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Big Picture Insight and Scholae have carefully chosen our conference speakers and panellists from across the blockchain and digital assets space, as well as from intersecting industries and fields. Our speaker profiles can be found below.
In order to encourage frank and open dialogue, our events are by default held under the Chatham House Rule, defined as: ‘When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed.’ In the context of this conference, this is designed to encourage frank and honest discussion between participants without fear of direct attribution or quotes, whilst participants are still able to use all the information gained from our presentations, keynotes and panels. No journalists or press will be present, and the post-conference report does not quote or attribute anything to our speakers unless with their permission.
Ahmed is a seasoned investor with a global presence across Africa, the US, Europe, MENA, and GCC regions. Managing USD 100 million in capital, he excels in strategy and alignment, offering technical expertise to HNWIs, family offices, financial institutions, governments, and Fortune 500s like IFC and JP Morgan Chase. Since 2013, Ahmed has been involved in blockchain, leading SaaS and BaaS implementations. In 2016, he founded GIFGIF, a tech business that achieved 15x growth in five years, specializing in animated GIFs for marketing campaigns. Currently, Ahmed heads EMURGO Africa’s USD 100M fund-of-funds, focusing on web2 and web3 investments with a climate resilience and finance access emphasis.
Albi Rodriguez Jaramillo is an international legal consultant in new technologies and digital ecosystems. He is a Web3 Senior Consultant at the IDB Lab and the Head of Ecosystems at LACChain, a blockchain initiative lead by the IDB Lab. He also is part of the Digital Transformation Department at Garrigues and participates in the Observatory LegalTech NewLaw Garrigues-ICADE at the Universidad de Comillas (Madrid, Spain). He is passionate about financial inclusion, regulated markets, CBDC and ESG.
Anita Bielicka is an Associate at S-RM’s Cyber Advisory, where she carries out maturity assessments of clients’ cybersecurity posture in line with industry frameworks such as CIS 18 and NIST, and also provides cybersecurity risk engineering support to insurance clients.
She has previously worked in Lloyds Banking Group’s Chief Security Office, where she has managed intelligence reporting on cybersecurity threats facing the Group. She has also presented relevant findings to intelligence-sharing groups such as FS-ISAC, as well as the NCSC. In her first role at Orpheus, Anita managed the threat intelligence component of CBEST engagements.
She has an MA in War Studies and an MA in Political Communication, and is involved in research on geostrategic and global security issues, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Elise is the Director of Policy & Regulation for GDF.
Elise was formerly an Associate Director at the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) where she lead the division’s Digital Assets and Data Strategy work. Prior to her work at AFME, Elise was in the public sector, working at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in both their Technology, Resilience and Cyber Division and International Division.
Elise was named ‘Next Generation Leader of the Year’ at the 2022 Women in Finance Awards UK.
Elzira is a skilled legal professional with a solid background in civil and common law jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, and Denmark. With a bachelor’s degree in law and a Master’s in International Financial Regulation and Corporate Law, her academic and professional journey is marked by significant achievements and contributions to the fields of blockchain technology and regulatory frameworks. She is also an author of published articles in the UK on blockchain and regulatory topics, adding depth to her expertise.
Her dedication to enhancing financial integrity and compliance is evident in her specialisation in financial crime prevention and risk management, particularly within the cryptoasset regulation and operations sectors. Elzira’s experience in regulatory and AML/CFT compliance allows her to effectively improve compliance practices and risk mitigation strategies for cryptoasset and FinTech firms.
With a keen ability to conduct regulatory gap analyses and compliance health checks, Elzira excels in implementing laws, regulatory principles, and rules into practical internal policies, procedures, and controls. This ensures firms operate effectively and within regulatory guidelines. Her detailed experience in investigating suspicious activities and assessing internal processes of cryptoasset service providers helps mitigate risks associated with cryptoasset operations and blockchain technology.
Emma is the Senior Managing Director of GBBC Financial Services, and Head of EMEA at the Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC), the largest industry association for the blockchain technology and digital assets community. She has over 15 years of experience in the financial services sector, working with regulators, policymakers, members, and partners to advocate and accelerate the adoption of best practices for digital assets.
At GBBC, Emma leads the financial services-related activities and oversees the strategic direction and growth of the association in the EMEA region. She also serves as a board director for GBBC USA and GBBC Giving. Previously, she was the Chief Executive Officer of GBBC Digital Finance (GDF). Emma is a recognized thought leader and speaker on policy on blockchain and digital assets, and was named one of the top 20 most influential women in crypto by Financial News in 2023.
Gregory is the CEO of STASIS, a technology provider that creates, governs, integrates and audits the Euro-backed (EURS) stablecoin. STASIS provides tech solutions for businesses via apps, back end, smart-contract interfaces, brokerage, and trading business support. Gregory has built a career around leading teams and managing unique, multi-million-dollar portfolios on behalf of global funds and private investors. A non-linear thinker with authoritative knowledge of capital markets, he is specifically skilled at building and introducing liquid/digital alternatives to complement more traditional portfolio investments (long/short equities, global macro).
Gregory strives to simplify the complex and shift stakeholders’ mindsets to embrace cryptocurrency technologies. In recent years, he developed and legalised the framework for a virtual financial asset in Malta and he is now utilising this infrastructure to build disruptive digital products, including the world’s first digital euro over PoW & DPoS blockchains.
He has served a vital role as an advisor to Maltese and pan-European government task forces on digital asset regulation. In 2019, the STASIS team published a second edition of their book Digital Asset Regulation: A Cross-Country Analysis, targeted at state-level decision-makers and containing a comprehensive overview and analysis of digital asset regulations in 13 jurisdictions worldwide; a new edition is currently in the works.
Jennifer Lassiter, Executive Director of The Digital Dollar Project (DDP), shapes the future of money through collaboration with stakeholders. She brings together diverse groups to achieve shared outcomes and address complex regulatory and technology challenges.
With former roles at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Jennifer is a trusted advisor in the financial sector. Additionally, she is actively involved in esteemed organizations such as the World Economic Forum’s Digital Currency Governance Consortium and the Progressive Policy Institute’s Mosaic Economic Project. Jennifer also holds the position of Salzburg Global Financial Forum Fellow.
With a Ph.D. in economics, Jonas is a global thought leader on central bank digital currencies, stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain technology. Additionally he co-hosts the German podcast ‘Bitcoin, Fiat, & Rock’n’ Roll’, serves as an external lecturer at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, and contributes as a member of the expert panel for the European Blockchain Observatory and Forum.
Currently Head of Marketing EMEA at Talos, Lorna transitioned into crypto in 2021 where she served as Senior Marketing Manager at Blockchain.com and a co-chair at the EU’s INATBA – International Association for Trusted Blockchain Associations.
Lorna’s Marketing journey began after she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology. Her scientific foundation led to a passion for disruptive technologies.
Mariana de la Roche is a distinguished leader in the blockchain and regulatory domain, serving as a Director of Validvent and a Member of the Board of Directors for INATBA. With a background in law and public administration, she boasts over nine years of experience, excelling in roles as a lead project manager and legal and regulatory advisor for organizations in Colombia and Germany. In 2021, Mariana’s impactful journey within INATBA began, focusing on driving social impact and sustainability efforts, and actively advocating for the positive contributions of blockchain technology on a global scale. Additionally, she coordinates BC100+, an initiative aligned with the 77th President of the United Nations General Assembly, dedicated to promoting blockchain solutions in line with UN Charter Values and the 2030 Agenda.
Mariana’s expertise also extends to EU regulation, actively contributing to consultations and discussions at both EU and international levels. Recognized for her insightful discussions on the intersection of AI and blockchain, Mariana serves as a member of the EUBOF Expert Panel as an Advisor of Build.5, and ambassador of the GBBC solidifying her reputation as a prominent figure committed to driving positive change and innovation in the digital space.
Menno Broos is the project lead for the digital euro at the Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank. In this capacity, he participates in the project steering group (PSG) of the digital euro project together with other counterparts from the Eurosystem. Before this role, he has worked as a principal expert in market infrastructures policy in the payments division of DNB and in the financial stability division. Menno was previously seconded to the ECB in Frankfurt and has represented DNB in various international meetings in working groups worldwide.
He studied economics at the University of Amsterdam and also holds a Master of Science in Financial Management from Nyenrode Business Universiteit.
Michela has played a vital role in the process of establishing digital assets as a permanent fixture of the world’s leading financial institutions’ portfolios and operations, connecting them to the digital asset economy. Day to day, she plays a pivotal role in guiding traditional asset management firms through their transition to digital assets. In the last few years, Michela’s dedication to her role has led to the successful transition of hundreds of traditional finance firms into the crypto space.
Monika is a born hunter, always looking for new business opportunities. Being a blockchain and Digital Assets professional covering AML/KYC/KYB/KYT and GDPR regulations, she is extremely passionate about accelerating its global adoption. With a diverse background in IT, she previously excelled at Euroclear Bank, also gaining insights into the financial sector. Beyond that, she has been a been a driving force in AI and machine learning projects, shaping the IT industry’s future.
Her expertise extends to SaaS in Coinfirm Blockchain Analytics and Investigations, as well as CMP CookieForm – GDPR Compliance solution, where she focuses on management, strategising growth, revenue generation, and enhancing sales and marketing departments. She has successfully guided startups, turning visions into reality, and leaving a trail of satisfied clients and business partners in her wake.
As a Blockchain Association Member and WEB3 Ambassador, Monika actively contributes to the evolving blockchain and crypto space. Engaged in the EU Sandbox project, she strives to foster technology development and refine legal frameworks for the continuous growth of these ecosystems. She is a born salesperson, always on the lookout for new business opportunities and dedicated to making a dynamic impact in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.
Paolo currently holds the position of Deputy CFO at the City of Lugano in Switzerland, where he also serves as a member of the City’s Crypto and Blockchain task force, recognised as ‘Lugano’s Plan ₿’. Furthermore, he serves as the treasurer and a member of the Board at The Global Institute on Innovation Districts Europe.
With a wealth of experience spanning both the public and private sectors, he possesses a versatile professional background. His previous roles include serving as the Head of Retail Banking
Region Southern Switzerland at PostFinance SA and as the Treasurer of the Republic and Canton of Ticino. Prior to these positions, he successfully managed private companies, founded an Internet start-up, and contributed as an advisor to various start-up projects.
Paolo is an alumnus of the University of Fribourg, where he earned a degree in Business Management with a specialisation in financial management. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a certificate in Global Management from the University of California at Berkeley (USA). His primary interests lie in digitalisation, Fintech, and the dynamic world of Blockchain and Crypto, where he actively engages and contributes to the ongoing developments in these areas.
Samir is an English qualified Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and a registered Legal Adviser with the Dubai Government Legal Affairs Department. His focus is financial services regulations, financial crime, and sanctions across the Middle East, from both an advisory and investigations perspective.
With qualifications in both law and coding, as the MENA FinTech and AI Lead, Samir has advised on a number of global and regional virtual assets and a number of other FinTech verticals, AI application within financial services and AI ethics, DAOs, NFTs, Web3 governance issues, cybersecurity, and data protection issues, as well as traditional financial regulatory issues. and has drafted regulation in this area for a number of regulators. He has mentored a number of start-ups (including within accelerator programs such as the DIFC FinTech Hive and Hub71), BigTech, VC and PE Funds, angel investors, as well as financial institutions. Samir’s experience includes UAE, Saudi and wider international anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) rules, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidance, anti-bribery and corruption laws (covering the GCC, UK and U.S.) and other areas of white-collar and financial crime. Samir has particular experience in financial and economic sanctions and regularly provides guidance on UN, U.S. (OFAC), UK (OFSI), EU and GCC sanctions regimes and export-control issues across a wide range of sectors. He has spoken at a number of public engagements on sanctions-related compliance issues and has provided sanctions training to clients in Dubai, London and Tokyo. He has received financial crime training from the City of London Police and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Tristan Thoma led the implementation of the first and only operating national crypto system in the world, in El Salvador. Working throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Tristan has built more than two dozen Blockchain-integration models for Fortune500 companies, governments and startups across multiple industries. With firsthand experience in system & business design, technical architecture and policy creation, he is involved in both creative high-level strategic initiatives and tactical hands-on execution. His current focus is supporting governments and financial institutions develop National Digital Currencies with the objective of increasing financial inclusion and resilience.
As a founder of two international fintech businesses and C-level contributor to many more, William is an experienced and agile leader with an in-depth understanding of financial technology, payments and the hands-on challenges of growing a business. After a management consultancy start to his career William co-founded Ixaris (prepaid cards) in 2002 and worked to grow the company from 3 to 100 employees, in excess of £15M revenue per annum and delivered a 10x exit to early-stage investors. In 2013 he repeated the cycle with Kwanji (SME foreign exchange comparison) and again worked across the business to grow headcount and revenues.
William recently completed five years at Modulr as their Payment Strategy Director, securing and maintaining core payment relationships in the fiat and DeFi / Web3 worlds, with the business growing from 30 to 300+ employees and doubling its transaction volumes every year during his tenure. He has also completed a range of fintech projects as a consultant or mentor and is now pursuing a portfolio career with early-stage fintech businesses and runs the Use Case Working Group of the Digital Pound Foundation.
Winston Ma, CFA & Esq., is an investor, attorney, author, and adjunct professor in the global digital economy. He is a partner of Dragon Global, an AI-focused family office.. He is also the board Board Chairman, NASDAQ: MCAA, a European tech SPAC which announced its merger with the digital media unit of FCB (Football Club Barcelona) in August 2023.
Most recently, for 10 years he was Managing Director and Head of North America Office for China Investment Corporation (CIC), China’s sovereign wealth fund. Prior to that, Mr. Ma served as the deputy head of equity capital markets at Barclays Capital, a vice president at J.P. Morgan investment banking, and a corporate lawyer at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. He is one of a small number of native Chinese who have worked as investment professionals and practicing capital markets attorneys in both the United States and China.
A nationally certified Software Programmer as early as 1994, Mr. Ma is the author of eight books on SWF funds, China, and global digital economy, including The Hunt for Unicorns: How Sovereign Funds are Reshaping Investment in the Digital Economy and most recently “Blockchain and Web3”. He has been frequently interviewed by CNBC and Bloomberg TV and quoted by major financial media including WSJ, Reuters, and Financial Times. He was selected a 2013 Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum (WEF), and in 2014 he received the NYU Distinguished Alumni Award.
Jonathan has been involved in the IT business for over four decades, both building, turning around and exiting business and helping management and their investors in fast-growth technology segments to grow, manage change, enter markets, transfer technologies, acquire, merge and sell.
He holds a Master’s degree in Science and Technology Policy from The University of Manchester and attended the Stanford Graduate School of Business. A regular media commentator and conference and seminar presenter, he blogs regularly on technology business strategy, innovation, investment, marketing and management on LinkedIn and co-hosts `The Difference Engine` podcast for tech founders, funders and the Category curious.
Hampleton Partners is a leading M&A and corporate finance consultancy for companies with technology at their core. Hampleton’s experienced M&A deal makers have built, bought and sold over 100 fast-growing tech businesses worth billions of dollars and provide hands-on expertise and unrivalled international advice and transaction expertise to tech entrepreneurs and the companies who are looking to accelerate growth and maximise value creation through to exit.
Following a spell in commercial radio Oliver trained and qualified at Forsters LLP as a corporate tax solicitor. As a senior associate he advises on areas from M&A and corporate reorganizations to employee incentives as well as advising both institutional investors on their real estate transactions as well as individuals on their house purchases. Oliver is a member of the Crypto Assets Professional Advisory Group (England & Ireland) and has experience advising individuals and employers on crypto-assets, in terms of employee remuneration and for wider structuring.
Tom Blass is co-founder and editor of the sanctions and export control compliance journal World Export Controls Review. He studied law, social anthropology and political geography and is the author of ‘The Naked Shore’, and ‘Swamp Songs’, both published by Bloomsbury.
Tomas is the co-founder and Director of Intelligence at Scholae, a global security analysis and emerging trends consultancy. He is BPI’s appointed Head of Content for the Blockchain, Cryptocurrency & Web3 Conference 2024 and is affiliated to and works closely with BPI on the emerging trends and geostrategic/ global security end of their strategic consultancy work.
As Director of Intelligence at Scholae Tomas leads the company’s strategic analysis and synthesis as well as heading Scholae’s consultant network. A deep generalist, he is currently focussed on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Russian military doctrine, command & control (C2), joint operations, and intervention in foreign states and overseas deployments; hypothetical Grey and Black Swan Events modelling and simulation; Taiwan, the global microchip supply and the prospects of blockade and/or invasion by the PRC; and crypto proof of work projects, regulatory regimes, national payment systems, and the geopolitics and macro strategic impact of distributed ledger technology (DLT) adoption.
Tomas has an MA in War Studies from King’s College London, where he completed a dissertation on Russian Joint Operations and application of the ‘Reconnaissance Strike Complex’ in Syria, and an MA in Global Governance and Cultural Diplomacy from the Università degli Studi di Siena. He is currently jointly setting up a working group on Taiwan and the related strategic issues it faces and that affect the wider world. He is also a Director at Randlord, a blockchain services company.
