Basheer Ahmad
Dubai Financial Services Authority
Senior Manager, Markets
An experienced capital market regulator, Basheer is responsible for primary market regulations and is the Islamic finance subjectmatter expert at the DFSA. He is also responsible for the development of the ESG
bonds and sukuk requirements.
Basheer has spent over 20 years working for international regulators with an emphasis on securities rules and regulations, policy formulation, operating listing
regimes and market disclosures.
He was previously at the Securities Commission of Malaysia and worked as the deputy public prosecutor with the Attorney General’s Chambers in Malaysia
Dubai Financial Services Authority
Senior Manager, Markets
An experienced capital market regulator, Basheer is responsible for primary market regulations and is the Islamic finance subjectmatter expert at the DFSA. He is also responsible for the development of the ESG
bonds and sukuk requirements.
Basheer has spent over 20 years working for international regulators with an emphasis on securities rules and regulations, policy formulation, operating listing
regimes and market disclosures.
He was previously at the Securities Commission of Malaysia and worked as the deputy public prosecutor with the Attorney General’s Chambers in Malaysia
Sabir Ahmed
Standard Chartered
Executive Director Islamic Banking
Sabir is responsible for Islamic structuring and execution of Sharia compliant Capital Markets, Syndications, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets transactions in GCC, the South East Asian region (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore), UK and Turkey.
He has experience of 100 plus sovereign, quasi sovereign, corporate and FI Islamic syndications and debt capital markets transactions, across multiple geographies, including a number of debut and award-winning deals.
Sabir joined Standard Chartered in 2005 and has over 21 years of experience in the financial services industry of which 17 years has been in Islamic banking.
Sabir holds an MBA degree from Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.
Standard Chartered
Executive Director Islamic Banking
Sabir is responsible for Islamic structuring and execution of Sharia compliant Capital Markets, Syndications, Corporate Finance and Financial Markets transactions in GCC, the South East Asian region (Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore), UK and Turkey.
He has experience of 100 plus sovereign, quasi sovereign, corporate and FI Islamic syndications and debt capital markets transactions, across multiple geographies, including a number of debut and award-winning deals.
Sabir joined Standard Chartered in 2005 and has over 21 years of experience in the financial services industry of which 17 years has been in Islamic banking.
Sabir holds an MBA degree from Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.
Manoj Aidasani
Deutsche Bank
Head of Securities Services GCC
Manoj is Head of Securities Services for GCC within Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank. Securities Services covers the region via a presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia offering services to large asset gathers, global custodians, broker dealers and asset managers. Manoj is also the Branch Manager for Deutsche Securities and Services in Dubai and is responsible for risk and governance of the Branch.
Manoj has over 19 years of experience, and he has been with Deutsche Bank since 2004. He has held various roles in operations, product and client services in Securities Services. In his 10 years in UAE, Manoj has overseen Deutsche Bank’s participation efforts in market reforms across the GCC markets. He also worked closely with clients, intermediaries and regulators towards seamless market developments. Prior to moving to Dubai, Manoj was based in Deutsche Bank’s India Securities Services team servicing Custody and Fund Services clients.
Deutsche Bank
Head of Securities Services GCC
Manoj is Head of Securities Services for GCC within Deutsche Bank Corporate Bank. Securities Services covers the region via a presence in the UAE and Saudi Arabia offering services to large asset gathers, global custodians, broker dealers and asset managers. Manoj is also the Branch Manager for Deutsche Securities and Services in Dubai and is responsible for risk and governance of the Branch.
Manoj has over 19 years of experience, and he has been with Deutsche Bank since 2004. He has held various roles in operations, product and client services in Securities Services. In his 10 years in UAE, Manoj has overseen Deutsche Bank’s participation efforts in market reforms across the GCC markets. He also worked closely with clients, intermediaries and regulators towards seamless market developments. Prior to moving to Dubai, Manoj was based in Deutsche Bank’s India Securities Services team servicing Custody and Fund Services clients.
Khalil Alabdulwahab
Muqassa
Chief of Business Development
Khalil is the Chief of Business Development in the Securities Clearing Center Company (Muqassa) and have been part of Muqassa since its inception in 2018.
As the leader of Business Development, he played a key role in launching the securities clearing services and enable the launch of the first exchange traded Derivatives product in Saudi Arabia. He also took over many leadership positions to develop initiatives in the financial sector that contribute in the Saudi Vision 2030.
Muqassa
Chief of Business Development
Khalil is the Chief of Business Development in the Securities Clearing Center Company (Muqassa) and have been part of Muqassa since its inception in 2018.
As the leader of Business Development, he played a key role in launching the securities clearing services and enable the launch of the first exchange traded Derivatives product in Saudi Arabia. He also took over many leadership positions to develop initiatives in the financial sector that contribute in the Saudi Vision 2030.
Bandar Al Kahail
Edaa
Custody & Fund Services Senior Head, Business Development
Bandar Alkahail is the Head of Custody and Fund Services at Edaa, the Saudi Tadawul Group’s Securities Depository Center Co.
With over 15 years in the financial markets and securities services industry, Bandar held many roles and responsibilities in local and international banks including Saudi Investment Bank, Barclays and Morgan Stanley, with a personal focus on Treasury Operations, Securities Services and Business Development.
In addition to various professional certificates, Bandar holds a Master of Science degree in Computing for Financial Markets from the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom.
Edaa
Custody & Fund Services Senior Head, Business Development
Bandar Alkahail is the Head of Custody and Fund Services at Edaa, the Saudi Tadawul Group’s Securities Depository Center Co.
With over 15 years in the financial markets and securities services industry, Bandar held many roles and responsibilities in local and international banks including Saudi Investment Bank, Barclays and Morgan Stanley, with a personal focus on Treasury Operations, Securities Services and Business Development.
In addition to various professional certificates, Bandar holds a Master of Science degree in Computing for Financial Markets from the University of Stirling in the United Kingdom.
Racha Alkhawaja
TPL Investment Management
CEO
C-level strategic leader with over 20 years of solid expertise in Capital Markets, Fund Management, Investments, and Corporate Finance in cross-asset class. Strong International and local expertise with exceptional success in growing, building, and managing new segments while increasing bottom line revenues.
Selected as one of Top 50 Most Influential Women in Finance in the Middle East by Financial News in 2019, and one of the top 50 Women Of Influence in the Arab World by CEO ME in 2021, and with vast experience of leadership executive management roles with high profile leading firms, Racha has well-established accomplishments in financial management functions, team building and strong technical competencies.
Racha has an extensive network in Europe, Mena region and Asia, across International Institutions, Family Offices and Investment Banks and is currently a Board Director in TPL RMC, managing the first and largest Development Impact Fund in Pakistan.Currently the CEO of TPL Investment Management Ltd, a fund manager registered in ADGM,
focused on ESG and SDG linked fund creation and management in Emerging and Frontier markets, Racha is also a board member in Gate Capital, a leading corporate finance house in the UAE and previously, the Group CDO at Equitativa, a diversified asset management and private equity firm, focused on the Real estate sector, where she pioneered the expansion of the firm to Emerging markets.
TPL Investment Management
CEO
C-level strategic leader with over 20 years of solid expertise in Capital Markets, Fund Management, Investments, and Corporate Finance in cross-asset class. Strong International and local expertise with exceptional success in growing, building, and managing new segments while increasing bottom line revenues.
Selected as one of Top 50 Most Influential Women in Finance in the Middle East by Financial News in 2019, and one of the top 50 Women Of Influence in the Arab World by CEO ME in 2021, and with vast experience of leadership executive management roles with high profile leading firms, Racha has well-established accomplishments in financial management functions, team building and strong technical competencies.
Racha has an extensive network in Europe, Mena region and Asia, across International Institutions, Family Offices and Investment Banks and is currently a Board Director in TPL RMC, managing the first and largest Development Impact Fund in Pakistan.Currently the CEO of TPL Investment Management Ltd, a fund manager registered in ADGM,
focused on ESG and SDG linked fund creation and management in Emerging and Frontier markets, Racha is also a board member in Gate Capital, a leading corporate finance house in the UAE and previously, the Group CDO at Equitativa, a diversified asset management and private equity firm, focused on the Real estate sector, where she pioneered the expansion of the firm to Emerging markets.
Manaf Al Mallouhi
ADX
Derivatives Specialist
ADX
Derivatives Specialist
Haitham Al Salmi
Muscat Stock Exchange
CEO
Muscat Stock Exchange
CEO
Robert Ansari
Mercer
Partner
Robert Ansari is a Partner and the Head of Investments and Retirement, IMETA. He is responsible for setting and driving Mercer’s strategy and initiatives, specifically the delivery of retirement services, investment consulting and investment solutions throughout the region.
Prior to joining Mercer, Robert was the Head of MSCI (formerly Morgan Stanley Capital International) for the Middle East, responsible for all aspects of coverage and business strategy for the MSCI business.
Robert is a regular speaker at global conferences, industry events and round tables. He has published several articles and undertaken live TV broadcasts on topics related to regional capital markets and market classification.
Robert received his undergraduate degree in Medical Biochemistry from Brunel University in London and his postgraduate degree in Molecular Genetics from Cambridge University.
Mercer
Partner
Robert Ansari is a Partner and the Head of Investments and Retirement, IMETA. He is responsible for setting and driving Mercer’s strategy and initiatives, specifically the delivery of retirement services, investment consulting and investment solutions throughout the region.
Prior to joining Mercer, Robert was the Head of MSCI (formerly Morgan Stanley Capital International) for the Middle East, responsible for all aspects of coverage and business strategy for the MSCI business.
Robert is a regular speaker at global conferences, industry events and round tables. He has published several articles and undertaken live TV broadcasts on topics related to regional capital markets and market classification.
Robert received his undergraduate degree in Medical Biochemistry from Brunel University in London and his postgraduate degree in Molecular Genetics from Cambridge University.
Duaij Asaleh
Kuwait Clearing Company
Deputy CEO
Kuwait Clearing Company
Deputy CEO
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).
Saad Chalabi
xCube
CEO
xCube
CEO
Ian Clarke
Abu Dhabi Global Investors
Co-Chief Investment Officer
Abu Dhabi Global Investors
Co-Chief Investment Officer
Kashif Darr
First Abu Dhabi Bank
Managing Director, Head of Securities Services
Kashif is responsible for the Securities Services businesses of FAB. This comprises a comprehensive range of services for issuers and investors, including IPO management, corporate trust, global custody, direct custody & clearing and fund administration.
Kashif brings with him over 20 years of experience within the Securities Services industry in Europe and the Middle East with previous positions as Head of Sales with NBAD, and a range of relationship management roles within BNY Mellon, State Street and Barclays Capital in London. He has a wealth of experience in creating and delivering solutions to some of the world’s largest investors, including Sovereign Wealth Funds, Asset Managers, Insurance Companies and Pension Funds.
Kashif holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester, UK.
First Abu Dhabi Bank
Managing Director, Head of Securities Services
Kashif is responsible for the Securities Services businesses of FAB. This comprises a comprehensive range of services for issuers and investors, including IPO management, corporate trust, global custody, direct custody & clearing and fund administration.
Kashif brings with him over 20 years of experience within the Securities Services industry in Europe and the Middle East with previous positions as Head of Sales with NBAD, and a range of relationship management roles within BNY Mellon, State Street and Barclays Capital in London. He has a wealth of experience in creating and delivering solutions to some of the world’s largest investors, including Sovereign Wealth Funds, Asset Managers, Insurance Companies and Pension Funds.
Kashif holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester, UK.
Adam DePonte
State Street
AVP - Network Management
Mr. DePonte joined State Street Bank over 20 years ago, managing several different corporate actions and settlement operations teams. For the past 15 years he has served as an Assistant Vice President with the subcustodian Network Management team in State Street Global Services. In this role he establishes and maintains State Street’s subcustody and correspondent banking relationships across the Middle East and Africa, monitoring the banks’ performance and compliance. Additionally, Mr. DePonte is responsible for evaluating market risk, conducting due diligence visits, and developing firsthand knowledge of each market's structure, which he then analyzes and presents to clients. His areas of expertise include relationship management, market research, operational risk review, crisis management, and market expansion.
State Street
AVP - Network Management
Mr. DePonte joined State Street Bank over 20 years ago, managing several different corporate actions and settlement operations teams. For the past 15 years he has served as an Assistant Vice President with the subcustodian Network Management team in State Street Global Services. In this role he establishes and maintains State Street’s subcustody and correspondent banking relationships across the Middle East and Africa, monitoring the banks’ performance and compliance. Additionally, Mr. DePonte is responsible for evaluating market risk, conducting due diligence visits, and developing firsthand knowledge of each market's structure, which he then analyzes and presents to clients. His areas of expertise include relationship management, market research, operational risk review, crisis management, and market expansion.
Gaurang Desai
Equiti
Managing Director – Strategy
Gaurang is the Chairman of Dubai Digital Asset Business Group (D2A2), an digital asset industry body established under the aegis of Dubai Digital Chambers and Managing Director of Strategy for the Equiti Group, a globally regulated progressive Fintech Brokerage house based in Dubai.
Gaurang has over 26 years of experience working across financial exchanges, market infrastructures and regulators across the globe. Establishing and managing various regulated exchanges and Clearing Houses/CCPs has provided him with a deep understanding of the needs of today’s financial markets and appropriate strategies to meet regulatory challenges.
Gaurang was a Founding member and the CEO of the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) group until 2018.
He was appointed as an Advisor for Financial Markets to the UAE’s Federal markets regulator, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), to help them develop and implement new products and services regulatory frameworks including Crypto Asset Regulations.
Gaurang is an experienced industry leader in regulated markets across asset classes and technologies. He is also a seasoned entrepreneur helping build organizations and projects from the ground up.
He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, India.
Equiti
Managing Director – Strategy
Gaurang is the Chairman of Dubai Digital Asset Business Group (D2A2), an digital asset industry body established under the aegis of Dubai Digital Chambers and Managing Director of Strategy for the Equiti Group, a globally regulated progressive Fintech Brokerage house based in Dubai.
Gaurang has over 26 years of experience working across financial exchanges, market infrastructures and regulators across the globe. Establishing and managing various regulated exchanges and Clearing Houses/CCPs has provided him with a deep understanding of the needs of today’s financial markets and appropriate strategies to meet regulatory challenges.
Gaurang was a Founding member and the CEO of the Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX) group until 2018.
He was appointed as an Advisor for Financial Markets to the UAE’s Federal markets regulator, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), to help them develop and implement new products and services regulatory frameworks including Crypto Asset Regulations.
Gaurang is an experienced industry leader in regulated markets across asset classes and technologies. He is also a seasoned entrepreneur helping build organizations and projects from the ground up.
He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration in Finance and a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from the University of Mumbai, India.
Scott Dickinson
Standard Chartered
Managing Director, Regional Head of Financing & Securities Services, AME, Financial Markets
Scott joined Standard Chartered in September 2017. He is currently based in Dubai and is the Regional Head of Securities Services for Africa and Middle East. In a career spanning over 35 years’ in financial services he has held senior roles in global custody, investment banking and fund management. He is a graduate in Economics and Accountancy and a sovereign wealth specialist.
Standard Chartered
Managing Director, Regional Head of Financing & Securities Services, AME, Financial Markets
Scott joined Standard Chartered in September 2017. He is currently based in Dubai and is the Regional Head of Securities Services for Africa and Middle East. In a career spanning over 35 years’ in financial services he has held senior roles in global custody, investment banking and fund management. He is a graduate in Economics and Accountancy and a sovereign wealth specialist.
Luke Dorney
Blockdaemon
Head of Sales EMEA
Luke Dorney is EMEA Head of Sales for Blockdaemon, an institutional grade blockchain infrastructure company that powers the blockchain economy and services the leading crypto and blockchain businesses globally. Luke has spent 20 years providing traditional financial products and services to regulated sell side and buy side clients globally. Most of his career has been in client facing and business development roles and spent 10 years as a Director within JP Morgans Corporate and Investment Bank. In 2020 Luke was appointed Head of Sales and Partnerships for Zodia Custody, an institutional-grade crypto custody solution launched by Standard Chartered and in association with Northern Trust. Luke led the commercial development of Zodia Custody from inception to launch. Now, at Blockdaemon, Luke is responsible for the growth expansion plans in the EMEA region
Blockdaemon
Head of Sales EMEA
Luke Dorney is EMEA Head of Sales for Blockdaemon, an institutional grade blockchain infrastructure company that powers the blockchain economy and services the leading crypto and blockchain businesses globally. Luke has spent 20 years providing traditional financial products and services to regulated sell side and buy side clients globally. Most of his career has been in client facing and business development roles and spent 10 years as a Director within JP Morgans Corporate and Investment Bank. In 2020 Luke was appointed Head of Sales and Partnerships for Zodia Custody, an institutional-grade crypto custody solution launched by Standard Chartered and in association with Northern Trust. Luke led the commercial development of Zodia Custody from inception to launch. Now, at Blockdaemon, Luke is responsible for the growth expansion plans in the EMEA region
Bernard Ferran
Euroclear
Chief Commercial Officer
Bernard joined Euroclear in 2001. He is in charge of the overall Business Development, commercial support as well as Marketing. His remit includes servicing US$ 40 trillion of assets under custody across 2,000 clients located in more than 120 countries. He supervises a large commercial team of 350 people spread across 11 Euroclear offices located in Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Americas. Before being appointed as Chief Commercial Officer, Bernard held several senior and regional positions such as managing clients across the Americas, as well as Europe and the CIS. He also acted for more than 10 years as Chief Representative Officer in Dubai to further promote the footprint of Euroclear across the Middle East & Africa.
Euroclear
Chief Commercial Officer
Bernard joined Euroclear in 2001. He is in charge of the overall Business Development, commercial support as well as Marketing. His remit includes servicing US$ 40 trillion of assets under custody across 2,000 clients located in more than 120 countries. He supervises a large commercial team of 350 people spread across 11 Euroclear offices located in Europe, Middle East, Asia and the Americas. Before being appointed as Chief Commercial Officer, Bernard held several senior and regional positions such as managing clients across the Americas, as well as Europe and the CIS. He also acted for more than 10 years as Chief Representative Officer in Dubai to further promote the footprint of Euroclear across the Middle East & Africa.
Tanja Ferri
Azimut
Head of Operations, Risk and Product Management (Private Markets)
Tanja is the head of operations, risk and product management at Azimut (ME) Limited, focusing on building Azimut Group’s private markets arm in the MENA region. She is the chair of the Sustainable Investing Working Group at the Middle East Investment Management Association (MEIMA), of which Azimut is a founding member.
Tanja has 15+ years of experience in the alternatives sector servicing institutional clientele. Prior to joining Azimut, she worked as an independent director and consultant for trade finance funds applying an impact investing objective. Until 2018, Tanja was Managing Director at London-based management consulting firm Laven Partners, having first joined the group in 2007. She headed their due diligence department, performing fund assessments on behalf of institutional investors. Tanja also advised top tier private markets and hedge fund managers globally on best practice operational processes, from investing and ESG topics, to risk and regulations. Tanja holds a MSc. in Environmental Sustainability from the University College Dublin.
Azimut
Head of Operations, Risk and Product Management (Private Markets)
Tanja is the head of operations, risk and product management at Azimut (ME) Limited, focusing on building Azimut Group’s private markets arm in the MENA region. She is the chair of the Sustainable Investing Working Group at the Middle East Investment Management Association (MEIMA), of which Azimut is a founding member.
Tanja has 15+ years of experience in the alternatives sector servicing institutional clientele. Prior to joining Azimut, she worked as an independent director and consultant for trade finance funds applying an impact investing objective. Until 2018, Tanja was Managing Director at London-based management consulting firm Laven Partners, having first joined the group in 2007. She headed their due diligence department, performing fund assessments on behalf of institutional investors. Tanja also advised top tier private markets and hedge fund managers globally on best practice operational processes, from investing and ESG topics, to risk and regulations. Tanja holds a MSc. in Environmental Sustainability from the University College Dublin.