Irfan Ahmad
State Street Bank & Trust
Vice President
Irfan Ahmad is the product lead for State Street Digital in APAC, State Street’s newest division focused on digital assets and technologies, encompassing the setup of a new integrated business and operating model to support clients’ entire digital investment cycle from pre-trade, trade, and post-trade as well as other initiatives designed to enhance the client experience.
Irfan joined State Street in EMEA in December 2014, where he worked in the company’s Business Architecture function. Since then, he has worked in strategy, regulatory product development and sales in London and Hong Kong. He is now based in Singapore and leads efforts relating to digital assets in the region.
State Street Bank & Trust
Vice President
Irfan Ahmad is the product lead for State Street Digital in APAC, State Street’s newest division focused on digital assets and technologies, encompassing the setup of a new integrated business and operating model to support clients’ entire digital investment cycle from pre-trade, trade, and post-trade as well as other initiatives designed to enhance the client experience.
Irfan joined State Street in EMEA in December 2014, where he worked in the company’s Business Architecture function. Since then, he has worked in strategy, regulatory product development and sales in London and Hong Kong. He is now based in Singapore and leads efforts relating to digital assets in the region.
Lawrence Au
The LaunchPad.Biz
Founder
Lawrence Au is the Found & CEO of The LaunchPad.Biz, an independent consulting firm specialised in Asia’s financial industry and a member of The Securities Services Advisory Group.
Lawrence has been at the forefront of Asia’s financial industry for more than 35 years since its nascent development in the 1980s. He is a recognised pioneer and thought-leader in the securities services industry in the region.
For 16 years, he was the Asia Pacific CEO of BNP Paribas Securities Services and Northern Trust respectively during their formative years in the region, and was the driving force behind establishing their businesses successfully from the ground up to become market leaders.
He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Asia Asset Management in 2016, in addition to several other industry recognitions. He was also honoured as a recipient of the 2020 Vice Chancellor Alumni Excellence Award by the University of Queensland, his alma mater in Australia.
Inspired by the fascinating development of Asia’s financial industry from its infancy to today’s prosperity, he published his first book “Asia's Financial Industry 1986-2016” in 2016 capturing the industry’s memorable events during those four decades. He published his second book, “From Physical to Digital”, in October this year reviewing 25 most important developments as the industry evolved from the physical age to the digital age over the past quarter century.
Since retiring from corporate life in 2018, Lawrence has been active in business consulting, writing for business journals, guest lecturing in universities, mentoring young professionals and business start-ups, as well as supporting a number of philanthropic causes.
The LaunchPad.Biz
Founder
Lawrence Au is the Found & CEO of The LaunchPad.Biz, an independent consulting firm specialised in Asia’s financial industry and a member of The Securities Services Advisory Group.
Lawrence has been at the forefront of Asia’s financial industry for more than 35 years since its nascent development in the 1980s. He is a recognised pioneer and thought-leader in the securities services industry in the region.
For 16 years, he was the Asia Pacific CEO of BNP Paribas Securities Services and Northern Trust respectively during their formative years in the region, and was the driving force behind establishing their businesses successfully from the ground up to become market leaders.
He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by Asia Asset Management in 2016, in addition to several other industry recognitions. He was also honoured as a recipient of the 2020 Vice Chancellor Alumni Excellence Award by the University of Queensland, his alma mater in Australia.
Inspired by the fascinating development of Asia’s financial industry from its infancy to today’s prosperity, he published his first book “Asia's Financial Industry 1986-2016” in 2016 capturing the industry’s memorable events during those four decades. He published his second book, “From Physical to Digital”, in October this year reviewing 25 most important developments as the industry evolved from the physical age to the digital age over the past quarter century.
Since retiring from corporate life in 2018, Lawrence has been active in business consulting, writing for business journals, guest lecturing in universities, mentoring young professionals and business start-ups, as well as supporting a number of philanthropic causes.
Andrew Barman
The Network Forum Ltd
MD
With a long background (25+ years) in market research of the global securities industry, Andrew launched The Network Forum in January 2017 together with his business partner Ed Jones. Unique to the the custody and post-trade industry, The Network Forum aspires to be the undisputed global community for market participants. Andrew's strengths are in Product and Business Development, Negotiation, Sales and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
The Network Forum Ltd
MD
With a long background (25+ years) in market research of the global securities industry, Andrew launched The Network Forum in January 2017 together with his business partner Ed Jones. Unique to the the custody and post-trade industry, The Network Forum aspires to be the undisputed global community for market participants. Andrew's strengths are in Product and Business Development, Negotiation, Sales and Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
David Bertram
Broadridge Financial Solutions
Senior Director
David is a Senior Director in ICS sales at Broadridge with over 16 years’ Experience within Global Proxy and Investor Communications Solutions with several roles within different business units including Operations, Account Management and Product Development. In the last 3 years David has worked closely with industry peers and working groups top help steer several different SRD II projects in response to the Shareholder Rights Directive which came to force in September 2020.
Broadridge Financial Solutions
Senior Director
David is a Senior Director in ICS sales at Broadridge with over 16 years’ Experience within Global Proxy and Investor Communications Solutions with several roles within different business units including Operations, Account Management and Product Development. In the last 3 years David has worked closely with industry peers and working groups top help steer several different SRD II projects in response to the Shareholder Rights Directive which came to force in September 2020.
Margaux Blumenfeld
Deutsche Bank
Head of Sales, Securities Services, South Asia
Margaux is the Head of Securities Services Sales in the South Asia region within Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank Division. Securities Services covers 12 markets in Asia providing Custody & Clearing and Fund Services. The business services global custodians, asset managers, insurance, broker dealers and sovereign wealth funds. Margaux has over 14 years of experience and has been with Deutsche Bank since 2019. Through her career, Margaux has held various roles in sales, product and relationship management across Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. In her last role, she was in Sector Solutions Sales for State Street in Hong Kong.
Deutsche Bank
Head of Sales, Securities Services, South Asia
Margaux is the Head of Securities Services Sales in the South Asia region within Deutsche Bank’s Corporate Bank Division. Securities Services covers 12 markets in Asia providing Custody & Clearing and Fund Services. The business services global custodians, asset managers, insurance, broker dealers and sovereign wealth funds. Margaux has over 14 years of experience and has been with Deutsche Bank since 2019. Through her career, Margaux has held various roles in sales, product and relationship management across Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. In her last role, she was in Sector Solutions Sales for State Street in Hong Kong.
Boon-Hiong Chan
Deutsche Bank
Head of Fund Services and Head of Securities Market & Technology Advocacy
Boon-Hiong Chan is the Head of Fund Services and Head of Securities Market & Technology Advocacy, SES Product Management. Based in Singapore and with over 20 years of experience, he specialises in the intersection of technology and financial services with capital market’s legal and regulatory considerations to help clients and his firm pursue change-managed growth. His experiences include technology experiments, leading product development in structured finance services, depository receipts and complex debt services, strategy & market expansion, implementing new operating models, building business resiliency and corporate development.
Boon is DB’s Voting Representative in the Association of Global Custodians; Co-Chair, Post-Trade Committee, ASIFMA; Co-Vice Chair, Fintech Committee, ASIFMA; and DB’s representative in GFMA Digital Working Group, DTCC APAC Executive Council and APAC CSD Group. He is also a panel judge in innovation programs, and holds qualifications in accountancy, computation and cybersecurity.
Deutsche Bank
Head of Fund Services and Head of Securities Market & Technology Advocacy
Boon-Hiong Chan is the Head of Fund Services and Head of Securities Market & Technology Advocacy, SES Product Management. Based in Singapore and with over 20 years of experience, he specialises in the intersection of technology and financial services with capital market’s legal and regulatory considerations to help clients and his firm pursue change-managed growth. His experiences include technology experiments, leading product development in structured finance services, depository receipts and complex debt services, strategy & market expansion, implementing new operating models, building business resiliency and corporate development.
Boon is DB’s Voting Representative in the Association of Global Custodians; Co-Chair, Post-Trade Committee, ASIFMA; Co-Vice Chair, Fintech Committee, ASIFMA; and DB’s representative in GFMA Digital Working Group, DTCC APAC Executive Council and APAC CSD Group. He is also a panel judge in innovation programs, and holds qualifications in accountancy, computation and cybersecurity.
Tony Chao
Deutsche Bank
Head of Greater China, Securities Services
Tony W. Chao is a Managing Director and Head of Securities Services, Greater China. He is responsible for the Deutsche Bank’s Securities Services business in Greater China, covering Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, he served as the Head of Securities Services and Product Sales for Non-Bank Financial Institutions and Public Sector for Standard Chartered Bank (China) for over nine years. He has 30 years of experience in the financial industry, and has held various senior sales and relationship management roles for several financial institutions including: Standard Chartered, JPMorgan, The Bank of New York, and Citibank. He has worked in New York, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Deutsche Bank
Head of Greater China, Securities Services
Tony W. Chao is a Managing Director and Head of Securities Services, Greater China. He is responsible for the Deutsche Bank’s Securities Services business in Greater China, covering Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, he served as the Head of Securities Services and Product Sales for Non-Bank Financial Institutions and Public Sector for Standard Chartered Bank (China) for over nine years. He has 30 years of experience in the financial industry, and has held various senior sales and relationship management roles for several financial institutions including: Standard Chartered, JPMorgan, The Bank of New York, and Citibank. He has worked in New York, Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Waqar Chaudry
Standard Chartered
Executive Director, Innovation and Digital Assets Product, Financing and Securities Services
Waqar’s international career spans nearly 20 years in various sectors, primarily in capital and financial markets. He joined Standard Chartered in London earlier this year as Executive Director, Innovation and Digital Assets Product, Financing & Securities Services in Financial Markets. Waqar performs his role at the group level and is responsible for the Financing & Securities Services digital assets custody strategy and product rollout including working closely with other digital assets initiatives within the wider Financial Markets division.
Waqar joined SCB from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) in the UAE where he last held the role of Senior Manager, Market Infrastructure and Products, responsible for operational and technical authorisation and supervision of virtual assets exchanges, traditional exchanges and more widely digital asset custodians, broker-dealers and banks.
Prior to ADGM, Waqar spent 8 years at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) performing multiple roles in Sydney, Australia including managing energy & commodities futures and options markets. Prior to the ASX, Waqar was a consultant with IBM Global Business Services in the APAC region
Standard Chartered
Executive Director, Innovation and Digital Assets Product, Financing and Securities Services
Waqar’s international career spans nearly 20 years in various sectors, primarily in capital and financial markets. He joined Standard Chartered in London earlier this year as Executive Director, Innovation and Digital Assets Product, Financing & Securities Services in Financial Markets. Waqar performs his role at the group level and is responsible for the Financing & Securities Services digital assets custody strategy and product rollout including working closely with other digital assets initiatives within the wider Financial Markets division.
Waqar joined SCB from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) in the UAE where he last held the role of Senior Manager, Market Infrastructure and Products, responsible for operational and technical authorisation and supervision of virtual assets exchanges, traditional exchanges and more widely digital asset custodians, broker-dealers and banks.
Prior to ADGM, Waqar spent 8 years at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) performing multiple roles in Sydney, Australia including managing energy & commodities futures and options markets. Prior to the ASX, Waqar was a consultant with IBM Global Business Services in the APAC region
Trip Chong
Broadridge
Director - Business Development
Trip has over 14 years industry experience in securities group investor actions with particular focus on international jurisdictions. Previous leadership roles in business development, operations and client services has enabled Trip to build strong, long term relationships with institutional clients and industry partners in order to deliver the highest standard of services in the securities litigation arena.
Trip has an excellent understanding of client needs and has developed services and opportunities to meet those client expectations. Working closely with law firms, litigation funders and investor rights groups has enabled Trip to help her clients navigate through the complex landscape of international securities litigation.
Broadridge
Director - Business Development
Trip has over 14 years industry experience in securities group investor actions with particular focus on international jurisdictions. Previous leadership roles in business development, operations and client services has enabled Trip to build strong, long term relationships with institutional clients and industry partners in order to deliver the highest standard of services in the securities litigation arena.
Trip has an excellent understanding of client needs and has developed services and opportunities to meet those client expectations. Working closely with law firms, litigation funders and investor rights groups has enabled Trip to help her clients navigate through the complex landscape of international securities litigation.
Simon Cleary
Goal Group
Brand Ambassador, Asia
Simon joined Goal in 2021 based in Singapore to support and drive the growth of the business. With 40 years of direct securities services related industry experience in London, Luxembourg, and Singapore, he has worked in multiple senior management roles with some of the largest firms in the industry including Chase, BNY, Citi, Swift, BBH and, most recently, as COO at Standard Chartered. Simon is an international member of the Institute of Directors and has been recognized by Global Custodian Magazine as a ‘Legend of securities services’, being inducted into their hall of fame in 2009 for an ‘outstanding contribution to the securities services industry’. At Goal, Simon is focused on raising the awareness of the importance of, and engagement with, withholding tax reclaims and securities class actions recoveries for the Asian investment community.
Goal Group
Brand Ambassador, Asia
Simon joined Goal in 2021 based in Singapore to support and drive the growth of the business. With 40 years of direct securities services related industry experience in London, Luxembourg, and Singapore, he has worked in multiple senior management roles with some of the largest firms in the industry including Chase, BNY, Citi, Swift, BBH and, most recently, as COO at Standard Chartered. Simon is an international member of the Institute of Directors and has been recognized by Global Custodian Magazine as a ‘Legend of securities services’, being inducted into their hall of fame in 2009 for an ‘outstanding contribution to the securities services industry’. At Goal, Simon is focused on raising the awareness of the importance of, and engagement with, withholding tax reclaims and securities class actions recoveries for the Asian investment community.
Lukas Conrad
SIX
Regional Head Securities Services APAC
Lukas Conrad is Regional Head Securities Services APAC at SIX and is responsible for market intelligence, relationship management, customer support and sales of settlement and international custody services. He has been in the securities services industry since the beginning of his career which started in 2007 at Credit Suisse where he led several teams in the area of Operations with initial experience in Asia.
He joined SIX in 2016 as a Senior Relationship Manager and in 2021 he was appointed to his current role and relocated to Singapore to build up the office for SIX SIS in APAC. Lukas is a senior manager with extensive experience in client relationship and leading teams.
SIX
Regional Head Securities Services APAC
Lukas Conrad is Regional Head Securities Services APAC at SIX and is responsible for market intelligence, relationship management, customer support and sales of settlement and international custody services. He has been in the securities services industry since the beginning of his career which started in 2007 at Credit Suisse where he led several teams in the area of Operations with initial experience in Asia.
He joined SIX in 2016 as a Senior Relationship Manager and in 2021 he was appointed to his current role and relocated to Singapore to build up the office for SIX SIS in APAC. Lukas is a senior manager with extensive experience in client relationship and leading teams.
Nellie Dagdag
DTCC
Managing Director – APAC Marketing & Communications
Cornelia “Nellie” Dagdag is Managing Director for APAC Marketing & Communications and Regional Administrative Manager for Asia Pacific at DTCC. Based in the Philippines, Nellie spearheads establishing a strong industry presence and company reputation in the region through client events and partnerships with key infrastructure providers and industry associations.
Apart from her Marketing & Communications responsibilities, Nellie provides senior leadership guidance and mentoring to DTCC’s business operations in Asia Pacific, driving strategic initiatives to accelerate the growth of DTCC’s community of broker/dealers, custodian banks and asset managers operating in the region. She also provides senior leadership to DTCC Manila, the firm’s key operational center in APAC.
Nellie is also a Philippine representative/member of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum (ABMF) and was also a member of the ASEAN+3 Group of Experts (GOE), two regional groups tasked by member countries with identifying barriers to liquidity in fixed income trading and settlement in ASEAN+3. ASEAN+3 is an aggrupation of the 10 ASEAN member-countries plus Japan, Korea and China.
DTCC
Managing Director – APAC Marketing & Communications
Cornelia “Nellie” Dagdag is Managing Director for APAC Marketing & Communications and Regional Administrative Manager for Asia Pacific at DTCC. Based in the Philippines, Nellie spearheads establishing a strong industry presence and company reputation in the region through client events and partnerships with key infrastructure providers and industry associations.
Apart from her Marketing & Communications responsibilities, Nellie provides senior leadership guidance and mentoring to DTCC’s business operations in Asia Pacific, driving strategic initiatives to accelerate the growth of DTCC’s community of broker/dealers, custodian banks and asset managers operating in the region. She also provides senior leadership to DTCC Manila, the firm’s key operational center in APAC.
Nellie is also a Philippine representative/member of the ASEAN+3 Bond Market Forum (ABMF) and was also a member of the ASEAN+3 Group of Experts (GOE), two regional groups tasked by member countries with identifying barriers to liquidity in fixed income trading and settlement in ASEAN+3. ASEAN+3 is an aggrupation of the 10 ASEAN member-countries plus Japan, Korea and China.
Philippe Dirckx
ASIFMA
MD - Head of Fixed Income
Prior to joining ASIFMA in 2020, Philippe was the Founder of Senfinasia, a management consultancy practice focusing primarily on Securities Post-trade and Market Infrastructures’ developments.
Philippe was Managing Director, Head of the Markets & Initiatives team in the Asia Pacific region, and member of the SWIFT Asia Pacific management team.
Prior to joining SWIFT, Philippe was Managing Director and Regional Head of Intermediaries and Market Infrastructures at Citi Securities Services for Asia Pacific.
Before that, he was Head of Asia Pacific for Euroclear and worked for Fortis Bank in a variety of executive roles in both Europe and Asia.
He is based in Hong Kong for the past 23 years.
ASIFMA
MD - Head of Fixed Income
Prior to joining ASIFMA in 2020, Philippe was the Founder of Senfinasia, a management consultancy practice focusing primarily on Securities Post-trade and Market Infrastructures’ developments.
Philippe was Managing Director, Head of the Markets & Initiatives team in the Asia Pacific region, and member of the SWIFT Asia Pacific management team.
Prior to joining SWIFT, Philippe was Managing Director and Regional Head of Intermediaries and Market Infrastructures at Citi Securities Services for Asia Pacific.
Before that, he was Head of Asia Pacific for Euroclear and worked for Fortis Bank in a variety of executive roles in both Europe and Asia.
He is based in Hong Kong for the past 23 years.
Derek Duggan
Thomas Murray Network Management Ltd
Director, Sales and Product Development
Derek has been with Thomas Murray since it was established in 1994. He is responsible for sales and product development of the firm’s risk assessments, data and technology products along with its counterparty monitoring services. He led the development of the firm’s data products, integrated technologies and more recently has co-ordinated industry working groups that defined sub-custodian, transfer agency and prime broker risk monitoring solutions. He manages a team responsible for selling into custodians, depositaries, banks and other groups.
Thomas Murray Network Management Ltd
Director, Sales and Product Development
Derek has been with Thomas Murray since it was established in 1994. He is responsible for sales and product development of the firm’s risk assessments, data and technology products along with its counterparty monitoring services. He led the development of the firm’s data products, integrated technologies and more recently has co-ordinated industry working groups that defined sub-custodian, transfer agency and prime broker risk monitoring solutions. He manages a team responsible for selling into custodians, depositaries, banks and other groups.
Michael Flannery
J.P. Morgan
Securities Network Management
Mike is based in Hong Kong and leads the team responsible for oversight of J.P. Morgan’s relationships with subcustodians across Asia Pacific.
Mike has been with J.P. Morgan since 1994 in various roles across finance, operations, client management and operational risk management between New York and Hong Kong. Mike joined the Asia Pacific Network Management team in 2012 spending four years as a network manager and two years managing Network Client Consulting before taking on his current role in 2018.
J.P. Morgan
Securities Network Management
Mike is based in Hong Kong and leads the team responsible for oversight of J.P. Morgan’s relationships with subcustodians across Asia Pacific.
Mike has been with J.P. Morgan since 1994 in various roles across finance, operations, client management and operational risk management between New York and Hong Kong. Mike joined the Asia Pacific Network Management team in 2012 spending four years as a network manager and two years managing Network Client Consulting before taking on his current role in 2018.
Goran Fors
SEB
Deputy Head of Investor Services
Goran has been also a SWIFT Director since 2009. Chairman of the SWIFT Securities Committee of the Board. Joined SEB in 1997. Previous functions include Head of Custody Services and Securities Operations at Swedbank and Gotabank. Serves as a Chairman of Euroclear Sweden Market Advisory Committee,T2S National User Group Sweden, and the Swedish SWIFT National Member Group. Member of VPS Advisory Board.
SEB
Deputy Head of Investor Services
Goran has been also a SWIFT Director since 2009. Chairman of the SWIFT Securities Committee of the Board. Joined SEB in 1997. Previous functions include Head of Custody Services and Securities Operations at Swedbank and Gotabank. Serves as a Chairman of Euroclear Sweden Market Advisory Committee,T2S National User Group Sweden, and the Swedish SWIFT National Member Group. Member of VPS Advisory Board.
Margaret Harwood-Jones
Standard Chartered
Managing Director, Co-Head, Financing and Securities Services
Margaret is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Securities Services business globally, managing all the business unit functions including Operations, Technology, Client Management, Business Development and Product Management. She also leads the business agenda with Financial Institution clients on a worldwide basis, across cash management, securities services and trade finance.
Standard Chartered
Managing Director, Co-Head, Financing and Securities Services
Margaret is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Securities Services business globally, managing all the business unit functions including Operations, Technology, Client Management, Business Development and Product Management. She also leads the business agenda with Financial Institution clients on a worldwide basis, across cash management, securities services and trade finance.
Alpana Johnsson
SEB
Head of Network Management
Alpana has as masters in finance from Stockholm University and has been in the finance industry for the past 21 years. She has had various roles in Risk and Regulatory Management, Corporate Finance and Asset Management. For the past two years she heads up the Network Management team at SEB based in Stockholm. The team is responsible for covering 84 market worldwide for cash correspondent banks and sub custodians.
SEB
Head of Network Management
Alpana has as masters in finance from Stockholm University and has been in the finance industry for the past 21 years. She has had various roles in Risk and Regulatory Management, Corporate Finance and Asset Management. For the past two years she heads up the Network Management team at SEB based in Stockholm. The team is responsible for covering 84 market worldwide for cash correspondent banks and sub custodians.
Edward Jones
The Network Forum Ltd.
MD
With over 23 years in the securities services and investment management industry, Edward set up The Network Forum together with Andrew Barman in 2017 and is mainly responsible for the commercial side of the organisation. Prior to The Network Forum, he was Head Of Sales & Business Development at a major media organisation, with a personal focus on mutual funds, securities services and private equity, and has also served as an independent advisor to a number of different organisations in financial media, recruitment and industry support.
The Network Forum Ltd.
MD
With over 23 years in the securities services and investment management industry, Edward set up The Network Forum together with Andrew Barman in 2017 and is mainly responsible for the commercial side of the organisation. Prior to The Network Forum, he was Head Of Sales & Business Development at a major media organisation, with a personal focus on mutual funds, securities services and private equity, and has also served as an independent advisor to a number of different organisations in financial media, recruitment and industry support.