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14th NextGen Payments & RegTech Forum
OUR SPEAKERS
Chris Crespo
Founding Partner at Nordic Fintech Magazine
Chris is a Founding Partner at Nordic Fintech Magazine a media company covering the fintech space across the Nordics and Baltics . He uncomplicates finance through jargon-free financial media in plain and simple language. Chris is also a guest lecturer at Stanford University and Singularity University where he speaks regularly on the Future of Financial Services, the Future of Money Disruption and Entrepreneurship.
Michael Diamantoulis
Chief Compliance Officer at epay a Euronet Worldwide Group Company
Holder of supervised and/or c-suite positions (CCO, CRO, MLRO), Michael has worked throughout the banking as well as the payments sector, by starting-up and running control functions, organising 2nd lines of defence and setting-up strategies and policies, mainly Risk, AML and Compliance related. Michael has supported the obtaining of payment institute and e-money licensing, the receiving of card association principal memberships and the completion of funding (investment) rounds. He represented the e-money sector through-out Greece's latest National Risk Assessment. Michael believes in risk mitigation through a balanced, proactive, and transparent approach and enjoys infusing positivity and trust into workplaces.
Georgios Galanis
Director Compliance/MLRO at NBG Pay
Georgios shares his 20+ yrs of experience among Control Functions of Compliance, Risk, Audit and Privacy within Banking, Issuing and Acquiring services.
Currently he holds a position of Director Compliance/MLRO at NBG Pay
Georgios holds a MSc in Banking and a BSc in Economics and is certified as CCO, DPO, BCI (Business Continuity Expert) and ISO9001 Lead Auditor.
Dr. Firas Nadim Habach
CFA, Head of Compliance & MLRO at Sygnum Bank AG
Dr. Firas Nadim Habach is the Head of Compliance and MLRO of Sygnum Bank AG, responsible for the activities within Switzerland, Luxembourg and Abu Dhabi. He was previously the Head of Corporate & Investment Banking Compliance at JPMorgan in Switzerland & Austria and the Head of Compliance Monitoring & Testing at Deutsche Bank in Switzerland
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Katerina Androutsou
Anti Financial Crime Compliance Officer & Deputy MLRO at Sygnum Bank AG
Katerina Androutsou is an Anti Financial Crime Compliance Manager & Deputy MLRO at Sygnum Bank AG, the world’s first digital asset bank founded in Switzerland and Singapore with a global reach.
Prior to joining Sygnum, she worked as Deputy Head of Compliance and Deputy MLRO in Crypto Finance (Deutsche Börse Group) and as AML/KYC Compliance Lead at Credit Suisse in Switzerland. She has been intrigued by the legal and compliance aspects of digital assets since her time at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. Katerina’s prior experience combines the private legal sector, governmental sector, and the EU institutions.
Katerina is an EU qualified lawyer holding Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Law from the Universities of Athens and Brussels, as well as certificates on blockchain and digital assets. Her focus is on financial markets law, KYC/AML, financial crime compliance, crypto compliance and blockchain forensic analysis.
Joanna Kozlowska
Head of AML/CFT Operations Division, d.MLRO Group Compliance at Eurobank
Joanna Kozlowska is heading AML/CFT and Sanctions Division in Eurobank S.A., one of the Greek systemic banks. She is also appointed deputy MLRO and Group MLRO. Prior to this she was the head of Compliance and AML/CTF functions in the Greek branches of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. Before moving to Greece, Joanna worked at both the public (the Securities and Exchange Commission - currently Polish FSA) and private side (asset management and mutual funds management) of the Polish financial sector.
Joanna holds a Master’s Degree in Law from the Warsaw University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Capital Investments and Business Development from the Warsaw School of Economics, as well as Certified Internal Auditor and CAMS-FCI certifications.
Yuri Broodman
Chief Compliance Officer / MLRO / DPO at SEB Luxembourg
Yuri is a seasoned Compliance leader with 20+ years of international business experience in various senior functions. Between 1999 - 2007 he had a career as navy officer within the Royal Dutch Navy, before he left in 2008 for Luxembourg where his career in Compliance started.
Starting at HSBC where he progressed his career from Senior Compliance Officer to Country Head of Compliance in 2014. Afterwards he worked as Chief Compliance Officer / MLRO at PayPal and Ant Financial (Alibaba’s mobile payments wallet) until he returned to The Netherlands end 2019 to become MLRO for Global Innovation and M&A Risk Management within ING’s Innovation business area in Amsterdam. After 2 ½ years in NL he returned to Luxembourg in April 2022, where Yuri is now Chief Compliance Officer, MLRO and DPO at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB), Luxembourg Branch.
Over the past 20+ years he has gained extensive expertise in leading multi-cultural teams, mainly in the fields of Financial Crime Compliance and Regulatory change.
Besides his Naval Academy degree and a post-doctoral degree in operational auditing from the University of Amsterdam, Yuri is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS®), Certified AML FinTech Compliance Associate (CAFCA) and a Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator (CCI). He is currently a CIPP-student, to become a Certified Information Privacy Professional.
Yuri is also a Board member with the ACAMS Luxembourg Chapter, and loves to participate to Compliance conferences and share his experiences.
Ani Filipova
Founder of Change Advisory
Ani has been an international banking executive for over 20 years. She was involved in the original setup and ongoing management of three banks, including Citibank in Bulgaria.
Ani’s career took her to Bucharest, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Between 2015 and 2021, she was the Regional Chief Operating Officer for Citibank Treasury and Trade Solutions in Asia, covering 16 countries, including India and China. Ani’s focus was on transformation, digitisation, and culture change. They won Euromoney Best Bank for transaction services three times during this period; and won various categories of the Global Finance Best Digital Bank awards each year since 2017.
In April 2021, Ani decided to leave her high-flying job and try something different. Leaving Hong Kong, Ani relocated to Athens to build a “portfolio career,” running a “portfolio” of activities: board director, change advisor, investor, career coach, lecturer, podcast host, and speaker.
Elina Mattila
Executive Director at Mobey Forum
Elina has been part of the Mobey Forum team since 2012, managing relationships with key decision-makers at major banks, solution, providers and Mobey Forum's partner organisation, and is always looking for new ways to bring more value to Mobey Forum's members. Before joining Mobey Elina worked as a journalist in London, at Informa, Telecoms and Media, and Mobile Magazine, covering the digital disruption in the media and mobile content industry. She holds an MSc in Political Economy of Development from SOAS University of London.
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Fabian Meyer
Managing Partner at CORE SE
Fabian Meyer is Managing Director in Switzerland and a member of the board of CORE SE - a European technology think tank based in Berlin. As an expert in payment services and FinTechs, he is responsible for large projects with renowned clients in the financial sector in the DACH region and the United Arab Emirates. He has several years of consulting experience in the banking sector and in transformation engineering.
Marianna Polykrati
Group Treasurer at AVRAMAR
Marianna Polykrati, recently appointed as the Group Treasurer of Avramar Group, one of the largest aquaculture groups in Europe, is a Finance leader, with extensive expertise in Treasury, Corporate Finance, and Banking. During her career, she has played a key role in the execution of complex M&A and funding transactions as well as in the financial crisis management. Her professional experience includes 16 years in Corporate Treasury as a Group Treasurer in the largest Greek market FMCG Groups of Avramar, Chipita and Vivartia and 8 years in the financial services sector Emporiki Bank in Venture Capital and Leasing, thus gaining insights from both the Corporate and the Financial sector.
She is a member of the Boardroom, a Think Tank dedicated to bridging the gender gap in the boardrooms, and a member of the Hellenic Association of Treasurers, devoted to creating a strong network and know-how exchange among Greek treasury professionals. Utilising the wealth of corporate treasury and transaction experience, Marianna’s vision is to contribute to the future development of the Treasury profession and enhance the role of the Treasurer to advance in becoming a critical business partner, leading the transformation of the role both in sustainability and as a technology enabler, supporting the adoption of technology by the local businesses and finance community with a strong focus on FinTech, AI, and Blockchain.
Socrates Maanian
Head of Compliance at Worldline
Socrates Maanian is the Head of Compliance at Worldline Greece S.A. (previously Cardlink One S.A) where he has worked for the past 4 years. Prior to this role, Socrates worked for Western Union in Southern Europe as Chief Digital Officer and Head of Payments and e-Business, and Chief Technology Officer.
Socrates has a Master of Arts in International Relations and Political Science from Landegg Academy in Affiliation with University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Computer Systems Design from the University of Dublin, a Master of Philosophy in Electronic Automation from National and Capodistrian University of Athens and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from National and Capodistrian University of Athens.
Panagiotis Kriaris
Commercial Director - Business Development at Unzer
Panagiotis has spent his career in the borderline between business and technology with a leadership background at an international level.
Panagiotis brings senior expertise across Financial Services, Banking, Payments, FinTech and E-Commerce.
Innovation, Digitisation, Emerging Technologies, Strategy & Business Development have been at the center of his work and attention over the last years.
Kostas Tovil
Market Leader, Greece, tbi bank
Kostas has 16 years of experience in retail banking with focus in consumer finance and cards in companies operating successfully on several South Eastern European markets. He started his career in Citibank and has held executive positions in EFG Eurobank in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.
He is highly experienced in managing deposits, investment products and transactional banking. He had a leading role in establishing and managing the Affluent Banking Division in two banks.
Kostas holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Business Administration from Middlesex University and a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Chemistry from Kingston University. He is also a member of the UK Royal Society of Chemistry.
Kostas is passionate about jogging, hiking and tennis. He also has a strong interest in digital innovations.
Charis Charilaou
CEO at TFI Markets
Charis Charilaou has been with TFI since 2001 and his previous role as an Executive Director saw him responsible for managing the overall Treasury Operation of the company.
Previously Charis was the executive director of Altus Investments Ltd and worked for Arab Bank Plc as a Senior Dealer. He has over 25 years of experience in the international financial markets dealing with Corporate Clients in the fields of Foreign Exchange, money markets, hedging derivatives and treasury consultancy.
Charis holds a BA from the University of Essex in Accounting & Finance and an MSc in International Banking & Finance from the University of Southampton.
Sandra Tobler
Co-founder, CEO at Futurae Technologies
Sandra is an entrepreneur who has worked in IT for over 17 years. She worked for IBM in various international roles, then for different Swiss public entities to support companies with internationalisation, first out of Zurich and later in the diplomatic representation in San Francisco.
In 2016, Sandra co-founded Futurae together with two colleagues, both with a PhDs from the System Security Group of ETH Zurich. Futurae brings future-proof security to digital products. The company provides a continuously modernised authentication platform with a particular focus on user-centric approaches that provide a secure, frictionless customer journey.
Sandra is also in the board of Kick Foundation, Startupticker, and the Swiss Startup Association and in the jury of various tech competitions. She founded the Swiss Cybersecurity Startup Map, an inventory of deep tech innovation in Information Security coming from Switzerland. Sandra fights for better framework conditions for Swiss tech companies, a more mature startup ecosystem and in particular, to have more thriving innovative Information Security companies coming from Switzerland.
Yiannis Pettemerides
Forensic, Anti-Money Laundering, Regulatory Compliance, Registered Auditor and Insolvency Practitioner - eBOS Resident Consultant & Associate
Yiannis is a Consultant, in the fields of Forensic, Anti-Money Laundering, Regulatory Compliance, Registered Auditor and Insolvency Practitioner, with more than 20 years of experience.
He was engaged, for more than 2 years, as an External Technical Expert, and leading the Onsite Inspection Teams, of the AML/Supervision Department of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). He was also the Chairman and a Member, for more than 5 years, of the Economic Crime and Forensic Accounting Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC) and also the Vice-Chairman, for more than 4 years, of the Promotion of the Profession and Academic Relations Committee of the Cyprus Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA).
Yiannis is engaged as an External Technical Expert, in the fields of Forensic Investigations, Anti-money Laundering Investigations and Audit Investigations, by the Cyprus Police Economic Crime Unit, the Attorney General Office, the Audit General Office and the Private Sector.
Furthermore, Yiannis is a Member of the AML and Compliance Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC), a Member of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and a Founding Member of the Cyprus #209 Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
He holds a Bachelor and a Master’s degrees in Accounitng, Economics and Finance (BA, MA), a Fellowship and Practicing Audit Certificates from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC). He is also a Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and of the International Compliance Association (ICA).
Valia Marougianni
EMEA Modern Workplace Global Black Belt (GBB) at Microsoft
Valia Marougianni is a dynamic, results-oriented leader with over 20 years of international sales experience in banking, technology, corporate, and start-ups. She has a proven track record of performance in high-paced environments, providing strategic and operational leadership. Valia has expertise in areas such as high impact sales, international business development, team leadership, strategy planning, and finance. She has worked for companies such as Microsoft and Royal Bank of Scotland, holding positions such as Global Sales EMEA, General Manager, and Sales Operations Lead. Valia holds two Masters in Information Technology from the University of Glasgow & East London and a BA in English from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Her current role in Microsoft focuses on AI in Enterprise customers across EMEA.
Vince Vella
CTO at Computime FinTech and ComplyRadar
Dr Vincent Vella brings over 20 years of senior technical leadership and management experience. Presently, he serves as the CTO/COO at the FinTech arm of Computime Group for BRSANALYTICS and ComplyRadar. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Vince is an esteemed lecturer at the University of Malta, contributing to the Department of Artificial Intelligence.
With a profound passion for Computational Finance, Dr Vella's main interests revolve around exploring the dynamic intersection of AI and blockchain. Specifically, he delves into areas such as AI Managed Funds, decentralised AI utilising smart contracts, data standardisation and discovery, as well as regulatory frameworks. This keen interest reflects his dedication to advancing the potential synergies between artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies.
Akis Dimitroulas
Head of Finance at Woli Fintec
Akis Dimitroulas is the Head of Finance at Woli Fintech. He has a strong passion for Reporting and Finance, his working experience is mainly in start-up companies where he focuses on Payments, Accounting and Finance. During his career, he has had a crucial role in formatting corporate financial processes and improving payment procedures.
George Tsinidis
Credit Control & Treasury Director at Nova Telecommunications & Media
George Tsinidis is the Credit Control and Treasury Director for Nova Telecommunications & Media. The areas of his responsibilities are Treasury, Credit Risk (Vetting, Fraud & Revenue Assurance) and Collections.
George maintains a long-lasting experience in treasury, and credit control and has a strong background in cash management & forecasting, financing structures & hedging and collections.
He began his carrier in 1987 in the Treasury department of Hellenic Steel S.A.
In 1993 he undertook the position of Treasurer in of three companies of Eliopoulos Group (i.e., Eliopoulos S.A., Yamaha/Motodynamiki & KIA).
In 1995 moved to Wind Hellas as Treasurer and since 2012 holds the position of Credit Control & Treasury Director. Following the merger of Wind Hellas and Nova Group of companies, he maintains the position in the merged company.
George holds a degree in finance from the Athens University of Economics and Business.
Kamilė Mazrimė
Head of Communication & Partnerships at ROCKIT Vilnius
As a Communication, PR, and branding specialist with a background in journalism and European politics, I'm truly excited about fostering connections and empowering individuals. My passion lies in raising awareness of impactful and positive initiatives, all while building strong networks that bridge organisations and professionals.
Currently, I'm thriving in the Fintech field as the Head of Communication and Partnerships. My role involves orchestrating groundbreaking projects, spearheading comprehensive programs, and devising strategic communication initiatives. I'm also enthusiastic about the dynamic world of conferences, where I can facilitate meaningful interactions and drive the conversation forward.
In addition to my professional pursuits, I'm keen on the realms of media and marketing. This passion fuels my dedication to financial technologies and the profound impact they bring to the table. My goal is to contribute to the industry's growth and innovation, aligning my skills with the ever-evolving landscape of the Fintech world.
Sotiris Agious
Financial Controlling Manager at SARKK S.A.
Sotiris Agious is Treasury Professional with over 15 years of experience in cash and payment management, liquidity management, and cash forecasting. He is currently Financial Controlling Manager at SARKK SA (the official contributor of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein in Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria, and Moldovia).
Rainer Olt
Head of Payments and Settlement Systems Department at Eesti Pank
(The Estonian Central Bank)
Rainer Olt is Head of Payments and Settlement Systems Department at Eesti Pank (the Estonian central bank). Before joining Eesti Pank in 2011, he worked for over six years in retail banking, responsible for customer offerings, incl. payment services. He started as a policy expert at Eesti Pank, promoting the smooth operation of payment systems and the overall harmonisation and integration of the retail payments market. Building on his central banking experience and developing the expertise to catalyse market (self-)regulation, he spent four years as a financial market expert at the European Central Bank. Today, his team of experts is responsible for the operator, oversight and catalyst functions in Estonia.
Elias Pitsavos
Head of Klarna Greece
Elias Pitsavos is the Head of Greece for Klarna, the leading global BNPL provider. Prior to this position, he has been driving the go-to-market and product strategy for Klarna Payments and Klarna Open Banking from Sweden. Elias has also a long experience in the tech industry having served in several leadership roles and in different countries for companies like Ericsson and IBM.
Giannis Papastamou
Head of Customer Compliance & Group MLRO at Novibet
Giannis Papastamou is the Head of Customer Compliance & Group MLRO at Novibet, an established GameTech company operating in Europe, North America and LATAM. As a part of his role, Giannis is responsible for the design and the implementation of the company's AML & CFT frameworks for all the jurisdictions where Novibet operates. Prior to joining Novibet in 2021, Giannis has held various management positions at bet365, one of the world’s largest online gaming operators, where he acquired significant experience in managing large multilingual teams in the AML & CFT field. Before moving to Malta and to Gibraltar for bet365, Giannis started his career in the industry as an AML & Risk Analyst at Kaizen Gaming. Giannis holds a MSc in Management and Economics of IT, with a major in Risk Management, from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens and a BSc in Physics, with a major in IT, from the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens. He has also obtained the International Diploma in AML from the International Compliance Association (ICA) and the University of Manchester and he is a professional member of ICA and ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists).
Vassilis Mathioudakis
Chief Technology Officer at Paylink - Western Union
Vassilis is the CTO of Paylink - Western Union since January 2022.
Prior to Paylink, he served for 15+ years in business and technology leadership roles in Greece and in CEE, with special focus on electronic payments and digital services. Previously, he served as the Commercial Director at First Data Hellas and as the Product Development & Marketing Director at Printec Group.
He holds an MSc in Information Systems Management and a diploma in Electrical & Computer Engineering from National Technical University of Athens.
Despoina Skoutela
Cash and Cash Flow Management Senior Manager, formerly at OTE Group
Despoina has over 20 years of experience in Corporate Treasury in OTE Group, where she was appointed Deputy Director of Cash and Cash Flow Management in 2016. She specialises in cash management, cash flow management and in bank accounting, as well as in processes digitalisation and simplification, seeking for the most efficient practices that could be applicable in a demanding corporate environment, where transformation constitutes the normal course of business. Despoina holds a Master's degree in Accounting and Finance and is currently further broadening her horizons attending an Executive MBA.
Elena Tzarouchi
Chief Financial Officer at Export Credit Greece S.A.
Elena Tzarouchi is the Chief Financial Officer of Export Credit Greece (ECG), ECG is the state-owned export credit corporation that is supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its mission is to support Greek enterprises engaged in international transactions and investments by providing credit insurance, guarantees and financing tools. Elena is an economist with long-standing and extended career in the field of treasury management, financial analysis, corporate finance, and mergers & acquisitions. Prior to joining ECG, she has held managerial positions to well-established shipping companies both in Greece and Netherlands, with her most recent positions being Corporate Finance & Treasury Manager and Senior Finance Business Partner. Elena is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Athens University of Economics and Business and holds a Master’s Degree in Financial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Hartwig Gerhartinger
SVP, Global Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs at the Paysafe Group
Dr. Hartwig Gerhartinger is a dedicated payments industry professional, an expert in payment services and e-money regulation as well as in anti-money laundering legislation.
As Senior Vice President, Global Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs, Hartwig advises Paysafe on all regulatory matters, including payment services and electronic money regulations and global licensing. He has additional responsibility for governmental affairs, representing Paysafe with political stakeholders and regulatory authorities globally.
Hartwig is Managing Director of paysafecard.com, part of Paysafe Group and at the Boards of several regulated entities of Paysafe Group. He is also at the Board of Directors of the European Payment Institutions Federation (EPIF), the Payments Innovation Forum (PIF) and Prepaid Verband Deutschland (PVD). Further to this, Hartwig is member of the Payment Systems Market Expert Group (PSMEG) of the European Commission and member of that Digital Euro Rulebook Development Group at the European Central Bank.
He holds a doctorate in law and is currently a guest lecturer for e-payments law at Danube University. He is the author and co-author of numerous publications in the field of payments regulation and IT law.
Ioannis Arampatzis
Commercial Finance Growth Manager GMCI (Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Israel) at BAT
Ioannis Arampatzis is the Commercial Finance Growth Manager at BAT, responsible for the
markets of Greece, Malta, Cyprus and Israel. Holding extensive international experience in
the areas of Financial Management, Business Partnering and Treasury, he has worked in 3
European countries (Greece, Estonia, Bulgaria). Prior to his current position, he was CFO of
Timac Agro in Greece, Commercial Finance Business Partner at Coca-Cola HBC Baltics and
Credit Controller at AP Moller Maersk. Ioannis holds the professional qualification of a
Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA), Financial Planning Analyst (FPAC), an MBA in
Finance as well as Professional Coaching Diploma (EMCC, AC qualified from Athens
Coaching Institute).
Stephanos Papadopoulos
Founder & CEO at Spatzia.eu
Stephanos is an International Trusted Advisor, Coach and Consultant to Founders Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and International C-Level Executives. He has first-hand experience of high-pressure, fast-paced, international business environments and the opportunities and threats that these environments create for the leaders involved.
Stephanos creates a safe space for his clients, which allows them to fine-tune and increase their creativity, focus, and resolve, for what matters to them most. His work with his clients enables their growth and supports them in making bigger, better, and more confident decisions on a professional and personal basis.
Stephanos has worked in C Suite, Advisory Board and Board of Directors Level positions in strategy, finance and operations, as well as a consultant and coach in numerous industries (financial services, FMCG, retail trade, manufacturing, high tech, education, mining, construction, heavy machinery trading, automobile trade) on an international basis, in companies from start-up to mature phase, backed primarily by Family Office, Private Equity and VC funding.
Nikos Kontaroudis
Vice Chairman at Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC)
Mr. Nikos Kontaroudis has been working in the Greek financial sector since 1993 in bank treasuries and investment firms. He has been for many years associated with the Greek Derivatives Market and market making desks. He has held senior positions in trading departments as well as in top management. Currently, as a Vice Chairman in HCMC Mr. Kontaroudis supervises listed companies and is responsible for its digital transformation. He participates in ESMA’s Management Board, Board of Supervisors and Digital Finance Standing Committee. Mr. Kontaroudis holds a BEng. and an MSc. In Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College and Stanford University respectively. He has completed the Accelerated Development Program from University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. He also holds the certificate in quantitative finance (CQF) and the Cryptocurrency and Disruption Certificate from London School of Economics.
Vasilios Ganos
Head of Compliance AML at Otro Pay
Vasilios Ganos is the Head of Compliance AML at Otro Pay. He is a senior AML/CTF compliance subject matter expert with in-depth knowledge of AFC regulatory framework and experience both in North America and Europe.
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Christos Ttiniozou
Managing Director at Complytek
With over 20 years of experience on custom software development we deliver the most reliable custom software solutions that match the unique requirements of our customers. We are a recognized leader providing high-impact RegTech Solutions for Banks, Financial Institutions, FOREX, Card Issuers, Payment Providers, Hospitals/Clinics, Law, Fiduciary and Accounting firms.
Specialties: Enterprise Risk & Compliance Management, Anti Money Laundering - Know Your Client (risk based approach), Transaction Monitoring/Screening for AML, Fund Administration, Fund Management, Corporate Secretarial, Time & Billing for Accounting/Auditing offices, Hospital Solution, Property Management Software.
Iliana Angelakis
Head of Treasury and Fintech at Public Group
Iliana Angelakis is a seasoned and accomplished treasurer with over fifteen years of experience in finance and treasury operations. Iliana's recent role as Head of Treasury & Fintech at Public Group involves cash, liquidity and debt management, banking relationships, and introducing and implementing new payment providers. At BEAT, she led treasury and payments across 10 markets, implemented a Treasury Management System, and reduced payment costs. In her prior role at INTRALOT, Iliana managed cash, credit facilities, and intercompany loans. She holds an MSc in Finance, a BSc in Business Administration, and PRINCE2 Foundation certification. She's also a Board Member of the Hellenic Association of Treasurers.
Tolis Angelakopoulos
Country Manager at Ria Money Transfer
Tolis has more than 20 years of experience in the money transfer industry, holding different positions in some of the top money transfer providers. He started his career in 1999 when he first joined Western Union and since October 2021 holds the position of the Country Manager of Ria, in Greece.
Moreover, he has used his skills and experience to provide consulting services to Greek companies that were interested in applying for a Payment Institution license.
Working in a highly competitive environment, Tolis has developed his passion for data analysis skills that are considered more than valuable to improve the company's performance.
Living his every day with the quote "Never Stop Learning", Tolis has decided to apply for the Hellenic Open University in Business Administration."
Stavroula Kampouridou
CEO at DIAS
Stavroula Kampouridou is the CEO of Interbanking Systems DIAS S.A. since January 2021. DIAS is the Greek Clearing and Settlement Mechanism.
Prior to DIAS, she was Head of the FinTech Innovation Hub and Advisor to the Governor at the Bank of Greece (BoG). Her focus was on the FinTech initiatives undertaken at the BoG, like the Hub created in March of 2019, and the launch of the Regulatory Sandbox, a project fully funded by the EU.
Before joining BoG, she was an IT Procurement Manager at NBG Group, heading the efforts of the sourcing unit. Prior to that she was a Hardware Sales Manager at IBM, responsible for the hardware sales in the Banking and Telecom sectors in Greece. She was awarded «Rookie of the Year» as the top performing new hire in Europe for the highest sales in IBM.
She holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Athens, with distinction and an MSc in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University on a full scholarship.
Spiridoula Tsola
Chief Financial Officer at BSK Group of Companies
With 20 years of experience in Finance, Controller-ship, and Operations. As a member of BIG 4 companies and as CFO in multinational companies in the manufacturing industry, successfully managed finance functions and optimised business processes to help businesses achieve profitability growth through systems transformation and innovative financial insights. Strategic Management, Systems transformation, Operations, investments, and team leadership have been core competencies. Currently building Business Model and Value Proposition at BSK group of companies, for a Tech-enabled Platform that capitalises on redefining last-mile delivery.
Konstantinos Maragkakis
EEA CEO at Paysafe Payment Solutions Ltd
Konstantinos is a business executive with more than 17 years experience in corporate governance and operational management in highly regulated sectors in the EU related to e-platforms and digital businesses in-house or as consultant.
In 2018, Konstantinos was appointed as the EEA CEO of the eCash EEA business entity of the Paysafe Group and currently, as CEO of Paysafe Payments Solutions Ltd Konstantinos is managing the Digital Wallets, Issuing, and Acquiring division in the EEA ensuring that the Group’ attains its growth goals successfully and in line with the broader EEA regulatory framework.
Konstantinos is managing various EEA initiatives in embedded finance as well as payments services to create digital wallets ecosystems for merchants and consumers in crypto, games of chance, travel, gaming etc.
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Kirsten Ellul
Manager Regulation and Oversight Office at The Central Bank of Malta
Mr. Ellul is the Manager Regulation and Oversight Office within the Central Bank of Malta. Mr. Ellul has worked extensively on the local transposition of the PSD2 and oversaw the implementation of Open Banking and Strong Customer Authentication by Maltese institutions. Mr. Ellul also acted as a Secretary for the Steering Committee on the National Strategy for Electronic Payments in Malta and is a member of a number of European fora chaired by the European Commission, the European Banking Authority and the European Central Bank. He is also the Chairperson of the Joint Working Group on the Revision of the Payment Services Directive, a group composed of market stakeholders which discusses the impacts of the proposed Payment Services Regulation. Other than the PSD2, Mr. Ellul also has experience with the Interchange Fee Regulation, the Cross-Border Payments Regulation and the legislative proposal on Instant Payments.
Vasileios Psarras
Manager Digital & Risk Advisory Services at Baker Tilly South East Europe
Vasilis is a Manager in the Digital & Risk Advisory department in Baker Tilly South East Europe, based in the Athens office. He has more than 12 years of Governance, Risk, Compliance, Privacy and Security consulting services, in South-East Europe and UK. Throughout his career, Vasilis has delivered many complex projects in finance, insurance, telco, marine and FMCG sectors in South-East Europe as well as in EU bodies related to internal audit, cybersecurity, operational risk management, IT audit, data protection, business continuity, and digital transformation. Previously he served as Data Privacy & Information Security Senior Consultant in a credit rating firm, as well as Security Consultant in EU Bodies.
Valia Babis
Advisor to the Governor at Bank of Greece
Valia Babis is Advisor the Governor at the Bank of Greece specialising on innovation and digital finance.
From 2017-2020, Valia was Legal Counsel at the Bank of England, advising on highly technical aspects of banking regulation and supervision.
From 2014-2017, Valia qualified and worked as solicitor in Magic Circle law firm Allen & Overy in London. She holds a PhD in Law from the University of Cambridge and was elected Research Fellow in the University of Cambridge from 2013-2016. Her research has won international awards and has been published extensively. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Valia obtained a first-class Master's in Commercial Law (LL.M.), also from the University of Cambridge. She obtained a first-class Bachelor’s in Law (LL.B.) from the University of Athens.
Valia is a qualified Solicitor in England and Wales and a qualified Lawyer admitted to the Supreme Court in Greece.
She speaks fluent Greek, French, German and Italian.
George Roussos
CFO at Dixons South East Europe – Kotsovolos
George Roussos holds the position of CFO at Dixons Southeast Europe - Kotsovolos. With a strong commercial acumen and a passion for delivering impeccable finance strategies, he possesses extensive experience in driving significant process improvements and productivity initiatives across business operations. He has a proven track record of successfully implementing innovative financial strategic solutions at scale. His expertise extends beyond finance, as he stays in tune with market trends and possesses the ability to determine consumer/customer financial needs. This enables him to develop win-win solutions that benefit multiple stakeholders. As an effective communicator of financial information, he acts as a strategic executive, building strong relationships both within and outside the organisation. He prioritises fostering a team culture that values service excellence, cognitive diversity and inclusion, cross-department collaboration, and the highest levels of ethical conduct. Throughout his career, he has led several organisational change management projects at market, cluster, and global levels. These experiences have equipped him with the skills necessary to navigate complex challenges and deliver successful outcomes. He is a certified accountant holding a bachelor's degree in economics from University of Piraeus, an MBA from Hellenic American University and most recently he got a Certificate in Sustainable Business Strategy from Harvard Business School - Online. Before Kotsovolos, he was in Dyson, Diageo, Huawei and CNP Assurances group is several finance leadership roles in Athens and Amsterdam. Outside of his professional pursuits, he is also a proud father of two fantastic boys.
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Yiannos Ashiotis
Managing Director at GRC Partners
Before becoming an Independent Compliance Consultant, Yiannos led the regulatory compliance and fund services department at Grant Thornton (Cyprus) Ltd and was the managing director of its subsidiary company Grant Thornton Fund Services (Cyprus) Ltd.
He has extensive knowledge of regulatory requirements for financial and credit institutions and substantial sectoral experience both in the Middle East and the EU. Yiannos has advised clients on governance, risk, and compliance regulatory framework and requirements and assisted regulators, financial groups and large corporations in various aspects of GRC program implementation. Yiannos is actively involved in authorization, compliance and risk management engagements for investment firms, banks, payment institutions, investment funds, and crypto asset service providers.
He is a Certified Public Accountant (AICPA) and holds an MBA in International Finance and a BSc in Business Administration (Accounting and Finance). He is a Board Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) Cyprus National Advisory Council. Additionally, Yiannos now sits as a board member of Revolut Digital Technologies and StoneX Europe respectively.
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Stelios Georgakis
Director, Head, Financial Market Infrastructures & Payments Department at Central Bank of Cyprus
Stelios joined the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) in 1992, after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC) in the UK. In January 2013 he became the Head of the Licensing and Regulatory Compliance Section of the Supervision Division. As such, he negotiated the AML action plan with the Troika relating to the banking sector, and oversaw its successful implementation. With the introduction of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) of the European Central Bank, he became responsible for the On-Site Inspections, the AML/CFT supervision and the prudential supervision of credit, payment and e-money institutions that fall outside the scope of the SSM. In March 2017 he became Head of the supervision of significant and less significant credit institutions. He was the CBC member of the EBA Board of Supervisors and alternate member of the Supervisory Board of the SSM. As of 1 November 2020, he is Head of the Financial Market Infrastructures & Payments Department and of the Accounting Services & Controlling Department.
Stelios also holds a B.Sc.(Hons) in Civil Engineering and an MBA.
Maria Magoula
Head of Payments at OKTO
An adept professional with a customer-centric approach, boasting 21 years of extensive experience in the Retail Banking sector. She specializes in the Cards & Payments business as well as the Merchant Acquiring domain, emphasizing client engagement, new client acquisition, and delivering excellence in customer service.
Over the course of 19 years in the retail banking sector, she has been instrumental in the success of major, complex projects including PSDII and EU regulation 260, demonstrating a profound expertise in payment systems. In her current role at OKTO, she is driven to optimize payment processes, ensure compliance, and pioneer innovative solutions, all geared towards providing seamless, secure, and efficient payment experiences.
Nikos Zisis
General Manager at Greece National Basketball Team, Greek Basketball Executive and former Professional Basketball Player
Nikos Zisis is a renowned Greek professional basketball player who has left an indelible mark on the sport. Born on August 16, 1983, in Thessaloniki, Greece, Zisis began his basketball journey at a young age, quickly rising through the ranks to become a key figure in the European basketball scene. With remarkable skills as a point guard, he has represented Greece in numerous international competitions, including the Olympics and FIBA World Cups. Zisis has also enjoyed a successful club career, playing for top teams across Europe, and his leadership on the court has earned him the respect of fans and fellow athletes alike. His dedication to the game continues to inspire aspiring basketball players around the world.
George Marmaras
Head of the AML Department at Attica Bank
George has a Senior Banking profile with 27 years of diverse experience, and with over 10 years of experience in efficient AML/CFT Control Functions operations. Certified by ACAMS (CGSS),UNODC (Fight against Corruption), and Aristotle University (Certified Digital Technology Expert in Cybersecurity), self-motivated to consistently provide first-class results as an AML/CTF/ Sanctions compliance expert with in-depth knowledge of the regulatory framework.
Currently, George Heads the AML Department at Attica Bank SA. Throughout his career, he has acquired a vast experience on custom software development software solutions on AML/KYC operational systems.
He has a proven ability to lead, build and transform large-scale operations in line with stringent targets and deadlines, he was designated to represent Attica Bank to FATF’s Committee during National Risk Assessment of Greece.
As he is working in a highly competitive environment, and always eager to learn more, George has decided to join the Cyprus Open University in Business Administration.
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Valia Varzaka
Founder at Valueahead Consulting; Deloitte Senior Financial Crime Matter Expert
Valia Varzaka is the founder at Valueahead Consulting and a senior Financial Crime Compliance expert at Financial Advisory Deloitte Greece.
Experienced Compliance and Internal Audit Expert, with a demonstrated history of working in the banking industry for 26 years in relevant positions in Global and Greek Banking Groups as Internal Audit head, MLRO and Group Co-ordinator responsible for generating and implementing enterprise and group-wide Audit & AML/CFT /Economic Sanctions Compliance Programs.
Vasilis Zoupas
CEO at Woli Fintech
Vasilis Zoupas is the CEO and co-founder of Woli, a youth banking app aimed to help kids and teens across Europe grow their money management skills.
He has international expertise in business development and product strategy across multiple industries, working with both established companies as well as early-stage tech ventures. Since 2017 he is focused on the fintech and digital payments industry, having served among others as product director for Viva Wallet and Okto payments.
Vasilis grew up in Athens, Greece and holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MSc in Engineering. He is constantly excited by innovation and by bold, creative ideas that can move the world one step forward.
Demetris Taxitaris
CEO at MAP S.Platis
Demetris Taxitaris is the Chief Executive Officer of MAP S.Platis, a leading consulting Group in the provision of solutions in licensing, regulatory compliance, internal audit, risk management, human resources, regulatory technology, information technology, business resilience, information security including cybersecurity, governance, executive training and innovation to regulated and other firms. In the past, he worked at Bank of Cyprus as Head of Asset Management with local and international clients, individuals and institutionals, across all industries. Prior to that, Demetris worked at Deloitte in London where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, becoming a member of the ICAEW. Demetris is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (‘ICPAC’), the Cyprus Investment Funds Association (‘CIFA’) and the Association of Cyprus International Financial Firms (‘ACIFF’).
Christina Apostolou
Head of Mobile Banking at Eurobank
Apostolou Christina, with more than 18 years of experience in the banking sector, has established a sterling reputation as a leader in digital mobile services. As the Head of Digital Mobile Services, has been a driving force behind the design and execution of numerous digital projects, contributing to the trajectory of modern banking. Her expertise lies in crafting roadmaps for new products and services, overseeing e-Banking and Mobile Banking projects, and championing the introduction of innovative financial solutions.