CBDC Project Manager,...
CBDC Project Manager, IBM, Netherlands
Vasileios Theodosiadis is a blockchain consultant and project manager at IBM, an industry associate at the UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies, and a member of the “Power of the Many” Working Group at 2Tokens. He advises clients, leads blockchain initiatives, and translates complex business needs to innovative, tech-driven solutions—with a particular focus on the financial industry, including projects such as tokenized central bank money for cross-border payments and tokenized bond issuance. Beyond his commercial work, Vasileios conducts academic empirical research on enterprise blockchain governance and explores how traditional organizations can drive innovation by leveraging elements of the Web3 ecosystem. He regularly shares his insights through speaking engagements and as a co-author of a book, a book chapter, and several academic publications.
CEO | Founder...
CEO | Founder | Compliance Education, RAW Compliance AI, Portugal
Oonagh van den Berg is a globally recognised compliance expert and dynamic speaker reshaping the future of financial services. With over 20 years' experience across traditional banking, fintech, and crypto, she brings a unique blend of regulatory depth and tech-forward innovation. She has led global GRC transformations for institutions including HSBC, Citi, ING, and Uphold, and founded Virtual Risk Solutions and RAW Compliance- initiatives that empower professionals, uplift industry standards, and advocate for inclusive, human-centred regulation. From the ECB to the United Nations, Oonagh is a trusted voice helping financial ecosystems adapt, evolve, and lead with purpose. She is also the proud mother of three daughters, and a fierce advocate for working mothers and women in business - challenging the narrative that motherhood should limit ambition by championing systems that support equality for parents in the workplace.
Head of Financial...
Head of Financial Markets & Information Technology, Center for European Policy, Germany
Dr. Anastasia Kotovskaia, LL.M. is Head of Department Financial Markets and Information Technologies at the Centre for European Policy in Berlin, Germany. As a legal expert at the European policy think tank, she provides comprehensive background knowledge about policy proposals of the EU and evaluates them as well as drafts practicable policy options for Europe. She had previously worked as a policy expert at the Policy Center of the Leibniz Institute for Financial Market Research SAFE in Frankfurt am Main with a focus on digitalization of finance, sustainable finance, and capital market integration in the EU. She holds a Ph.D. in Law from Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She is author of articles and policy papers in law, finance, and information technology.
Founder, SOEBIT Cybersecurity,...
Founder, SOEBIT Cybersecurity, Netherlands
Soenil Soebedar is a solution-oriented IT & cybersecurity professional who spent more than 32 years in the IT sector, 22 years as a freelancer & founder of SOEBIT Cybersecurity in the Netherlands (Europe) and 12 years in the Cyber Security area as an Ethical Hacker, Penetration tester, PKI/Cryptography specialist/Architect, Senior Security Engineer, Senior SOC Specialist. He lives and studies in the Netherlands, born in Suriname (South America).
Advisory Board Member...
Advisory Board Member - Fraud Management, BANKINGCLUB, Germany
Natalie Detsik is an Advisory Board Member for Fraud Management at BANKINGCLUB, Germany and a strategic leader in financial crime prevention. She specializes in AML strategy, regulatory alignment, and enterprise-wide risk management, helping organizations strengthen compliance frameworks and transaction monitoring through data-driven insights. Natalie is recognized for translating complex regulatory developments into practical safeguards that enhance governance, reduce risk exposure, and support sustainable compliance growth.
Senior Program Manager,...
Senior Program Manager, ING, Netherlands
Atefeh Naderkhanipari is a Senior Program Manager in the COO Risk domain at ING in Amsterdam, where she leads strategic transformation across trading risk, product control and regulatory change. With over 13 years of experience in finance and technology, she has worked on data, cloud and risk platform initiatives at institutions including ING, Rabobank and Capgemini. Atefeh is also the founder of a RegTech / embedded-finance start-up focused on compliant onboarding for immigrants and SMEs, and a Finance PhD candidate at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, researching regulation, risk and sustainable finance
Head of Information...
Head of Information Security, Eastern Bank Ltd., Germany
With over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, IT governance, and risk management, I currently serve as the Head of Information Security at Eastern Bank Ltd. My expertise spans cyber defense, data privacy, security governance, and AI-powered risk mitigation, ensuring robust protection for financial institutions in an evolving threat landscape.
President, Liberland, Czech...
President, Liberland, Czech Republic
Vít Jedlička is the Founder and President of the Free Republic of Liberland, a sovereign micronation established on April 13, 2015. With academic credentials in economics and political science from the University of Economics in Prague and the CEVRO Institute, Vít has spent over two decades advocating for liberty, inspired by classical liberal thinkers such as Bastiat and Rothbard. Under his leadership, Liberland has grown into a global movement with over 780,000 registered citizenship applicants. The nation is internationally recognized for its forward-thinking use of blockchain-based governance, voluntary cooperation, and minimal state interference. Vít has also initiated NFX, one of the world’s largest community-driven internet networks, reflecting his entrepreneurial vision. He has been featured in The New York Times Magazine, USA Today, CNN, Time, and Fox Business Network, and has spoken at top global forums including Bitcoin Miami, TEDx, Horasis Global Meeting, ALEC, and the St. Gallen Symposium. Vít's recent recognition includes the Gusi Peace Prize (2023) and a Humanitarian Award at the United Nations for his innovative contributions to peace and liberty. In 2024, he appointed blockchain pioneer Justin Sun as Liberland’s first Prime Minister following its first blockchain-based election. His mission is clear: to build the freest nation on Earth, where blockchain governance, economic transparency, and individual liberty enable people to thrive free from excessive regulation and taxation.
Senior Payment Expert,...
Senior Payment Expert, Deutsche Bundesbank, Germany
David Ballaschk is a payments expert at Deutsche Bundesbank’s Directorate General Payments and Settlement Systems. His work focuses mainly on cross-border and real-time payments. He is a member of various G20 and G7 groups focussing on payments.
Partner, Deloitte, Germany
Partner, Deloitte, Germany
Matthias Rode is a Partner in Deloitte's German Financial Services practice and part of the Global Deloitte's Financial Crime (FinCrime) expert group. He also co-leads the Deloitte Europe AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority) efforts, supporting financial institutions across the continent as they interpret and prepare for the sweeping changes AMLA brings to the industry. With over 25 years of experience, Matthias focuses on advising clients in the Financial Services Industry on the full spectrum of Financial (Economic) Crime and Non-Financial Risk Management (NFR-M). His expertise encompasses financial crime prevention, large-scale remediation projects, and strategic regulatory transformation. Matthias has led complex initiatives aimed at aligning organizations with new regulations, enhancing governance and organizational structures, improving controls and processes, and integrating data analytics and advanced technology into financial crime risk management frameworks. He is recognized for his practical approach to solving regulatory challenges, balancing compliance demands with cost efficiency, and enabling technological adoption for sustainable change. His leadership continues to shape market standards for financial crime prevention and non-financial risk management, making him a sought-after speaker and advisor on regulatory change, operating model transformation, and digital innovations in risk management within the global financial sector.
Director and Head...
Director and Head of Group Anti-Money Laundering, Deutsche Börse Group, Germany
Jens Oliver Kreiter is Director and Head of Group Anti-Money Laundering at Deutsche Börse Group. In this role, he is responsible for the group-wide management and further development of preventive measures against money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crime – including governance, risk analyses, control frameworks and the implementation of regulatory changes, in particular the EU AML Package. With many years of experience in financial crime compliance, the management of international AML programmes and collaboration with supervisory authorities such as BaFin and, in future, AMLA, he is playing a key role in driving the harmonisation and digitalisation of compliance processes within the Group. In addition, he is active as a speaker and panellist on topics such as risk-based approaches, EU regulation and the future of the fight against financial crime in Europe.
CEO, Founder &...
CEO, Founder & Consultant, Payments Innovation Consulting, Germany
Dr Michael Salmony is an internationally recognised leader on strategy of business innovations in digital and financial services with a particular focus on Payments, Open Finance, FinTech, Digital Identity, B2B/e-Invoicing/SCF, AI for Financial Services and Electronic Money/CBDC/Stablecoins. He is board-level advisor to major international banks, industry associations, regulators, top consultancies, service providers and investors across the world. He regularly helps shape future directions in all key decision making bodies (e.g. European Commission/ European Parliament/ECB/CEPS Think-Tank in Europe, and central banks from Japan to Uruguay and Kazakhstan). For 10 years he served as Executive Adviser to the Board of Worldline Financial Services, helping to bring them from a local player to become the world’s 4th largest financial processor of transactional services, which handles over 17 trillion Euro per year. He also works with multiple regions where financial innovations are currently emerging - for example with the World Bank in Central Asia, as Board Member of Fintech Africa, as Advisory Board Member to Mastercard in Latin America, as strategic partner to FinTech Istanbul. His views are much in demand as keynote speaker at international events and he appears on TV/Radio/all electronic media on advances in finance and is quoted extensively (e.g. Financial Times, Harvard Business Manager, New Scientist, The Economist and governments from Ghana to Malaysia). He teaches at the Oxford Business School on 'AI in Fintech and Open Banking' and at further universities such as in Australia, Turkey, Germany. He has published much own original work which has been translated into many languages including German, Italian, Dutch, Finnish, Polish, Danish, Turkish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese and is cited in hundreds of publications around the world. He is extensively networked into the new financial services space and has one of the top most viewed profiles on business social media platforms. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers, Freeman of the City of London and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce FRSA. Previous positions include Director Business Development of leading national central bank (Bank of the Year, Best Innovator Award). Before entering the world of finance, he helped transform companies and business models in many industries as IBM's Director of Market Development Media and Communications Technologies. He studied at the University of Cambridge UK and is married, with two millennial children.
Head of Group...
Head of Group Anti Financial Crime, Group MLRO & Deputy CCO, Deutsche Börse Group, Germany
Michael is the Head of Group Anti Financial Crime (AFC) and Group MLRO of Deutsche Börse AG located in Frankfurt. In this role Michael manages teams in Frankfurt, Prague and Singapore and oversees the AFC programs in multiple different subsidiaries and locations. Prior to joining Deutsche Börse AG, Michael spent two decades at UniCredit, were he held several senior management positions in different countries among others as Global Head of KYC Program and Head of Anti Financial Crime/MLRO. Michael has extensive experience in compliance, including anti-money laundering, financial sanctions, anti-bribery/corruption, market abuse, conflict of interest, and has interacted with multiple regulators in different countries incl. the US.Michael holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.
Senior Manager, PwC...
Senior Manager, PwC Deutschland, Germany
Aria Dallmann is a Senior Manager in PwC’s FS Transformation team at PwC, specializing in strategy and transformation across the banking and payments value chain – with a great passion for Embedded Finance, FiDA/Open Data and Digital Identity. With a career dedicated to advising banks and FS providers since her professional day one, Aria has a strong track record in program and project leadership, navigating complex partnership landscapes for data driven innovation. Aria holds a Master of Science in Business Psychology with a minor in Economics from the University of Mannheim — she brings that experience with a genuine curiosity for people's logics and the ideas that move them.
Assistant General Manager,...
Assistant General Manager, Rupali Bank PLC, Bangladesh
G. M. Faruk Ahmed is an Assistant General Manager (IT) in the Cybersecurity Division at Rupali Bank PLC., one of Bangladesh’s leading state-owned commercial banks. With over 17 years of experience in IT security and information systems audit, he leads cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and incident response initiatives across the bank. His expertise spans cybersecurity architecture, regulatory compliance, business continuity planning (BCP), disaster recovery (DR), and cyber incident investigations. Faruk plays a key role in developing and implementing robust security frameworks aligned with international standards, ensuring the protection and resilience of critical financial systems. He is passionate about strengthening cyber defense capabilities in the evolving fintech landscape.
Sustainable Finance and...
Sustainable Finance and Climate Action Expert, WeNetwork.app/47Pitches, Netherlands
Arend Janssen is a Sustainable Finance and Climate Action Expert with a broad background spanning international organizations, financial institutions, and consulting. At WeNetwork.app/47Pitches, he connects health and climate tech startups with venture capitalists and angel investors, fostering innovation in sectors critical to the planet and public well-being. In addition to this role, he contributes his expertise to the Blockchain & Climate Institute, the International Sustainable Resilience Center, and the Urban, Planning and Transport Research Journal. He also works in trade finance with Euro Exim Bank and Silicon Valley Global PH, supporting global financial operations and sustainable investment strategies. His career has taken him across roles in the Netherlands, the European Union, and the United Nations, focusing on sustainable development, climate finance, and resilience. He held key positions at the European Investment Bank, where he evaluated urban and regional development projects, and at the UN Climate Action Team, where he advanced the Paris Agreement and global climate finance initiatives. He also supported organizations including the Multilateral Corporation Center for Development Finance, the Impact Economy Foundation, and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. Arend earned a Master's in Urban Planning from the University of Amsterdam and a Bachelor's in Human Geography from Utrecht University, with an exchange at the University of Florida. He has shared his knowledge as a guest lecturer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and University College London. Based in Amsterdam, Arend enjoys life with his wife and two children.
Founder and CEO,...
Founder and CEO, ASR Ventures, Netherlands
Dr. Ajay Sharma is a Netherlands-based global business leader and founder of ASR Ventures. He works with boards, executives, and investors at the intersection of sustainable finance, ESG governance, and technology-driven transformation, helping organizations translate green ambition into bankable strategies, measurable outcomes, and credible controls. In 2025, he was recognized as a “Sustainable Entrepreneur” by Business Press. He is a board member at iCapital Ventures and the author of The Conscious Board, which explores modern board governance and decision accountability in an AI-enabled world. With deep leadership and board-level experience across Europe, India, and Africa, Dr. Sharma has supported growth and transformation initiatives spanning fintech and alternative finance, digital infrastructure, and the energy transition. His work emphasizes disciplined governance, risk oversight, stakeholder alignment, and practical operating models that make ESG and sustainability initiatives scalable, auditable, and investable.
Chief Compliance Officer...
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO), Stellantis Bank SA, Germany
Stefan Wieland is the Compliance Officer (CO) and Money-Laundering Reporting Officer for Stellantis Bank SA overseeing branch operations in Germany and for its subsidiary in Switzerland. Previously he held roles as CO / MLRO for operations in Austria and Ireland and supported Compliance operations in Greece, The Netherland, Belgium and Spain. Before joining the Bank he was working as a consultant and Forensic Investigator / Auditor for more than 20 years focusing on the detection and prevention of Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing, Fraud and other regulatory compliance. He has been working for renowned audit, tax and advisory services firms with international footprint, including Big4. He conducted investigations and special audits for the German regulators, law enforcement and for the World Bank. Prior to this he worked for more than 10 years for the German law enforcement, conducting national and international investigations into financial crime, money laundering schemes and anti-trust investigations including joint operations with the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) and other international law enforcement agencies. Mr. Wieland has been Certified as Fraud Examiner (CFE), AML-Compliance Expert, Chartered Surveyor in White-Collar Crime, IT-Security- and a Data Protection Officer
Manager, KPMG Deutschland...
Manager, KPMG Deutschland & Vice Chairwomen, Digital Euro Association, Germany
Anne-Sophie Gogl is a long-standing expert on the topic of digital money, in particular regulated digital forms of money such as CBDC (wholesale and retail), MiCA regulated stablecoins and fiat money tokens.
Executive Director, Digital...
Executive Director, Digital Euro Association, Germany
Tamara Ferreira Schmidt is Executive Director of the Digital Euro Association (DEA), with over 15 years of experience in financial engineering, capital markets, and derivatives. A German Chancellor Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, she researched alternative financing and its role in shaping early-stage ecosystems across Brazil and Germany. She focuses on digital finance, innovation, and digital currencies, and regularly moderates and speaks at leading international conferences, including the Crypto Assets Conference, Digital Euro Conference, Brussels Blockchain Week, Nordic Blockchain Conference, Warsaw Finance Week, and London Blockchain Conference.
Founder, Valorial, Germany
Founder, Valorial, Germany
Dorothee Georg is the Founder of Valorial, an AI governance advisory firm specializing in EU AI Act compliance. Valorial assesses whether AI systems meet EU regulatory requirements, covering governance architecture, Fundamental Rights Impact Assessments under Article 27, bias audits, and trainings. Dorothee brings 20 years of environmental and social risk management experience across 30+ countries and various years of AI assessments and automations. Her work applies international safeguard methodologies to AI governance, connecting development finance practice with EU regulation on algorithmic bias, equity, and fundamental rights. Dorothee holds the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing, has published with the World Bank, UN, and OECD, and has lived and worked in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
AI Governance &...
AI Governance & Control Systems Architect, Allianz Technology, Germany
Ernest Aduwenye is an AI Governance and information security professional working at the intersection of risk, regulation, and real-world AI implementation in complex, high-stakes environments. His focus is not on what AI governance should be, but how it operates in practice. With experience in information security, regulatory compliance, and risk management, he designs governance approaches that move beyond policies and assessments into enforceable control mechanisms within AI systems. He is the creator of the AI Governance Operating System (AIGO-OS), a model that embeds accountability, control gates, and auditability directly into AI execution. His work addresses one of the core challenges in AI today: ensuring that increasingly autonomous systems remain governed, explainable, and aligned with human oversight in real time.
Chief Executive Officer,...
Chief Executive Officer, AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking & Economics, UAE
Mr. Zubair is a leading name in the world of Islamic finance. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in Shariah advisory, Islamic banking, Takaful, Sukuk, and Islamic microfinance.He is the CEO of AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking & Economics (CIBE) and the founding Director of the Islamic Microfinance Network (IMFN). His work has helped to shape the Islamic finance industry across the globe. Mr. Zubair has advised major organizations like the World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, UNDP, central banks and other financial institutions in more than 85 countries.He is known for helping financial institutions become Shariah-compliant and has developed many Islamic financial products. He is also a respected speaker and researcher, with a strong passion for using Islamic finance to reduce poverty and promote the ethical finance. Currently based in the UAE, Mr. Zubair continues to lead global efforts for financial inclusion and economic empowerment.
AI Specialist, KfW...
AI Specialist, KfW Bank, Germany
I am an AI Strategist at KfW, Germany's leading development bank, working within the Non-Financial Risk Department. My focus is on automating banking processes and bridging the gap between AI strategy and production-ready systems. I design prototypes and deploy AI solutions directly into core banking workflows. In addition, I advise our internal AI risk governance teams, supporting the development of bank-wide frameworks and policies for managing AI-related risks. From a technical perspective, I primarily work with Python, modern LLM frameworks, Coding Agents and n8n. I also host a bank-wide n8n workflow automation community and regularly deliver AI training programs to colleagues.
Head of the...
Head of the Open Finance Ecosystem and Financial Innovations Development Division, National Bank of Georgia, Georgia
I am the Head of the Open Finance Ecosystem and Financial Innovations Development Division at the National Bank of Georgia, where I lead strategic initiatives shaping Georgia’s Fintech and digital finance landscape. With over 15 years of experience in banking — spanning both commercial banking and central bank roles — I bring a balanced perspective that combines market realities with regulatory vision. My work focuses on developing open banking and open finance frameworks, advancing regulatory innovation, and fostering effective collaboration between regulators, financial institutions, Fintechs, and technology providers. I oversee regulatory sandbox and Innovations Office, supporting startups, digital banks, and incumbent institutions in bringing responsible, scalable innovation to market. I have been closely involved in building the country’s open banking infrastructure, supervising credit information bureaus, and contributing to the development of the national credit registry. I also support digital banking models, API ecosystem development, and exploratory work on emerging technologies.
Executive Director /...
Executive Director / Founder CFA – Climate Frontier Advocacy LBG, Germany
Dr. John-Baptist Naah is an Applied AI Engineer and Postdoctoral Researcher specializing in Responsible AI, AI Governance, and regulatory-aligned AI deployment. His expertise includes EU AI Act compliance, AI risk management, and trustworthy AI systems, with hands-on experience developing machine learning, NLP, and LLM-powered solutions in Python. With an interdisciplinary research background spanning sustainability, socio-ecological systems, and innovation policy, he brings a practical perspective on how AI can be scaled responsibly across high-impact sectors, including finance and regulated industries. Dr. Naah is also a Founder, PeopleCert certified, and actively contributes to public discourse on emerging technologies through research, stakeholder engagement, and media commentary.
AI Governance Expert...
AI Governance Expert & Architect, AIGN OS, Germany
Patrick Upmann is an AI Governance Expert and the Architect of AIGN OS – the Operating System for Responsible AI Governance. He is internationally recognized as a thought leader, standard setter, and scientific architect in AI Governance, with multiple DOI-registered publications on systemic AI governance, decision accountability, and regulatory implementation. His work focuses on one critical question: How organisations — particularly in regulated environments such as financial services — can not only use AI, but understand, document, and defend AI-driven decisions under real regulatory, audit, and liability pressure. With AIGN OS, he introduced a governance architecture that transforms AI governance from principles into operational infrastructure — enabling board-level accountability, auditability, and global regulatory alignment (including EU AI Act, ISO/IEC 42001, NIST AI RMF, and OECD principles).Patrick advises boards, executives, and financial institutions globally and is a frequent speaker on AI governance, liability, and systemic risk. He defines the shift from explainability to decision defensibility in AI-driven systems.
Chief Commercial Officer...
Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Consorsbank, BNP Paribas, Germany
Tino Benker Schwuchow is Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Consorsbank at BNP Paribas Personal Investors, where he also serves as a member of the Executive Committee. The business unit of BNP Paribas Personal Investors comprises several prominent brands, including Consorsbank, DAB BNP Paribas, and BNP Paribas Wealth Management Private Banking. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Innovation, Technology & Global Strategic Management at Durham University in collaboration with emlyon business school. Mr Benker Schwuchow joined BNP Paribas in 2015 as Head of Human Resources Germany at BNP Paribas Real Estate. He subsequently assumed broader responsibilities as Head of Human Resources Germany and Austria at BNP Paribas Corporate & Institutional Banking. In 2020, he was appointed Chief People Officer for Germany and Austria, and in 2021 became a member of the Group Management Board of BNP Paribas in Germany. His early career includes service in the German Federal Armed Forces, where he served as a Mountain Infantryman and Human Resources Advisor with the 23rd Mountain Infantry Brigade from 2003 to 2008. After completing his military service, he transitioned into the financial sector, holding senior human resources roles at Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (2009–2012) and subsequently at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where he served as Senior Human Resources Business Partner from 2012 to 2015. Mr Benker Schwuchow began his professional career with vocational training as a commercial associate, followed by advanced professional qualifications, including a Bachelor Professional in Human Resources awarded by the German Chamber of Industry and CommerceK). He also holds a Master’s degree in Finance, Technology & Innovation from Durham University and EBS University of Business and Law.
Supervisory Board Member,...
Supervisory Board Member, ClearBank, Germany
Carola Theresia Paschola is a seasoned Non-Executive Director and Board Chair with deep governance experience across financial services, insurance, FinTech, digital assets and technology, underpinned by an early career in strategy consulting and international leadership roles at American Express, Domestic & General, Vivendi and Dell. She currently serves as Supervisory Board Member of ClearBank Europe NV in Amsterdam, Chair of the Board of DFV Deutsche Familienversicherung AG in Frankfurt, and Supervisory Board Member of Melanion Digital in Paris, bringing particular expertise in regulated transformation, digital innovation and risk-aware oversight. She is a Harvard Business School MBA and Computer Science & Business graduate of TU Darmstadt.
CEO, Phinorm, Germany
CEO, Phinorm, Germany
Philipp has created AI for 15 years, with 219 AI programmes delivered, USD 450 million verified impact (4× ROI). He led 3 AI Ethics frameworks, that resolved 237 dilemmas and unlocked value from sensitive data in finance, healthcare and defence. His secret sauce? Have the best technical skills in the room but don't brag about it - instead focus on the people.
Specialist IT Governance...
Specialist IT Governance & Regulatory (ITSS), ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Germany
Onur Kücük is a Specialist in IT Governance & Regulatory at Bethmann Bank (ABN AMRO), where he focuses on the interplay between regulatory requirements and IT transformation within the banking sector. He currently leads the QA/Testing workstream within a large-scale IT integration program, ensuring alignment with frameworks such as DORA and MaRisk. His professional trajectory reflects a deliberate progression from corporate banking into corporate governance and information security, culminating in his current focus on IT regulatory frameworks. Building on this foundation, Onur has developed a perspective that brings together business, regulatory and technological considerations in a coherent and well-structured manner. His work is defined by a pragmatic and disciplined approach, translating complex regulatory frameworks into implementable solutions while maintaining a clear alignment with operational realities. He is particularly engaged in areas such as audit management, third-party risk and IT governance. Onur holds an MBA with a specialization in risk management and is certified in information security, MaRisk compliance and outsourcing governance
Senior Expert Digital...
Senior Expert Digital Currencies, DZ BANK AG, Germany
Maximilian works 25+ years for DZ BANK AG as Senior Expert Digital Currencies. His focus is the Commercial Bank Money Token (CBMT), bringing commercial bank money into the DLT-based business processes of corporates.
Senior Payments Strategist,...
Senior Payments Strategist, German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), Germany
Anja Finke is a senior payments strategist with around 15 years of experience across management consulting and the payments industry. In her current role at the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV), she focuses on emerging payments topics, particularly account-to-account solutions, instant payments, and the European payments initiative EPI/Wero. Before joining DSGV, she worked in management consulting advising financial institutions on strategy, innovation, and digital transformation. She later spent over five years at Mastercard in account management, business development, and fintech-related roles, gaining extensive experience working with banks, fintechs, and innovative market participants.
General Counsel &...
General Counsel & BaaS Executive, SWK Bank, Germany
Thomas Kowohl is General Counsel and BaaS Executive at a German online consumer bank. He is responsible for legal, regulatory and commercial strategy, with a particular focus on Banking-as-a-Service, embedded finance and regulated lending structures. Thomas combines deep regulatory expertise with hands-on experience in scaling BaaS and digital lending models.
Credit Risk Innovation...
Credit Risk Innovation & AI Leader, PwC, Germany
Dr. Christian Bélorgey is Credit Risk Innovation & AI Leader at PwC. He advises banks across Europe on the regulatory compliant optimization of credit processes, particularly through digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI). With more than 25 years of experience in the credit business, he has shared his perspectives as a speaker at numerous national and international conferences.
Head of Corporate...
Head of Corporate Payments DSGV - German Savings Banks and Giro Association, Germany
Manfred Richels has been with the German Savings Banks Association (DSGV) for a year, where he is responsible for strategy and product development in payment transactions for corporate clients and all topics related to digital money and digital assets. He is also responsible for the API strategy of the Savings Banks Finance Group. Furthermore, he represents the European Payments Council in the ECB's Digital Euro Rulebook Development Working Group. Previously, he spent over 20 years at UniCredit in various management positions within the payments sector.
Senior Manager, PwC...
Senior Manager, PwC & Board President, EWPN, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Merima Mahmutović is a Senior Manager for Strategy, Transformation, and Technology Consulting for Southeastern Europe at PwC. She leads major transformation projects in the financial sector, designing innovative solutions and enhancing business models through collaboration with leading international and domestic banks, fintech companies, and payment institutions. Her work places a strong focus on developing and implementing modern platform services: including open banking and SEPA payment systems, that help financial institutions build competitive and future-ready digital ecosystems. Merima also brings over 12 years of experience in the banking industry. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of roles from SME sales and product development for small businesses to serving as Director of the Banking Support Division in the major European Banking groups. She has also worked in a large IT company, where she was responsible for developing business with financial sector clients in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Beyond her professional work, Merima is deeply engaged in community and industry development. She serves as Chair of the Executive Board of the European Women Payments Network (EWPN), one of the leading European association based in the Netherlands. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the eCommerce Association in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a member of the Banking and Finance Committee at AmCham. Born in Sarajevo, Merima holds two master's degrees — one in Banking and Insurance, and another in Information Systems Management, a program developed in cooperation with Microsoft. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Digital Innovation, further demonstrating her dedication to continuous learning, professional growth, and the advancement of the financial technology landscape.
AI Implementation Strategist...
AI Implementation Strategist & Digital Consultant, DB Systel GmbH, Germany
I work at the intersection of finance, technology, and AI, with experience in banking and business roles. I focus on making complex technologies accessible to non-technical professionals, helping them understand and apply AI in real-world business contexts. I’m currently building in this space, combining AI, communication, and personal branding.
Delivery Excellence Lead,...
Delivery Excellence Lead, PwC Managed Services, Germany
Olli Jokiranta leads Delivery Excellence at PwC Managed Services in Germany, where he drives the design and adoption of technology-enabled operating models for clients in complex, regulated environments. With background in Banking and FinTech, he advises leadership teams on building standardized, scalable operating models, with a particular focus on the practical adoption of AI and on translating innovation into sustainable change. Based in Berlin, Olli supports senior leadership teams on large-scale transformation programs across Germany and international markets. He works closely with global PwC teams, bringing together capabilities across markets to deliver high-quality outcomes in operational setting.
Practice Lead/Director, GarantiBank...
Practice Lead/Director, GarantiBank International NV, Netherlands
Zafer Ergezen is a seasoned banking executive with 20+ years of experience in business support, risk monitoring, credits, and client services. At GarantiBank International NV, he leads one of the bank’s largest departments, overseeing CDD, KYC, onboarding, fraud prevention, and TDD. He has driven major transformations, including RPA, AI-based compliance solutions, and digital ID verification systems, while ensuring strong regulatory compliance. A recognized leader, Zafer is known for building high-performing teams and aligning operations with strategic goals. He is also a frequent speaker and commentator on KYC/AML, compliance, and financial markets, with expertise as a Commodity Market Expert and Economist.
Director - BaaS...
Director - BaaS & Embedded Finance, UniCredit, Spain
Eduardo Morales Heimlich is a seasoned financial services leader with over 20 years of international experience across corporate banking, product management, and go-to-market strategy. Currently serving as Director of BaaS & Embedded Finance at UniCredit in Spain, he plays a key role in driving the development and expansion of Open Banking, Open Finance, and Embedded Finance solutions through APIs and Banking-as-a-Service platforms. Throughout his career, Eduardo has acted as a strategic advisor to financial institutions, leading global coverage initiatives and enabling growth through innovative financial products and digital transformation strategies. His expertise spans structured lending, capital raising, payments, cash management, and capital markets advisory. He brings deep knowledge of credit risk, portfolio growth, and managing complex client relationships, combined with a strong track record in executing high-value transactions and scaling business opportunities. Eduardo is also recognized for leading high-performing cross-functional teams and delivering impactful, data-driven solutions in dynamic financial environments.
Chief Regulatory Officer...
Chief Regulatory Officer & General Counsel, AllUnity, Germany
Alpay Soytürk is Chief Regulatory Officer and General Counsel at AllUnity, where he leads the legal and compliance functions and serves as the primary point of contact for supervisory authorities. His work focuses on legal strategy, regulatory compliance and the management of legal risks, particularly in relation to the issuance of e money tokens and the implementation of MiCAR. Previously, he served as Chief Regulatory Officer at Spectrum Markets, overseeing risk, compliance and regulatory affairs across multiple jurisdictions. He also spent several years at Deutsche Börse Group and Börse Stuttgart, where he gained extensive experience in market structure, regulatory strategy and the regulation of market data. His regulatory expertise covers key EU frameworks including MiFID II and MiFIR, IFR, CRR and CRD, DORA, PSD, EMD, ZAG and MiCAR, with a strong track record in navigating complex requirements in highly regulated environments.
CEO & Founder,...
CEO & Founder, TESOBE & Open Bank Project, Germany
Pioneering Open Banking since 2010, Simon is the CEO of TESOBE and Founder of the Open Bank Project, the open-source API platform for banks. Simon studied electronic engineering in Manchester where he focused on real-time programming and digital systems - and he subsequently worked as a software developer, architect, sysadmin, DBA, and CTO on numerous web / mobile platforms. Always keen to explore emerging technologies, Simon is also a composer and enjoys interdisciplinary creative collaborations. He is a keen supporter of open source, believing it is a force for social good. Simon was a technical lead on the UK open banking standards design group and has since advised banks and regulators across the globe
Associate Director, fscom,...
Associate Director, fscom, UK
Stuart Smith is an Associate Director at fscom, specializing in financial crime, AML, and regulatory compliance across the UK and EU payments landscape. He leads AML, IT security, and governance audits for payments, e-money, and digital asset firms across multiple jurisdictions. He previously headed Transaction Monitoring, Fraud, and Screening functions for a large Electronic Money Institution, overseeing operations across both the UK and EU. He also served as Deputy MLRO for four years, where he played a key role in designing and implementing robust financial crime control frameworks, including oversight of agents and distributors. With deep expertise in financial crime prevention, Stuart has extensive experience building and scaling operational teams across onboarding, monitoring, and complaints, including offshore delivery models. He has worked closely with regulators in the UK, Netherlands, Ireland, and Guernsey, and supported a successful EMI license application with the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). He also brings industry collaboration experience, having served as Chair of an NCA SAR working group, contributing to strengthening financial crime reporting standards and practices.
Executive Director GPL...
Executive Director GPL Banks EMEA, Wells Fargo, Germany
Thomas Ohler is a Senior FI Treasury Management Consultant and Executive Director at Wells Fargo Bank International UC, based in Frankfurt. He advises financial institutions across EMEA on global payments, cash & clearing, and liquidity solutions, with a particular focus on Southern Europe, Germany & Austria. With over 20 years of international banking experience, Thomas has held senior transactional banking and financial institution sales roles at Wells Fargo, UniCredit, Deutsche Bank, BBVA, and Commerzbank. His career spans Europe and Latin America, including leadership positions in Frankfurt, Munich, and São Paulo, covering cash management, clearing, deposits, trade finance, and FI relationship management. Thomas brings deep expertise in correspondent banking, cross border liquidity structures, and institutional client coverage, combining strategic perspective with hands on market experience across mature and emerging markets.
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Senior Solutions Architect...
Senior Solutions Architect - GFS Payments, Global Financial Services, Amazon Web Services (AWS), UK
Swaminathan “Mac” Mahalingam is an accomplished enterprise architect with extensive experience across retail and investment banking, having delivered over 60 projects across 8+ countries in the UK and Europe. He has held key roles including Senior Technology Architect, Integration Architect, and Managing Technical Architect, leading architecture, design, development, and strategic transformation initiatives. Known for his strong problem-solving skills and innovative approach, Mac combines deep technical expertise with forward-thinking architectural concepts. He is also a recognized thought leader, sharing insights through blogs and articles on evolving business and technology trends, and is an effective communicator across C-level, managerial, and technical audiences. His previous experience includes Finastra, FIS, Lloyds Bank, Standard Bank, and Sun Microsystems (now Oracle).
Team Lead...
Team Lead AML/AFC Controls & Testing Solaris SE, Germany
Dr. Victoria Ojo-Adewuyi is a PhD-qualified legal and financial crime compliance professional currently serving as Team Lead AML/AFC Controls & Testing at Solaris SE, Germany. She brings extensive expertise in anti-money laundering (AML), anti-fraud, counter-terrorism financing, and risk-based controls testing within complex regulatory environments. In her role, Victoria leads AFC control testing programmes focused on evaluating control effectiveness, strengthening governance frameworks, and proactively mitigating financial crime risks. She works closely with senior stakeholders, Audit, and Compliance teams to deliver actionable insights and drive continuous improvement across financial crime prevention functions. With a strong focus on governance, operational resilience, and emerging risk management, Victoria is passionate about building robust control frameworks and leading high-performing teams that support secure and compliant financial ecosystems.
Group Chief...
Group Chief AI Officer, JTC Group, Germany
Shivaji is the Group Chief AI Officer at JTC, a global professional services business. He is a leader in the field of technology with more than 15 years of experience helping organisations turn complex technology change into practical business outcomes, having spent much of his career working at the intersection of technology, data, cloud and AI. His prior experience includes senior roles at UniCredit, Deutsche Bank and McKinsey, where he has led programmes ranging from enterprise data platforms and technology modernisation to scaling AI and GenAI in regulated environments.
👋 Welcome to the 5th FinTech Week & Expo 2026!
07–08 October 2026 | Frankfurt, Germany
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