An experienced chairman and board member with a near 50-year career in the US, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, particularly in banking, private equity and venture capital, John is a former senior executive at Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter Reynolds and Kemper Securities. He is the incumbent chairman since 2003 of an investment banking division of Citic Group, the trillion-dollar Chinese state-owned conglomerate, executive director of Nev World and Goldenport Enterprises, holds positions in a number of investment vehicles, and is chairman of the BFD media group. He is a published author and accomplished speaker, including on investments and blockchain, and he holds a bachelor’s in business administration focused on accounting.

Yuya is a finance professional with a decade’s experience in traditional and disruptive financial products, services and technologies, and in market trading. Following a career start with Hong Kong-based pan-Asian wealth management firm, Harris Fraser, where he was responsible for developing the advisors’ network in Japan, he co-founded and is the ex-CEO of Uraus Platforms. Yuya co-founded the Axys group in 2023 and is the group CEO. Yuya developed and is the current CEO of Crypto Trust, an AI-assisted digital assets trading platform, producing over 300% annual returns through the bear market. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from leading private university, Kwansei Gakuin in Hyogo, Japan.

Chisako is the co-founder and CEO since February 2024 (formerly COO) of digital fintech company Uraus Platforms, and the co-founder and group COO of Axys group, alongside longstanding business partner, Yuya Takemura. She is also COO of the multichain trading marketplace, Neo Garden, the first buyer-side minting platform operating across the Binance, Ethereum, Avalanche and Polygon chains. Earlier in her career, Chisako established and operated the popular Marilvio beauty salon in Japan, receiving media attention and a celebrity following. She has a loyal and influential HNW and VIP customer-base, which trusts her for her straightforward Web3 insights and her integrity.

Edwin has 30 years’ experience as a certified public accountant, chartered accountant and a seasoned board member and CFO of numerous private and publicly listed companies in North America, the Middle East and Asia. Formerly at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Edwin was partner for 15 years of a corporate finance firm, heading up Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. As ex-CEO of venture capital firm NeoVision Ventures, director of KoreConX private equity platform and interests in Web3 projects, he has a strong technology focus, as well as biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure. Edwin is SEO of Stonearb, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.

Stefano brings over two decades of experience in principal investments, fund management, investment banking and corporate strategy. Beginning his career at Goldman Sachs, Stefano has held key roles, including CIO, for multiple leading global companies. He is the former Group CFO of Tier One Holdings and head of private equity for multinational conglomerate National Industries Group, responsible for investments in infrastructure, telecoms and technology. Prior to this, Stefano was based in Montreal and Geneva with Pictet and Cie, where he led new initiatives within equities and derivatives capital markets. A CFA Charterholder since 2001, he holds a BSc from Queen’s University, Canada, and an MBA from Insead.

Fluent in English, French, Arabic and Japanese, Nasser has had a 15-year career as a finance professional. Since 2016, he has been in the crypto and blockchain space as a fund manager and investor, taking an evidence-based approach with a diverse portfolio. He helped secure a $50m funding round from a Layer 1 blockchain foundation in a landmark asset-backed tokenization structure. Nasser joined Sublime Group in 2019 and heads fund management and crypto investment vehicles, nearly quadrupling AUM to $400m. Nasser holds a BSc in business administration focused on economics, finance and international business, and an MBA in finance from Drexel University, Philadelphia. He also attended Waseda University in Tokyo.

Yaser is a thought leader in the Arab cryptocurrency and digital assets space, leveraging his expertise as a veteran trader, analyst and community builder, with a demonstrated track record managing substantial portfolios and overseeing trading teams. As a seasoned technical analyst and senior trader at CoinBits, his popular Twitter Spaces attract high-profile guests, and he co-hosts the Wallet podcast on Sky News Arabia with over 10 million listeners. From 2016 to 2021 he led the Jordan Bitcoin Traders’ Group to over 30,000 active users. He founded proprietary crypto trading and investment advisory firms Aliens Club in London and Maysoonty in the UAE. He holds a degree in civil engineering from the UK.

With a diverse career spanning six different decades, including 20 years in proprietary trading across the main and alternative markets, forex, cryptocurrencies and digital assets, Steve has the benefit of personal experience and exposure in the asset classes he consults on. From 2007, Steve built an international property portfolio, including ten major commercial buildings in the UK with hundreds of clients such as National Grid, British Gas, Cordant Group, Balfour Beatty, Huawei and Nokia. Having worked and invested in a number of sectors, he always remains committed to business development, customer relations and communications. Steve is a qualified and licensed property broker and a certified cryptocurrency trader.

Peter is an experienced lawyer and commercial advisor with two decades’ experience in resolving complex disputes, white-collar crime and non-contentious matters. A Cambridge University graduate, Peter trained at the Bar before starting his practicing career at LeBoeuf Lamb (later Dewey & LeBoeuf) in the City of London. Peter moved to Dubai in 2010, where he is now co-managing partner at ADG Legal, one of the region’s largest firms with offices also in the UK, Saudi Arabia and North Africa. Peter is highly recommended for his commercial, efficient and friendly approach, and he sits on numerous boards. Published in leading journals, Peter is often a keynote speaker.

Debora is an accomplished UAE-based, UK-qualified lawyer and commercial advisor with extensive experience in litigation and corporate and commercial matters. She holds a master’s in law, having trained at City Law School before starting her career at Ashurst in London. Debora is currently an associate at international law firm ADG Legal, working on complex disputes including white-collar crime and non-contentious matters. Debora is involved in numerous digital assets-related projects and finds practicable and commercial solutions for developers, investors and organizations by navigating the complexities of cryptocurrencies, digital assets and blockchain within the shifting legal and regulatory landscapes of numerous jurisdictions.

Cara has a demonstrated history in the financial services industry, including at KPMG in Dublin, and Close Brothers and Conyers in Cayman before co-founding Provenance. Skilled in internal audit, compliance, risk management, corporate finance, banking and trust, and hedge funds, Cara is a CIMA-approved AML Compliance Officer (AMLCO) and Money-Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for regulated industries, and a member of several industry associations focusing on virtual assets, including the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA). She completed her ACAMS on blockchain and cryptocurrency and qualified as a chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

With expertise and qualifications in law, tax, and compliance, Ruan is an Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, with a BA in Law and an LLB (SA), as well as a Certified AML Fintech Compliance Associate (ACAMS), a General Tax Practitioner (SAIT), and a Certified Bitcoin Professional (C4). He started his career in South Africa as an associate attorney at Roets & Rensburg, in general litigation practice and later in commercial and tax compliance for high-net-worth individuals and major corporates. In the latter part of his career, Ruan has focused on AML/CFT compliance, with a specific interest in data protection, digital assets, funds, and fintechs. He is the co-founder and co-COO of Provenance, alongside Cara Hennessey.

Biography to follow

Biography to follow