VIEW THE 2022 SPEAKERS

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As the Startups and SMEs Lead for Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office, Maithya leads a team focused on empowering these organisations through digital technologies.   Based in Kenya, he has held various commercial roles in multiple industry sectors in the last 20 years, most recently as the Investment Director for ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund, one of the ARCH Emerging Markets funds. Together with the Managing Director, he was responsible for the management of the US$100 million East Africa Cold Chain Solutions fund.   Prior to this Maithya held various positions at Barclays Bank, where he gained experience in strategy, commercial development, consumer and corporate banking. His most recent role with the bank was as Head of Global Clients and Financial Institutions team for Barclays Bank in Kenya, which later rebranded to ABSA Bank Kenya.   Earlier in his career, Maithya worked at Cadbury Schweppes between 2001 and 2007 where he held positions in Sales and Marketing with responsibility covering emerging markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa.   During his career, Maithya has lived and worked in Kenya, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda. He holds a BSc Physics and Mathematics from the University of Nairobi as well as an MBA from London Business School, United Kingdom, and a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma.   In 2005, Maithya founded the Precious Sisters Charity in Kenya. The Charity supports bright individuals from underprivileged backgrounds by paying their tuition fees through secondary school. As of January 2022, the charity had supported and actively mentored more than 320 girls in four schools, with 96 percent of them securing admission to local and international colleges and universities. In recognition of the charity’s impact, Maithya was awarded a Barclays Global Citizenship Award.

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Gary Knight is the CEO of WOLF (The World’s Online Festival), a global entertainment and community social network. After successfully completing an exit for his previous media production business, Knight initially joined WOLF (the app formerly known as Palringo) as a strategy consultant. Having worked with the likes of globally reputed gaming organizations such as Electronic Arts (EA) and SEGA, Knight’s extensive video game and leadership expertise was sought out by Palringo when the then-messaging platform was looking to deliver significant change and build its gamification of engaged communities. Knight’s analysis and strategic thinking are what would transform Palringo and eventually lead to its rebranding, as WOLF. Knight’s vision is to create multiple user-generated, user-performed, and user-consumed festival metaverse environments which foster a 24/7 community of friendship and belonging. This has been a key catalyst and driving force behind WOLF’s growth into the unique content creation platform that it has become today.   Since obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Sports and Business Management from Northumbria University, and subsequently a master’s degree in marketing from Newcastle Business School, Knight has developed a successful track record in building and scaling high-growth technology-based businesses. Over the course of Knight’s 20+ year career, his proven business acumen has grown to consist of specialties in people leadership, business strategy and development, VC funding, M&A, technology and product development, marketing and digital transformation, data analytics, brand strategy, and re-branding.

Moving forward, Knight’s ambition is to continue WOLF’s development as the leading audio content creation platform in MENA, bringing festivals to the metaverse with a truly unique user experience and community. As WOLF develops its virtual 3D worlds and venues, users will take the opportunity to rock the stage and display their talents to live audiences within a thriving metaverse environment.

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 Gaurang Shah is the EEMEA lead for Product & Engineering for Mastercard and passionately showcases how Mastercard leverages technology to build solutions and achieve exponential innovation that transforms industries, benefits economies, and positively impacts communities.In his current role, Gaurang oversees the design, development and deployment of consumer, merchant, sme and b2b solutions. Gaurang in addition leads development and execution of product go-to-market strategies that enables customers to benefit from an expanding digital economy amidst the accelerating growth of digital and electronic payments. Prior to his EVP role, Gaurang was Mastercard’s Digital Payments and Innovation head for MEA and before that MENA Division Lead for Global Processing, focused on national ecosystem development. He also successfully led the region’s Safety & Security agenda by conceptualizing and executing the fraud solutions strategy. He has implemented several key initiatives across the region since joining Mastercard in April 2013. Gaurang brings 20+ years of experience in digitization, technology, banking and payments, working with global companies such as Infosys (large software exporter), ICICI Bank (India’s largest private sector bank), Visa and now Mastercard. He graduated from the Indian School of Business (affiliated to Kellogg’s, Wharton and London Business School) with a master’s degree in Business Administration, which he pursued soon after graduating top of his class as a chemical engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

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Gilbert Ohana is the Co-Managing Partner of FinTLV Ventures, a global insurtech-focused fund that partners with the best insurtech and fintech companies through all phases, with a bias towards later-stage deals. Recent investments include leading or participating in investment rounds in some of the most prestigious companies in these fields, including Hippo Insurance, Next Insurance, Unqork, Corvus, Wefox, and others. Before establishing FinTLV, Gilbert served 26 years in the Israeli Intelligence Corps and was the Chief Technology Officer of one of the leading technology units, leading the unit’s Technology Strategy, Cyber Security and Data Analytics programs, and Joint-Ventures with technology vendors in Israel, Europe, and the US. Gilbert is also an advisor to several financial companies and the Israeli ICT Authority on innovative technology strategies and risk management.

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As Head of Group Digital at Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), Grant is accountable for defining and executing the Bank-wide digital vision and strategic initiatives across the organisation. Originally from, Scotland, UK, Grant has worked in several executive roles over the last 20 years spanning the technology, consulting and financial services industry in Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining BSF in March’20, Grant held a partner position with EY where he led the Technology Consulting practice for the financial services sector across the MENA region. Grant is a regular public speaker and prominent voice at leading events across the region on the topics of digital banking, Fintech, Open Finance and adoption of disruptive technologies in the financial services sector

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