Oct 2022 – Feb 2024 · 1 yr 4 mos · Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Leading the Market Risk and Investor Protection vertical for the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA)- central authority for the global Virtual Asset industry in the Emirate of Dubai.
• Was part of the foundational team for the regulatory body and was leading the initiative to grandfather legacy VA operators into the licensing regime.
• As the world’s first independent regulator for virtual assets, VARA serves as a transparent and trusted guiding authority for the emerging world of Virtual Assets. VARA aims to take its mission global by creating an easy to replicate framework to regulate the industry.
• Key Responsibilities included:
• Leading the initiative to grandfather several hundred legacy VA operators into the licensing regime
• Working closely with ecosystem players and interacting with dozens of startups in the region
• Developing market risk assurance frameworks, while leading efforts on global macro risk impact
• Actively engaginng in VA market development with other Regulatory bodies & Government enterprises

Jan 2022 – Oct 2022 · 9 mos

• Engaged as external consultant with the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub - Hong Kong Centre.
• Led Project Genesis 2.0 - led by the BIS Innovation Hub in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, that explored the technical feasibility to digitise green bonds with carbon forwards (also known as mitigation outcome interests (MOIs)) attached to enhance the transparency, objectivity, and environmental integrity of the green bond market. As part of the project, two prototypes were developed to track, deliver and transfer digitised MOIs with the use of blockchain, smart contracts and other related technologies.

Oct 2019 – Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

• FinStep Asia is powering the next generation of businesses in Asia, partnering with Corporates and Startups in their Innovation and Scaling Journey. We drive innovation strategy, fuel startup engagement and enable cross border scaling by leveraging off our deep expertise in Asia across Startups, Corporates and Government Enterprises.
• Equipped with a proven experience in scaling businesses in Asia, FinStep Asia’s team has a deep understanding of Fintech & technology verticals with real-world Industry expertise and a strong experience working across Corporates, Regulators, Government Institutions, ecosystem partners & Startups. We have a Deep network across Hong Kong, Greater China and South East Asia with a nuanced understanding of cultural & business norms in the region. Our Clientele includes International Governmental Institutions, Regulatory bodies, Asian e-commerce Unicorn, International Financial Institutions and Startups & Scaleups from Asia, Europe and USA.
• Our Core Services:
• FINTECH & WEB 3.0 REGULATORY ADVISORY: With deep expertise and experience working with Financial Services Regulators in Asia and MENA, we offer tailormade advisory for Fintech and Web 3.0/Crypto firms on Regulations and advisory on License applications
• INNOVATION STRATEGY: Technology is transforming and rapidly changing landscape of business across industries. We identify emerging trends and market opportunities and build a growth roadmap for our clients to build innovation frameworks.
• FINTECH & WEB 3.0 RESEARCH: We conduct in-depth research on a variety of fintech and Web 3.0 related topics, and offer enhanced thought leadership, tailored research reports and content development on FinTech and Web 3.0/Blockchain across Asia
• FINTECH DIVERSITY ADVISORY: We provide frameworks to tailor existing services and to empower firms to build new customer offering that include diversity across Gender and Age.

Jan 2022 – Oct 2022 · 9 mos · Hong Kong SAR

• Advisor to Stellar Development Foundation for engagements in Greater China, Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand.
• The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 to support the development and growth of the open-source Stellar network. SDF and Stellar seek to unlock the world’s economic potential by making money more fluid, markets more open, and people more empowered. The Foundation helps maintain Stellar’s codebase, supports the technical and business communities around Stellar, and is a speaking partner to regulators and institutions.
• SDF are building a new stack for digital assets. Though Stellar is open source and decentralized, SDF leads the development of the network. The Foundation supports both the codebase and the people building on it.

Aug 2021 – Oct 2022 · 1 yr 2 mos

• Providing strategic advisory to Founders and Management team at AnaStrat.
• Get your stock market performance assessed by the most precise rating engine and enhance your trading skills with AnaStrat.

Feb 2021 – Sep 2022 · 1 yr 7 mos

• A club where we discuss everything that happens in the Asian Digital📱🌎🖥/Tech 🧑‍💻👩‍💻Economy; India, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia & the rest of APAC.
• If you are interested to learn about building, scaling and operating ventures for 4.6+ billion people 👥 then is your club. 🚀
• We hold AMAs with OG Asian Experts, Venture Builders, Founders and Venture Capitalists. Our weekly shows:
• 🗓My Regular Show- 📍DeFi & Crypto
• 🎙Full #conversations available on:
• 🔗Apple:apple.co/3dVw6JZ
• 🔗Spotify:spoti.fi/36pGwgl
• 🔗Google:bit.ly/3hPbunM
• 🔗Hubhopper:bit.ly/3qVWsBa

Feb 2021 – Dec 2021 · 10 mos

• As part of Access to Tokyo's activities, was selected as one of eight of the world's leading influencers in the tech & FinTech industries to be Goodwill Ambassadors of Invest Tokyo and Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

May 2020 – Oct 2022 · 2 yrs 5 mos · Hong Kong SAR

• With the COVID19 crisis leading to all events globally being suspended or cancelled, many companies are looking for an opportunity to showcase their services and products to potential clients internationally. FinStep Asia and Novsphere Media would like to cordially invite you to the Asia's Premier Virtual Fintech Fair - Virtual FinTech Fair 2020 (VFF 2020) on the 4th and 5th of August 2020. It is an exciting two day conference and virtual exhibition showcasing the best of Asian Fintech.
• Register for your complimentary conference pass here: www.virtualfintechfair.com.

Mar 2020 – Sep 2022 · 2 yrs 6 mos · Hong Kong SAR

• The world's largest and most diverse Fintech non profit forum, with ecosystem leaders from 35+ countries, founded on the principles of: Innovation, Inclusion and Impact.
• This think tank of Government, Industry, Multilateral Agencies, Innovation and thought leaders engages with policy makers, governments, Regulators, industry associations and FinTech/Blockchain/Digital/Innovation ecosystem leaders to share learnings and best practices, help frame progressive policies and collectively find solutions to humanity's biggest challenges and problem statements by leveraging disruptive tech.
• This forum is a truly collaborative approach for the decentralised era... A new organizational model.. Working for the benefit of the many, not the few..

Jan 2018 – Present · 8 yrs 3 mos · Hong Kong

• Co-founder of IndiaTech Hong Kong:
• We are a community initiative to serve as a platform for engaging of Investors and Entrepreneurs with an interest in Indian startup ecosystem, in Hong Kong, China Greater Bay and in India.
• AIM:
• Engage Community and build awareness of Indian Startup Ecosystem
• Bridge between India & the China Greater Bay area
• Enabling investments in the sector
• Provide support for Indian start-up entrepreneurs

Oct 2017 – Sep 2019 · 1 yr 11 mos

• Was the Inaugural General Manager of The FinTech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK), an independent, not-for-profit, membership-based association representing Hong Kong’s FinTech community.
• The aim of the association is to unite the Hong Kong FinTech industry and ecosystem in order to elevate Hong Kong's status as a FinTech hub. It works on creating awareness, employment, education, promotion and advocacy around FinTech. We intend to help build the ecosystem through our members and their participation in various initiatives of the Association which are driven through our sub-committees. www.hkfintech.org
• linkedin.com/company/FTAHKofficial
• facebook.com/FTAHKofficial
• twitter.com/FTAHKofficial

Jan 2017 – Aug 2022 · 5 yrs 7 mos

• The FinTech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK) is an independent, not-for-profit, membership based association representing Hong Kong’s FinTech community.
• linkedin.com/company/FTAHKofficial
• facebook.com/FTAHKofficial
• twitter.com/FTAHKofficial

Aug 2017 – Mar 2022 · 4 yrs 7 mos · Hong Kong

• Member of the UN Economic and Social Committee for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Sustainable Business Network (ESBN), promoting business leapfrogging and economic growth through the creation and expansion of Opportunity Corridors (OC's) connecting entrepreneurs with global business, capital and services.
• Globalization and access to worldwide markets has enabled streams of innovative and disruptive business ideas, models and practices, allowing entrepreneurs to embrace and benefit from OC's for both global investment and growth opportunities. At the heart of knowledge dissemination, innovation and fast expansion models are startups and SMEs riding the waves of change and facing challenges, especially in early stages.

Jul 2017 – Apr 2022 · 4 yrs 9 mos

• Contributing writer for Medici Global on topics of Fintech, Islamic Fintech, Blockchain.

Jul 2017 – Jan 2022 · 4 yrs 6 mos

• Contributing writer for Medici Global on topics of Fintech, Islamic Fintech, Blockchain.

Jul 2017 – Jan 2022 · 4 yrs 6 mos

• Contributing writer for Medici Global on topics of Fintech, Islamic Fintech, Blockchain.

Jan 2016 – Jul 2017 · 1 yr 6 mos · Hong Kong

• Working with Tier-1 Banks and Investment firms on strategy, operations and technology for electronic trading including on risk and regulations, trading risk controls, compliance, digital banking and fintech.

Jan 2013 – Jun 2014 · 1 yr 5 mos · Bangalore

• US and European Fixed Income and Energy Markets

Jul 2005 – Apr 2010 · 4 yrs 9 mos · Bangalore

• Trading US and European Fixed Income and Commodity markets, with main focus on shorter end of the US and EU fixed income futures.

Apr 2010 – Dec 2012 · 2 yrs 8 mos · Mauritius

• Built the branch from a small team to a size of 35 traders for US & UK soft commodity and energy markets with main responsibility of recruiting, training, risk management and performance evaluation. Turned around the branch revenues & spearheaded business development.