OUR SPEAKERS
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Helena Forest
Executive Vice President, Global Product Management & Commercial, Real Time Payments at Mastercard
Helena is an experienced executive in the digital transformation and product management space within the payments industry, known for her strategic vision and innovative approach.
Her career highlights include significant roles at global institutions like J.P. Morgan Chase and Deutsche Bank AG. As J.P. Morgan's Global Head of Solution Design for payments, she has driven customer-focused digital initiatives, notably in e-commerce and marketplace expansion.
Her tenure at Deutsche Bank was marked by the launch of critical digital platforms and regional expansion, reflecting her deep expertise in managing complex technology and business transformations and driving significant business growth.
Helena holds degrees in International Business Management from universities in Germany and the Netherlands, and has obtained various certifications in the payments industry, and completed the Executive Women Global Leaders program at the London School of Economics. Her approach incorporates client-centric design into product strategy and successful delivery of innovative solutions at scale and boosting client satisfaction and fostering loyalty in a competitive field.
Hassan Ahmed
Head of Enterprise AI Architect at Banque du Caire
Dr. Hassan Ahmed Hassan is the Head of Business Architecture in a leading bank in Egypt. He is a pioneering leader at the nexus of digital technology, artificial intelligence, resilience, strategic foresight, banking and investment technologies. Holding a Ph.D. in Enterprise Architecture, Dr. Hassan brings deep expertise to enterprise-wide digital and AI transformation initiatives. He has successfully established and led business and enterprise architecture practices in large organizations, with a focus on capabilities, value streams, information architecture, AI use cases, and digital transformation. With a robust background in IT, Dr. Hassan has held roles such as solution architect, enterprise architect, and senior director for digital and AI strategy. He is also a holder of multiple professional credentials, including Certified Business Architect (CBA®), AI Diploma, TOGAF®, BIAN®, SAFe 6 SPC®, MSP®, CDMP®, and an MBA.
Handan Tokdoğan Över
Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Paribu Kripto Varlık Alım Satım Platformu A.Ş.
Handan Tokdoğan Över has 17 years of experience dedicated to compliance, building and leading financial crime programs across banking and digital assets. She started her career in banking and currently holds the position of MLRO at Paribu. Tokdoğan Över is a founding member of the Compliance Association of Turkey (2020), a member of its Ethics Committee, and a panel judge at the GRC & Financial Crime Prevention Summit & Awards. In addition to her hands-on expertise in financial crime, Handan Tokdoğan Över brings 10 years of experience in FATCA & CRS and serves as a FATCA & CRS trainer at the Turkish Banking Association.
Sarfraz Gill
Chief Compliance Officer at Orient Exchange Co. (L.L.C)
Sarfraz Gill is a seasoned financial crime compliance professional with over 20 years of experience across the banking and financial services sector in the UAE. He currently serves as Chief Compliance Officer /MLRO at Orient Exchange Co. (L.L.C.), where he leads enterprise-wide AML/CFT, sanctions compliance, regulatory governance, and financial crime risk management initiatives.
Throughout his career, Sarfraz has played a key role in strengthening risk-based compliance frameworks, enhancing transaction monitoring and sanctions controls, and supporting correspondent banking and international regulatory engagement. Under his leadership, the organization successfully established multiple correspondent banking arrangements with financial institutions, reflecting strong alignment with global compliance standards.
He has actively participated in international compliance and sanctions forums hosted by institutions including Standard Chartered, Raiffeisen Bank International, Deutsche Bank and the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC, and regularly contributes to AML/CFT awareness and industry collaboration initiatives within the UAE.
Errol Pereira
Head of Credit at Bank of Muscat
Errol Pereira is a seasoned banking professional with over 19 years of experience in credit risk management, SME and business banking, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation across the Middle East and India. He currently serves as the Head of SME – Credit Control, MIS & Projects at Bank Muscat, where he oversees a USD 700 million+ SME and mid-corporate portfolio, driving strategic initiatives that strengthen credit governance, enhance operational efficiency, and support sustainable portfolio growth.
Throughout his career, Errol has built deep expertise in credit assessment, deal structuring, portfolio management, and regulatory engagement, working closely with institutions such as the Central Bank of Oman and the Reserve Bank of India. He is widely recognized for his ability to transform SME banking operations into compliance-driven, digitally enabled ecosystems that deliver both business growth and risk resilience.
At Bank Muscat, he has been instrumental in spearheading key digital transformation initiatives, including the implementation of loan origination systems, scorecard-based lending frameworks, and advanced portfolio analytics tools.
Prior to his current role, Errol held leadership positions at Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, DCB Bank, and HDFC Bank, where he managed large credit portfolios, contributed to policy formulation, and mentored high-performing teams across regions. His experience spans credit sanctioning, risk monitoring, audit coordination, and strategic portfolio management, with a strong focus on maintaining asset quality and driving business performance.
Errol holds an MBA in Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Mumbai. He is passionate about leveraging innovation, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative leadership to enable SME growth, enhance financial inclusion, and contribute to broader economic development.
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Viktoria Soltesz
Founder at PSP Angels & The Soltesz Institute
With over 20 years in banking, payments, and taxation, Viktoria Soltesz designs strategies built
on how banks think, ensuring that money moves smoothly, safely, and at optimal cost. She runs
an accounting, audit, and tax consulting firm in Cyprus and founded PSP Angels to provide
practical answers to complex banking and payment questions. She developed the Soltesz
Payment Framework, used by companies worldwide, and established the Soltesz Institute,
the leading EU-accredited training provider for the payment and banking industry. Viktoria is a
European Certified Trainer, has lectured at the University of West London, and is a regular
speaker at international conferences advocating for an ethical and transparent payment and
banking industry. She authored the best-selling Moving Money – How Banks Think and The
CPayO (Chief Payment Officer), and was named Businesswoman of the Year 2023. PSP
Angels and the Soltesz Institute have received multiple international awards for excellence.
Swathy Kirupakaran
Senior Manager, Partnerships at Sokin
Swathy Kirupakaran is a Senior Banking Partnerships Manager at Sokin, leading strategic
partnerships across the Middle East and Africa. She specializes in cross-border payments,
FX, and building scalable bank and fintech relationships.
She drives end-to-end partnership execution, including commercial structuring, regulatory
alignment, and onboarding across key markets such as the wider GCC and Africa.
Swathy collaborates closely with senior stakeholders and internal teams to deliver
commercially impactful and strategically aligned outcomes, supporting Sokin’s regional
expansion.
Ilham Tamimi
Founder & Managing Director at FinEthica Advisory
Ilham Tamimi is a Senior Compliance Executive with thirty years of international banking
experience across Citigroup, HSBC, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Zand Bank. She is Founder
and Managing Director of FinEthica Advisory, a boutique firm advising banks, fintechs, and
virtual asset businesses on financial crime, licensing, and governance. She holds dual
approvals as Chief Compliance Officer and Money Laundering Reporting Officer from the
Central Bank of the UAE and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. A Board Member of
the Middle East Stablecoin Association, a Fellow of the International Compliance
Association, and a Certified AI Ethicist from Oxford University, she is a sought-after keynote
speaker and thought leader.
Sebastian Heine
Chief Compliance Officer & MLRO at MANTRA Finance
Sebastian Heine is a senior Compliance, AML and Risk leader with over 10 years across the UAE, EU, UK and Switzerland, spanning both traditional finance and digital assets. He is Chief Compliance Officer and MLRO at MANTRA Finance, the VARA-regulated entity of MANTRA, where he led the approval of the first DeFi licence in the UAE and runs the sanctions screening and AML transaction monitoring program for the firm’s stablecoin, mantraUSD. His work sits squarely at the intersection of stablecoins, payments and crypto custody, including building eToro’s German crypto-custody licence under BaFin and leading EMEA licensing across six jurisdictions at Amber Group. He has direct regulator experience with VARA, MiCA, BaFin, the Danish FSA, FINMA and NYDFS, and is known for getting cautious regulators comfortable with novel digital-asset use cases. He combines institutional, board-level governance from TradFi with the fast, product-led execution of digital assets and fintech. Sebastian also writes his weekly newsletter 'The SHeine Brief' on Digital Assets, Compliance and AI regulation, with a focus on the UAE. He is based in Dubai.
Mohamed Helmy
Compliance Director - EMEA at XTransfer
Mohamed Helmy is the Head of Compliance for the Middle East and Africa at XTransfer, a global
B2B trade payment platform. He brings over 18 years of experience in compliance, financial
crime, and regulatory affairs across regional banks and global fintechs, with a particular focus on
payments, cards, and cross-border financial services. At XTransfer, Mohamed leads regulatory
strategy, licensing, and compliance initiatives across multiple jurisdictions. He has been closely
involved in developing XTransfer`s stablecoin settlement strategy and the integration of digital
assets into global trade payments. His work spans engagement with regulators, banks, and
digital asset service providers across the UAE, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Mohamed is passionate
about how regulated digital assets can modernize cross-border payments and enable more
efficient global settlement infrastructure for businesses.
Abdulla Kanoo
Co-Founder and Co-CEO at ARP Digital
Abdulla is a CEO and a Co-Founder of ARP Digital (Bahrain) and a fifth-generation member of the Kanoo family with deep roots in trade, shipping, and finance across the Gulf. His technical background is distinct: he specializes in statistical arbitrage and delta-neutral strategies in the digital asset space, holding an MS in Operations Research and Financial Engineering from Columbia University Fu Foundation School of Engineering. Abdulla leads ARP`s product and technical architecture. The quantitative rigour behind ARP`s netting engine, rate optimisation, and settlement infrastructure reflects his background in financial engineering applied to digital asset markets.
Muhammad Rashid
Group Chief Compliance & Risk Officer at Jingle Pay
Muhammad Rashid is the Group Chief Compliance & Risk Officer of Jingle Pay and a fintech
entrepreneur, payments expert, and financial crime and compliance specialist with more
than 20 years of international experience across financial services, digital payments, and
financial technology. Based in Dubai, he has founded, scaled, and advised fintech ventures
globally, helping organisations drive innovation while strengthening regulatory compliance,
AML frameworks, and operational resilience.
Throughout his career, Rashid has worked at the intersection of fintech, risk, and financial
crime prevention, supporting financial institutions and technology companies in building
secure, compliant, and future-ready financial ecosystems. His expertise spans payments,
digital financial infrastructure, regulatory strategy, and the evolving landscape of financial
crime risk.
As a recognised industry thought leader, Rashid is a frequent speaker on fintech innovation,
digital transformation, regulatory strategy, financial crime prevention, and the future of global
payments.
Amir Tabch
Executive Director & CEO at OFZA
Amir Tabch is Executive Director and CEO of OFZA, a VARA-regulated virtual asset exchange and
broker-dealer, where he leads the development of institutional digital asset market infrastructure in
the Middle East. Over a career spanning more than two decades, he has worked at the intersection
of financial services, regulation, and technological transformation, advising financial institutions,
regulators, and market participants on the evolution of digital finance. His work focuses on the
governance and infrastructure required for stablecoins, tokenization, and digital assets to integrate
safely into the global financial system. Amir is widely recognized for his thought leadership on the
convergence of payments, capital markets, and blockchain, with a particular emphasis on how
regulation can enable innovation while preserving market integrity and trust. He is a frequent
speaker at international industry forums, where he contributes to discussions on the future of
regulated digital finance and the transformation of financial market infrastructure.
Ruben Bombardi
General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Enablement, at Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)
Ruben Bombardi brings over two decades of legal expertise and strategic insight to the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) as General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Enablement. A dual-qualified lawyer, Ruben has a wealth of experience spanning financial markets, fintech, and regulatory compliance, positioning him as a key player in shaping VARA’s legal and regulatory frameworks. His career has seen him lead cutting-edge initiatives at some of the world’s most prominent financial institutions, including Standard Chartered, MUFG, Barclays Capital, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
At these institutions, Ruben played a pivotal role in advising on complex legal matters, overseeing cross-border transactions, and driving forward major fintech projects aimed at transforming traditional financial services. His deep understanding of regulatory environments and commitment to fostering innovation in finance are instrumental as VARA continues to establish itself as a leader in the virtual assets space. Ruben’s experience in balancing regulatory compliance with innovation ensures that VARA’s legal frameworks support responsible growth, investor protection, and the sustainable development of Dubai’s burgeoning digital economy.
Tasnim Damati
Compliance Manager at ATS
Senior Compliance, Financial Crime, and Risk Management Leader with 17+ years of experience across investment banking, brokerage, and financial services environments. Expertise in Regulatory Compliance, AML/KYC Governance, Financial Crime Prevention, FATCA, CRS, Sanctions Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Governance, Regulatory Examinations, and Capital Markets Compliance. Proven track record of partnering with executive leadership, regulators, and cross-functional stakeholders to strengthen governance frameworks, mitigate regulatory risk, and drive compliance excellence across complex financial institutions. Recognized for leading regulatory transformation initiatives, enhancing compliance monitoring frameworks, and implementing robust governance and control environments that support sustainable business growth. Trusted advisor to senior management and governance committees on regulatory strategy, financial crime risk, operational resilience, and evolving global compliance requirements.
Arushi Goel
Advisor at Chainalysis
Arushi Goel was the Head of Policy for the Middle East, Africa, Central and South Asia at Chainalysis, based in Dubai, and is now an advisor to the company. She works closely with the public and private sectors on digital assets policy, market development, and stakeholder engagement across the region, while serving as a strategic advisor to central banks, regulators, and leading financial institutions. Previously, Arushi led data policy and blockchain at the World Economic Forum. Her work focused on data governance and digital assets regulation, including through the Digital Currency Governance Consortium. She began her career in law, serving as a Judge in India before moving into the technology sector, where she worked across India and the GCC.
Tareq Shaheen
PDM Director, Payment Solutions at Eastnets
Tareq Shaheen is Director of Product Management for Payment Solutions at Eastnets, where he shapes the vision and roadmap for next-generation payment offerings across global markets. With over 20 years of experience in fintech, Tareq has been at the forefront of driving innovation in areas such as instant payments, cross-border payments, ISO 20022 adoption, and financial messaging modernisation.
He is known for turning regulatory and market developments into practical business opportunities, helping financial institutions stay ahead of evolving standards while accelerating their digital transformation. Tareq collaborates closely with clients, partners, and internal teams to ensure that product innovation is aligned with real-world challenges and future growth.
He also serves on the board of INATBA (International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications), where he contributes to shaping global blockchain policy and adoption strategies.
Tareq regularly speaks at international forums and industry panels, offering thought leadership on the future of payment ecosystems, digital transformation in banking, and the impact of emerging technologies on the financial sector.
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Malek Mroueh
International President at Profit Insight
Malek serves as International President at Profit Insight, leading global growth and strategic partnerships in the payments industry. With over 30 years of experience across markets in the UK, Cyprus, Malaysia, and the UAE, he brings deep expertise in payment ecosystems, digital channels, and emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain.
Malek is a recognised thought leader, judge and moderator at international conferences, passionate about driving innovation and financial inclusion.
Vinit Mishra
Head of Treasury – Nutrisco (ETG Group) | FCMA, CGMA, CIMA (UK), CTP at ETG Group
Vinit Mishra serves as Head of Treasury at Nutrisco (ETG Group), where he focuses on building resilient and efficient financial frameworks across liquidity management, trade finance, and sustainable finance. With professional certifications including FCMA, CGMA, CTP, and CIMA (UK), he brings a thoughtful and collaborative approach to treasury leadership.
Over the years, Vinit has contributed to several award-winning initiatives, including recognition at the ADAM SMITH Asia Awards for treasury and funding solutions, and The Asset Triple A Award for ESG-focused trade finance. These acknowledgements reflect his commitment to practical, purpose-driven financial strategies.
Vinit is passionate about fostering dialogue within the treasury community and sharing insights that help organisations navigate complexity and change with confidence.
Nawal Kebouri Ammor
Group Head of Financial Institutions at Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC
Nawal Kebouri Ammor, Group Head of Financial Institutions at Al Ansari Financial Services PJSC, the largest NBFI in the Middle East region, Nawal Kebouri Ammor leads strategic partnerships with local and international financial institutions. In this role, they drive the Group’s expansion efforts and ensure regulatory excellence in collaboration with central banks and global partners. Nawal brings over two decades of global experience in financial services, specializing in Cash Management, Trade Finance, Correspondent Banking, and Payments. Prior to joining Al Ansari Financial Services, Nawal held senior leadership roles at NIUM, Mastercard, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank, consistently delivering transformative growth across the MENA region.
Nawal is recognized for the ability to navigate complex financial ecosystems, spearhead innovative Cross-Border payment solutions, and build sustainable, high-impact banking relationships. Nawal holds an MBA in Marketing from Université du Québec à Montréal and is fluent in English, Arabic, and French.
Oways Muti
Director of Compliance & Risk at Alawneh Exchange
Oways Muti is an executive Compliance and Risk Management leader with over 14 years of
experience in the financial sector and now serving as Director of Compliance & Risk at Alawneh Exchange, he leads 30+ professionals specializing in compliance, AML/CFT, sanctions, and financial
crime prevention. Previously, as an Expert AML Consultant at PwC Middle East, he advised financial
institutions and government entities across five GCC countries on major compliance transformation
projects. Oways has extensive experience in international correspondent banking onboarding, and
holds CCM, CAMS, GRCP, ICEP, TTT, and TOT certifications. He is also an internationally accredited
trainer, speaker, and lecturer, with 8+ years of training experience across financial crime and
compliance disciplines.
Hesham Sherif
Vice President, Remittance at Botim
Hesham Sherif is the Vice President of Remittance at Botim, where he leads the strategy, growth, and development of the platform's remittance and investment ecosystem. He oversees product innovation, strategic partnerships, operational excellence, and regulatory engagement across key financial services offerings, helping expand access to digital payments, cross-border money movement, and investment solutions for millions of users.
With more than 18 years of experience in fintech and digital financial services across the GCC and MENA region, Hesham has held senior leadership roles at Beyond One Group and Vodafone, leading market expansion, fintech product development, and large-scale digital transformation initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Computer Science and certifications in blockchain, big data, agile methodologies, and digital leadership.
Kaspanov Saungweme
Deputy MLRO at Hubpay
Kaspanov Saungweme is the Deputy MLRO at Hubpay, an ADGM-regulated fintech, where he oversees financial crime compliance across cross-border payments, digital onboarding, sanctions, risk assessment, and transaction monitoring. He brings over a decade of experience across banking, fintech, and payment services, with expertise in developing and implementing risk-based AML/CFT/CPF frameworks, KYC/KYB, enhanced due diligence, fraud controls and investigations, financial crime investigations, regulatory engagement, and transaction monitoring optimization.
His experience includes strengthening onboarding and ongoing monitoring controls, enhancing risk-based decision-making, addressing money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risks, and applying technology, data analytics, automation, and RegTech solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of financial crime controls. He has worked across multiple regulatory environments, including the ADGM FSRA, FCA, CySEC, FSCA, CBUAE, and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and has led initiatives to strengthen compliance frameworks, optimize
transaction monitoring, reduce false positives, and enhance regulatory and
operational outcomes.
Kaspanov holds an MBA in Finance and an Honours degree in Finance and Banking and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) with additional professional certifications through ACAMS and CISI. He is also a member of the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe.
His professional interests center on how technology, data and risk intelligence can transform financial crime compliance in high-velocity markets. He is particularly focused on the evolution of continuous KYC/KYB, intelligent risk models, automation, and explainable analytics to strengthen controls, improve decision-making, reduce unnecessary friction, and enable legitimate businesses and customers to access financial services efficiently.