Events

Taimur Baig, PhD, heads global economics as well as macro strategy for interest rate, credit, and currency at DBS Group Research. He also advises the bank on risk management and investment strategy. Prior to joining DBS, Dr. Baig was a Principal Economist at the Economic Policy Group, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Earlier, he spent nine years at Deutsche Bank’s Singapore office, where his last position was Managing Director and Chief Economist, Asia. During 1999-2007, he was based in Washington, DC, at the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund, where his last position was Senior Economist. Dr. Baig has published extensively for both specialists and a general audience, on areas including monetary policy, digital currency, financial technology, climate change, demographics, frontier markets, fiscal policy efficacy, and financial market contagion. He is the host of “Kopi Time,” a widely followed podcast series on markets and economies.

Sofia Hammoucha is the Global head of Trade and Working Capital at Standard Chartered Bank, based in Singapore. Prior to this role, Sofia was the head of risk for Transaction Banking. Before joining SCB in July 2022, Sofia spent 22 years in BNP Paribas in multi-cultural environment across several roles with responsibilities in Risk management, internal audit, business development & strategy, leadership and change management in Europe and Asia Pacific. Her most recent position was the head of Transaction Banking business for ASEAN, based in Singapore, leading a team of 70 cash management and trade finance specialists across sales, implementation, clients servicing and product development. In 2020, the Asset magazine named Sofia “Transaction Banker of the year” in Asia Pacific, recognizing her relentless search for the best solutions for clients in South-East Asia and beyond.

Dr. Tom James is a globally recognized authority in commodity and energy markets, financial services, and fintech innovation. A pioneering fund manager, published author, and space tech entrepreneur, he has spent over 35 years shaping international trade, investment strategies, and risk management. With extensive board experience, including leadership roles in public companies, Dr. James continues to drive transformation and innovation at the intersection of technology, finance, and global trade in order to help reshape markets, unlock new opportunities, and drive global economic growth. Innovation in Commodity Markets & Trade Digitization In 1998, Dr. James revolutionized commodity trading by designing and launching the first online, digital ID-secured trading platform for commodity swaps, enhancing trade security and global access.As Co-Founder & Chief Architect of TradeFlow Capital, he spearheaded the creation of the world’s first AI-powered, digital supply chain fund, dedicated to solving the SME commodity trade finance gap. Since 2016, TradeFlow has facilitated billions in global trade, unlocking growth for SMEs worldwide.

Greg Kavanaugh is a managing director and head of Global Liquidity Investment Solutions and Revenue Management for Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Transaction Services. Kavanaugh joined Bank of America in May of 2007 to lead the Treasury Services Revenue Management group and added Global Liquidity responsibilities in early 2008. Before joining the firm, Kavanaugh was head of Liquidity and Investment Products, Commercial Client Solutions for JPMorgan Chase.

As Group Managing Director and Head of Global Transaction Banking, Mr Melvyn Low has responsibility for OCBC’s transaction banking business serving SMEs, large corporations, financial institutions and government entities across the Bank’s core markets of Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. He is an industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience and has held senior positions in cash management, trade and securities services in regional and global banks. He is currently the Payment Co-Chair of the Digital Standing Committee for the Association of Banks in Singapore and also serves as a board member of Network for Electronic Transfers (Singapore) and the Singapore Trade Data Exchange (SGTraDex). Mr Low is an IBF Distinguished Fellow and holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

Sopnendu Mohanty is the Co-Founder and Group CEO of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a global advisory and investment firm. At GFTN, he leads innovative strategies that drive development and transformation in the financial sector through four operating arms: Forums, Advisory, Platform, and Capital. He served the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as its first Chief Fintech Officer for nearly a decade, establishing Singapore on the global map as a leading center for innovation in the financial sector and a dynamic hub for fintech development. He continues to advise MAS on technology and innovation. He currently serves on several boards, including the board of A*STAR, Singapore’s leading public sector agency dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation. Before his leadership role in the public sector, he spent nearly two decades at Citigroup. He is credited with developing many public goods, including the notable PayNow, Singapore’s digital public infrastructure for payments. He conceptualized the globally well-known Singapore Fintech Festival and its global network of forums; today, the GFTN forum is the world’s largest convenor of tech, policymakers, and the financial sector community. Mr. Mohanty has co-authored several patented works in digital finance and received numerous industry accolades. He advises governments and various institutions on policies and implementation strategies for innovation, infrastructure, and ecosystem development in the financial sector.

Sriram joined DBS in 2018 as Managing Director, Global Transaction Services. His current remit as Group Head of Product Management covers cash and liquidity management, enterprise-wide payments, trade finance and supply chain finance solutions offered by the Bank. With more than 20 years of banking experience spanning across several key international financial hubs, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and India, Sriram spearheads DBS’ digital product initiatives across the region. Since joining DBS, Sriram has led the transformation of its cash management, payments, and trade and supply chain finance businesses into ones that are fast growing, digital, innovative and market leading. He has also led the launch of several innovative payments solutions including DBS Globesend. Sriram is passionate about driving diversity and inclusion in the workplace, besides developing innovative solutions to serve corporates, large and small.

Craig Weeks is the Senior Vice President – Trade for the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT). Craig is also a Transaction Banking subject matter expert for Fitch Learning and an Executive Practicum Adviser of the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative of North Carolina State University. Craig served as SVP and Manager of the International Banking Group of US Bank as well as serving at Citibank and JPMorgan as Global Trade Sales Head for both institutions. Craig worked for Continental Grain Company, in New York, as Assistant Treasurer for Bank Relations, and in Geneva, Switzerland as Trade Finance Risk Manager. Craig has a Masters of International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management (Glendale, AZ) and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dickinson College, (Carlisle, PA) where he is an Emeritus Trustee. Craig also studied at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Medellin, Colombia). Craig was a board member and former Chair of the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT). Craig is a Disaster Services volunteer for the American Red Cross Serving Western North Carolina and an avid hiker and golfer. He and his wife Lorraine reside in Weaverville, NC USA.