Bank in Malaysia and has over 20 years of banking experience. Samuel’s key responsibility includes building the transaction banking business and driving growth across cash and trade, overseeing the implementation of country strategies and interacting with regulators for the business. 

Samuel started his banking career in Standard Chartered Bank and held various roles within CCIB in Local Corporates and Global Subsidiaries. His last role was Head of International Corporates. Prior to re-joining Standard Chartered, Samuel was the Head of Transaction Banking for BNP Paribas Malaysia and held senior roles in CIMB Bank in Transaction Banking and Investment Banking. 

Alan is the Head of the Financial Infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence Office at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He oversees strategies to advance the financial sector’s AI capabilities and equip professionals to adopt the technology with confidence. He leads the AI Pathfinder programme to accelerate peer learning across financial institutions and shorten the go-to-market cycle for innovative solutions. He also drives the development of practical, industry-wide approaches for AI governance, promoting responsible and trusted AI use across the sector.

Concurrently, Alan leads initiatives to strengthen Singapore’s financial infrastructure, including Project Guardian, which leverages asset tokenisation to unlock market efficiencies while ensuring strong risk controls. His work focuses on extending financial infrastructures to support 24/7 transaction settlement, deepening market liquidity, and enhancing cross-border connectivity with major financial centres.

Previously, he held various leadership roles in the private sector, including managing consulting and development teams across Asia Pacific. He was among the first members of IBM’s blockchain lab and garage practice, and is a co-author of patents in distributed systems.

Michael Chan (Mick) is Chief Executive Officer of Zand Bank PJSC, the UAE’s AI and blockchain-powered digital bank, licensed in June 2022. Under his leadership, Zand has set new benchmarks in digital finance: the first UAE bank to offer institutional-grade digital asset custody under its banking license; the forthcoming launch of the country’s first regulated, multi-chain AED-backed stablecoin; and a landmark partnership with Dubai Land Department to deliver the region’s first tokenized real estate investment project. Zand reached profitability in just 22 months - far ahead of industry norms - and is the youngest bank globally to earn a BBB+ investment-grade rating. The bank’s core system migration was completed in under 100 days, and recent honors include Best New Digital Bank UAE 2024 and Platinum for Transformation Excellence 2025 (Innovation Awards).

A seasoned international banker and technologist, Michael brings 25+ years across operations, corporate development, digital transformation, and fintech collaboration. Previously Regional COO Asia-Pacific at First Abu Dhabi Bank, and a senior leader at Crédit Agricole CIB

Gregory Kavanaugh is Managing Director and Global Product Head at Bank of America, where he leads the end-to-end strategy and management of Global Transaction Services products worldwide. His portfolio spans payments, liquidity and investments, foreign exchange, trade, cards, and receivables, alongside oversight of revenue management and product governance.

With over two decades of experience in transaction banking and treasury services, Gregory has held senior leadership roles across global liquidity, core cash management, and product strategy. Prior to his current role, he served as Global Product Head for Core Cash Management and Global Liquidity & Investments at Bank of America.

He began his career in finance roles at leading corporates including Kraft Foods and Tenneco, bringing a strong foundation in financial management to his banking leadership. Gregory is recognised for his expertise in building scalable global payment and liquidity solutions for corporate and institutional clients.

Dr. Wong Tze Yow is a seasoned banking leader with over 30 years of experience across international, wholesale, consumer banking, operations, and technology. He has held senior roles at RHB Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, and Maybank, with regional responsibilities covering Greater China, Indochina, and the Philippines.

He currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Wavpay Fintech Group and Advisor to Cokeeps Digital Asset Custodian. Dr. Wong is also a Board Member of the Malaysian Institute of Management, where he chairs the Finance and Growth Committee, and an ESG researcher at Universiti Malaya.

Dr. Wong brings deep expertise in banking, digitalisation, fintech, and sustainability. His insights will contribute to discussions on how institutions navigate transformation, strengthen governance, and advance innovation in an evolving financial landscape.

Alvin is Head of Enterprise AI (Innovation Group) at UOB, leading the Bank’s AI center of excellence in responsibly developing AI solutions for critical business challenges. He drives the strategic adoption of Generative and Agentic AI, builds enterprise knowledge, fosters talent development, and oversees the enterprise data science platform, advancing innovation, operational excellence, and AI governance. His impact was recognized on H2O.ai’s 2025 AI 100 list of global AI leaders and innovators.

Previously, Alvin held leadership roles across UOB in Investment Management, Finance, Corporate Banking, and Data Management, managing hedge fund investments, financial strategy, balance sheet optimization, and serving as Head of Business Management in Group Corporate Banking.

A Monetary Authority of Singapore scholar, Alvin began his career as an economist at MAS, focusing on macroeconomic surveillance and financial stability, and later served as a diplomat and Adviser to the Executive Director at the IMF representing the Southeast Asia Voting Group. He also worked at Standard Chartered Bank as a Management Associate focusing on private equity valuation

With over 30 years of experience, Simon is a seasoned leader who has played a pivotal role in shaping the banking industry’s data transformation journey over the past two decades. He is widely recognized for his expertise in business strategy, data monetization, digital transformation, analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data governance, as well as customer-centric marketing and CRM.

Simon combines strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills with solid communication and commercial acumen. He has a proven ability to translate complex business challenges into data-driven strategies, delivering measurable results across organizations. A respected and results-oriented leader, he works effectively with senior executives and cross-functional teams, consistently driving high performance and execution excellence.

His career spans global multinationals including Citi, IBM, and SAP, with experience across front- and middle-office roles. Simon has led initiatives in B2B and B2C marketing, business development, and P&L management across multiple industries. He has also spearheaded hubbing strategies and the centralization of capabilities through Centers of Excellence.

A visionary and entrepreneurial leader, Simon is known for his innovative thinking, change leadership, and coaching mindset. A multi-year Citi Global Progress Innovation finalist, he is regarded as an approachable mentor and creative problem solver.

Randall E. Duran is a senior lecturer at Singapore Management University and holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). He was formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Catena Technologies, a Singapore-based Fintech company that he founded, which was acquired by IHS Markit. Prior to that, Randall was one of the early employees at TIBCO. Besides having started and grown Fintech companies, Randall has also served as the Chief Information Officer of a US-based bank. Over three decades, he has worked with a wide range of financial institutions in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa, including retail banks, investment banks, and stock exchanges. Randall is the author of the textbook “Financial Services Technology: Processes, Architecture, and Solutions” and co-author of “Regulation of Fintech in Asia-Pacific”

Sheyantha is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Boost, a regional fintech leader since March 2021. Sheyantha first joined Axiata in 2013 overlooking Finance & Strategy for Dialog Digital Services.

Subsequently, he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of WOW.lk, the ecommerce subsidiary of Dialog Axiata PLC leading the company to market leadership status in the country.

He was then appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Axiata Digital Services in 2017. In addition to his CFO responsibilities, he has played a pivotal role in overseeing the expansion of the Digital Financial Services in ADS, spearheading the growth of micro-financing and micro insurance business in Malaysia and Indonesia and the venture into Digital Banking.

Prior to Axiata, Sheyantha spent over 13 years in the financial services industry in investment banking, financial advisory and portfolio management.

He is currently a Board member of several digital portfolio companies under the Axiata Group.

Belinda Han is the Managing Director and Head of Transaction Banking Asia-Pacific at MUFG Bank, where she leads strategy, sales, client delivery, and product development across 18 markets in ASEAN, East Asia, Oceania, and South Asia. With over 24 years of experience in transaction banking and trade finance, Belinda has held pivotal leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank and Deutsche Bank, driving growth and innovation in Greater China and North Asia. Her career began at HSBC China, where she gained extensive expertise in global and commercial banking across mainland China and Hong Kong. Belinda’s deep understanding of transaction banking and her leadership in shaping innovative financial solutions make her a respected figure in the industry.

William “Bill” Streitberg is the Chief Information and Technology Officer at Hong Leong Bank (HLB). He is a seasoned and innovative IT executive with over 20 years under his belt, specializing in information technology management, projects, operations, strategy and architecture. In his current role, he provides leadership for continual operational improvements, digital innovations as well as the development and execution of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment for HLB.

Prior to joining Hong Leong Bank, Bill spent 18 years in information technology roles in companies including IBM and CIMB Bank.

Sharon Toh is Head of ASEAN for Swift in Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. She leads the ASEAN relationship management team, supporting existing customers and expanding ASEAN businesses in this fast-growing region. With more than 22 years’ experience in financial services industry, Sharon has developed deep client relationships across the ASEAN region, with strong connections with banks, corporates, regulators and market infrastructures. Prior to joining Swift, Sharon was Sales Director, Indochina at Thomson Reuters, overseeing Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Previously, she was Regional Head of ASEAN for the Client Specialist team, responsible for the region’s sales, marketing and client training. In addition to her successful sales career, Sharon has worked in various roles across content acquisition, marketing and client support at leading financial information providers, including Telerate (later acquired by Thomson Reuters) and Bridge Information Systems.

Jorden Seet leads Applied Innovation at OCBC, where he is currently focused on translating emerging technologies into production-ready banking infrastructure — spanning tokenisation, quantum-safe security, and agentic AI. He built OCBC's blockchain capability from the ground up, delivering landmark programmes including Singapore's Purpose Bound Money for the CPF Board, a cross-border payments partnership with BNY Mellon, and the bank's US$1 billion digital commercial paper issuance. 

Jorden has been exploring agentic AI architectures for banking use cases — including on-chain identity layers — while leading the bank's Quantum Key Distribution pilot to harden financial infrastructure against emerging quantum threats.

Axel Winter is a global technology and transformation leader with over 30 years of experience driving large-scale digital and AI-led change across banking, financial services, and platform businesses in Asia and Europe. At Standard Chartered, he led a US$1bn+ global technology and enterprise architecture agenda across more than 30 markets, shaping the bank’s digital, open banking, data, and AI strategy.

He is currently CEO of Xponential, building AI-powered SuperApp and SaaS platforms, and Chief Digital Officer at Siam Piwat Group, where he leads group-wide AI and digital transformation across customer experience, operations, and ecosystem platforms. Through Pivot Digital, Axel also advises boards and senior executives on practical AI adoption and enterprise transformation.

Axel brings an ecosystem and investment perspective as a Partner at Alpha Founders Capital, supporting fintech and AI ventures globally. His career spans senior roles at Cisco, GE Capital, Deloitte, Accenture, and Central Retail, combining deep banking expertise with hands-on experience in scaling AI and digital platforms.

Biswanath Banik is a seasoned data and analytics leader with 17 years of experience driving data-led and digital transformation across the BFSI sector. He operates at the intersection of data, strategy, product, and customer experience, with a strong focus on delivering sustainable and measurable business impact. Over the course of his career, he has shaped and executed large-scale data transformations for leading global organisations across APAC and the United States.

He currently serves as Chief Data Officer at Tonik Bank, the Philippines’ first digital bank, where he is leading the development of an AI-first strategy for the country’s digital finance ecosystem. Prior to this, he was Director of Data at Kredivo Group, a Southeast Asia–based fintech offering BNPL and retail lending solutions across Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In this role, he led global teams of data scientists, MLOps engineers, and data product managers, delivering material business outcomes through data and advanced analytics.

Earlier in his career, Biswanath worked as a management consultant with Oliver Wyman in Singapore and PwC in the United States, leading large-scale data analytics engagements across financial services, health insurance, and retail. He is known for his ability to engage effectively with stakeholders from C-suite leaders to analysts, translating complex ideas into clear, actionable insights. He has been recognised as a Global Data Analytics Leader by Analytics India Magazine and actively contributes to the community through mentoring, writing, and speaking engagements.

Jackson Oh is the Chief Technology Officer at ANEXT Bank, where he leads the bank’s technology strategy, architecture, and engineering execution as ANEXT scales its digital banking platform for local SMEs and foreign business owners in Singapore. With close to two decades of experience across banking, fintech, and enterprise technology, Jackson brings a rare blend of deep financial services expertise and hands-on product and platform leadership. Prior to ANEXT Bank, he served as Chief Product Officer at Tribe Fintech and held senior technology and product leadership roles at 360F, SunGard (now part of FIS), AirWatch by VMware, Samsung Electronics, and Bank of America.

Jackson has led large-scale, cloud-native platforms across corporate banking, payments, capital markets, and SaaS environments. He is passionate about building resilient, scalable financial infrastructure, and enabling innovation while meeting the realities of regulatory and operational complexity.

Rebekah Wong is Head of ASEAN Payments at J.P. Morgan, Singapore, responsible for driving strategy, product development, and innovative solutions across Treasury Services, Trade & Working Capital, and Merchant Services. In her role, she works closely with corporates and financial institutions to address their unique needs and foster business growth. Since joining J.P. Morgan’s Payments Product team in 2013, Rebekah has spearheaded initiatives in real-time payments, blockchain pilots, and AI-driven product enhancements. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions in Business Management, where her strategic and operational insights contributed significantly to organizational growth.

A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Rebekah mentors emerging talent and actively supports initiatives that advance women in the workplace. She was also part of the founding team for J.P. Morgan Kinexys’ first blockchain pilot on Partior.

Arvin Morgan is a seasoned transaction banking professional with over 18 years of experience in corporate banking sector specializing in trade finance, working capital and cash management. Currently serving as Executive Director and Country Head of Transaction Banking at Mizuho Bank Malaysia Berhad, he leads strategic initiatives for revenue growth, client acquisition and product innovation.

Prior to this role, Arvin held senior leadership positions at leading transaction banking banks including Citibank Berhad, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC, where he consistently delivered revenue growth and managed corporate portfolios. Known for his strategic leadership and client focused advisory approach, Arvin has built a strong track record in Malaysia covering complex solutions and leading high performing teams.

Julia Goh joined UOB Malaysia in 2015 with 12 years of research experience working in the stockbroking industry. In her current role, she is responsible for the UOB Global Economics and Markets Research team’s coverage of Malaysia and is frequently quoted in the local and foreign media on the country’s economic trends and developments and currency.

Prior to joining UOB Malaysia, Julia covered Malaysia and regional economies at an ASEAN investment bank and contributed to the research team being ranked among the top three in country research on Malaysia at the Asiamoney Brokers Poll for seven consecutive years. She also previously worked in the consultancy sector.

Juergen Rahmel is a Generative AI Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong and the Artificial Intelligence Lead at the Chief Digital Office of HSBC Hong Kong. He is an internationally experienced senior executive with a solid foundation in both technology and business. With specialist expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Information Security, Juergen has held key roles across transaction banking, wealth management, and digital transformation. He is a strategic thinker and transformation leader, known for driving innovation and value across global system landscapes. As a versatile people manager and lean thinker, he integrates customer focus with business goals, delivering impactful results in complex, multicultural environments.

Alan Ang is a blockchain and AI advisor with over 20 years of experience across operations, marketing, sales, and strategic partnerships. He works with enterprises, startups, and institutions on business strategy, go-to-market execution, and the practical adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital assets.

He has hands-on experience with applied AI systems and data-driven platforms, including AI-enabled decisioning, analytics, and automation use cases. His work spans the design and application of intelligent systems within enterprise environments, digital platforms, and compliance-sensitive workflows, where accuracy, explainability, and operational reliability are critical.

Alan is known for helping organisations bridge Web2, AI, and Web3 by translating complex technologies into deployable, business-ready solutions. His advisory approach focuses on reducing friction, managing risk, and ensuring that advanced technologies can be adopted pragmatically without unnecessary technical or operational overhead.

Specialising in AI strategy, blockchain architecture, digital asset and NFT use cases, and ecosystem partnerships, Alan supports organisations in navigating the evolving digital landscape, building sustainable growth models, and deploying future-ready technology strategies.

Camilla Bullock is an entrepreneur, connector, and leader in the global payments industry. As the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA), she is dedicated to fostering synergies across the payments ecosystem. Since its founding in 2018, EPAA has rapidly become the voice of payments in the Asia-Pacific region and a key advocate on the global stage. EPAA is an active member of Financial Stability Board (FSB) task forces, contributing to the G20 agenda to enhance payments, drive innovation, and improve cross-border interoperability.

Camilla’s extensive career in financial technology began in the early 2000s in London, where she spent 14 years in various roles at Reuters, now part of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Her work in the payments sector reflects her passion for shaping the future of financial services by uniting key industry players and accelerating innovation.

Beyond her role at EPAA, Camilla is the founder of the “Meet-Her She Knows Payments” initiative, which champions female thought leadership in the industry, reinforcing diversity as a key driver of innovation. She also serves on the board of the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce and actively mentors emerging talent, demonstrating her commitment to the next generation of payments leaders.

David is a seasoned technology executive with significant experience and has over 25 years’ experience in CIO and CISO roles across different industries and countries. David has served as a CIO spans across multiple industries and geographies including – Metlife, Eli Lilly and Credit Union Australia. He was winner Australia CIO of the Year for driving CUA’s Transformation. Also, David was CISO for HSBC and Global Head Technology, Cyber and Data Risk Macquarie Group.

He is Board Advisor at Bain Advisory and Ambassador CI –ISAC Australia Critical Infrastructure. David also serves as Advisory Director to JS Careers and Emertel. David is past Chairman for the FS-ISAC Strategy Committee and awarded Global Leaders Award in 2023 for his industry contributions.

A regular conference keynote speaker and thought leader he writes for CIO, CSO, Computerworld and Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). His best-selling book - the Aspiring CIO & CISO was published in June 2024 and his second book A Day in the Life of a CISO launched in October 2025 and is already best seller in UK, Singapore, Japan and Australia.

Chia Hock Lai is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Embed Financial Group Holdings, with more than two decades of experience in the financial and technology industry. He has previously held positions in various organizations, including the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) and NTUC Income. He is an alumnus of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and has received several prestigious fellowships and awards for his contributions to digital transformation and skills development, such as the Institute of Banking & Finance (IBF) Fellow for Digital Transformation, SkillsFuture (SSG) Fellowship, NTUC May Day Award in "Partner of Labour Movement" and “Friend of Labour” respectively.

As an active ecosystem builder, Hock Lai is a chairman of the Responsible Fintech Institute, founding board member of the International Digital Economies Association (iDEA), co-chairman of the Digital Assets Association (DAA) and founding member of the Singapore Internet Governance Forum (SG IGF). He is also the former & founding president of the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA), former & founding chairman of the Singapore Blockchain Association (SBA) and former co-chairman of the Global Fintech Institute (GFI). He is involved in various advisory and board member roles in organizations like the Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB), the NTUC-U Care Fund, and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP). He is also an advisor to tech startups and a frequent speaker on topics related to digital transformation, fintech and blockchain at international events and universities.

Steven Beck is the Director of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Trade and Supply Chain Division. He built ADB’s trade and supply chain finance programs, which now support about 20,000 transactions annually worth over US $5 billion. Steven created the ICC–ADB Trade Finance Register, influencing global regulations and unlocking major financing capacity. He also launched ADB’s Trade Finance Gaps, Growth and Jobs study, the industry benchmark for measuring global trade finance gaps. During COVID-19, he led critical support for food, agriculture, medicines, and vaccine distribution. Steven also drives global trade digitalization through the Digital Standards Initiative and promotes sustainable, inclusive supply chains.

Prof. Tek Yew Chia is a distinguished thought leader in financial services and digital innovation, with over 30 years of experience shaping strategy, technology, and regulation across Asia and the Middle East. He is currently an adjunct professor and Advisor at the National University of Singapore’s Asian Institute of Digital Finance, which was founded by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the National Research Foundation, and NUS, where he contributes to advancing education, research, and innovation in digital finance.

Previously, Prof. Chia was Vice Chairman of Oliver Wyman Singapore, leading the firm’s Asia–Pacific insurance practice. His earlier career includes senior roles at KPMG, PwC Consulting, and Hewlett-Packard, spanning strategic transformation, risk management, and technology enablement.

Aside from his role in NUS-AIDF, he is also currently a senior advisor with the Boston Consulting Group as well as serving as an advisor to the Global FinTech Network (GFTN) and the ASEAN Bankers Association.

Raj Raman is the Market Manager for International Payments Product within Global Payments & Trade for Asia Pacific (APAC) at BNY. He leads technical sales, solutioning, and market intelligence across cross-border payments, including USD clearing, multi-currency, and FX transactions.

Raj focuses on understanding regional client needs to drive product adoption and commercialisation, while contributing thought leadership and insights on market trends. He closely tracks developments in pricing, real-time payments, and emerging payment service providers to enhance the end-to-end payments experience.

With over 20 years of experience in cross-border payments, Raj has held leadership roles spanning technical sales, customer experience, complex implementations, analytics, and operations. Prior to BNY, he worked with Wells Fargo and American Express Bank.

Anand Mukati is Managing Director and Country Head for HSBC's Global Payments Solutions business in Malaysia. In his current role, he leads the bank’s payments, liquidity and cash management services for both multinational and local corporates in Malaysia

Prior to this, Anand served as HSBC’s Country Head of Global Payments Solutions in Korea, where he led the launch of several market-first solutions in liquidity management, corporate cards, and digital collections. Previously, he has held leadership roles in transaction banking, technology and consulting in Singapore, Hong Kong and India. Anand has also collaborated with fintech partners to develop innovative payment models and digital treasury solutions.

Tavonga Muchuchuti is a senior AI and digital transformation leader advising financial institutions, regulators and technology ecosystems across Africa and globally. He is Managing Director of Xavier Africa, an AI advisory firm delivering high-impact solutions across financial services, public sector and regulated industries. He serves on the Board of the Africa Fintech Network, contributing to fintech strategy, infrastructure development and policy engagement across the continent.

As Chair of the Tech & Products Committee at the International Digital Economies Alliance (iDEA), he works with stakeholders across more than 70 countries to advance responsible technology adoption and digital infrastructure. Tavonga works closely with central banks and financial institutions on the practical application of AI in risk monitoring, compliance, financial inclusion and data-driven decision-making, bridging strategy, regulation and execution in complex financial ecosystems.

Gary Ng is a Senior Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis and a Research Fellow at Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) His research links the Asia Pacific macroeconomy with international trade and supply chain, industrial and government policies, technology and innovation, banking and finance. He has in-depth coverage of geopolitically influenced sectors, including semiconductors and electric vehicles, on macroeconomic, corporate, supply chain and investment levels.

He is also active in global media with presence including but not limited to Al Jazeera, Bloomberg, CGTN, CNBC, Financial Times, Nikkei Asia, Reuters, South China Morning Post and Wall Street Journal.

Bee Teng Lim is a seasoned data science and analytics leader currently serving as the Head of Data Science & Analytics at GXBank. With nearly 20 years of professional experience in the financial sector, specifically across the banking and insurance industries, she specializes in the technical orchestration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that enhance customer outcomes and operational velocity. Throughout her career, including key roles at AIA Bhd. and Prudential Assurance, she has built a reputation for bringing technical data and analytics complexity with measurable business impact. 

At GXBank, Bee Teng leads the data science and analytics delivery function, where she has been instrumental in building a high-performing team and the bank's analytics foundation from the ground up. She has pioneered transformative initiatives, including GenAI-driven fraud detection, chatbot, real-time sentiment monitoring, predictive modelling for customer acquisition and recommendation engine. Under her strategic leadership, these innovations have earned multiple prestigious industry recognition, including Outstanding Use of Advanced Analytics, Best Gen-AI Retail Product Initiative and AI Initiative of the Year. 

With a strong passion for bridging the gap between data and business, Bee Teng is dedicated to fostering a data-first culture and driving impactful decision-making. Her mission is to leverage cutting-edge AI and analytics to uncover opportunities, streamline operations, and elevate the customer experience. 

Joey Han is the Head of Client Solutions & Partnerships APAC, at Deutsche Bank overseeing the strategic management and commercial optimization of Deutsche Bank’s cash clearing networks. He is also responsible for the strategic positioning and structuring of cash clearing solutions for Institutional Cash clients in the Asia Pacific region.

With more than a decade of experience in the transaction banking industry since joining Deutsche Bank as a graduate trainee, Joey’s expertise has primarily been focused on the correspondent banking and cross border payment space, helping bank clients navigate through the complex landscape of global cash clearing.

Jason is the CEO of the Digital Finance Business Unit at Huawei, overseeing the company’s global operations in the financial industry. Under his leadership, Huawei Digital Finance is committed to driving continuous innovation, collaborating with partners to deliver cutting-edge solutions, and advancing smarter, greener finance through full connectivity and intelligent technologies—creating lasting value for financial customers worldwide. 

Since joining Huawei in 2004, Mr. Cao has played a pivotal role across multiple international markets, including China, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Germany. His previous leadership positions include Assistant Director of the Deutsche Telekom Account Department, Director of the United Kingdom EE Account Department, President of the Russia Enterprise Business Department, Head of the Global Key Account Department within the Enterprise Business Group, and President of the Global Financial Services Business Unit.

Victor Yim leads the organization's AI & Data Science division. His influence across the ecosystem is underscored by his role as a board member of the Fintech Association of Hong Kong. His fintech tenure was marked by key regulatory collaboration on initiatives like the GenA.I. Sandbox, establishing him as a prominent voice at global forums like Money 20/20.

Victor is tasked with accelerating AI adoption across Hong Kong by cultivating a robust AI community and working closely with regulators and government to drive industry-wide implementation. This strategic role builds on a 20-year career at firms like TransUnion and IBM, where his pioneering eKYC solutions are still used by major banks.

Jamie Luk leads nCino's Delivery and Support Engineering team across the APAC region, overseeing the design and implementation of cloud banking solutions for financial institutions. His team ensures each engagement is architected to best practice while embedding the latest innovations in AI and intelligent data into delivery outcomes. Through nCino's Support Engineering function, Jamie positions customers to maximise value from nCino's evolving product roadmap and feature releases.

With over 15 years of experience spanning banking and professional services — including senior roles at globally recognised financial institutions and consulting firms — Jamie brings deep expertise in enterprise delivery, platform architecture, and customer success.

He is a practical advocate for applied intelligence in financial services, focused on bridging the gap between emerging technology and tangible banking outcomes.

Romeo is the APAC Vice President of Innovation and Transformation, driving the adoption of digital innovation, AI adoption, and business process optimization as core to TP's value proposition, with a strong focus on financial services and regulated environments.

With 25 years of experience across customer experience, smart shoring, and building centres of excellence, he has led transformation initiatives across banking and financial services, enabling institutions to modernize customer journeys and operational workflows while upholding trust, compliance, and regulatory rigor. Prior to TP, Romeo served at NICE Systems as a Business & Solutions Leader for Analytics and Digital Solutions, where he supported strategic engagements across BFSI, travel, retail, and BPO sectors.

Romeo also brings a solid foundation in research and consulting, where data-driven decision-making is paramount. He is passionate about turning customer and operational pain points into practical, scalable solutions that create tangible business value.

Warren Soo is a seasoned financial services executive with over 20 years of experience across traditional banking and emerging digital technologies. He has held leadership roles at HSBC and JPMorgan, building deep expertise in institutional banking, risk management, and strategic growth.

He later moved into the blockchain space as Chief Commercial Officer of a startup, where he spent four years developing enterprise-grade solutions for financial institutions, insurers, and commercial real estate firms. His work focused on bridging traditional finance with distributed ledger technologies.

Currently, as Head of Digital Cash and Innovation at BNY, Warren leads initiatives to modernise payment systems and drive digital transformation. His combined experience in banking and blockchain positions him as a key voice in shaping the future of financial services.

Dee Lawler is Chief Technology Officer for Financial Services & Insurance (FS&I) Sector for International Markets at Atos, leading at the forefront of global digital transformation. She harnesses the power of cloud, data, and AI to reimagine what’s possible—helping financial institutions innovate with purpose and lead with confidence. A visionary leader, Dee is passionate about building intelligent, resilient organizations and empowering teams to shape a smarter, more connected future.

Matthew Hughes is Head of the Financial Services & Insurance (FS&I) Sector for International Markets and a Global Client Executive Partner at Atos, driving transformation across global banking. With over 25 years of experience—including over 15 years at the Royal Bank of Scotland—he brings deep expertise in automation, simplification, and large-scale change. With a global career spanning Asia and Europe, Matthew challenges organizations to think beyond incremental progress—embracing innovation and building future-ready enterprises designed to thrive in a digital-first world.

Yap Tat Yeen is the Head of Supply Chain Trade Solutions at Maybank Singapore, a role he has held since April 2024. He brings more than 20 years of experience in trade finance, with deep expertise across documentary trade, supply chain finance, and working capital solutions developed through senior roles at three global banks.

Prior to joining Maybank, Tat Yeen also held leadership roles in the fintech sector, where he worked on advancing digital capabilities and platforms supporting the modernisation of trade and supply chain finance. His work focuses on helping corporates optimise liquidity, strengthen supply chain resilience, and adopt digital solutions to improve efficiency across global trade ecosystems.

Tat Yeen is a working group member of the Global Supply Chain Finance Forum and a Fellow of the Global FinTech Institute, reflecting his active engagement in industry initiatives aimed at advancing innovation and best practices in trade finance.

Devashis Das is the Managing Director and Head of Marketing, Planning and Transformation at Global Transaction Banking, Asia Pacific. He joined Mizuho in 2015 following a distinguished career spanning over 2 decades at Citibank in Japan & Singapore, and earlier roles at RBS and in the IT consultancy sector.

In his current capacity, Devashis leads the region’s strategic planning, transformation, marketing and analytics functions for transaction banking. He plays a central role in executing key business initiatives, fostering cross-team collaboration and strengthening the bank’s market positioning and brand across Asia Pacific.

Andy Rangel is a transformation-focused business leader with more than 25 years of experience in the Business Process Services (BPS) industry across Asia Pacific, North America, and Latin America. As CEO of TP Malaysia & Thailand, he leads large-scale operations at the intersection of customer experience, technology, and people, driving growth through automation, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled delivery.

He is known for bridging regional market realities with global enterprise expectations, with deep expertise in operational excellence, scalable transformation, and performance-led governance. Andy has played a key role in modernising CX models by embedding intelligent automation, data-driven insights, and early GenAI use cases into day-to-day operations to improve efficiency, quality, and customer outcomes.

His leadership spans enterprise P&L management, complex business turnarounds, ISO-driven governance, and the design of resilient operating models, including hybrid and work-from-home frameworks. Prior to TP, he spent nearly 14 years at STARTEK in senior roles across the US and the Philippines, including VP Operations and VP Business Development for Asia Pacific, where he led ISO 9001:2015 certification. He previously served as APAC Chief Client Officer at TP before becoming CEO, and focuses on translating AI into measurable business value.

Nicholas Soo, is a Managing Director and Head of Payments Product for Global Payment Solutions Asia at HSBC, based in Hong Kong. He brings over 20 years of experience in transaction banking, spanning sales, strategy, regional product, and country management.

In his current role, he works closely with clients, regulators, industry bodies, and technology partners to drive payments innovation across the region. He also serves as Chairperson of the Hong Kong SWIFT National Member Group and sits on the Advisory Board of the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA).

Nick has led the development of award-winning solutions such as Omni-Collect, FX Prompt, and DART, and has overseen the expansion of HSBC Asia’s real-time payments footprint to 16 markets. Prior to this, he held various roles in HSBC Malaysia, working closely with regulators on national payments initiatives.

Monica Jasuja is Chief Expansion and Innovation Officer at the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA), where she leads payment innovation and ecosystem development across the region. She brings over 24 years of global experience in fintech and payments, having worked across the US, India, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.

Monica has held leadership roles at PayPal, Mastercard, and Gojek, driving product strategy, partnerships, and scalable solutions tailored to diverse market needs. Her expertise spans digital payments, fintech, and emerging market dynamics, with a strong focus on innovation and financial inclusion.

A recognised thought leader, Monica has been named among Favikon’s Top 5 Most Influential Fintech Voices on LinkedIn, NORBR’s Top 10 Payment Leaders, and Onalytica’s Top 15 Global Fintech Thought Leaders. She also actively mentors startups and women in technology, supporting growth and leadership in the industry.

James Chan is Head of Transaction Banking & Controls at ZA Bank, Hong Kong’s first digital bank established by ZA International, the international arm of ZhongAn Online P&C Insurance Co., Ltd.

As a core member of the founding team of ZA Bank, James played an integral part in the early establishment of the bank’s retail businesses, with a particular focus on customer acquisition and payment infrastructure. He also led the development of the bank’s Global Transfer product powered by Wise. In 2023, his role expanded to business banking to take charge of the design and growth strategies of banking products and ecosystems, including Web3-related sectors.

Before joining ZA Bank in 2019, James was Assistant Vice President, Digital, Innovation & Payments of the Consumer Banking Group at DBS Bank (Hong Kong), where he was primarily responsible for digital customer onboarding and the bank’s mortgage app with virtual reality.

Leo Li is president of international business at Ant Digital Technologies, where he leads global expansion and drives the deployment of AI, cloud and digital infrastructure solutions across key markets. With decades of experience spanning AI, IT and cloud computing, he has built and scaled international businesses across financial services, energy, healthcare and internet platforms, with a strong focus on commercial strategy and execution in complex, high-growth environments.

He has a proven track record of establishing and leading cross-border teams, bringing a global perspective to market development and ecosystem building. Prior to joining Ant Digital Technologies, he served as vice president of international business at Tencent Cloud, where he led expansion across the EMEA region, and as vice president at Huawei, where he played a key role in executing the company’s globalisation strategy across Europe and Asia Pacific.

Olivier Anceau is Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific Specialized Product Sales (SPS) for Global Payment Solutions at Bank of America, based in Singapore. With over 25 years of experience in transaction, corporate, and commercial banking across Europe and Asia, he brings deep expertise in driving revenue growth, client engagement, and product innovation.

In his current role, Olivier leads regional sales strategy and execution across trade, commercial cards, and cash management, overseeing high-performing teams focused on sales effectiveness, bid management, and client advisory. Prior to joining Bank of America, he spent over two decades at Citi, where he held several senior leadership roles, including Head of NEXT Asia Pacific, a data-driven digital coverage model for commercial banking clients, and Regional Product Sales Head for Treasury & Trade Solutions.

Garry Sien leads the International Solutions Department at Ant Digital Technologies. Based in Hong Kong, he is an international technologist with deep experience in fintech, cloud, and AI-driven transformation. He drives the company’s global go-to-market strategy and builds industry ecosystems by leveraging its financial-grade AI, blockchain, and fintech solutions. Garry also serves as a Founding Council Member of the Strategic AI Advisory Council at the Fintech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK), and sits on the Executive Committees for Fintech at the Hong Kong Computer Society and for the Finance Industry at the Greater Bay Area 5G Industry Alliance. He previously co-chaired FTAHK’s Cloud and Cybersecurity Committee.

Before joining Ant Group, Garry was Chief Solutions Architect for Global Financial Services at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence and Head of Technology for ANZ China. Over the past decade, he has held leadership roles across Asia-Pacific spanning strategy, architecture, digital transformation, and risk assurance, with a focus on advancing the adoption of emerging technologies across the financial services industry.

William Yao is the Chief Technology Officer of International Product and Development at Ant Digital Technologies, where he leads the build-out of global technology platforms and solutions. Prior to this, he served as CTO of Ant Bank (Hong Kong) and led content delivery network (CDN) engineering at Alibaba Cloud.

With over 15 years of experience across internet and financial technology, he has been at the forefront of scaling digital infrastructure, advancing AI-driven solutions, and supporting the internationalisation of fintech platforms.

Sylvia is the Regional Head of Treasury and Markets Sales at CIMB Group, where she also holds dual responsibility for the Financial Institutions Group. Based in Malaysia, she brings over 25 years of experience across ASEAN financial markets, having worked with international banks across multiple regions, products, and client segments. In her current role, Sylvia leads the strategic development of CIMB’s Financial Markets business across the region, building and guiding a high-performing sales team to strengthen the bank’s ASEAN franchise among corporate and institutional clients both within and beyond the region.

Given her deep expertise in regional markets, cross-border flows, and institutional client engagement. Her perspective will add valuable insights into how financial institutions are navigating evolving market dynamics, managing liquidity, and strengthening regional connectivity, particularly within the ASEAN landscape.

Babu Vaidyanathan, Head of Commercial Cards, Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia Treasury Product at Bank of America, based in Singapore. With over 30 years of experience in banking and financial services, he brings deep expertise across cash management, payments, liquidity, and product development.

At Bank of America, Babu is responsible for driving business strategy, product innovation, and end-to-end P&L ownership across receivables and commercial card solutions in the region. His role spans building scalable systems and processes, strengthening client solutions, and ensuring robust risk management and governance frameworks.

Prior to joining Bank of America, he held senior leadership roles at HSBC, DBS Bank, and ICICI Bank, where he led cash management product development and operations across multiple markets.

Yogesh Sangle is the Executive Vice President of APAC at Nium. In this role, he oversees business development across Asia-Pacific, while also leading revenue for Nium’s direct-to-consumer business, Instarem. Under his leadership, Instarem has achieved 5x growth across individual, SME, and enterprise segments, and launched Amaze, now Singapore’s most popular consumer travel card. 

A seasoned fintech leader with prior roles at PayPal, Citibank, and MoneyGram, Yogesh brings deep expertise in scaling businesses across banking, cards, and payments. He has built and led high-performing teams across product, sales, and marketing, with a sharp focus on digital transformation and sustainable growth across dynamic global markets.

Varun Mahindru serves as Head of Value-Added Services for Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand at Visa. With more than 16 years of experience in payments and banking, he focuses on aligning business objectives with execution to drive innovation and growth for Visa and its clients. Varun focuses on risk management, loyalty, digital innovation and core banking solutions, building impactful partnerships with banks, fintechs and enterprise clients to enhance their business performance.

Prior to this, he was Senior Director and Head of Fintech Business Development for Asia Pacific at Visa, where he led the company’s expansion into emerging fintech verticals, such as digital wallets, neobanks and crypto-native platforms, and helped position Visa as a leader in the evolving payments landscape through strategic partnerships.

Before joining Visa, Varun held multiple roles during a decade-long tenure at National Australia Bank, including Product Manager for digital wallets and payments, where he drove the development and launch of digital payment solutions across the retail banking franchise.

Tim Way is Senior Director, Global Banking Initiatives at Fireblocks, an enterprise platform for secure digital asset custody, settlement, trading operations, and stablecoin payments. His responsibilities include partnering with banks and financial institutions globally to equip them as they rewire how value is stored and moves. This includes helping institutions manage risk, unlock new revenue models, and scale with infrastructure that’s secure, enterprise-ready, and built for a digital economy.

Prior to Fireblocks, Tim spent over a decade at UBS, most recently serving as its APAC Digital Assets Lead, reporting into the APAC Chief Digital and Information Office (CDIO). Whilst there, he worked to scale blockchain initiatives to tokenise funds and structured products. He also led a team of over 100 to deliver US$50m of digitalisation to UBS China’s Wealth Management entities. His extensive experience at UBS spanned the Asset Management, Investment Banking and Wealth Management businesses.

Akintunde Ogunmodede leads Trade and Supply Chain Finance for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Central Asia at IFC, based in Singapore. In this role, he originates and delivers IFC’s short-term finance solutions through global and regional financial institutions, as well as corporates, supporting trade flows and supply chain resilience across diverse markets.

Previously based in IFC’s Washington, D.C. office, he focused on trade finance portfolio solutions for global banks. Prior to that, he supported IFC’s Financial Institutions Group business across Africa, building extensive experience in emerging market finance.

Before joining IFC, Akintunde was with the Investments Group at Africa Finance Corporation. He began his career in commercial banking, with roles spanning treasury operations, risk management and banking operations.

Manish is the head of Business Development at Worldline, specializing in delivering modernized payment platforms to banking customers across the Asia-Pacific region. He is based in Singapore. With extensive experience across global markets, including Singapore, Australia, Korea, Japan, and India, Manish has successfully led diverse teams and driven large-scale sales growth.

Manish previously worked at Stripe, where he led industry solutions and developed the “Art of the Possible” framework to help clients embed financial services and accept payments. He partnered with firms like Accenture and Deloitte to secure major clients across automotive, FMCG, and insurance, and is also recognised for building mentoring programmes that support employee growth.

Prior to joining the Fintech space, Manish held senior roles at Amazon Web Services, VMware, and Microsoft. At Microsoft, he played a pivotal role in building a program to scale cloud sales and the program has been adopted as a worldwide Partner Leadership Conclave, which generated significant new business opportunities.

Heng Wang is a Professor at Singapore Management University’s Yong Pung How School of Law. He previously served as a Professor at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, where he was a co-director of two major research centres. His scholarship is frequently cited in intergovernmental organizations documents.

He serves on the Advisory Group of a United Nations centre specialising in technology and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s AI Global Alliance, the Future Blockchain and Digital Assets Initiative, and the AI in Financial Services Initiative.

 His research focuses on the future of international economic relations, with particular attention to AI governance, sustainability, trade, and digital currencies, as well as regulatory responses to complex and uncertain environments. He is interested in how governance and regulatory systems can adapt to rapid technological change and evolving global dynamics.

Dr. Nafis Alam is Professor and Head of the School of Business at Monash University Malaysia. He has previously held academic roles at Henley Business School Malaysia, the University of Reading Malaysia, and the University of Nottingham Malaysia, with visiting appointments in the UK and Indonesia.

A recognised expert in FinTech, RegTech, and financial regulation, Dr. Alam is actively involved in the fintech ecosystem and contributes thought leadership to industry development. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including The World Economy, Emerging Markets Review, and Journal of Banking Regulation.

Dr. Alam is also an ambassador of the Emerging Payments Association Asia (EPAA) and has co-authored nine books on fintech and Islamic finance. He regularly speaks at global institutions, including Harvard Law School and the University of Cambridge.

Richard Firman Hadi Prayoga leads Wholesale Digital Channel Transformation at PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) as Head of Wholesale Transaction Project Transformation. He is responsible for driving enterprise-wide initiatives to modernise transaction banking through end-to-end operating model transformation, while advancing cash management, trade, and supply chain finance capabilities powered by data and AI.

With more than 10 years at BNI and over eight years in wholesale transaction banking, Richard specialises in bridging business strategy with technology execution. His expertise includes building scalable digital platforms, strengthening data capabilities, and leveraging AI to deliver more intelligent and client-centric banking solutions.

Richard also led the delivery of BNIdirect Bisnis under BNI’s flagship Avatar Program, enhancing digital capabilities for businesses and accelerating MSME growth, while helping position BNI as a more agile and future-ready transaction banking institution.

Chengyi Ong is Director of Policy and Regulatory Strategy for APAC at Circle, where she focuses on advancing digital assets, payments, and programmable blockchain infrastructure across the region, supporting the development of a more open and global financial system. Previously, she led APAC public policy at Chainalysis and spent over a decade at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, working across financial regulation, supervision, industry development, and central banking.

Andrew Jong leads retail banking at Hong Leong Bank, with over two decades of experience in the financial services industry, his responsibilities include serving as Managing Director for Personal Financial Services in Malaysia and overseeing the function across Singapore, Vietnam, and Cambodia. In his role, he leads the charge in reshaping the banking experience by harnessing the transformative power of technologies and AI, whilst deeply building new capabilities around customers and communities.

The ethos has led to innovative, impactful changes that benefit customers and segments across the board. Aside from competitively stepping up the digital offerings at the Bank, they have empowered individuals and MSMEs with tailored solutions, and championed financial inclusion while expanding access to underserved communities through award winning community programs. 

Khuan Yew Lee is an industry leader in financial services across local banks, national payments network as well as regional and global fintech startups covering Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America.

On the side, he co-founded a social navigation app, an O2O F&B deals platform and a decentralised proptech marketplace. He was a recipient of the Young Maybanker of the Year award. 

Wee Kee is Global Head of Insights for Kinexys at J.P. Morgan, where he leads research and insight development to shape Kinexys’ product vision and long-term strategy. He engages with industry thought leaders, regulators, and ecosystem partners to translate external market, policy, and technology signals into actionable guidance for internal teams. In this advisory capacity, he helps make teams smarter, bringing perspective on emerging trends and developments to inform near-term priorities, address current needs, and capture future opportunities. He works closely with the Product teams to define forward-looking strategy and roadmap direction, and partners with the Technology teams to evaluate ecosystem solutions and align technical approaches with business needs.

Prior to joining J.P. Morgan in 2022, Wee Kee was the Specialist Leader for Distributed Ledger Technology at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and led Project Ubin, a collaborative industry project exploring the use of blockchain and DLT for clearing and settlement of payments and securities. He was also Advisor at the BIS Innovation Hub, where he led Project Dunbar with a vision of enabling interoperable CBDCs and connected multi-CBDC platforms.

Waqar Chaudry is Managing Director and Global Head of Digital Assets within Financing and Securities Services at Standard Chartered, where he leads the bank’s global digital assets strategy and product rollout. His responsibilities span digital asset custody, tokenisation, stablecoins, market infrastructure strategy, and collateral services, working closely with regulators, technology partners, and institutional clients globally.

Since joining Standard Chartered in 2022, Waqar has played a key role in building and scaling the bank’s digital assets capabilities across product, regulatory, operational, and client delivery functions.

Prior to this, he served at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market, where he oversaw the authorisation and supervision of virtual asset exchanges, custodians, broker-dealers, and banks. He also spent eight years at the Australian Securities Exchange in roles covering exchange-traded derivatives markets and began his career as a consultant with IBM Global Business Services in the Asia-Pacific region.

Priyanka Madan is Regional Head of Deposits & Wealth for GXS Bank and GXBank, where she leads the strategy and growth of savings and wealth propositions across Singapore and Malaysia. She is a seasoned fintech and digital banking leader with extensive experience building and scaling payments and financial ecosystems across Southeast Asia.

 Prior to her current role, Priyanka served as Executive Director and Head of Payments and Ecosystem at GXBank, where she led the launch of the bank’s core payments infrastructure and drove strong customer acquisition and engagement through strategic partnerships. She previously led GrabPay Malaysia, delivering significant growth in users and merchant adoption, and played a key role in advancing Malaysia’s cashless ecosystem.