Khalil Al MansooriActing Director General, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX), Khalil Al MansooriActing Director General, Abu Dhabi Exports Office (ADEX) Khalil Fadhel Al Mansoori is the Acting Director General of Abu Dhabi Exports Office, the export-financing arm of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). He is responsible for managing ADEX’s business development activities, including evaluation of loan requests, nurturing key stakeholder relationships, offering senior management informed loan recommendations and overseeing ADEX’s overall operations. All these responsibilities are undertaken with the aim of facilitating the organization’s continuous growth. Before taking on this role in 2022, Khalil managed the disbursement section of the Finance Department of ADFD starting in 2018. The role involved credit and grant administration for both local and international projects. Additionally, he executed various investment opportunities. Khalil began his journey at ADFD in 2013 as an engineer, rising to the position of Senior Engineer in 2017. During this tenure, he played an active role in conducting project feasibility studies and managing the financing of international projects. Proficient in Arabic and English, Khalil served on various committees and boards of entities including the Arabian Gulf Program for Development, UAE-Bangladesh Investment Company, Al Ain Farm for Livestock Production, Al Dhabi Development Company and Abu Dhabi Tourism Investment Company. Khalil holds a B. Sc., in Civil Engineering from Ohio State University in the United States. |
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Raja Al MazroueiCEO, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), Raja Al MazroueiCEO, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) A multi-award-winning digital transformation leader with over 20 years of experience driving the next generation of digital innovation across various industries. Renowned for her technical vision and empathetic leadership, Raja has a proven track record of cross-functional management and successfully transforming and bolstering businesses, contributing significantly to the UAE’s thriving economy. Serving as the current CEO of Etihad Credit Insurance, Raja plays an instrumental role in actualising ECI’s vision and mission, driving the strategy to support UAE exporters, fortify national economic growth, and further position the UAE as a global trading powerhouse. During her tenure in DIFC as the Executive Vice President, Raja played a pivotal role in advancing the UAE’s national innovation agenda by establishing The FinTech Hive, one of the region’s most successful FinTech hubs and ecosystems. Raja’s proactive collaboration with diverse stakeholders has contributed to the UAE’s thriving digital economy, fostering the growth of over 500 financial technology startups, and earning the FinTech Hive recognition as one of the world’s top financial innovation labs by Global Finance Magazine. Over the years, Raja has further expanded her credentials by completing executive education programs at Harvard Business School, London Business School, University of California at Berkeley, and Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance. Recently, she completed the Singularity Executive Program, a leadership transformation program focused on the potential of exponential technologies for building a better world. Beyond her core responsibilities, Raja serves on various boards, including the Harvard Business School MENA Advisory Board, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, Zand Digital Bank, Al Masraf Arab Bank, Al Ansari Financial Services, and Ittihad International Investment. Raja‘s leadership is defined by her unwavering commitment to leveraging technology and innovation for a positive impact in various sectors. She is driven by a deep commitment to shaping the future of trade and the economy, constantly seeking opportunities to elevate community life and prosperity. By nurturing innovative mindsets and executing scalable strategies, Raja strives to contribute to the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation and trade, reflecting her profound dedication to inspiring change and progress. |
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Abdelhamid AliHead of Risk Services for Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan, Atradius, Abdelhamid AliHead of Risk Services for Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan, Atradius Head of Risk Services for Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan Mr. Abdelhamid Ali is Head of Risk Services for the Middle East, Egypt, and Pakistan at Atradius. Based in Dubai, he leads a diverse cross-cultural team and looks to achieve the best results for the company and its customers by utilizing his 20 years of experience in the banking and credit insurance industry. Mr. Ali joined Atradius back in 2014. Abdelhamid’s skill-set spans across credit risk management in corporate banking to trade credit insurance with a solid understanding of the GCC region and Middle Eastern markets. Mr. Ali started his career in Egypt with one of the leading investment banks, Commercial International Bank (CIB), and then moved to Dubai to join Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) in 2007. Abdelhamid earned a Bachelor’s and an MBA degree and is a certified international credit professional (CICP). He is an avid football fan who loves watching and playing football. |
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Haitham AlkhazalehDirector of Risk Management, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), Haitham AlkhazalehDirector of Risk Management, Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) Haitham Al Khazelah holds the position of a Risk Management Director at Etihad Credit Insurance. In his current capacity, he manages the Risk Underwriting, Information and claims units of the organization, ensuring holistic risk assessments to further strengthen ECI’s product offerings. Haitham has an extensive knowledge and experience in the trade credit insurance industry as he previously served in Coface and Allianz Trade, two of the global leaders in the industry. In these organizations, he demonstrated strong leadership skills, having earlier worked as the Risk Analysis and Claims Director at Coface, leading a team of experts responsible for managing a risk exposure in excess of $7 Billion across the Middle Eastern countries and a network of risk and debt recovery and information experts. Prior to joining Coface, Haitham served in various roles at Allianz Trade in the GCC region including risk underwriting and claims department supporting a multi-billion-dollar risk exposure portfolio in the GCC region and serving multi-national and national clients. Haitham holds an MBA from the University of Dubai and participated in several extensive international trainings and industry events. |
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Damian AustinManaging Director – Chief Banking Officer, BACB, Damian AustinManaging Director – Chief Banking Officer, BACB As Chief Banking Officer, Damian is responsible for leading BACB’s businesses, incorporating Trade Finance, Real Estate, and Banking & Payment Services. Additionally, he oversees the corporate and financial institution coverage, working with BACB’s team of Relationship Managers and Transaction Client Services Team. Damian has over 25 years’ Banking experience and a proven track record in originating, structuring, and syndicating transactions across a variety of specialist markets; having served as Interim European Head of Wholesale Banking & European Head of Global Transaction Banking at Bank ABC, and previously holding senior positions at HSBC and Barclays, where he built and led the Global Trade Syndications team. In his role at BACB Damian oversees the Bank’s key business development activities, delivering sustainable profitable growth for the organisation. Using his extensive industry experience, Damian is leading the implementation of the Bank’s strategy to provide tailored solutions to clients operating, and trading, in specialist markets. |
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Baihas BaghdadiCEO & Founder, Trade & Working Capital, S.A., Baihas BaghdadiCEO & Founder, Trade & Working Capital, S.A. Mr. Baghdadi has thirty years of international corporate banking experience, developing global banking businesses across numerous industry sectors and in different corporate banking areas and geographies, he spent 25 years supporting Multinational Corporates and Financial Institution clients to develop their business overseas working for international banks (Arab Bank, Fortis “now part of BNP” & Barclays) with large international networks in different parts of the world. After leaving Barclays where he was the MD and Global Head of Trade & Working Capital, he launched in 2019 “Trade & Working Capital” (TWC), an NBFI Spain based fully dedicated to supporting the southern European SMEs working capital. TWC today is a market leader in Spain with more than 400 million euros of invoices financed, supported by top institutional investors funding of 150 million euros. |
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Diego BarronHead of Private Debt Mobilization Europe, Banco Santander, Diego BarronHead of Private Debt Mobilization Europe, Banco Santander Diego is the European Head of the Private Debt Mobilization (PDM). Based in London, he is responsible for all the distribution of assets in Europe, both primary and secondary. His group manages all the underwriting and warehousing risk in Europe for all asset classes. He joined Santander in 2017 and holds 20 years’ experience in different banking roles mainly in the capital markets arena. Previously, he worked at Banco Popular from 2009 to 2017 where he managed the Institutional and Markets business and was also Head of Investor Relations. Prior to this, he also worked as an equity research analyst mainly at BNP. |
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Joel BensoorHead of Portfolio Management, British International Investment, Joel BensoorHead of Portfolio Management, British International Investment Joel is the Head of Financial Services Portfolio Management at British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. Joel oversees a global portfolio, with the aim of investing to create more sustainable and inclusive economies across Africa and Asia. Prior to joining BII, Joel held senior positions at Mediobanca where he was Head of Loan & CLO Trading, in an African investment fund and at Deutsche Bank, where he focussed on emerging markets credit trading. Joel has more than 15 years’ experience in trading, portfolio management and structuring. He holds master’s degrees in engineering from University College London and is a CFA charter holder. |
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Robert BesselingRobert BesselingFounder and CEO, Pangea-Risk Robert founded Pangea-Risk in 2015 after pursuing a career in political risk forecasting at industry-leading firms in the UK and US. At Pangea-Risk, Robert leads a team of partners, researchers, and contributing analysts to produce commercially relevant and actionable analysis and forecasts on political, security, and economic risk in Africa and the Middle East. Robert also retains the lead on many consulting projects for blue chip corporations in a wide variety of sectors. Robert is regularly invited to speak at major international conferences on topics such as metals and mining, trade and export finance, and global security matters. He frequently moderates ministerial panels and has interviewed multiple African heads of state and government during his career. Robert makes frequent appearances on televised media, as well as contributions to international print media. He has travelled extensively on the continent and calls Africa his ‘home’. |
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Angel G. BlancoManaging Director, Head of Platform Solutions, Demica, Angel G. BlancoManaging Director, Head of Platform Solutions, Demica Angel G. joined Demica in 2016, when it was still in start-up phase. He came with a strong conviction that technology can be a key enabler to Trade Finance, given the particular characteristics of this asset class, but that significant development was required. He has been proven correct, and the company has grown hugely since then, with Angel currently a Managing Director and Head of the Platform Solutions Team. The Team provides technology solutions in the Trade Finance and Working Capital space to some of the largest multi-national financial institutions and corporates in the world. In this role, Angel has successfully bridged the gap from a background in Finance, to influential Technologist in this area. He previously worked at Banco Santander across different countries and business segments, including over 10 years in Corporate and Investment banking, performing different management roles in Structured Trade Finance and Working Capital Solutions. Angel is a busy father of three young boys, still a dedicated footballer and a wildlife enthusiast. |
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Sean BoweySean BoweyHead of Product GTRF, SAB Sean is a Trade Finance specialist with 22 years’ banking experience, 18 with HSBC and 4, in Riyadh, with HSBC associate SAB. He has held leadership positions in Trade Finance in New York, Latin America and Hong Kong and has a particular passion for innovation and digitalization, leading SAB’s digital projects in Trade Finance, including Saudi Arabia’s first ever blockchain based Trade Finance transaction. Sean is involved with Trade Finance industry initiatives including the International Trade & Forfaiting Association’s Middle East Trade Technology adoption group and is committed to using technological developments to reduce friction in Trade Finance, to decrease the Trade Finance gap and to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision initiatives of becoming a global trade hub and digital banking centre with a growing SME sector. |
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Zena BrakeCredit Intelligence Director, Allianz Trade Middle East, Zena BrakeCredit Intelligence Director, Allianz Trade Middle East Zena brings in multiple years of experience in the credit insurance and banking industry in UAE. She joined Allianz Trade in Middle East in 2011 and occupied various positions: Credit Underwriting Team Leader, Head of Credit Assessment and lately Credit Director. Previously, she worked in Noor Bank in Dubai serving several roles in Consumer Banking, Distribution and Islamic Finance. Zena is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Society Emirates, she holds a Master degree in Applied Finance and Banking from University of Wollongong. |
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Russell BrownGlobal Head Trade Finance – Financial Institutions, Deutsche Bank, Russell BrownGlobal Head Trade Finance – Financial Institutions, Deutsche Bank Russell Brown is Global Head of Trade Finance – Financial Institutions, in the Corporate Bank Division of Deutsche Bank, based in London. Russell is a veteran of Trade Finance with over 30 years experience. His experience has predominantly been on the corporate side and he has been responsible for the full Trade Finance flow product suite to UK, Irish & Nordic corporates and Multinational corporates domiciled in the UK, Ireland, Nordics, Sub Saharan Africa, Israel and selected Eastern European countries. He headed up Deutsche Bank UK, Ireland and Nordics from 2005 until August 2019. Alongside his position now as Head of Trade Finance & Lending for UK & Ireland Russell has assumed the role of Global Head of Trade Finance – Financial Institutions since August 2019. As a leading global Trade Finance bank Deutsche Bank’s Russell has a team of over 50 people sitting globally serving its correspondent banks to facilitate international Trade in over 145 countries. |
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Dominic CapolongoChief Revenue Officer, LiquidX, Dominic CapolongoChief Revenue Officer, LiquidX Dominic Capolongo brings over 25 years of broad experience building sustainable revenue production and defining, managing, and leading teams. Previously, Dominic served as Global Head of Funding at PrimeRevenue and held positions at leading financial services companies including FBR, RBC Capital Markets, Jefferies, and Credit Suis |
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Jonny CarruthersJonny CarruthersDirector, BPL Global Jonny Carruthers has eighteen years of experience in the insurance market. He joined BPL Global in 2015 and was made Director in 2019. As Director, Jonny’s role focuses on managing a team dedicated to Excess of Loss (XoL) trade credit insurance, supporting a client base that spans the banking, commodity, agricultural and oil & gas sectors. In 2018, the XoL team led by Jonny was launched to structure and place bespoke credit insurance programmes for large multinational corporates, banks and captives in response to increased demand from BPL Global’s clients for portfolio credit insurance. The six-strong team has enabled BPL Global to broaden its use of the product within the insurance market and strengthen clients’ credit risk management. The team has also worked to deliver further product efficiencies to enhance portfolio growth for both new and existing clients, helping banks to obtain regulatory capital relief, eliminate operational risks and improve their advance rate through having their own insurance policy. Before joining BPL Global, Jonny held the position of Executive Director at Willis from 2009 to 2015, with a focus on top-tier banking clients and multinational corporates. He also helped to develop new products and unique policy structures. Prior to this, he spent four years at Marsh as a Client Executive in the London trade credit insurance team. Jonny holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from the University of Bath. He is ACII qualified and holds a FINMA broking licence in Switzerland. |