Archives: team-member

José. F. Pereira is an investment strategy and analysis specialist running NEAR Foundation’s Caerus – a Web3 venture capital fund focused on Culture & Entertainment applications. Before Caerus, he was part of SwissBorg’s investment team, getting SwissBorg Ventures off the ground and leading research and diligence. He is passionate about studying market behaviour and helping startups thrive.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Nick Nagatkin leads Digis, an Odessa-based international IT company, which has operated remotely since the war started. The company is focused on finding engineering talent to build complex software for product companies and help startups expand internationally. Digis counts 160 on its staff across a variety of fields including fintech, healthcare and HR.

Arvin Khamseh is a globally recognized thought leader in the crypto space with a background in the management of 500K/month marketing for public companies. In addition to hosting his Soldout Secrets Show, he is also frequently a guest on top crypto podcasts which include Social Media Examiner. He is regularly quoted by major media, including USA Today, Forbes, and Entrepreneur as well as a popular featured keynote speaker and panellist at high-profile blockchain events including Blockchain Festivals, TMRW Conference, IFPX, Metaverse Week, Financial Summit & AIBC/Sigma

Dr. Zayed Al Hemairy has 15 years’ experience in Blockchain, Project Management, NGO’s, Innovation & Information Technology in many government sectors.

Leveraging climate-tech solutions, I am designing products and services to finance consumers’ energy transition and let retail customers invest in green tech by democratizing access to alternative investments.

As an academic by background, I love to share and discuss what I do with professionals teaching classes on digital transformation, disruption, and sustainable innovation at executive MBAs around the world.

Paolo Barbesino, PhD. A senior executive with over 25 years of international experience in digital value creation with a track record of successfully leading the digital transformation of large banking groups in different geographies (Unicredit – CEE Division, Vienna; Emirates NBD, Dubai).

I build new sustainable markets and opportunities for financial institutions, fintech, and other organizations in the age of Banking as a Service, Embedded Finance, and DeFi. Working at the crossroads of climate tech, fintech, and web3 I am currently designing and delivering green finance strategies based on behavioral change.

Anas is based in Noida, India, and is an advisor for FiNext Awards & Conference. He was involved in the creation and launch of startups in India even before completing his MBA at Aligarh Muslim University in India. He specializes in International Business, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. Being an engineer, Anas Co-founded his technology venture InternetShine Technologies in late 2014 and has been working as a CEO and Technical Project Manager on the company’s acquired projects. He has been working on website and Mobile apps development since then and has been fairly active in the FinTech Industry. Later in 2018, his interest in FinTech and the industry’s need for a networking platform for Finance Technology Entrepreneurs and investors, he got involved with the FiNext Awards & Conference with his team. In 2021, he joined Perfect Timing Holding as the head of IT and has been working as the IT head and Lecturer for ATAFOM University.

Dr. Ali Moayeri is Vice President, Head of Strategy and Merger & Acquisition with Mastercard for the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. In this role, he leads development of Mastercard’s corporate strategies and objectives for 81 countries, based on deep analytical insights, and complemented with mergers and acquisitions where applicable. Previously, Ali was a senior management and strategy consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton and Strategy& where he advised the leading financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and government clients on their complex strategy and operation topics. Ali holds a doctorate degree in engineering from Canada.

He brings over 2 decades of experience in scaling businesses across most continents (US, UK/ Europe, India/ Asia/ GCC, Africa, and Australia). He has held leadership roles in industries ranging from payments, banking & financial services, and retail in Wipro, Tesco, Thomson Reuters, and MphasiS.

He holds an MBA degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, and a Computer Science engineering degree from VJTI, Mumbai.
Naru is the Chief Revenue Officer of Global PayEX – a global B2B SaaS company focused on accounts receivables and payables automation. Naru specializes in setting up and growing B2B P&Ls leveraging technology, process, operations, and market needs.

A creative and influential leader with a proven track record of leading strategic growth initiatives in multiple geographies. Ability to identify opportunities and execute successful strategies. Experienced in P&L ownership, sales management, product management, and working collaboratively in large matrixed
organizations. Innovative and agile with the ability to adapt to market needs and deal with the ambiguity of changing market conditions. Strongly believes in and practices authentic and situational leadership with a focus on nurturing talent and creating bench strength.

16 years of experience in Consumer Banking (B2C) and 14 years in Corporate, Financial Institutions and working with Governments and Regulators (B2B, G2C, G2B, and C2G). In-depth expertise in Payments – Commercial Solutions, Issuing, Acquiring, eCommerce, Payment Gateways, and Fintech partners.
A British citizen of Indian origin with global exposure and capable of easily adapting to diverse cultures. Has a strong focus on inclusion and diversity beyond gender – of skills, mindsets, thinking, orientation , and cultures. Currently based in Dubai, has lived and worked in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, India, and the US. Able and flexible to operate and lead effectively across the globe. Has held accountability for leading multi-country businesses, driving strategy, and growth, and managing the P&L. Seeking a leadership role within a Payments organization, Processor, or FinTech where his experience, hands-on approach and focus on execution will deliver value and monetize business models.

As Senior Vice President for EEMEA Foundry, she is responsible for Innovation, Customer-centric solution experience design, Research, and UI/UX. In her ESG role, Andrea drives the Environmental and Social agenda in the region which aims to contribute to Mastercard’s global goals to financially include 1Bn and to plan 100 million Trees by 2025. In the last two years, she expanded her remit into gaming and eSport.
Before joining Mastercard, and for about 23 years she honed her skills within some of the financial heavies – Raiffeisen International, UniCredit, Erste Bank, and IFC across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Andrea studied banking in Austria and built her skills at Stanford Design School, Insead Blue Ocean Institute, and Harvard Leadership Institute. Besides being obsessed with Customer Experience, Insights, Crypto, and ESG, she is a chef and fashionista.

Andrea Prazakova is a member of the EEMEA Mastercard team since 2015. She joined the organization to lead MEA Strategic Ecosystem, prioritizing Mobile Payment ecosystems in Egypt and UAE, EXPO2020 Dubai, and partnerships with governments in Kenya and Rwanda.