2021 Global Trade & Blockchain Forum

Mr Xiaozhun YI has been a Deputy Director-General at the World Trade Organization since October 2013.

Xiaozhun Yi has extensive experience in world trade and economics, both as a senior government official and subsequently as China's ambassador to the WTO.

He represented China as a key negotiator in China’s WTO accession process, making an important contribution to the negotiations.

Prior to becoming China's ambassador to the WTO in 2011, Mr Yi was Assistant Minister and subsequently China's Vice Minister of Commerce in charge of multilateral and regional trade negotiations and cooperation. Besides his contribution to China’s WTO accession, he played a leading role in negotiating numerous free trade agreements (FTAs), including the China-ASEAN agreement, China's first FTA. He also worked as a diplomat at the Chinese Embassy in the United States for more than four years from the late 1980s to the early 1990s.

Mr Yi obtained a Master's degree in economics from Nankai University in China in 1999.

Mr Lew Chuen Hong was appointed Chief Executive of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in June 2020. He leads IMDA in growing Singapore’s Digital Economy. This includes providing world-class infrastructure, spurring innovation, nurturing local companies, and anchoring global MNCs. This catalyses growth not just in the ICT and Media (ICM) domains, but also strengthens the core foundation of our economy. The aim is to secure Singapore’s place as an international digital metropolis.

A strong advocate for digital transformation, he also oversees the up-skilling of our workforce and the creation of good careers in the ICM domains. This also includes nurturing a digitally inclusive society – for both young and old, so that all Singaporeans can enjoy the benefits and tap the opportunities of digitalisation.

Mr Lew joins IMDA following a distinguished 25-year career with the Republic of Singapore Navy where he was the Chief of Navy from 2017 to 2020. Notable highlights include overseeing Singapore’s maritime security operations during the Trump-Kim and ASEAN summits. He was conferred the SAF Overseas Service Medal for his role supporting the re-construction of Iraq.

In 2008, Mr Lew was seconded to the Ministry of Trade & Industry where he championed pro-enterprise policies to help local enterprises scale. He also drove the strategic review of the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2015 plan which sets out Singapore’s strategy and investments to grow our knowledge-driven economy.

Mr Lew had previously served on the Boards of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and ST Engineering. He was also Chairman of the School of Applied Science Advisory Committee Board, Republic Polytechnic.

John was formerly Partner and CEO of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, the leading Australian independent law firm.

John’s appointment to the ICC is the first time that an Australian has held such a position.

John is a member of the Board of the global infrastructure investor - IFM Global Investors. He is a member of the Board of the UN Global Compact. He is Asia Pacific Chair of Veracity

Worldwide Advisory Board.

John is Co-Chair of the B20 “Financing Growth and Infrastructure” Taskforce, Chair (emeritus) of the Business Council of Australia’s Global Engagement Task Force; Chairman (emeritus) of

the Experts Group on Trade and Investment in Indonesia;and a founding member of the Australia-China CEO Roundtable.

John was a member of the Australian Government advisory panel overseeing the development of the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper. He was on the Government’s Cabinet

sub-committee for the White Paper review process published in October 2012 and later a member of the Strategic Advisory Board advising the Government on implementation and emerging policy

issues.

A former diplomat, John was a Panel Member of the Independent Review of Aid Effectiveness and was the founding Chairman of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Australia for

more than a decade.

John has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Melbourne, and is a Harvard Business School Alumnus.

Emmanuelle Ganne is Senior Analyst in the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO) where she leads WTO work on micro, small and medium side enterprises (MSMEs) and Blockchain and conducts research on MSMEs, global value chains and digital technologies. She is the author of a 2018 book entitled "Can Blockchain Revolutionize International Trade?" and is a regular speaker on MSMEs and Blockchain. She was featured in the 2021 and 2020 Inspirational Women in Trade and Trade Finance campaign of Trade Finance Global and in the 2019 campaign of Women Who Rock International Trade of the Global Trade and Professional Alliance. Prior to this, she held various positions at the WTO, including as Counselor to Director-General Pascal Lamy, and in the Accessions Division where she assessed trade policies of governments wishing to join the WTO and advised them on how to improve their business environment. From 2015 to 2017, she held the position of Vice-President and Managing Director for Europe at the Allam Advisory Group (AAG), a team of former C-level executives and senior diplomats that specializes in helping businesses expand their operations globally. Ms. Ganne is a Yale World Fellow.

Netta Korin is the founder of the Hexa Foundation, and the co-founder of Orbs, Israel’s largest blockchain infrastructure company. The Hexa Foundation aims to harness blockchain technology to help solve the region’s and the world’s most pressing humanitarian problems.

Netta spent years on Wall Street as a hedge fund manager, working for some of the world’s best-known investors, and later running her own hedge fund. Netta retired from Wall Street and moved to Israel where she focused her efforts on charitable causes and also opened her own restaurant and bakery. She then moved to work in government and was a Senior Advisor in the Israeli Ministry of Defense to General Yoav (Poly) Mordechai, Head of CoGAT, and Senior Advisor to Deputy Minister Dr. Michael Oren in the Prime Minister’s Office in Israel, focusing on Palestinian issues. Netta has held board positions in several non-profit foundations in both Israel and the United States.

Netta was the only Israeli female business person invited to join the Peace to Prosperity workshop in Bahrain, and also the only Israeli chosen to be a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils for Humanitarian Systems in 2019. Her writings on blockchain and social impact have been published and can also be found here.

Deepesh Patel is Editorial Director at Trade Finance Global (TFG). In this role, Deepesh leads efforts in developing TFG's brand, relationships and strategic direction in key markets, including the UK, US, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Deepesh regularly chairs and speaks at international industry events with the WTO, BCR, Excred, TXF, The Economist and Reuters, as well as industry associations including ICC, FCI, ITFA and BAFT. Deepesh is the host of the ‘Trade Finance Talks’ podcast and ‘Trade Finance Talks TV’. He is co-author of ‘Blockchain for Trade: A Reality Check’ with the ICC and the WTO, alongside other industry research. In addition to his work at TFG, Deepesh is a Strategic Advisor for WOA, and a Board Member of ITFA's Emerging Leaders Committee. He also sits on the Fintech Working Group of the Standardised Trust. Prior to TFG, Deepesh worked at Travelex where he was responsible for the cards business and the Travelex Money app in Europe, NAM, UK and Brazil. Deepesh is a co-opted Local Authority Governor of the Wyvern Federation, which has responsibility for 5 primary schools in South London

Aba is the CEO and co-founder of Dorae, the physical trade cloud.

Aba also co-founded the Aethel Group, a global enterprise with businesses in alternative asset management and financial services, mining and technology.

Aba received a math degree from Cornell University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.

Atul is Co-founder of #dltedgers, one of Asia’s leading fintechs in trade and supply chain digitisation. At his core data-driven and analytical, Atul is a thought leader in “inter-enterprise” technology, and a pioneer in the application of blockchain within trade and trade finance. Since launching the firm in 2018, Atul and his team have grown #dltledgers to 70 people across 3 continents. One of the most advanced enterprise blockchain operators in the trade space, the company is reporting widespread adoption, and 300% growth in income in 2020. Further expansion is planned for 2021, including entry into Europe and the USA.

James Zhou is Chief Commercial Officer, and Head of the Asia Region, for Louis Dreyfus Company. A Chinese national, James joined the Group as China CEO in 2016, managing our operations, strategic development and partnerships in the country until his appointment to his present role in 2020. Before joining LDC, he developed a deep understanding of the Chinese market throughout his career in commodities, gaining significant experience through several trading, risk management and managerial roles in the country, particularly in grains and oilseeds. He holds a Master’s degree in English Studies from the National University of Singapore.

Founder/CEO /Investor- Global Policy House (Investments/Digital Economy/Blockchain Solutions)

Top 10 Woman in Blockchain in Africa 2020

Top 40 Global Fintech4Good Fellow 2020

Senior Advisor several Governments including Government of Bermuda and African Union

B20-G20 Member Digital Transformation Taskforce & Special Initiative Women Empowerment

Ambassadress World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME)

Board Member -UK -Liberia Chambers of Commerce / United Kingdom Government

Connect: twitter- @michellechivung LinkedIn- Michelle Chivunga N Email- [email protected]

Michelle is a globally recognized Blockchain/ Digital Transformation/CBDC professional. She is also senior Government Advisor working with several governments and international groups including Government of Bermuda, African Union, United Nations, International Chambers of Commerce, World Trade Organisation, B20/ G20 group. Michelle is well known for her work in Digital Transformation/Blockchain sectors having been in the Digital Economy/Blockchain space since 2010. She has been recognized as Top 10 Woman in Blockchain in Africa and one of Top 40 Global Fintech4Good Fellows linked with the UN. Michelle now runs and owns one of few female-led black African Global Digital Economy/Blockchain group in the UK and the only ESG driven group focused on Blockchain for emerging markets, women and minority groups. Michelle also holds several board positions including being a Taskforce member of the Digital Transformation and Trade Working Group of the African Union which represents 54 Heads of Government in Africa and part of the Digital Transformation Taskforce of B20-G20. A respected professional with access to an extensive network of global stakeholders in the digital economy, financing, sustainability and global government arena. Michelle is often referred to as a young thought leader and investor in the Blockchain/Finance space working at the highest level with governments, family offices, Investors, Women’ groups, central banks and corporates around the world. She has been at the forefront of global Blockchain and Digital Economy projects. Michelle is particularly passionate about sustainability, women and youth development, advocating for inclusive and sustainable financing, digital solutions and policies that leave no one behind.

Idowu Akinde is an avid lover of technology and its applications to business, startup and venture building.

Currently serving clients on 3 continents, he has led various teams building multi-million-dollar tech products to success over the course of nearly two decades. His experience spans both enterprise and startups, and cuts across financial services (banking, insurance, fintech), telecommunications, aviation, oil and gas, agriculture, consulting (professional services) and education.

He is the founder of Boolean Labs, a digital co-creation firm that helps startups, entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs across the globe change the world by co-creating Blockchain, Artificial-Intelligence and Virtual-Reality solutions with them, and the Lead of Hyperledger's Africa Chapter.

Idowu is a frequently-sought-after speaker on Startup Building, Product Development and Technology.

Mohua has over 20 years of experience in the banking and payments platforms industry. As the Senior Director for new solutions, she is responsible for Business Development, Sales, Client Management and Channels, globally for Finacle blockchain solutions like Remittances, Trade Finance, KYC and Digital Cheques on Blockchain.

Mohua has a proven track record in the banking industry, delivering end to end Banking services, Core Banking transformation, payments technology, digital initiatives and SaaS offerings to financial institutions across the globe. She is currently responsible for building the Finacle brand in the emerging technologies space like blockchain.

She has been working closely with Banks in India and globally for them to join the Finacle blockchain based network of banks with the intent of using Finacle Blockchain solutions to lay the foundation of the next generation financial ecosystem.

She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science .

Zul Javaid was appointed as CEO of UAE Trade Connect during its formation last year. He has been a part of Etisalat, the Middle East’s leading telco and digital group for the past 10 years in various senior management roles.

Prior to this Zul has been CEO and CFO in various telecommunication and IT businesses and has lived in five countries. His experiences in Middle East, Africa and Asia have shaped his views on how digitization can enable economies to leapfrog over the normal evolutionary cycle of “mature” markets. Thus bringing rapid benefits to actors throughout the value chain and improving livelihoods in general.

Vinay is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Group’s trade, receivable and supply chain finance solutions, overseeing their development and ongoing management. He also runs the client solutions & implementation group that structures tailored client offerings. He is overseeing the design and delivery of the Group’s new trade technology stack and is accountable for the innovation and digitisation agenda within Trade.

Vinay and his team are part of several global and local trade industry forums. They front several Trade FinTech engagements and are Directors on boards of firms where the Group has strategic interests. Vinay is on the Board of R3 – a Distributed Ledger Technology enterprise firm and represents HSBC at various client, industry and media forums.

He has 20 years of experience in wholesale and transaction banking covering product, structuring, strategy, sales and relationship management. Prior to his present role, he was running strategy for HSBC’s global trade business. He moved to London from Hong Kong in 2015, where he was the Global Head of Documentary Trade solutions.

Before moving to Hong Kong, Vinay headed Product Management for HSBC’s Trade franchise in India. In his earlier roles within HSBC India, he managed the payables product suite.

Prior to joining HSBC in April 2006, Vinay was a Senior Consultant with Infosys Technologies, based in Amsterdam. He previously worked with BNP Paribas and Reliance Industries Limited in India.

Vinay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Management Studies in Finance from the University of Mumbai.

Deepesh Patel is Editorial Director at Trade Finance Global (TFG). In this role, Deepesh leads efforts in developing TFG's brand, relationships and strategic direction in key markets, including the UK, US, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Deepesh regularly chairs and speaks at international industry events with the WTO, BCR, Excred, TXF, The Economist and Reuters, as well as industry associations including ICC, FCI, ITFA and BAFT. Deepesh is the host of the ‘Trade Finance Talks’ podcast and ‘Trade Finance Talks TV’. He is co-author of ‘Blockchain for Trade: A Reality Check’ with the ICC and the WTO, alongside other industry research. In addition to his work at TFG, Deepesh is a Strategic Advisor for WOA, and a Board Member of ITFA's Emerging Leaders Committee. He also sits on the Fintech Working Group of the Standardised Trust. Prior to TFG, Deepesh worked at Travelex where he was responsible for the cards business and the Travelex Money app in Europe, NAM, UK and Brazil. Deepesh is a co-opted Local Authority Governor of the Wyvern Federation, which has responsibility for 5 primary schools in South London

A Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) and Global Trade Professional (GTP), Craig Atkinson is the Founder/Director of Lexmerca International Trade, a Consultant with the United Nations (ITC) and a Fellow with Stanford Law School. Craig is also the lead of the Xalgo4Trade Community Group and a regular contributor to the agendas of the World Trade Organization's Enhanced Integrated Framework and the World Economic Forum's Inclusive Growth Framework. His previous experience includes positions with the Commonwealth Secretariat, two national trade bodies (the Australian Trade Commission and the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service) and in the private sector. Craig holds dual master's degrees with an emphasis on Trade Economics, Technology Management, and International Commercial Law.

Chris Ballinger is the CEO and Co-founder of the Mobility Open Blockchain Initiative (MOBI), a global consortium of government agencies, academic institutions, private companies, and public organizations exploring blockchain and distributed ledger technology to improve mobility, transit, and logistics. Before MOBI, Chris held a variety of senior positions at Toyota, including CFO, Innovation, Business Analytics at Toyota Financial Services and Director of Mobility and Blockchain Services at Toyota Research Institute. Before Toyota, Chris worked as an international monetary economist at the President’s Council of Economic Advisors and SVP Treasury and Risk at Bank of America.

Nadia Hewett leads projects at the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution that shape the future of technology governance in data policy and blockchain technology. Under her leadership, deliverables focus on unlocking data and 4IR technologies to benefit society while protecting users from risks associated with the data economy. Nadia has done extensive work with blockchain technology within supply chains and trade, including the concept of a global trade digital identity. Prior to the Forum, she was with Maersk, working on a blockchain-based transportation platform (now Tradelens). She has an extensive background in digitization, strategy, product management, sales and operations, having worked with Maersk for more than a decade on major initiatives across the globe, including as Head of Supply Chain for Maersk America and global trade digitization efforts. She has lived and worked across Asia, Europe, Africa and the last 9 years in the Americas. She possesses a deep passion for addressing critical, complex issues facing society. She holds an MBA with Kellogg School of Management and a BA at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Henrik has for several years focused on how digitalisation can reduce trade barriers, and thereby reduce trade-related cost, increase trade volumes, and reduce poverty and crime. He is the lead author on the recommendation for the industry to realise a shared digital Global Trade Identity (GTID) for businesses and governments involved in global trade. He is confident GITD is a foundational requirement for the efficient digitalisation of global trade. He has been involved in EU's Port Collaborative Decision Making, is the innovator of Maersk's Tradelens, and has been an active contributor to World Economic Forum's Inclusive Deployment of Blockchain for Supply Chains.

Oswald is the former Head of Data Strategy of BHP, the world's largest diversified mining company. He has worked on initiatives covering blockchain, electronic documentation in trade, data and analytics, and automation.

Before BHP, he was on the leadership team of EOH MS in South Africa, delivering solutions for a diverse customer base globally. He focused on providing solutions that enabled electronic documentation and records management, enhanced collaboration, business process management, and reporting.

A technologist at heart with a strong focus on its impact on a corporates balance sheet, he is now focused on further the enabling of trade digitizations through the creation of standards at the international chamber of commerce.

After graduating in law in the University of Torino, he received a doctoral degree in comparative law from the University of Trieste and a master in international law from New York University.

He joined the Office of Legal Affairs of the secretariat of the United Nations in 2001 and the UNCITRAL secretariat in 2004. As secretary of UNCITRAL Working Group IV (Electronic Commerce), he oversaw the preparation of the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records, which is the first commercial law text explicitly enabling the use of distributed ledger technologies as well as a smart contract and fintech facilitator. He also contributed to drafting the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, which is the first international agreement in its field.

From March 2012 to November 2013 he was the first Head of the UNCITRAL Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific, located in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

He writes on international trade law and comparative law, dealing with sale of goods, electronic commerce and paperless trade facilitation and trade law reform in developing countries.

He has held teaching and research positions at the University of Asmara (Eritrea), the Università del Piemonte Orientale (Italy) and the University of Queensland (Australia).

Professor Sarah Green was appointed as Law Commissioner for commercial and common law on 01 January 2020. She was previously Professor of Private Law at the University of Bristol. Prior to that, she was Professor of the Law of Obligations at the University of Oxford, and, before that, a lecturer at the University of Birmingham from 2001 – 2010.

Professor Green has written about a variety of issues including virtual currencies, blockchain issues surrounding intermediated securities, smart contracts, sale of goods law as applicable to digitised assets, and wage theft.

Oswald is the former Head of Data Strategy of BHP, the world's largest diversified mining company. He has worked on initiatives covering blockchain, electronic documentation in trade, data and analytics, and automation.

Before BHP, he was on the leadership team of EOH MS in South Africa, delivering solutions for a diverse customer base globally. He focused on providing solutions that enabled electronic documentation and records management, enhanced collaboration, business process management, and reporting.

A technologist at heart with a strong focus on its impact on a corporates balance sheet, he is now focused on further the enabling of trade digitizations through the creation of standards at the international chamber of commerce.

Parm Sangha is responsible for IBM’s Global Business Services Blockchain strategy and execution leveraging blockchain capabilities, to facilitate lowest friction trade and trade finance networks. As well as being a member of the International Chambers of Commerce’s Digital Working Group for Trade Digitisation, Parm is also a leading executive that partnered with Europe’s leading banks, to enable we.trade be the world’s first blockchain enabled trade finance platform in production and enjoy a successful launch. Parm is also an active participant and speaker at BAFT, WTO and other industry events. As a proven growth driver, Parm has operated at Board level and Senior Management Client facing roles, to advise and execute business and technology strategies. Spanning the Fortune 500, Parm has applied new technologies to unlock new business value with new business models leveraging technologies like predictive analytics, AI, IoT and Blockchain Out of office hours, Parm is also an amateur inventor (more tinkerer) and has engaged with a UK Government initiative to tackle obesity with his to be patentpending stealth exercise device. He is also involved in mentoring several startups in the education, financial and charity software markets as well as Duke of Edinburgh students. He follows Arsenal Football Club, Formula 1, squash and has an awful golf handicap

Mr. Michael Vrontamitis is co-chair of the ICC working group on the digitisation of trade and a member of the ICC Banking Commission Advisory Board and World Trade Board. In his most recent role Mr Vrontamitis was responsible for Standard Chartered’s trade finance business with European and American headquartered companies as well as the business across sales, product, service and implementation in Europe and the Americas. He was also a member of the BAFT Global Trade Industry Council and BAFT board. He has also previously chaired the SWIFT Offshore CNY Best Practice Working Group – Cash & Trade Group and in 2014 he was recognised by The Asset as The Renminbi Banker of the Year in the Industry Achievement Awards of the Triple A Treasury, Trade and Risk Management Awards.

Emmanuelle Ganne is Senior Analyst in the Economic Research and Statistics Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO) where she leads WTO work on micro, small and medium side enterprises (MSMEs) and Blockchain and conducts research on MSMEs, global value chains and digital technologies. She is the author of a 2018 book entitled "Can Blockchain Revolutionize International Trade?" and is a regular speaker on MSMEs and Blockchain. She was featured in the 2021 and 2020 Inspirational Women in Trade and Trade Finance campaign of Trade Finance Global and in the 2019 campaign of Women Who Rock International Trade of the Global Trade and Professional Alliance. Prior to this, she held various positions at the WTO, including as Counselor to Director-General Pascal Lamy, and in the Accessions Division where she assessed trade policies of governments wishing to join the WTO and advised them on how to improve their business environment. From 2015 to 2017, she held the position of Vice-President and Managing Director for Europe at the Allam Advisory Group (AAG), a team of former C-level executives and senior diplomats that specializes in helping businesses expand their operations globally. Ms. Ganne is a Yale World Fellow.