Archives: team-member

About Ishtiaq Ishtiaq Ahmed is the Founder & CEO of irm – M/s. Independent Risk Managers (Pvt) Ltd. Ishtiaq is a Marketing Graduate from PIMSAT, Karachi, and a Certified CII® from Chartered Insurance Institute of London for Insurance expertise and NUST-Oratech (Navy Engineering College, Karachi) for IT proficiencies. Ishtiaq is a result-oriented professional with extensive multi-domain experience spanning over 25 years of working with conglomerates including Large locals and Multinational Corporations. In January 2015, Ishtiaq established an Insurance and Management consulting firm irm (Pvt) Ltd. with an objective of offering a holistic solution that would address a wide array of challenges and rapidly changing dynamics faced by business owners in recent times. irm a highly progressive Financial Risk Management Consulting firm, playing a vital role in the industry by bringing innovative business models in the market by using a first ever an in-house uniquely designed ‘Business Intelligence Mechanism’ to perform, (a) comprehensive insurance policy audit, (b) produce a multi-dimensional trend analysis and (c) to offer an interactive dashboard. irm core objective is to empower its client to procure the best suited and fully customized products with an operational & service model focused on contain the Costs without compromising on the terms and services. The irm- Health Insurance BI mechanism is not only a great support to its client but also helping the carriers to make better assessments and calculations to the Financial Risk and stay competitive in the market without compromising on their top and bottom lines of businesses. As an employed individual, Ishtiaq has enjoyed the Start-up and leading roles at various organizations in the capacity of ‘Chief Operating Officer’, ‘General Manager’, Head of Health Insurance (nationwide), Branch Head, Karachi, Pakistan, Head of Business Process Re-Engineering where he created a fully automated Insurance program for settlement of Claims and an automated Suveyor portal etc. During the career, Ishtiaq was remain responsible for looking after all lines of Insurance businesses including Life and non-Life, but his passion was remains attached with the ‘Risk related to the People Management’ i.e. Health & Life Insurance specialty. Having adequate and diversified qualifications and experiences, Ishtiaq is strongly believes in Data Standardization and Analysis and in this regard, Ishtiaq is pursuing to bring innovative insurance products, process flows-automations, cost effective solutions, creating various distribution channels, high business ethics with transparencies and enhancing awareness and importance of Insurance Products in the emerging Pakistan. This FiNext Awards & Conference is to be held on the 26th and 27th of February at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. This is the much-awaited conference of the year as it brings together and celebrates the excellence of companies and people in the FinTech sector. Fin-Tech industry needed space for the smartest, innovative, inventive and ambitious people to connect and create, consequently FiNext Awards and Conference were started as a dedicated platform to serve the needs of the Fin-Tech industry in terms of interaction, innovation, networking and showcasing of the talent. Two days of celebration of people who… Continue Reading Ishtiaq Ahmed

About Govvind He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary with over 2 decades of experience. He specializes in Business strategy & expansion, Finance, HR & Process. Govvind served in Leadership positions and was responsible for forming strategic partnerships & growing businesses. He was instrumental in growing Etisalat Software Solutions from a 30 member team to 650 members. He also has the distinction of leading Natural Search (UK based digital marketing Company) for ISO certification, which was the 2nd Company in the world to get the certification in the Industry. In 2018 he moved to Dubai and started a Business Advisory firm ‘Global Vision Advisor’ with branches in Bangalore & Leeds (UK). The Company focuses on 3 main areas, namely Investment Banking, New Market Entry Strategy & Tax advisory. Govvind served as a Board Member of Etisalat Software, India. He was also recognized as Top 100 CFOs of India by CIMA, UK. He is also an advisor to a Sovereign Fund. He is currently focusing on Trade Finance offering on a Blockchain platform. This FiNext Awards & Conference is to be held on the 26th and 27th of February at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. This is the much-awaited conference of the year as it brings together and celebrates the excellence of companies and people in the FinTech sector. Fin-Tech industry needed space for the smartest, innovative, inventive and ambitious people to connect and create, consequently FiNext Awards and Conference were started as a dedicated platform to serve the needs of the Fin-Tech industry in terms of interaction, innovation, networking and showcasing of the talent. Two days of celebration of people who have put their lives in innovating, transforming the way how people transact through technology. FiNext Awards acknowledge people who are bringing the future of finance through their persistent efforts. The conference strives to build a platform for startups, SMEs, key decision-makers, researchers, investors and people from the media to interact and garner meaningful alliances.

George Siosi Samuels is the Managing Director of Faiabrand Pte Ltd (“Faiā”). Faiā is a professional services company specializing in BitcoinSV integration. George was previously working for a global fintech, with revenues exceeding $464.6 million, where he managed their enterprise communities. He supervised their internal collaboration ecosystem and trained their leadership teams on emerging tools. His claim to fame was a feature in the 2015 documentary, The Bitcoin Doco, where he shared how and why Bitcoin is a collaborative system by nature. After the first Bitcoin fork, he then helped enable meetups and communities worldwide across 40 cities for a Bitcoin Cash fund. George has now dedicated Faiā to helping businesses worldwide integrate emerging technologies such as BitcoinSV, while assisting with adoption through branded communities, to prepare and enable people for a Metanet future (a Bitcoin-powered Internet). This FiNext Awards & Conference is to be held on the 26th and 27th of February at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. This is the much-awaited conference of the year as it brings together and celebrates the excellence of companies and people in the FinTech sector. Fin-Tech industry needed space for the smartest, innovative, inventive and ambitious people to connect and create, consequently FiNext Awards and Conference were started as a dedicated platform to serve the needs of the Fin-Tech industry in terms of interaction, innovation, networking and showcasing of the talent. Two days of celebration of people who have put their lives in innovating, transforming the way how people transact through technology. FiNext Awards acknowledge people who are bringing the future of finance through their persistent efforts. The conference strives to build a platform for startups, SMEs, key decision-makers, researchers, investors and people from the media to interact and garner meaningful alliances.

Faseeh is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of experience across most areas in Corporate and Wholesale Banking, with a larger part of his career leaning towards Relationship Banking and Coverage roles. In his present assignment he works for the Wholesale Banking Group at the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB). Working closely with the leadership team, his mandate is to deliver on the overall management goals from a Quality Control and Operational Risk perspective. This includes Risk and Control assessment, enhancing the Policies &Procedures specific to Wholesale Banking and taking on special projects as and when assigned.

With offices in Pakistan, Sri Lanka & United Arab Emirates, Farhad Karamally works across the region as an Organization Development (OD) consultant, leadership facilitator & management trainer, helping unleash organisational genius through custom made interventions. His energy and passion to excel is contagious in his interactions, inspiring individuals and organisations to flourish.

In February 2020 he was awarded the Excellence in Finance – Leaders award by FiNext owing to his contribution to organizations through his work as a management consultant with various financial institutions

Farhad uses wit and humor with appreciative inquiry to get results and is renowned for facilitating strategic meetings with management & leadership teams to envision future strategies that are crafted by identifying their purpose. His style and attitude to life is best explained by a comment on Farhad by Ed Scannel (author Games Trainers Play) “Learning is Fun & You Proved It!”. This is also evident in the Business Parables ‘Pukh Theory’ and ’Karahi Theory’ that Farhad has authored

With an academic background rooted in Management Accounting (CIMA UK) and Marketing (CIM-UK) he is a Certified Master Practitioner NLP and is licensed by American Board Neuro Linguistic Programming (ABNLP). More recently he was certified as a HBDI (Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument) Practitioner. Such blend makes him an excellent choice for coaching C-Suites in a very structured manner of 6-9 months with clearly defined milestones

In his capacity as a Director of Charter for Compassion (CFC) Pakistan, he continues to contribute his expertise for long-term projects that are geared to impact not only the future generations but more specifically the culture today. He has developed a tool that measures compassion in organizations and is leading the Compassion in Organizations space. As a recognition of his work, Farhad is a Fellow of the International Centre for Compassionate Organizations located at the University of Louisville.

As an entrepreneur, Farhad is Founder & CEO Funverks Global, Funverks Media, Co-Founder/Director Navitus, Director Stimulus, FK Squared, The Bottom Line Holidays (Sri Lanka)& Co-Founder Pakistan South East Asia Business Forum (PSEABF) which aims to promote opportunities for startups helping them take business-up. He has also served as a Board Member (2017-2020) of the South East Asian Leadership Academy (SEALA).

Farhad resides in South Asia, alternating his time between Pakistan, UAE, & Sri Lanka.

Fahad Al Fawaz is the Executive Chairman at BayanPay.Bayan Pay is a payment gateway technology capable of meeting the rapidly growing e-Commerce (BayanPay) payments and introducing a consumer e-wallet (BayanPay Wallet).
He is a prominent and highly respected businessman in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region. A successful entrepreneur, dedicated forward-thinking investor and innovator with significant experience in technology and finance sectors, leading both entrepreneurial startups and established companies.
Fahad Al Fawaz constantly aims at making Saudi Arabia’s economy flourish and to offer the world’s best to his fellow countrymen. His experience, dynamism, professionalism and financial capacity have made Fahad Al Fawaz one of the young leaders of a generation at the beginning of an extraordinary transformation of Saudi Arabia via the Quality of Life 2030 project.

Elaine Foo is the Founder and CEO of New Dimensions Capital, a Multi Family Office and Private Wealth Management firm with expertise in Singapore and Greater China. With over two decades of experience in wealth management, Elaine specializes in personal wealth management, offshore asset allocation, and family office services. She holds a Capital Markets Services License and operates under the regulation of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Elaine’s professional journey showcases her commitment to excellence and client service. As the Founder and CEO of New Dimensions Capital since September 2020, she leads a dedicated team that recently conducted a successful closed-door meeting with clients and prospects, focusing on family office services and wealth management. The event, featuring Vincent Tan as a speaker, garnered significant interest in Singapore as a financial hub for asset allocation. In addition to her role at New Dimensions Capital, Elaine is a Co-Founder and Partner at WHE Family Office, where she oversees global investments, particularly in real estate and private placements. Passionate about impact investing and philanthropy, Elaine and her team explore unique investment opportunities on a case-by-case basis. Although currently not involved in cryptocurrencies, WHE Family Office remains dedicated to fostering meaningful investments globally. Furthermore, Elaine is the Founder of Hesed Partners, where she manages and consults on private deal flows and M&A activities. Her diverse experience also includes serving as a Senior Private Banker at Morgan Stanley, providing wealth management solutions to Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) clients in the Greater China region. Prior to that, she held the position of Director at Julius Baer, specializing in private wealth management for High Net Worth (HNW) individuals in Singapore and Greater China. With a strong focus on client acquisition and relationship management, Elaine Foo has established herself as a respected figure in the wealth management industry. Her track record of success, coupled with her passion for delivering exceptional service to clients, positions her as a key player in the financial landscape of Singapore and Greater China.

Şakir Yavuz is the President of Perfect Timing Holding.
Şakir Yavuz was elected by the shareholders of perfect timing holding as the 3rd President of Perfect Timing Holding in 2006.
Perfect Timing Holding has a team of experts from the areas of the economy, law, banking, media, and different technology, the founder shareholders of perfect timing holding Inc. have been active since 1954. The company started in the area of international investment. The American, Asian and European partners first invested in their domestic markets in real estate, commodity traders, and various industry participation areas.
Since the 1980s, they have also developed a highly successful investment strategy in the areas of media, industry and banking participation, as in the hotel business. Also, the basis for a major art collection was laid at this time.
The success of the company also developed the field of consulting, as other companies increasingly on the experience of the team also put investors on an advisory level.
Under the leadership of Şakir Yavuz, the company has further expanded into sectors like energy, consulting, media and many others.
This FiNext Awards & Conference is to be held on the 26th and 27th of February at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. This is the much-awaited conference of the year as it brings together and celebrates the excellence of companies and people in the FinTech sector.
Fin-Tech industry needed space for the smartest, innovative, inventive and ambitious people to connect and create, consequently FiNext Awards and Conference were started as a dedicated platform to serve the needs of the Fin-Tech industry in terms of interaction, innovation, networking and showcasing of the talent.
Two days of celebration of people who have put their lives in innovating, transforming the way how people transact through technology. FiNext Awards acknowledge people who are bringing the future of finance through their persistent efforts.
The conference strives to build a platform for startups, SMEs, key decision-makers, researchers, investors and people from the media to interact and garner meaningful alliances.

Derron is the Founding Managing Partner & Co-CIO of Halfort Merritt LLP, an equity research company with an incubator fund employing value, growth and active trading strategies in the pursuit of generating risk-adjusted alpha. Derron also works as an active broker dealing in the private markets, often playing a pivotal role in the financing process for early-stage growth companies centered around the Southeast Asian region. He is also experienced in the real estate space where he acted as an executive finance advisor to the development arm of a property investment company operating in the Asia-Pacific. In the VC space, Derron garnered valuable experience in his time as a spring analyst at 6 Dimensions Capital, a Biotechnology themed venture fund with offices in China and the USA. He was exposed to the major macro-economic shifts in both Chinese and American healthcare, gathering the fundamental knowledge required to evaluate investment prospects for early-stage cutting edge drug discovery companies. The resilient and disciplined quality that defines Derron came largely from his experience in the Singapore Navy. Right after high school, he enlisted in a special-force unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy. Through the progress of his company Halfort Merritt LLP, along with his talented team of analysts, Derron hopes to be instrumental in the development of the Finance Technology Sector by focusing on facilitating efficient allocation of financial resources, generating economies of scale through working on M&As and gathering pools of talented individuals in contributing to this movement. This FiNext Awards & Conference is to be held on the 26th and 27th of February at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. This is the much-awaited conference of the year as it brings together and celebrates the excellence of companies and people in the FinTech sector. Fin-Tech industry needed space for the smartest, innovative, inventive and ambitious people to connect and create, consequently FiNext Awards and Conference were started as a dedicated platform to serve the needs of the Fin-Tech industry in terms of interaction, innovation, networking and showcasing of the talent. Two days of celebration of people who have put their lives in innovating, transforming the way how people transact through technology. FiNext Awards acknowledge people who are bringing the future of finance through their persistent efforts. The conference strives to build a platform for startups, SMEs, key decision-makers, researchers, investors and people from the media to interact and garner meaningful alliances

David Strybosch Founder, Director & Partner Handshake. Handshake is a patented security concept that is set to revolutionize the world of digital security. It is positioning itself to become the preferred method of collecting card payments for all mobile payment solutions and wallets and thus connecting and allowing payments to all global businesses regardless of which wallet or mobile solution is used. He has a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning, Financial Planning, and services from Deakin University. He is also the Founder, Director & Partner of ‘ipRenewal’ and the Director & Owner MyLife (Managing your Lifestyle). Amongst his many achievements, one is Chairman’s Club Award 2015,2017. Infocus’s prestigious Chairman’s Club is a small community of elite Financial Advisers and Business Owners who excel amongst their peers for business acumen, technical skill, practical knowledge application, ambition and ability to deliver outstanding results. David is proficient at Wealth Management, Investments, Retirement Planning. This FiNext Awards & Conference is to be held on the 26th and 27th of February at the Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre.This is the much-awaited conference of the year as it brings together and celebrates the excellence of companies and people in the FinTech sector. Fin-Tech industry needed space for the smartest, innovative, inventive and ambitious people to connect and create, consequently FiNext Awards and Conference were started as a dedicated platform to serve the needs of the Fin-Tech industry in terms of interaction, innovation, networking and showcasing of the talent. Two days of celebration of people who have put their lives in innovating, transforming the way how people transact through technology. FiNext Awards acknowledge people who are bringing the future of finance through their persistent efforts. The conference strives to build a platform for startups, SMEs, key decision-makers, researchers, investors and people from the media to interact and garner meaningful alliances