David Aldrich Managing Director - EMEA Commercial Relationship Management & Global Sovereigns Moody's Ratings

David Aldrich is Managing Director of the EMEA Commercial Group, with responsibility for all Moody’s customer relationships in EMEA, across both Developed and Emerging Markets, for Fundamental and Structured Finance. 

David is also Managing Director for relationships with Global Sovereign and Multilateral Development Banks, and previously was Head of Emerging-EMEA for Regional Management. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2013, David managed various fixed income, derivatives and securities services businesses at UBS, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and, latterly, BNY Mellon. At BNY Mellon, David was EMEA Business Executive for both Alternative Investment Services and Broker-Dealer Services, and was also Head of Securities Industry Banking, Europe within Global Client Management. 

David studied Economics at the University of Kent and is on the MBA Advisory Board at Bayes Business School, City, University of London.

Marie Diron Managing Director, Sovereign Risk Moody's Ratings

Marie Diron heads the Sovereign Risk Group for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Sub-Sovereign Risk Group for Asia Pacific and EMEA. She is responsible for analytical teams covering more than 70 sovereign ratings, 15 Multilateral Development Banks and around 400 sub-sovereign ratings in about 30 countries. Marie is also a project owner of Moody’s Investors Service’s ESG scores, which were launched in early 2021.

Marie has worked as Moody’s lead sovereign analyst for a number of Asia Pacific credits, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. Marie has also worked in Moody’s Credit Policy, leading a number of macroeconomic analyses, including our regular Global Macro Outlook and other credit research work. Marie was previously Director at Oxford Economics, leading the company’s forecasting and scenario analysis service to financial sector and corporate clients, after a number of years at the European Central Bank and Brevan Howard LLP. Marie received a MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and graduated from the Ecole Centrale Paris. 

David Staples Managing Director, Corporate Finance Moody's Ratings

David Staples is a Managing Director at Moody’s in the EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. His responsibilities include managing the analytical teams that oversee the ratings of companies based in the Middle East, Turkey, South Africa as well as Russia and the CIS. 

David has a Masters degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. (1984) and a Bachelors degree from the University of Cincinnati (1982).

Nitish Bhojnagarwala Associate Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group Moody's Ratings

Nitish Bhojnagarwala is an Associate Managing Director with Moody’s Financial Institutions Group. Based in Dubai, Nitish covers a portfolio of large conventional as well as Islamic financial institutions in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.

Nitish joined Moody’s in 2011, and has led sukuk roundtables and conducted workshops on Banking and Islamic finance at various conferences in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Nitish has also authored several research pieces, with a focus on regional banking, credit issues and issuer-in-depths for conventional as well as Islamic banks.

Prior to joining Moody’s, Nitish spent five years at Tamweel in the Treasury function. He has also worked for KPMG in the UAE, where he covered financial institutions. Nitish holds an MBA from S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, with a major in Finance (Investment Banking).

Rehan Akbar Associate Managing Director, EMEA Corporate Finance Moody's Ratings

Rehan Akbar is an Associate Managing Director in Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified portfolio including Oil & Gas, petrochemicals, transport and mining companies situated in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2011, Rehan worked as a credit analyst at Mashreq Capital where he covered emerging market corporates. He started his career as a software engineer and technology consultant.

Rehan has a Masters degree in Management Sciences and Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences. He is a CFA charterholder.

Alexander Perjéssy Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Sovereign Risk Moody's Ratings

Alexander Perjéssy is Vice President – Senior Credit Officer at the Moody’s Sovereign Risk Group.

Based in Dubai, he has lead analyst responsibilities for a number of sovereigns in the Middle East, including most of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and several regional multilateral institutions.

Prior to joining Moody’s in November 2017, Alex worked for two years as economist at the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Before relocating to the Middle East, Alex spent more than 12 years covering macroeconomic developments and sovereign risk assessment in the emerging markets of the EMEA region for AllianceBernstein and The Rohatyn Group, both US-based asset management firms in New York, as well as for Goldman Sachs in London.

Alex holds an MA in Economics from the University of Maryland and a BA in Economics from Middlebury College.

Mohammed Ali Londe Vice President - Senior Analyst, EMEA Insurance Moody's Ratings

Mohammed Ali Londe is an Vice President – Senior Analyst within Moody’s Insurance Group, based in Dubai. He is responsible for Moody’s insurance ratings in the Middle East. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2013, Mohammed worked in the Planning and Performance Management department of Zurich International Middle East. Mohammed’s past experience also includes working with Chartis Middle East (AIG) and as an auditor, within the insurance department of Deloitte Bermuda where along with performing numerous insurance and reinsurance audits, he was seconded to work with Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd.Mohammed Ali holds a BSc from Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Bruce Johnson Director, Corporate Finance and Treasury Masdar

Bruce has been Masdar’s Director of Corporate Finance and Treasury since August 2020, after spending the previous 6 years in Mubadala’s Structured Finance and Capital Markets team. He has over 15 years’ experience in advising on and structuring non-recourse project financings, obtained Masdar’s A+/A2 credit ratings in 2021, established their green bond programme in 2023 and was responsible for the company’s debut issuance in the same year. Bruce holds an MA from the University of Glasgow, Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Certificate from the University of Law.

Jean Morcos Senior Investment Officer and Regional Sustainable and Climate Finance Lead International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Jean Morcos, Senior Investment Officer and Regional Sustainable and Climate Finance Lead for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group

Based in Dubai, Jean is a Senior Investment Officer within the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MCT) Infrastructure unit at IFC and provides debt and equity financing to clients covering telecoms, power, renewable energy, transport & logistics and municipals amongst other sectors. Jean is also the regional lead for Sustainable and Climate Finance for Infrastructure within MCT. Prior to joining IFC, Jean worked in London at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Barclays Capital and Standard Bank. Jean has led, structured and committed more than US$2 billion worth of transactions across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Jean is a CFA and CAIA Charterholder, a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and a graduate of Oxford University (St Anne’s).

Sarya Kudsi Executive Director, Sustainable Investment Banking, MEA Credit Agricole CIB

Sarya Kudsi is responsible for developing Sustainable Investment Banking in MENA for Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank ; advising sovereigns, corporates and financial institutions in the structuring of Green and Sustainability-linked financing transactions. Sarya has over 20 years experience in Global Markets in both London and MENA in fixed income, secured financing and investment solutions. Prior to joining Credit Agricole in 2018, Sarya started her career at Citigroup in London in 2000-08 in Emerging Markets Fixed Income & FX Sales, and has held positions in Global Markets at ICAP, The Family Office and Shuaa Capital. Sarya holds a BA(Hons) degree from the University of Durham.

Adriana Cruz Felix Senior Vice President, Sustainable Finance, Regional Head of Assessments, EMEA Moody’s Ratings

Adriana Cruz Felix, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Finance. Adriana heads Moody’s Ratings sustainable finance analytical team for the EMEA region. This team is responsible for producing second-party opinions and net-zero assessments.

For more than a decade, Adriana has been engaged in the sustainable development sector, dedicating the last seven years to analyzing the potential environmental and social benefits of financial instruments. She is one of the main authors of Moody’s Ratings SPO assessment framework and serves as the Chair of Moody’s Ratings Sustainable Finance Analytical Council. Additionally, she actively participates in ICMA’s sustainable finance working groups and task forces. Her sectors of expertise are energy and transition, green buildings, biodiversity, and social projects.

Deepa Raja Carbon Managing Director and Vice Chairperson Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA]

• Deepa Raja Carbon is the Managing Director and Vice Chairperson of the newly established Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA], her mandate covers creation, enablement and scale-up of the first-of-its-kind global Virtual Asset ecosystem, as an ‘interoperable’ standard for a future ‘autonomous and decentralised’ economy, assuring strong investor and market risk guard-rails for cross-border transposability.
• In tandem, Deepa holds the position of EVP Corporate Office at the Dubai World Trade Centre [DWTC], managing Corporate Strategy and Real Estate Commercial.
• Ms. Raja Carbon’s functional responsibilities across the portfolio span [i] economic policy and sector-specific strategy; [ii] investment and commercial value enablement; [iii] regulatory policy and legal governance - economic and market risk assurance; [iv] corporate business/ sector-specific performance management; and [v] brand and reputation management - driving mandated GDP targets.
• Additionally, she is the Economy and Policy Advisor to Economic Strategy Sector at the Dubai Government’s Department of Economy and Tourism [DET]. Responsible for enabling Dubai’s economic growth – the sector targets accelerated GDP and Productivity across the future economy, and sustainable contribution from recovering sectors, with core focus on Tourism in line with city aspirations to deliver 25 million tourists by 2025.
• As a leadership team member involved in the Dubai Expo 2020 from bid through core asset development phases, she is currently enabling the legacy transformation of this landmark global event for the UAE.
• With nearly 20 years experience in driving transformational growth programmes, Deepa started her career as a Strategy Consultant with Booz and Company’s North American management consulting practice spanning multi-sectoral clients across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
• Her initiation to the business environment was through special assignments for the World Bank and UNDP based out of Kenya and South Africa; and she continues to service social enterprise in her capacity as co-chair of Bunyan Knights for UAE next-generation leadership development.

Rajeev Bamra Associate Managing Director and Head of Digital Economy Strategy Moody's Ratings

Rajeev Bamra serves as the Associate Managing Director and Head of Strategy for Digital Economy at Moody's Rating. A seasoned executive and thought leader, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the intersection of traditional finance and digital finance within the rating agency. In his current position, Rajeev leads the strategy and operations group, driving key decisions at Executive and Senior Leadership levels, and ensuring Moody's readiness for the digitalization of the global economy.

Rajeev has been a key influencer in instilling the concept of digital finance, encompassing digital currencies, decentralized technologies, and innovative product design, into the fabric of Moody's ecosystem. His visionary leadership extracts the maximum potential from the evolving digital economy, steering the innovation agenda and operational planning for the organization.

As a recognized thought leader, Rajeev has authored research papers and thought leadership documents on digital finance infrastructure development, leveraging transformative technologies such as blockchain and AI across various sectors. Actively representing Moody's at events, panels, webinars, and podcasts, he helps optimize stakeholder relations to underscore Moody's commitment to digital finance and innovation. His visionary leadership and strategic acumen continue to propel Moody's into the forefront of the evolving digital economy.

Henry MacNevin Associate Managing Director, EMEA Banking Moody's Ratings

Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years. 

Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom

Ashraf Madani Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Financial Institutions Group Moody's Ratings

Ashraf Madani is a Vice President – Senior Analyst with Moody’s Financial Institutions Group. Based in Dubai, Ashraf covers a portfolio of large conventional as well as Islamic financial institutions in GCC. He is also responsible for the Saudi and Bahrain Banking system outlooks. Since Joining Moody’s in May 2017, Ashraf has authored many research pieces focusing on GCC credit, funding and liquidity conditions in addition to issuer in depth research. Before joining Moody’s in May 2017, Ashraf’s Career has been mostly in banking with 15+ years of experience working in international and regional banks like Citi, Arab Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank. He spent most of his banking career working in the global markets and risk divisions where he developed extensive knowledge on GCC markets. His last position before joining Moody’s has been the Head of FIs and NBFIs Risk for National Bank of Abu Dhabi (FAB now) managing the credit risk for a large portfolio of GCC and international issuers.

Badis Shubailat Assistant Vice President - Analyst, EMEA Banking Moody's Ratings

Badis Shubailat is an Analyst with Moody’s Financial Institutions Group. Based in Dubai, Badis covers a portfolio of large conventional as well as Islamic banks in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco. He is the lead analyst responsible for the Bahraini and Tunisian banking systems and also covered in the past financial institutions in Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey. Since joining Moody’s in March 2014, Badis has authored research publications focusing on GCC and North African credits as well as Islamic Banking. Badis holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from John Cabot University (Rome, Italy) and an MSc in Finance from EADA Business School (Barcelona, Spain). Badis speaks English, French, Arabic and Italian.

Francesca Paolino Assistant Vice President - Analyst, EMEA Banking Moody's Ratings

Francesca joined the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) of Moody’s Ratings in December 2014 and has broad experience in covering a wide range of banks and other financial institutions in terms of business and ownership profile. She is currently the lead analyst for banks in United Arab Emirates, Oman and some in Turkey.

Previously she worked in a private wealth management in New York and as an intern at Monte Dei Paschi di Siena in Milan. Francesca holds an MSc in Finance from Bocconi University - Milan and Bsc in Economics and Finance from University of Bologna.

Adriana Cruz Felix Senior Vice President, Sustainable Finance, Regional Head of Assessments, EMEA Moody’s Ratings

Adriana Cruz Felix, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Finance. Adriana heads Moody’s Ratings sustainable finance analytical team for the EMEA region. This team is responsible for producing second-party opinions and net-zero assessments.

For more than a decade, Adriana has been engaged in the sustainable development sector, dedicating the last seven years to analyzing the potential environmental and social benefits of financial instruments. She is one of the main authors of Moody’s Ratings SPO assessment framework and serves as the Chair of Moody’s Ratings Sustainable Finance Analytical Council. Additionally, she actively participates in ICMA’s sustainable finance working groups and task forces. Her sectors of expertise are energy and transition, green buildings, biodiversity, and social projects.

Dr. Sameer Al Ansari CEO Digital Assets Oasis, Govt of Ras Al Khaimah

Dr. Sameer Al Ansari is the Chief Executive Officer of RAK Digital Assets Oasis the only free zone in the world solely dedicated to non-regulated digital and virtual asset companies. Under the wise leadership of HH The Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and oversight of its Chairman Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qassimi, Dr Sameer has played a key role in the creation of RAK DAO, building the team and shaping its future strategy.

Dr. Al Ansari is a UK-qualified chartered accountant and is considered a finance expert with almost 40 years of senior corporate, operational, private equity, investing, board, and strategic advisory experience. He currently serves on several boards, including RAK International Corporate Centre, Marjan, TVM Healthcare Partners and Al Ramz Corporation PJSC.

Dr. Al Ansari’s vast leadership experience includes roles in numerous regional and international boards, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) from 2004–2016, Hawkamah Institute of Corporate Governance, Dubai Holding, and Dubai International Capital. He has also served on numerous Board Audit Committees.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (FCA) with a Doctorate from Loughborough University, UK.

Matthew White CEO Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA]

Matt has had a high-profile career spanning more than 20 years in the technology domain. His leadership has significantly contributed to building trust in technology transformations and the protection of digital assets. As a senior partner and the head of the Cybersecurity practice at PwC, he oversaw its expansion to over 150 specialists and played a foundational role in VARA's establishment. An alumnus of the University of Bath and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, his academic credentials reflect the success of his professional journey.

Matt is not just confined to the corporate world. He is a co-founder of two startups: 'decent', a platform seeking to revolutionise charitable giving, and 'Clubbie', a niche social network for amateur sports enthusiasts. He is frequently sought after as a public speaker - his insights and expertise make him a valuable voice in helping to make this complex subject more accessible to everyone.

Wai Lum Kwok Senior Executive Director - Authorisation & Fintech, Financial Services Regulatory Authority ADGM

As the Head of Authorisation within the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Wai Lum oversees the licensing of financial services firms in the banking, insurance, payments and capital markets sector.

With digital transformation at the forefront of global regulators’ agenda, Wai Lum also spearheads ADGM’s regulatory strategy in financial technology and innovation.  He has been instrumental in shaping the fintech landscape in the UAE. The Regulatory Sandbox programme, and subsequent digitalization of the platform, won ADGM accolade as the most innovative and progressive regulator in the Middle East.  Wai Lum formulated the Venture Capital Framework for investment managers, and the Private Financing Framework to improve access to alternative financing for ventures and SMEs in the private markets.  He was also instrumental in developing ADGM’s virtual asset regulatory framework.

Prior to joining ADGM, Wai Lum was with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.  Before that, he was with Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment working on environmental policies including climate-rated issues.

Wai Lum graduated from Imperial College, London with a Master of Engineering and holds a Master of Science in Applied Finance from the National University of Singapore.

Sameera Kimatrai Of Counsel- Head of Financial Services Regulatory, UAE Gibson Dunn

Sameera Kimatrai is an English law qualified of counsel in the Dubai office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s Financial Regulatory Practice Group. She has experience advising governments, regulators and a broad range of financial institutions in the UAE including investment managers, commercial and investment banks, payment service providers and digital asset service providers on complex regulatory issues both in onshore UAE and in the financial free zones. Sameera has particular experience in digital asset regulation across the Middle East and Africa having spent time as a senior regulatory lawyer in the legal department of a large digital assets exchange.

Sylvain Bigaud Regional Head - Middle East, Africa & Turkey Euroclear

Sylvain joined Euroclear in 2013. He is in charge of the Business Development, relationship management and commercial support for Middle East, Africa and Turkey. His role covers more than 200 clients located in more than 60 countries, such as Central Banks, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Supranational, Commercial Banks, Asset Managers and Insurance companies. He is also involved in Capital Market development projects with Ministry of Finances & local authorities. He supervises a commercial team of 9 people based in Dubai and London. Before being appointed as Regional Head for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Sylvain held several regional positions such as Head of Sales & Relationship Management, Senior Relationship Manager & Customer Relationship Manager covering clients in Middle East, Africa, CIS & Turkey.

Sylvain holds a Bachelor degree in Business & Management from KEDGE Business School (France) as well as a Master degree in Management from SKEMA Business School (France).

Stephen Gotz Business Head DIFC Innovation Hub

After more than 25 years working with corporate executives in a range of industriesacross six continents, Steve Gotz has developed a unique talent for spotting industry fault lines and associated business opportunities. These opportunities arise when emerging technologies, consumer expectations, and regulatory changes create entirely new ways of doing business.

Steve is the Head of Business at DIFC Innovation Hub. His team advises government, corporate and family office clients on how to navigate near-term disruptions, embrace emerging technologies, and build more resilient institutions. Over the course of his career, Steve has built and invested in FinTech innovations, launched startups in collaboration with large corporations, and served as Founding Director of the Design and Innovation Lab at Trinity College Dublin, a government funded research center developing leading-edge AI & ML technologies.

He has worked with and advised senior executives and government officials on the development of emerging technologies, ecosystem strategies, and new venture creation. His clients include international corporations and government agencies across Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

In addition to his advisory work, Steve serves as a Venture Partner at MFV Partners, a DeepTech focused venture capital fund based in Palo Alto. He also teaches graduate courses on strategy and innovation at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where he holds an honorary appointment as Distinguished Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

Steve holds an MBA from the University of Oxford with a specialization in Technology & Innovation Strategy. He serves on the Advisory Board of Global Thinkers Forum, an international organization that brings together a diverse network of thought leaders creating meaningful conversations around global challenges and trends. GTF launched officially in 2012 in Amman, Jordan, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and has partnered with some of the world’s top brands, organizations and foundations.

Steve regularly discusses emerging technology trends at organizations such as the United Nations, the British House of Lords, the NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Stanford University, Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University.

Ivan Semenov Managing Partner Cryptomeria Capital

Ivan Semenov is a Managing Partner at Cryptomeria Capital, a leading investment firm specializing in the Web3 sector. With a strong foundation as a former Senior Investment Manager at Axon Partners Group and his role as a subject matter expert for esteemed organizations such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Investment Fund (EIF), and International Finance Corporation (IFC), Ivan brings a wealth of experience in venture capital and innovation. He is committed to driving innovation and growth within the Web3 ecosystem, contributing significantly to its professionalization and institutionalization.

David Wagner Senior Vice President-Investor Management Moody's Ratings

David A. Wagner is an SVP in the Investor Management Team of Moody’s Ratings, based in Frankfurt, Germany. Partnering with senior Moody’s stakeholders, he manages investor engagement with the largest buy side investors based in Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) and the Netherlands, across all rating sectors. David joined Moody’s Ratings in April 2022. Prior to joining Moody’s, he was a Senior Director at Fitch Ratings, in Frankfurt, where he was responsible for their European Structured Finance Business Development efforts (across all sectors) and managed Issuer, Banker and Investor relationships across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He joined Fitch in 2006, on their structured finance analytic team, where he analyzed Consumer ABS and ABCP transactions originating from German speaking Europe. Before moving to Frankfurt, David worked for Danske Bank A/S in their corporate banking team both in New York and subsequently in their office in Hamburg, Germany. David began his career in New York within the corporate banking-structured finance team of Commerzbank AG.

David earned an MA in International Relations / International Economics, with concentrations in International Finance and European Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington D.C. and Bologna Italy and a BS in Accounting from Binghamton University – State University of New York.

Bruce Johnson Director, Corporate Finance and Treasury Masdar

Bruce has been Masdar’s Director of Corporate Finance and Treasury since August 2020, after spending the previous 6 years in Mubadala’s Structured Finance and Capital Markets team. He has over 15 years’ experience in advising on and structuring non-recourse project financings, obtained Masdar’s A+/A2 credit ratings in 2021, established their green bond programme in 2023 and was responsible for the company’s debut issuance in the same year. Bruce holds an MA from the University of Glasgow, Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Certificate from the University of Law.

Jean Morcos Senior Investment Officer and Regional Sustainable and Climate Finance Lead International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Jean Morcos, Senior Investment Officer and Regional Sustainable and Climate Finance Lead for Infrastructure at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group

Based in Dubai, Jean is a Senior Investment Officer within the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MCT) Infrastructure unit at IFC and provides debt and equity financing to clients covering telecoms, power, renewable energy, transport & logistics and municipals amongst other sectors. Jean is also the regional lead for Sustainable and Climate Finance for Infrastructure within MCT. Prior to joining IFC, Jean worked in London at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Barclays Capital and Standard Bank. Jean has led, structured and committed more than US$2 billion worth of transactions across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Jean is a CFA and CAIA Charterholder, a Fellow Chartered Accountant of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and a graduate of Oxford University (St Anne’s).

Sarya Kudsi Executive Director, Sustainable Investment Banking, MEA Credit Agricole CIB

Sarya Kudsi is responsible for developing Sustainable Investment Banking in MENA for Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank ; advising sovereigns, corporates and financial institutions in the structuring of Green and Sustainability-linked financing transactions. Sarya has over 20 years experience in Global Markets in both London and MENA in fixed income, secured financing and investment solutions. Prior to joining Credit Agricole in 2018, Sarya started her career at Citigroup in London in 2000-08 in Emerging Markets Fixed Income & FX Sales, and has held positions in Global Markets at ICAP, The Family Office and Shuaa Capital. Sarya holds a BA(Hons) degree from the University of Durham.

Dr. Sameer Al Ansari CEO Digital Assets Oasis, Govt of Ras Al Khaimah

Dr. Sameer Al Ansari is the Chief Executive Officer of RAK Digital Assets Oasis the only free zone in the world solely dedicated to non-regulated digital and virtual asset companies. Under the wise leadership of HH The Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and oversight of its Chairman Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qassimi, Dr Sameer has played a key role in the creation of RAK DAO, building the team and shaping its future strategy.

Dr. Al Ansari is a UK-qualified chartered accountant and is considered a finance expert with almost 40 years of senior corporate, operational, private equity, investing, board, and strategic advisory experience. He currently serves on several boards, including RAK International Corporate Centre, Marjan, TVM Healthcare Partners and Al Ramz Corporation PJSC.

Dr. Al Ansari’s vast leadership experience includes roles in numerous regional and international boards, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) from 2004–2016, Hawkamah Institute of Corporate Governance, Dubai Holding, and Dubai International Capital. He has also served on numerous Board Audit Committees.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (FCA) with a Doctorate from Loughborough University, UK.

Deepa Raja Carbon Managing Director and Vice Chairperson Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA]

• Deepa Raja Carbon is the Managing Director and Vice Chairperson of the newly established Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA], her mandate covers creation, enablement and scale-up of the first-of-its-kind global Virtual Asset ecosystem, as an ‘interoperable’ standard for a future ‘autonomous and decentralised’ economy, assuring strong investor and market risk guard-rails for cross-border transposability.
• In tandem, Deepa holds the position of EVP Corporate Office at the Dubai World Trade Centre [DWTC], managing Corporate Strategy and Real Estate Commercial.
• Ms. Raja Carbon’s functional responsibilities across the portfolio span [i] economic policy and sector-specific strategy; [ii] investment and commercial value enablement; [iii] regulatory policy and legal governance - economic and market risk assurance; [iv] corporate business/ sector-specific performance management; and [v] brand and reputation management - driving mandated GDP targets.
• Additionally, she is the Economy and Policy Advisor to Economic Strategy Sector at the Dubai Government’s Department of Economy and Tourism [DET]. Responsible for enabling Dubai’s economic growth – the sector targets accelerated GDP and Productivity across the future economy, and sustainable contribution from recovering sectors, with core focus on Tourism in line with city aspirations to deliver 25 million tourists by 2025.
• As a leadership team member involved in the Dubai Expo 2020 from bid through core asset development phases, she is currently enabling the legacy transformation of this landmark global event for the UAE.
• With nearly 20 years experience in driving transformational growth programmes, Deepa started her career as a Strategy Consultant with Booz and Company’s North American management consulting practice spanning multi-sectoral clients across the Americas, Europe and Asia.
• Her initiation to the business environment was through special assignments for the World Bank and UNDP based out of Kenya and South Africa; and she continues to service social enterprise in her capacity as co-chair of Bunyan Knights for UAE next-generation leadership development.

Matthew White CEO Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA]

Matt has had a high-profile career spanning more than 20 years in the technology domain. His leadership has significantly contributed to building trust in technology transformations and the protection of digital assets. As a senior partner and the head of the Cybersecurity practice at PwC, he oversaw its expansion to over 150 specialists and played a foundational role in VARA's establishment. An alumnus of the University of Bath and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, his academic credentials reflect the success of his professional journey.

Matt is not just confined to the corporate world. He is a co-founder of two startups: 'decent', a platform seeking to revolutionise charitable giving, and 'Clubbie', a niche social network for amateur sports enthusiasts. He is frequently sought after as a public speaker - his insights and expertise make him a valuable voice in helping to make this complex subject more accessible to everyone.

Wai Lum Kwok Senior Executive Director - Authorisation & Fintech, Financial Services Regulatory Authority ADGM

As the Head of Authorisation within the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, Wai Lum oversees the licensing of financial services firms in the banking, insurance, payments and capital markets sector.

With digital transformation at the forefront of global regulators’ agenda, Wai Lum also spearheads ADGM’s regulatory strategy in financial technology and innovation.  He has been instrumental in shaping the fintech landscape in the UAE. The Regulatory Sandbox programme, and subsequent digitalization of the platform, won ADGM accolade as the most innovative and progressive regulator in the Middle East.  Wai Lum formulated the Venture Capital Framework for investment managers, and the Private Financing Framework to improve access to alternative financing for ventures and SMEs in the private markets.  He was also instrumental in developing ADGM’s virtual asset regulatory framework.

Prior to joining ADGM, Wai Lum was with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.  Before that, he was with Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment working on environmental policies including climate-rated issues.

Wai Lum graduated from Imperial College, London with a Master of Engineering and holds a Master of Science in Applied Finance from the National University of Singapore.

Sameera Kimatrai Of Counsel- Head of Financial Services Regulatory, UAE Gibson Dunn

Sameera Kimatrai is an English law qualified of counsel in the Dubai office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and a member of the firm’s Financial Regulatory Practice Group. She has experience advising governments, regulators and a broad range of financial institutions in the UAE including investment managers, commercial and investment banks, payment service providers and digital asset service providers on complex regulatory issues both in onshore UAE and in the financial free zones. Sameera has particular experience in digital asset regulation across the Middle East and Africa having spent time as a senior regulatory lawyer in the legal department of a large digital assets exchange.

Sylvain Bigaud Regional Head - Middle East, Africa & Turkey Euroclear

Sylvain joined Euroclear in 2013. He is in charge of the Business Development, relationship management and commercial support for Middle East, Africa and Turkey. His role covers more than 200 clients located in more than 60 countries, such as Central Banks, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Supranational, Commercial Banks, Asset Managers and Insurance companies. He is also involved in Capital Market development projects with Ministry of Finances & local authorities. He supervises a commercial team of 9 people based in Dubai and London. Before being appointed as Regional Head for the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Sylvain held several regional positions such as Head of Sales & Relationship Management, Senior Relationship Manager & Customer Relationship Manager covering clients in Middle East, Africa, CIS & Turkey.

Sylvain holds a Bachelor degree in Business & Management from KEDGE Business School (France) as well as a Master degree in Management from SKEMA Business School (France).

Stephen Gotz Business Head DIFC Innovation Hub

After more than 25 years working with corporate executives in a range of industriesacross six continents, Steve Gotz has developed a unique talent for spotting industry fault lines and associated business opportunities. These opportunities arise when emerging technologies, consumer expectations, and regulatory changes create entirely new ways of doing business.

Steve is the Head of Business at DIFC Innovation Hub. His team advises government, corporate and family office clients on how to navigate near-term disruptions, embrace emerging technologies, and build more resilient institutions. Over the course of his career, Steve has built and invested in FinTech innovations, launched startups in collaboration with large corporations, and served as Founding Director of the Design and Innovation Lab at Trinity College Dublin, a government funded research center developing leading-edge AI & ML technologies.

He has worked with and advised senior executives and government officials on the development of emerging technologies, ecosystem strategies, and new venture creation. His clients include international corporations and government agencies across Asia, North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

In addition to his advisory work, Steve serves as a Venture Partner at MFV Partners, a DeepTech focused venture capital fund based in Palo Alto. He also teaches graduate courses on strategy and innovation at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, where he holds an honorary appointment as Distinguished Entrepreneur-in-Residence.

Steve holds an MBA from the University of Oxford with a specialization in Technology & Innovation Strategy. He serves on the Advisory Board of Global Thinkers Forum, an international organization that brings together a diverse network of thought leaders creating meaningful conversations around global challenges and trends. GTF launched officially in 2012 in Amman, Jordan, under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and has partnered with some of the world’s top brands, organizations and foundations.

Steve regularly discusses emerging technology trends at organizations such as the United Nations, the British House of Lords, the NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting, Stanford University, Trinity College Dublin and Oxford University.

Ivan Semenov Managing Partner Cryptomeria Capital

Ivan Semenov is a Managing Partner at Cryptomeria Capital, a leading investment firm specializing in the Web3 sector. With a strong foundation as a former Senior Investment Manager at Axon Partners Group and his role as a subject matter expert for esteemed organizations such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Investment Fund (EIF), and International Finance Corporation (IFC), Ivan brings a wealth of experience in venture capital and innovation. He is committed to driving innovation and growth within the Web3 ecosystem, contributing significantly to its professionalization and institutionalization.

David Aldrich Managing Director - EMEA Commercial Relationship Management & Global Sovereigns Moody's Ratings

David Aldrich is Managing Director of the EMEA Commercial Group, with responsibility for all Moody’s customer relationships in EMEA, across both Developed and Emerging Markets, for Fundamental and Structured Finance. 

David is also Managing Director for relationships with Global Sovereign and Multilateral Development Banks, and previously was Head of Emerging-EMEA for Regional Management. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2013, David managed various fixed income, derivatives and securities services businesses at UBS, Credit Suisse, JP Morgan and, latterly, BNY Mellon. At BNY Mellon, David was EMEA Business Executive for both Alternative Investment Services and Broker-Dealer Services, and was also Head of Securities Industry Banking, Europe within Global Client Management. 

David studied Economics at the University of Kent and is on the MBA Advisory Board at Bayes Business School, City, University of London.

David Staples Managing Director, Corporate Finance Moody's Ratings

David Staples is a Managing Director at Moody’s in the EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. His responsibilities include managing the analytical teams that oversee the ratings of companies based in the Middle East, Turkey, South Africa as well as Russia and the CIS. 

David has a Masters degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. (1984) and a Bachelors degree from the University of Cincinnati (1982).

Marie Diron Managing Director, Sovereign Risk Moody's Ratings

Marie Diron heads the Sovereign Risk Group for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Sub-Sovereign Risk Group for Asia Pacific and EMEA. She is responsible for analytical teams covering more than 70 sovereign ratings, 15 Multilateral Development Banks and around 400 sub-sovereign ratings in about 30 countries. Marie is also a project owner of Moody’s Investors Service’s ESG scores, which were launched in early 2021.

Marie has worked as Moody’s lead sovereign analyst for a number of Asia Pacific credits, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. Marie has also worked in Moody’s Credit Policy, leading a number of macroeconomic analyses, including our regular Global Macro Outlook and other credit research work. Marie was previously Director at Oxford Economics, leading the company’s forecasting and scenario analysis service to financial sector and corporate clients, after a number of years at the European Central Bank and Brevan Howard LLP. Marie received a MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and graduated from the Ecole Centrale Paris. 

Henry MacNevin Associate Managing Director, EMEA Banking Moody's Ratings

Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years. 

Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom

Nitish Bhojnagarwala Associate Managing Director, Financial Institutions Group Moody's Ratings

Nitish Bhojnagarwala is an Associate Managing Director with Moody’s Financial Institutions Group. Based in Dubai, Nitish covers a portfolio of large conventional as well as Islamic financial institutions in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.

Nitish joined Moody’s in 2011, and has led sukuk roundtables and conducted workshops on Banking and Islamic finance at various conferences in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Nitish has also authored several research pieces, with a focus on regional banking, credit issues and issuer-in-depths for conventional as well as Islamic banks.

Prior to joining Moody’s, Nitish spent five years at Tamweel in the Treasury function. He has also worked for KPMG in the UAE, where he covered financial institutions. Nitish holds an MBA from S P Jain Institute of Management & Research, with a major in Finance (Investment Banking).

Ashraf Madani Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Financial Institutions Group Moody's Ratings

Ashraf Madani is a Vice President – Senior Analyst with Moody’s Financial Institutions Group. Based in Dubai, Ashraf covers a portfolio of large conventional as well as Islamic financial institutions in GCC. He is also responsible for the Saudi and Bahrain Banking system outlooks. Since Joining Moody’s in May 2017, Ashraf has authored many research pieces focusing on GCC credit, funding and liquidity conditions in addition to issuer in depth research. Before joining Moody’s in May 2017, Ashraf’s Career has been mostly in banking with 15+ years of experience working in international and regional banks like Citi, Arab Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank. He spent most of his banking career working in the global markets and risk divisions where he developed extensive knowledge on GCC markets. His last position before joining Moody’s has been the Head of FIs and NBFIs Risk for National Bank of Abu Dhabi (FAB now) managing the credit risk for a large portfolio of GCC and international issuers.

Rehan Akbar Associate Managing Director, EMEA Corporate Finance Moody's Ratings

Rehan Akbar is an Associate Managing Director in Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified portfolio including Oil & Gas, petrochemicals, transport and mining companies situated in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2011, Rehan worked as a credit analyst at Mashreq Capital where he covered emerging market corporates. He started his career as a software engineer and technology consultant.

Rehan has a Masters degree in Management Sciences and Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences. He is a CFA charterholder.

Rajeev Bamra Associate Managing Director and Head of Digital Economy Strategy Moody's Ratings

Rajeev Bamra serves as the Associate Managing Director and Head of Strategy for Digital Economy at Moody's Rating. A seasoned executive and thought leader, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the intersection of traditional finance and digital finance within the rating agency. In his current position, Rajeev leads the strategy and operations group, driving key decisions at Executive and Senior Leadership levels, and ensuring Moody's readiness for the digitalization of the global economy.

Rajeev has been a key influencer in instilling the concept of digital finance, encompassing digital currencies, decentralized technologies, and innovative product design, into the fabric of Moody's ecosystem. His visionary leadership extracts the maximum potential from the evolving digital economy, steering the innovation agenda and operational planning for the organization.

As a recognized thought leader, Rajeev has authored research papers and thought leadership documents on digital finance infrastructure development, leveraging transformative technologies such as blockchain and AI across various sectors. Actively representing Moody's at events, panels, webinars, and podcasts, he helps optimize stakeholder relations to underscore Moody's commitment to digital finance and innovation. His visionary leadership and strategic acumen continue to propel Moody's into the forefront of the evolving digital economy.

David Wagner Senior Vice President-Investor Management Moody's Ratings

David A. Wagner is an SVP in the Investor Management Team of Moody’s Ratings, based in Frankfurt, Germany. Partnering with senior Moody’s stakeholders, he manages investor engagement with the largest buy side investors based in Germany, Austria, Switzerland (DACH) and the Netherlands, across all rating sectors. David joined Moody’s Ratings in April 2022. Prior to joining Moody’s, he was a Senior Director at Fitch Ratings, in Frankfurt, where he was responsible for their European Structured Finance Business Development efforts (across all sectors) and managed Issuer, Banker and Investor relationships across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He joined Fitch in 2006, on their structured finance analytic team, where he analyzed Consumer ABS and ABCP transactions originating from German speaking Europe. Before moving to Frankfurt, David worked for Danske Bank A/S in their corporate banking team both in New York and subsequently in their office in Hamburg, Germany. David began his career in New York within the corporate banking-structured finance team of Commerzbank AG.

David earned an MA in International Relations / International Economics, with concentrations in International Finance and European Studies from the Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Washington D.C. and Bologna Italy and a BS in Accounting from Binghamton University – State University of New York.

Adriana Cruz Felix Senior Vice President, Sustainable Finance, Regional Head of Assessments, EMEA Moody’s Ratings

Adriana Cruz Felix, Senior Vice President of Sustainable Finance. Adriana heads Moody’s Ratings sustainable finance analytical team for the EMEA region. This team is responsible for producing second-party opinions and net-zero assessments.

For more than a decade, Adriana has been engaged in the sustainable development sector, dedicating the last seven years to analyzing the potential environmental and social benefits of financial instruments. She is one of the main authors of Moody’s Ratings SPO assessment framework and serves as the Chair of Moody’s Ratings Sustainable Finance Analytical Council. Additionally, she actively participates in ICMA’s sustainable finance working groups and task forces. Her sectors of expertise are energy and transition, green buildings, biodiversity, and social projects.

Alexander Perjéssy Vice President - Senior Credit Officer, Sovereign Risk Moody's Ratings

Alexander Perjéssy is Vice President – Senior Credit Officer at the Moody’s Sovereign Risk Group.

Based in Dubai, he has lead analyst responsibilities for a number of sovereigns in the Middle East, including most of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and several regional multilateral institutions.

Prior to joining Moody’s in November 2017, Alex worked for two years as economist at the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Before relocating to the Middle East, Alex spent more than 12 years covering macroeconomic developments and sovereign risk assessment in the emerging markets of the EMEA region for AllianceBernstein and The Rohatyn Group, both US-based asset management firms in New York, as well as for Goldman Sachs in London.

Alex holds an MA in Economics from the University of Maryland and a BA in Economics from Middlebury College.

Mohammed Ali Londe Vice President - Senior Analyst, EMEA Insurance Moody's Ratings

Mohammed Ali Londe is an Vice President – Senior Analyst within Moody’s Insurance Group, based in Dubai. He is responsible for Moody’s insurance ratings in the Middle East. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2013, Mohammed worked in the Planning and Performance Management department of Zurich International Middle East. Mohammed’s past experience also includes working with Chartis Middle East (AIG) and as an auditor, within the insurance department of Deloitte Bermuda where along with performing numerous insurance and reinsurance audits, he was seconded to work with Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd.Mohammed Ali holds a BSc from Oxford Brookes University, UK.

Badis Shubailat Assistant Vice President - Analyst, EMEA Banking Moody's Ratings

Badis Shubailat is an Analyst with Moody’s Financial Institutions Group. Based in Dubai, Badis covers a portfolio of large conventional as well as Islamic banks in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco. He is the lead analyst responsible for the Bahraini and Tunisian banking systems and also covered in the past financial institutions in Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey. Since joining Moody’s in March 2014, Badis has authored research publications focusing on GCC and North African credits as well as Islamic Banking. Badis holds a Bachelor in Business Administration from John Cabot University (Rome, Italy) and an MSc in Finance from EADA Business School (Barcelona, Spain). Badis speaks English, French, Arabic and Italian.

Francesca Paolino Assistant Vice President - Analyst, EMEA Banking Moody's Ratings

Francesca joined the Financial Institutions Group (FIG) of Moody’s Ratings in December 2014 and has broad experience in covering a wide range of banks and other financial institutions in terms of business and ownership profile. She is currently the lead analyst for banks in United Arab Emirates, Oman and some in Turkey.

Previously she worked in a private wealth management in New York and as an intern at Monte Dei Paschi di Siena in Milan. Francesca holds an MSc in Finance from Bocconi University - Milan and Bsc in Economics and Finance from University of Bologna.