DFS 2024 Ambassadors:
Pioneers of Financial Innovation
Welcome to the distinguished circle of Dubai FinTech Summit 2024 Ambassadors, where global finance meets visionary leadership.
Our Ambassadors are a select group of esteemed professionals, each a beacon of excellence in the FinTech and financial sectors. From the strategic insights of Lawrence Wintermeyer to the transformative initiatives of Mirna Sleiman and the influential direction of Rodrigo Garcia de la Cruz, these individuals are not just participants but key drivers of the FinTech evolution.
They embody the spirit of DFS, leveraging their vast expertise to foster growth, guide discussions, and facilitate meaningful connections that resonate with our core themes of Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact.
Our Ambassadors are a select group of esteemed professionals, each a beacon of excellence in the FinTech and financial sectors. From the strategic insights of Lawrence Wintermeyer to the transformative initiatives of Mirna Sleiman and the influential direction of Rodrigo Garcia de la Cruz, these individuals are not just participants but key drivers of the FinTech evolution.
They embody the spirit of DFS, leveraging their vast expertise to foster growth, guide discussions, and facilitate meaningful connections that resonate with our core themes of Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact.
Invitation for Applications
Are you a leader in the FinTech realm eager to shape the future of finance? Join the ranks of our esteemed Ambassadors and amplify your impact at the forefront of the financial technology revolution.
As an Ambassador, you’ll gain unparalleled exposure, network with industry titans, and contribute to pivotal discussions that redefine our financial world. Embrace this opportunity to be at the heart of change, steering the course of FinTech innovations.
As an Ambassador, you’ll gain unparalleled exposure, network with industry titans, and contribute to pivotal discussions that redefine our financial world. Embrace this opportunity to be at the heart of change, steering the course of FinTech innovations.
Ambassadors 2024
Nameer Khan
Chairman
MENA FinTech Association
Nameer Khan is the Chairman of the MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) and Founder & CEO of Fils. Nameer has been recognized as MENA’s Future Fintech Leader by the UAE Central Bank for his outstanding contributions to industry-wide growth and collaboration. Under Nameer’s exceptional leadership, MFTA has achieved a ranking as the 4th best global fintech body. His unwavering passion for green fintech innovation continues to inspire a brighter, sustainable, and prosperous future. Nameer is also the Advisory Board Member of Edinburgh Business School
Lawrence Wintermeyer
Executive Chair
Global Digital Finance
Lawrence, CEO of Avrio, leads digital financial market infrastructure. His background spans alternative investment funds, Big 4 advisory services, and Global Digital Finance (GDF). As a Forbes and Fintech.TV contributor, he champions ethical and sustainable finance.
Camilla Cionini Visani
General Manager
ItaliaFintech
Director of International Affairs in Confindustria since 2018 and currently General Director of ItaliaFintech, the Italian association of fintech companies. With extensive experience in Corporate Governance, she has held positions as an Independent Director in listed industrial companies like Campari and currently in MOL Group, as well as regulated financial companies such as Alba Leasing and Solution Bank. She is also a member of the Steering Committee of ITB-Valore D and Vice President of the Bassiri Foundation.
Helen Yu
CEO
Tigon Advisory Corp
Experienced Independent Board Director with a unique blend of technology, AI, and cybersecurity expertise. Led ambitious companies across startups, Fortune 500 enterprises, and global scale. A strategic collaborator adept at navigating digital transformation and driving informed decisions.
Azer Akbarov
Executive Director
Azerbaijan Fintech Association
Azer is the Executive Director at the Azerbaijan Fintech Association (Azfina) and a Business Development Expert at MPAY, one of the leading e-money/payment companies in Azerbaijan. He is a financial sector professional with over 15 years of international experience in banking and fintech. His main areas of expertise include digital payments, fintech regulation, and compliance, private and investment banking. As the head of the fintech association, he is committed to fostering the development of digital financial services, promoting fintech innovation, and enhancing international collaborations.
Rodrigo Garcia de la Cruz
CEO
Finnovating
Rodrigo Garcia de la Cruz, is CEO and founder of Finnovating, an AI-Deal Matching Platform that connects 30,000 tech companies with corporations from 160 countries. He also is cofound er of the Global FinTech Alliance, Fintech Iberoamérica, European FinTech Alliance and the Spanish Fintech and InsurTech Association.
Monica Millares
Principal, Product Ways of Working
Bigpay
Monica advocates for financial safety for all. She leads Product in BigPay, where she shaped the product from zero to multi product line, to international expansion. With nearly two decades in Financial Services, her commitment to innovation and financial inclusion resonates in her podcast, Purpose Driven FinTech.
Sameera Fernandes
Director – Corporate Affairs & Sustainability
Century Financial
First woman to be elected Chairperson of the Dubai Stockbrokers and Investment Services Business Group of Dubai Chambers. Over 24 years of experience in diversified sectors and companies ranging from Sun Microsystems, Al Ghurair, Paris Gallery, Nokia to Century Financial. Author of two books – Price of Truth and Educating the Next. CISI Certified. Certified in Leading Sustainable Corporations – Oxford University. European Boardroom Advisor.
Nasir Zubairi
CEO
The LHoFT Foundation
Nasir Zubairi is at the helm of the LHoFT Foundation. He pioneers fintech innovation, elevating Luxembourg on the global stage. With 27 years of finance expertise, he is a key International ambassador for Luxembourg, leveraging his experience, knowledge and wit to foster cross-border collaborations, steering the financial sector towards a digital, inclusive future.
Faisal Zaidi
Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Office
Crypto Oasis
An acclaimed communications and branding professional, he is renowned for his exceptional achievements in the field, including winning the Best Marketing Initiative of the Year at the CC Awards consecutively for three years. Notably, in 2019, he was instrumental in forging a strategic partnership between Property Finder and the Dubai Land Department, which led to the creation of Mo’asher, Dubai’s official house price index. This initiative played a pivotal role in elevating Dubai’s status on JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index in 2020, marking it as the most transparent real estate market in the MENA region.
Segun Aina
President
Africa Fintech Network
Dr. Segun Aina is a global banking leader, fintech ecosystem builder, and futurist who has made remarkable contributions to the advancement of banking and financial services, digital technology, financial education, and innovation across Africa and globally.
Farah Jaafar
Vice President
Fintech Association of Malaysia
A driven market development professional, with experience of close to 30 years in capital markets, wholesale financial intermediation, digital assets, fintech, B2B eco-system curation, corporate structuring advisory, market development, strategic communications, and branding. A confident personality, Farah is conscientious, resilient, and engaging, with the ability to think “outside the box.”
Jatinder Handoo
CEO
Digital Lenders Association of India (DLAI)
I am CEO of India’s largest deemed Self Regulatory Organisation (SRO) cum Industry Association of $25 Billion FinTech Industry , Currently I steer and facilitate
policy engagement and Industry development of FinTech Industry in India which is poised to grow $515 Billion by 2030.
Paul Li
President
Hong Kong Fintech Industry Association
Paul has various senior roles in banks, fintech and Bigtech companies, specializing in digital trade, cross border payment and Web3. Paul is now the general manager of Banking Circle in the Greater China region and the President of Hong Kong Fintech Industry Association.
Fadi Alawami
Founding Member
Hong Kong Fintech Industry Association International Digital Economy Association (iDEA)
Financial and business adviser in SMEs and Fintech ecosystem with 20+ years’ success designing and implementing strategic business management plans to make impact and empower fintech in the region.
Hock Lai Chia
Co-Chairman
Digital Assets Association
Chia Hock Lai is a fintech leader with 20+ years of experience in the financial and technology sectors, holding positions at GovTech and NTUC Income. An NUS and NTU alumnus, he co-founded the Global Fintech Institute and Digital Assets Association, and served as past president/chairman of the Singapore Fintech Association and Blockchain Association of Singapore. Hock Lai actively advises institutions, startups, and speaks internationally on fintech and digital transformation.
Philip J. Weights
President
Swiss Finance + Technology Association
Philip Weights is President of the Swiss Finance & Technology Association. He was previously Chief Audit Executive for EFG Bank, a Swiss stock exchange listed private banking group. Philip is a Certified Professional Director through the Mudara Institute of Directors in the Dubai DIFC and accredited by the IFC / World Bank Group.
Ilhem Rouine
Senior Solutions Consultant MENA Region
Trading Central
Ilhem is an entrepreneur with a board experience in start and scale-ups, highly experienced multi-lingual Investment Solutions consultant with over 15yrs of demonstrable development and management skills within the international Fintech and Investment markets.
The culmination of my experience to date, having built an exceptional in-depth market knowledge allows for consistent delivery in overachieving targets from expertise in the ability to drive multi- country Sales and Investments.