Christo Georgiev is a seasoned financial technology executive with a strong track record in driving business growth and operational excellence across Southeast Asia. He is the founder and CEO of LenderLink, a company focused on advancing credit and lending innovation.
From 2019 to 2024, Christo served as Group COO and Country Manager (Philippines) at FinScore, a leading alternative credit scoring company. Under his leadership, the firm achieved 100% year-on-year revenue growth, forged strategic partnerships with over 30 top-tier financial institutions, and significantly broadened its market footprint and data capabilities. He led initiatives that processed millions of alternative data points monthly, advancing financial inclusion for the underbanked and unbanked.
Christo played a key role in raising $1.9 million from investors, including UBX Ventures (UnionBank of the Philippines’ CVC arm), and co-led FinScore’s successful exit to CTOS Digital of Malaysia in 2023. Following the acquisition, he remained with the company through its transition before stepping down in 2024 to launch LenderLink. Since 2012, Christo has held leadership roles across Operations and Business Development in Southeast Asia, building a reputation for strategic impact and execution in emerging fintech markets.
Sina is Chief Data Officer at Unique AG – a rising European startup providing a GenAI-driven platform called Unique.AI to better understand customers and build more meaningful client relationships. Unique.AI is a tailored solution for the financial industry that aims to increase productivity by automating manual workload through AI and ChatGPT solutions.
Sina is a proven GenAI and data transformation specialist for financial applications with over 20 years of experience. Before Unique AG, Sina led data strategy projects at Credit Suisse AG and worked as a consultant at Accenture AG. She lectures on GenAI, AI Governance, and Data Protection at top universities like HSG St. Gallen and HEC Paris, inspiring future tech leaders. Sina also mentors startups on GenAI applications and serves on the ISO expert council in Switzerland. She was recently honored with the “Women in Banking and Fintech 2024” award for her Thought Leadership on Data Protection and AI Governance for GenAI applications for Financial Services by Handelsblatt (#1 business newspaper in Germany). Sina holds a PhD in Financial Modeling from the University of St. Gallen (HSG, Switzerland) and a Diploma in Economics from the University of Mannheim (Germany).
John Januszczak is a seasoned fintech leader and the President & CEO of UBX Philippines, the fintech venture studio and fund of Union Bank of the Philippines. He was appointed to this role after joining UnionBank as a Consultant in 2018. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Manulife Philippines and held leadership roles such as Head of Global Business Process Management at Manulife Financial and Vice President of Product Management at Meta Software Corporation. His extensive experience in operations, technology, and financial services has positioned him as a key driver of digital transformation in the fintech space.
Under John’s leadership, UBX has grown into Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing fintech, building a robust ecosystem that helps startups and fintech founders access expertise, funding, and customers. He has spearheaded the incubation of award-winning ventures such as i2i, SeekCap, and BUX, while also managing a corporate venture fund that successfully invests in and scales fintech startups. By leveraging corporate ecosystems, open finance, and embedded finance, John continues to drive financial inclusion, innovation, and strategic growth in the Philippine fintech landscape.
Helen Child is the Founder and CEO of Open Banking Excellence (OBE), the world’s leading community of Open Banking and Open Finance pioneers. With a legacy of innovation rooted in her family’s 400-year history in banking, Helen’s journey includes founding the UK’s first e-Money Licence Issuer to be awarded licences by Mastercard and Visa. She has played a pivotal role in the development of the UK’s Open Banking ecosystem and has become a global ambassador for the movement, advising governments and regulators in emerging markets like Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
Jonny Fry led initiatives around blockchain and digital assets within the regulated banking environment at ClearBank. With over three decades of experience in financial services, Jonny is widely recognised as a thought leader in digital innovation. He is currently the CEO of TeamBlockchain, Chairman of Gemini Capital UK, and author of Digital Bytes, a weekly publication analysing blockchain developments. At ClearBank, he focused on integrating digital asset strategies to support institutional-grade infrastructure for next-generation financial services. In 2022, he was named CryptoAM’s “Influencer of the Year.”.
David Parsons is an accomplished technology executive with over 25 years of experience leading digital financial infrastructure initiatives across the US and Europe. As Chief Technology Officer at NiftyOne, he drives innovation, technology strategy, and platform development. His expertise spans go-to-market strategies, business development, and regulatory frameworks, underpinned by a strong track record of working with global technology providers, hardware manufacturers, and software developers. David’s strategic vision and hands-on leadership have consistently enabled the successful deployment of scalable, secure, and compliant digital solutions in the financial sector.
Sandeep Deobhakta is a veteran financial services leader and design innovator with over 35 years of experience spanning banking, wealth management, and bancassurance across ten countries. He has held senior roles at major institutions including Citibank, Shinsei Bank in Japan where he helped transform it into an award-winning digital retail bank using Human-Centered Design and VP Bank in Vietnam, where he drove significant retail banking growth. Most recently, he served as President & CEO of Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Corporation in the Philippines, steering innovation in bancassurance and strategic partnerships.
A champion of innovation at the intersection of finance and design, Sandeep is currently pursuing PhD research focused on AI and Design Thinking in financial services. He is the author of Banking by Design (2024) and teaches fintech at Dai Nam University in Vietnam.
Tiravat Assavapokee is currently the Executive Vice President and Head of Data Intelligent and IT Integration Division at KASIKORNBANK Public Company Limited, one of Thailand’s leading financial institutions. He is recognized as a pioneer in data science and AI transformation in the Thai banking sector, with more than two decades of international and domestic experience in data strategy, analytics, and operations research.
Prior to joining KASIKORNBANK, Dr. Assavapokee held several key leadership positions, including Executive Vice President for Data Innovation at Krung Thai Bank, and Executive Vice President for Business Intelligence at SCB. He also served in various leadership and senior analytics & data science roles at Capital One Bank ,Walmart and Manhattan Associates in the United States.
Dr. Assavapokee began his career in the U.S., where he also served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Houston. With over 21 years of studying and working in the United States and 8 years in Thailand, his career reflects a deep integration of global best practices with local business innovation.
He holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, another M.Sc. in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering from Oregon State University, and a B.Sc. in Computer Science from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Thailand.
Dr. Assavapokee is passionate about building data-AI driven organizations, fostering data-AI talent, and advancing responsible AI adoption in financial services.
Erwin Lu is the chief technology officer at Lexin, responsible for leading the company’s overall technology development. He has over 20 years of experience in technology R&D and management, having held senior leadership roles at major internet companies in both China and the U.S. Before joining Lexin in 2021, he was the chief information officer at Ping An Life Insurance. He also served as CTO at 51Talk and Sina Mobile, and as general manager of the advertising division at Sina Weibo. Lu began his career in 2003 as a software engineer at Microsoft’s Seattle headquarters and later worked at Facebook as a senior software engineer. He holds five U.S. technology patents.
Su Bo is an AI solutions expert with extensive industry experience. As Vice General Manager of Spark Enterprise Group at iFlytek, he has led and participated in over 100 intelligent solution and large model projects for major Chinese financial institutions including ICBC, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, PICC, and China Life Insurance, covering solution design and implementation.
Juergen Rahmel is the artificial intelligence lead in the chief digital office at HSBC Hong Kong, where he drives fintech engagement and oversees emerging technologies, including generative AI. With almost three decades of international experience in technology and business, he specialises in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and information security. He has held a range of leadership roles within HSBC, including head of IT of transaction sector at HSBC Germany, research director AI for the HSBC-ASTRI Lab, and chief digital officer at HSBC Germany. Rahmel began his career at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt and has since served in senior IT management roles across multiple banks. In addition to his industry work, he is currently a part-time lecturer at the University of Hong Kong, focusing on the applications of generative AI in financial services.
Charamporn Jotikasthira is currently holding the position of Executive Director at Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited., Independent Director, Chairman, Risk Management Committee, and Member of Audit Committee at Minor International Public Company Limited., Independent Director, Chairman of Risk Management Committee, and Member of Audit Committee at Singha Estate Public Company Limited., and Independent Director and Chairman of Risk Management Committee at Osotspa Public Company Limited.
He has held former positions as the President & Chief Executive Officer at Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and The Stock Exchange of Thailand, Chief Information Officer at Siam Commercial Bank Public Company Limited., Chairman at Electronic Transactions Development Agency, Member the Financial Institutions Policy Committee (FIPC) at the Bank of Thailand., and a Director at Thai Institute of Directors Association.
He holds an MBA from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Kris is Head of Product at LINE BK, where he helps redefine how people connect with their money in the digital age. Bringing curiosity, creativity, and a human touch to the world of finance, Kris thrives on solving real-life problems with simple, delightful solutions. With a background in building customer-centric products and leading diverse teams, he enjoys turning big ideas into meaningful experiences that make finance feel approachable — and even a little fun. Kris believes that financial services should empower people, not intimidate them, and is passionate about designing with empathy and impact.
Dr Nongnuch Tantisantiwong is Senior Vice President and Head of Enterprise Risk and Infrastructure at CIMB Thai Bank. She leads key areas including credit risk modelling, data governance, system implementation, climate risk management and monitoring of risk appetite. She brings over 20 years of experience in financial system development, modelling, portfolio analytics and risk management. Before joining CIMB Thai, she held senior roles at Krungthai Bank, including SVP of Corporate Strategy and Head of Credit Risk Modelling and Analytics.
Earlier in her career, she served as Head of Financial System Policy Development at Thailand’s Ministry of Finance. She also spent over a decade in the UK, where she was a university lecturer and Programme Director in Risk and Finance and collaborated with the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. She has published extensively on banking, investment, risk modelling, and sustainability and continues to contribute research to leading journals.
Chatchawat Asawarakwong is Group Chief Information Security Officer (Group CISO) at KASIKORNBANK and Vice Chairman of the Thailand Banking Sector CERT (TB-CERT). He brings over 20 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity management, with a deep focus on securing digital transformation in the banking sector. At KBTG, he oversees the bank’s enterprise-wide cybersecurity strategy, risk governance, and resilience initiatives, playing a key role in defending critical infrastructure against emerging threats. He also contributes to industry-wide collaboration and security policy development through his leadership role at TB-CERT.
Before joining KASIKORNBANK, Chatchawat served as Head of Information Security and Business Continuity Management at a regional bank in Thailand. His prior experience includes working as an IT security consultant with Big Four firms in both Thailand and the United States, advising major financial institutions on risk, compliance, and cyber defence. His extensive background combines hands-on technical expertise with strategic leadership across risk management, regulatory readiness, and security innovation in high-stakes financial environments.
Liu Gongrun is the deputy director and research fellow at the CEIBS Lujiazui International Institute of Finance. He also serves as secretary general of the CEIBS Lujiazui Finance 50 Forum (CLF50), executive member of the Shanghai Finance Society, specially appointed expert of the Shanghai Payment and Clearing Association, deputy director of the economic committee of the Xuhui District Political Consultative Conference, and deputy director of the financial technology special committee of the Shanghai Modern Service Industry Federation.
His research focuses on macroeconomic policy, financial center development, and emerging areas of finance. He has led dozens of major government advisory and commissioned research projects and has published five monographs, including Exploring Certainty.
Li Jianggan is the founder and chief executive officer of Momentum Works, a Singapore-headquartered venture outfit that builds, advises, and invests in emerging market ventures. He previously served as managing director of Foodpanda Singapore, where he was appointed by investors to focus on sales and delivery operations. Earlier, he launched the Singapore operations of Easy Taxi under Rocket Internet, a Germany-based company that incubates, builds, and invests in internet ventures globally and grew it into the platform’s largest Asian market. He later oversaw operations across six Southeast Asian countries, driving regional expansion, product innovation, and strategic partnerships with Tencent, Huawei, VISA, and Microsoft. He also co-founded and successfully exited a licensed consumer fintech company in Southeast Asia. Li is the co-author of Seeing the Unseen: Behind Chinese Tech Giants’ Global Venturing, written with INSEAD Professor Chen Guoli, which examines the rise of Chinese internet firms overseas.
John Gong currently is the vice president of research and strategy at University of International Business and Economics in Israel. He is also a professor, researcher and expert in the fields of finance, international trade, antitrust, patent dispute and competition policies. He serves as an expert consultant at the Ministry of Commerce’s Antitrust Bureau in China, and acted as the chief architect of the Bureau’s national competition database project. Meanwhile, he is serving as an academic affiliate with Global Economics Group, a leading global economics consulting firm based in the US. He is also the principal author for the China section of the policy position paper by the BRICS New World Bank’s steering committee during its foundation time. He is also a renowned op-ed columnist for several leading newspapers including the South China Morning Post, Global Times and China Global Television Network, on economic and political issues.
Oliver Oehms serves as the chief representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Beijing and is the executive director and a board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in China – North China. Prior to this, he held the position of CEO at the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry and Commerce (AHK), which encompassed five Gulf countries and Pakistan, and he also served as an ex officio delegate to Iraq. From 2016 onwards, Oehms led the German Chamber Abroad (AHK) in Riyadh, managing operations in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen. Earlier in his career, he worked with GIZ in Jakarta, where he contributed to the establishment of a new service unit at KADIN Indonesia. From 2003, he directed the foreign trade and trade fairs department of a regional German Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Oehms began his career at the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein e.V.), where he advanced to the role of Regional Manager for Western Africa.
With over 25 years of experience in strategy, finance, banking, and innovation, Rafiza Ghazali currently serves as the CEO of KAF Digital Bank, where she is responsible for the development and operationalisation of the retail/consumer digital bank. She brings deep expertise in corporate finance, Islamic finance, and fintech to her leadership role.
Previously, she was the Group CEO of Cradle Fund, where she played a key role in transforming Malaysia’s early-stage funding and venture capital ecosystem. Her extensive C-suite experience spans across various sectors including consumer products and services, energy, property, and media—where she has contributed to enhancing performance, governance, and sustainability. Rafiza is a Chartered Accountant with the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from the University of Oxford and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. She is passionate about creating meaningful impact through digital innovation in banking and advancing financial inclusion. She is also deeply committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, diversity, and excellence across her teams and stakeholders.
With over 22 years of experience in transaction banking, treasury, and finance across Asia and the USA, Ankur Kanwar drives strategic growth and innovation in his dual leadership roles. As Head of Transaction Banking for Singapore and ASEAN, he oversees business growth and operational excellence in one of the region's most dynamic markets. In his global role as Head of Structured Solutions Development for Cash Management, he leads a team of experts in creating advanced cash management solutions for clients worldwide.
Ankur has helped large corporates optimise cash and treasury operations and spearheaded the adoption of transformative digital solutions to meet evolving industry needs. Before joining Standard Chartered, he held senior roles at JP Morgan Chase in Singapore and New York, leading transaction banking regulatory products and enhancing liquidity structures for corporate clients. His expertise in regulatory insights, treasury management, and balance sheet optimisation makes him a key influencer in transaction banking across ASEAN and beyond.
Allen Ng is Group Head and Principal Economist at the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). He leads the Regional Surveillance group, which is responsible for the annual flagship ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook and related updates.
He was previously the Chief Economist of Securities Commission Malaysia (SCM), where he was also a member of the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ Committee on Emerging Risks and a board member of the Institute for Capital Market Research Malaysia. Prior to SCM, Allen was Director of Research at Khazanah Research Institute, and before that he spent more than a decade in the Central Bank of Malaysia.
Sebastien joined Deutsche Bank in 2010 and currently leads Institutional Cash & Trade for APAC, based in Singapore. He oversees cash and trade businesses for institutional clients across the region, supported by a team of 50. Previously, he headed Trade Finance Distribution for APAC and led the Distribution franchise for the Middle East & Africa. With experience spanning Europe, Russia & CIS, and MEA, he has managed syndications and trade finance across major markets. Before Deutsche Bank, he spent nine years at BNP Paribas, focusing on loan syndications in the oil, gas, and commodities sectors.
Frankie Shuai is the APAC Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at DWS, Deutsche Bank Asset Management, with over two decades of experience in Financial and IT industries. As a seasoned leader, he previously directed cyber and technology risk at UBS for Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, and has held positions at Citibank, Microsoft, and HP. Frankie is renowned for bridging the gap between cybersecurity and business agendas, evidenced by his frequent speaking engagements at industry events. His commitment to digital transformation and innovation is underscored by a patent for next-generation wireless networking filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, where he serves as the sole inventor. In his current role at Deutsche Bank Asset Management, he leads regional Information Security, contributing significantly to the institution's cybersecurity resilience.
David Gee is a distinguished former Global Head of Technology, Cyber, and Data Risk at Macquarie Group, celebrated for his transformative leadership across multiple industries and geographies. With over 25 years at the helm as CIO and CISO, including pivotal roles at HSBC Asia Pacific and MetLife, David has been instrumental in driving major digital transformations. He is notably recognized as the CIO of the Year 2014 for his strategic overhaul at Credit Union Australia, significantly enhancing their core and digital banking platforms. His latest book, The Aspiring CIO & CISO, published in July 2024, is a comprehensive guide for emerging leaders aiming to excel in top IT roles, offering strategies to develop leadership skills, build personal brands, and navigate executive challenges effectively.
Stephen Tjokro is a Business Development Director, Global Fraud Solutions at GBG. He has a keen interest in fraud management, cybersecurity, digital risk protection and enterprise software. With deep expertise in fraud management, he helps businesses navigate fraud risk challenges in an evolving digital landscape. Beyond his professional expertise, Stephen prioritises fitness and stays informed on emerging technology advancements, ensuring he remains at the forefront of innovation.
Aurora is the Senior Director of the Technology Risk Supervision Department at the Bank of Thailand. She worked in payment policy and supervision for 7 years and more than 15 years in Technology risk policy and supervision, setting IT and payment regulatory and supervisory frameworks, guidelines, best practices, and collaborating with the industry and other stakeholders to build a trusted and secured banking community for IT and Cyber defenses.
Aurora earned her Master of Business Administration in Finance from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Thammasat University.
T. S. Shankar has served as Asia Representative for the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) since August 2022, overseeing engagement and advocacy across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Singapore, he brings over three decades of leadership in international transaction banking, with senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank—where he managed global payments, liquidity and trade finance initiatives including SWIFT GPI and blockchain pilots—and at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he built correspondent banking and trade finance operations in Southern Asia. Between 2019 and 2022, Shankar led Asia operations for the fintech firm Traydstream and served as Senior Principal at Infosys Consulting. He holds a BSc in Physics from Nowrosjee Wadia College and an MBA from the University of Pune, and regularly speaks at industry forums on payments innovation and trade digitization.
Kelvin Teo is the co-founder and Group CEO of Funding Societies | Modalku. He has been a key member of the Singapore FinTech Association’s Digital Finance Subcomm since 2018 and recently named by the Association as among the Top 12 Fintech Leaders in Singapore in 2020. As one of the Top 200 FinTech Influencers in Asia, Teo has spoken at major conferences such as LendIt Shanghai, Boao Hainan and Money20/20. He has also been featured on Bloomberg, BBC and Business Times. Prior to this, Teo served as a consulting professional at KKR, McKinsey and Accenture.
Nichel Gaba is the Founder and CEO of PDAX, the Philippines’ largest homegrown cryptocurrency exchange, licensed and regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas since 2018.
PDAX provides over 90 million Filipinos with secure access to digital assets—including crypto, stablecoins, and tokenized securities—and is at the forefront of the country’s push toward broader blockchain adoption. Under Nichel’s leadership, PDAX is driving innovation in digital remittances and pioneering the tokenization of traditional assets such as government bonds.
Before founding PDAX, Nichel held key roles in trust, investment management, and securities services at HSBC.
Amor Maclang has led cross-functional and cross-border collaborations among regional and national line agencies, industry leaders, academes, policymakers, and various stakeholders both from the private and public sectors. As the convenor of Digital Pilipinas, the largest private sector led movement for creating an innovation and a technology ecosystem in the Philippines, Amor continuously champions the mass uptake of blockchain, web 3.0, cryptocurrency, e-commerce, and fintech to raise the country’s innovation quotient.
Amor is currently one of the advisors of the Department of Finance, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of Health initiating transformational change in line with her mission to transform the country into diverse antifragile ecosystems.
Rahul Bhargava is a globally recognised leader in financial services and payments, with over 22 years of experience driving innovation, digital transformation, and responsible AI adoption. He has led major initiatives across organisations like SWIFT, the World Bank Group, WEF, Accenture, FIS, and EPAA, focusing on digital money evolution, cross-border payments, CBDC interoperability, and emerging technologies.
Rahul has played a key role in launching next-generation payment systems, fostering interoperability, and advancing instant payments and open finance. He works closely with both public and private sectors on strategic programmes aligned with the G20 agenda.
Recently recognised as a “Responsible AI Leader” by AI2030 and awarded “Ambassador of the Year” by EPAA and AI2030, he is a frequent speaker at global events such as Sibos, Money 2020, and the Singapore Fintech Festival. He currently leads a global consulting portfolio, advising banks, fintechs, and governments on navigating the future of finance and payments.
Tomoyuki Nii is the Director and Executive Officer at SBI Investment Co. Ltd, where he plays a pivotal role in investing in fintech companies globally and facilitating their entry into Japan and Asia. He is responsible for establishing joint ventures between SBI Group and portfolio companies to drive growth and innovation. Mr. Nii is also the co-founder of ARUHI (formerly known as Good Loan Co., Ltd. and later SBI Mortgage Co., Ltd.), which was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in December 2017. Under his leadership, the company grew to 200 billion yen in mortgage assets in just six years, creating Japan's first fixed-rate mortgage product and pioneering unique insurance products.
Based in Tokyo, Jean-Charles Cabelguen, PhD, is Head of Quantum Adoption and Impact at Pasqal, a quantum computing company using neutral atom technology for real-world applications. With 15+ years of experience in research, M&A, and international business development, he drives deep tech companies from lab to market. His work bridges quantum technology with practical industry adoption, positioning quantum computing as a catalyst for next-generation breakthroughs across industries.
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With more than 30 years’ experience in the banking industrial, Joseph has in-depth product knowledge of Supply Chain Solutions for both Trade Finance and Cash Management. Before joining United Overseas Bank, he was the Regional Head of Trade and Supply Chain Solutioning of Asia Pacific of Bank of America Merrill Lynch after he run the Regional Corporate Trade Product Management team. Prior to that, he worked in Royal Bank of Scotland deputizing the Global Transaction Services Hong Kong country head in managing the Cash and Trade business, and in BNP Paribas and Citi.
Doug is the Head of TB Product for MUFG in APAC. In this role he is responsible for the product development and product management of all Cash Management and Trade & Supply Chain Finance solutions in APAC. He is a seasoned Transaction Banker with 20+ years of working experience in Cash & Trade, covering both Sales & Product. He initially joined MUFG in Sydney in Jan 2017, as the Head of Sales for Trade & Supply Chain Finance business for Australia and New Zealand, before moving to Singapore to head up the Cash Product team for APAC, looking after Payments, Collections, Channels and Liquidity products.
A recognized fintech ecosystem builder, Chia Hock Lai brings nearly two decades of financial and technology expertise from organizations like GovTech and NTUC Income. He co-founded and led the Singapore FinTech Association (SFA) and Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) and currently holds key roles at the International Digital Economies Association (iDEA), Responsible Fintech Institute (RFI), Digital Assets Association (DAA), and Global Fintech Institute (GFI). An NUS and NTU alumnus, Hock Lai is an IBF Fellow and SkillsFuture Fellow, recognized for his contributions to digital transformation. He actively advises startups and industry committees.
Yong Cheng is a highly accomplished lead IT solution architect with deep expertise in fintech and artificial intelligence. With a strong track record in designing and implementing advanced technology solutions, Yong Cheng specializes in building scalable, secure, and efficient architectures that power innovation and digital transformation. Their comprehensive knowledge of AI-driven systems, cloud computing, and enterprise IT strategy enables the delivery of robust solutions that enhance business performance and elevate the customer experience. A visionary leader and strategic problem solver, Yong Cheng is committed to bridging technology and business needs to deliver impactful, future-ready outcomessolutions
Jiten is a purpose-driven executive with over 30 years of leadership in global and regional markets, combining deep banking expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset. A former Operating Partner at SC Ventures and a long-time senior leader at Standard Chartered Bank, he has led transformative strategies across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Known for building inclusive financial ecosystems and driving innovation in transaction banking, Jiten now serves as a strategic advisor while continuing to shape the future of finance from his base in Singapore.
Winnie Chen, head of global payments solutions (GPS), Asia Pacific (APAC) at Bank of America, described how transaction banking has become the backbone of the bank’s client engagement model.
GPS is a sizable revenue contributor to our global corporate and investment banking (GCIB) franchise in Asia Pacific,” Chen explained. “This is a major shift from when transaction banking was viewed as an allied business.”
The APAC GPS franchise has delivered an 18% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in revenues over the past three years. In 2024, client deposit balances grew 13% year-on-year. Chen said, APAC remains one of the fastest-growing regions for the bank’s transaction banking business.
Chen emphasised that multinational corporations entering and expanding into Asia increasingly view Bank of America as a key provider and advisor, supporting their treasury requirements. “Clients rely on us to provide customised and scalable solutions that support their regional liquidity management, foreign exchange (FX) and cross-border payment needs,” she said.
Aziz Parvez, head of corporate sales, GPS, APAC, explained that corporate treasurers are increasingly focused on liquidity efficiency and risk management, particularly amid higher interest rates and evolving regulatory requirements.
Liquidity optimisation is now a key priority,” Parvez said. “Clients want to ensure they have full visibility and control over their cash positions, and they expect tailored solutions that fit their unique structures.”
Parvez cited an example of a multinational company with fragmented liquidity across APAC. The client had more than 150 bank accounts in 10 markets. Bank of America worked with the company to design a customised liquidity management solution, consolidating cash pools and reducing operational complexity.
We helped reduce their bank accounts significantly, and at the same time, lowered their funding costs by 20% through an optimised liquidity structure,” Parvez said. “This was not an off-the-shelf solution—it was specifically tailored to their needs.&rdquo
Parvez also highlighted the growing demand for Guaranteed FX rates, which allows clients to lock in exchange rates for up to 365 days in advance. “In today’s environment, predictability matters,” he said. “Clients want to manage FX risk proactively, as part of their cash flow and liquidity strategies.”
Shankar Radhakrishnan, head of trade product sales, APAC, explained that supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainty have made working capital efficiency a top concern for many clients.
“Clients are looking for tailored trade and supply chain finance (SCF) solutions that support their end-to-end procurement strategies,” Radhakrishnan said.
Bank of America’s funded SCF balances in APAC grew by 13% in 2024, supported by its trade risk distribution network of more than 155 participating financial institutions.
One standout example is a US-based retailer with suppliers across APAC. The bank implemented a bespoke global SCF programme, which processed more than 57,000 invoices in 2024. Approximately 25% of those invoices were financed, helping suppliers access liquidity and improving the retailer’s supply chain resilience.
For a multinational conglomerate offering a portfolio of building technology, software and services, Bank of America delivered a customised SCF solution across Australia, India, Greater China and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore), facilitating more than $300 million in supplier financing in 2024 . The programme was integrated directly with the client’s procurement system to streamline invoice processing and supplier onboarding.
Siddharth Gupta, head of APAC financial institutions sales and co-head of global non-bank financial institutions (NBFI), described how Bank of America has expanded its NBFI franchise, including digital banks, market infrastructure, asset managers, insurers and fintechs.
“NBFIs have very different requirements compared to corporates and banks,” Gupta said. “We provide them with tailored solutions that address their specific regulatory, liquidity and operational needs.”
A digital bank in North Asia required 24x7 United States dollar (USD) clearing and real-time FX services for its SME customers. Bank of America provided flexible SWIFT and application programming interface (API) based connectivity optionality, enabling seamless FX execution and payments directly from the digital bank’s platform.
For paytechs and fintechs, Bank of America offers APIs for FX booking, payment initiation, and real-time reporting. “We are delivering automated, real-time solutions that are customised to fit each client’s internal architecture,” Gupta said.
Global asset managers and insurers leverage Bank of America’s multi-currency liquidity pooling structures, which consolidate cash and enable efficient funding and investment strategies.
Chandana Thanthrige, head of financial institutions and transactional FX products, said Bank of America processed 98% of USD payments with straight-through processing (STP) in 2024, with 74% settled within one minute.
“Clients expect speed and certainty,” Thanthrige said. “But they also want tailored clearing and liquidity structures that match their specific transaction flows.”
Bank of America’s single account USD clearing structure simplifies liquidity management and offers high intraday liquidity limits, which are particularly valuable for broker-dealers and paytechs.
Thanthrige addressed the industry debate over whether tokenised deposits are necessary for 24x7 clearing. “Our view is that enhanced legacy infrastructure can deliver the same results,” he said. However, Bank of America is also experimenting with applications of distributed ledger technology (DLT) to evaluate potential efficiencies in cross-border payments and trade finance.
Guaranteed FX rates and trade and pay continue to gain traction, offering clients the ability to lock in FX rates and automate payment processing through a single instruction.
Terence Tan, chief operating officer, global payments solutions, APAC, said Bank of America spent over $12 billion on technology in 2024, of which $4 billion was channelled into new initiatives that will have direct client benefits.
“Clients are not looking for generic platforms,” Tan said. “They want bespoke, real-time solutions that not only provide the information they need but also integrate with their treasury systems. Clients are also dependent on banks to provide insights from the past and into the future. We have deployed artificial intelligence and machine learning models on their transaction data to give them a crystal ball of sorts.”
Narendra Parhi, head of CashPro APAC, added that the CashPro suite of services allows clients to obtain real-time access to payments, FX, liquidity and reporting services across multiple channels, including APIs and host-to-host connectivity.
He added that generative AI (GenAI) are being piloted to automate responses to client queries through the AI powered virtual assistant Erica, as well as for anomaly detection and fraud prevention. “We’re tailoring AI-driven solutions to fit each client’s risk management and compliance frameworks,” Parhi said.
Fabian Khoshbakht, head of treasury services for Asia Pacific (APAC) and global head of client insight and innovation for treasury services explained that under the new model, treasury services is less siloed. “By simplifying, streamlining and collaborating through cross-functional teams, we create more intuitive client journeys and improve our ability to anticipate unmet needs.”
He acknowledged that the transformation is still in progress but said it has already led to greater agility and a new culture of commerciality. “We are going to market much faster, because of how the platform’s operating model has enabled teams to deliver goals using agile ways.”
Khoshbakht explained that the change is more than operational. “We are an enabler,” he said. “Leveraging our infrastructure, data and insights—we are empowering our clients to solve their business challenges.”
This is particularly significant in Asia Pacific, where financial institutions (FIs) operate in diverse markets with varying regulatory, technological and competitive landscapes. BNY’s ability to deliver global consistency while adapting to local client needs will be critical to supporting APAC clients in the long run.
Jonathan Hickey, market manager for payments product, described BNY’s payment franchise as one of scale and neutrality. “We do not serve retail or corporate clients for transaction banking in APAC, and that is important,” he said. “We do not compete with our clients for their end customers; we enable our clients to support their customers.” He positioned BNY’s payments infrastructure as a platform that enables other FIs to scale globally and optimise performance without conflict. “We enable our clients to scale and adapt without having to build everything themselves.”
Hickey also detailed how this strategy plays out across APAC corridors. He highlighted a collaboration with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) to deliver near real-time inbound payments into Australia. “The solution allows BNY’s global clients to have funds received in under 60 seconds by Australian beneficiaries, regardless of the bank in which the beneficiary uses domestically,” he said. “We handle the inbound transaction and connect to the real-time payment rails in Australia.”
Carl Slabicki, executive platform owner for treasury services at BNY, said, “This [collaboration] improves the customer experience by offering more convenient and transparent transactions and provides a competitive advantage in the market.” In Korea, BNY worked with iM Bank, formerly Daegu Bank, to activate a SWIFT Go to automated clearing house (ACH) capability. “We built a service that allowed them to send low-value cross-border payments, which we then convert into local ACH batches. That made it viable for them to offer the service to their clients.”
Hickey also pointed to BNY’s use of smart routing to ensure that cross-border payments are processed through the most efficient corridors, depending on currency, counterparty and destination market.
Junyi Kuah, head of international cash management solutions highlighted the introduction of virtual accounts for FI clients in 2024. “Our implementation supports both collections and payments.” He noted that BNY’s virtual accounts also allow FIs to open sub-ledger accounts under their clients’ names. “This is especially useful for our Asia-based clients that want to offer US-based collection services to their end customers but do not have domestic capabilities,” he said.
Amy Tong, international head of client implementation and service for APAC as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), outlined how BNY has evolved its approach to client onboarding and servicing to support the growing client needs internationally.
“The business is becoming more complex, and expectations are rising; hence the capability to enable our client experience seamlessly is key,” she said. “We are seeing clients launch products quickly and expect infrastructure and providers like us to move just as fast.” She noted that clients expect a trusted institution like BNY to provide real-time, on-demand access to onboarding progress and servicing updates, particularly when operating across markets and time zones.
To meet this challenge, BNY has developed a more integrated client servicing framework that bridges the end-to-end client journey powered by data and proactive engagement with clients. “We’re building greater alignment across the entire value chain with a client-focused mindset.”
Angelia Toh, trade finance structurer for treasury services in Asia Pacific, introduced TNAS as a response to the challenges posed by the shrinking network of active relationship management application (RMA) in the documentary trade space. “There is a cost to maintaining the monitoring, the know-your-customer (KYC) and the documentation required,” said Toh.
She explained that TNAS helps financial institutions bridge this gap by enabling them to route letters of credit (LCs) and trade messages through BNY’s active correspondent network. “We act as the first advising bank, stepping in to advise and forward the LC, while facilitating the compliance, workability and documentation checks,” Toh said. “This allows banks that may not have direct RMA (relationship management application) coverage to continue supporting their clients without operational disruption.”
Yew Fei Yeow, head of treasury services for South and Southeast Asia, outlined BNY’s engagement with these underserved segments. “Many of these institutions are at an early stage of growth,” he said. “We see long-term value in supporting their growth and providing access to global clearing and payment infrastructure.”
He highlighted how BNY has worked with newly licensed digital banks in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. “These banks have limited or no presence outside their home markets, and they look to us to provide capabilities that they don’t have,” Yeow said. “We can offer them access to USD clearing, liquidity and payment rails that they would otherwise need to build from scratch.” BNY’s ability to support these clients rests on its neutral position as a non-competing infrastructure provider. “That makes us a more acceptable provider for institutions that might otherwise be wary of working with providers that also have retail ambitions,” said Yeow.
Dr. David Duan is the Vice President of Data, Payments at GoTo Group, where he leads both data science (ML & AI) and advanced analytics. He is a strategic data leader with over 15 years of experience helping organisations build and scale data and data science capabilities — from setting up functions from scratch, to defining and executing data strategy, embedding data science into core business processes, and leveraging ML and AI to drive product innovation and growth.
Yang Wenhui is currently in charge of business development for TenPay Global, Tencent’s cross-border payment platform. The platform bridges world’s payment networks with the Weixin ecosystem in China, providing secure and high-performance financial services that facilitate international capital flows for cross-border consumption, remittance, and e-commerce. Prior to joining Tencent, Yang was the general manager of UnionPay International Southeast Asia, where he led his team in building both domestic and cross-border e-payment infrastructure within the region. Earlier in his career, he was with American Express China, where he focused on business management and development, and was involved in the first batch of American Express issuing projects in China.
Professor Yan Shen is a Professor of Economics / Finance at the National School of Development at Peking University. She is also the Deputy Director of the Institute for Digital Finance at Peking University, Deputy Director of the Centre for Human Capital and National Policy Research at Peking University, Ministry of Education, and Vice President of the Chinese Society for Quantitative Economics. Her main research areas include digital finance, data governance in the digital economy, and empirical and theoretical econometrics. She publishes in top English and Chinese journals, and her policy reports and suggestions has received attentions from academia, the finance industry, and related policy markers.