Andrea is Business Development Manager at XDC Foundation and member of the Board of Advisors at PLI Plugin. He is also Chair of BSCA Europe and a member of the Board of Advisors of TOTTA | Trans-Oceanic Trade Tech Alliance. Leveraging his experience as Chair of the Hyperledger Supply Chain & Trade Finance Special Interest Group, he is bridging traditional trade finance with next-generation solutions, championing digital transformation and decentralized solutions to drive automation, transparency, and efficiency in cross-border transactions.

Venu Borra is a Technical Architect with deep expertise in Emerging Technologies, including Blockchain, AI, and IoT. A fervent advocate for interoperable solutions, he drives transformative advancements in trade finance, supply chain, and financial services by digitizing freight, document, and payment transactions to streamline cross-border trade. As a strong believer in delivering exceptional customer experiences to complex trade and supply chain processes and focuses building resilient systems at scale and streamlined process execution in international trade. Venu Borra is a dedicated proponent of sustainability, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, and building Net Zero strategies to ensure long-term environmental responsibility. He authored “Quantum Leap: Innovative Strategies for Trade Finance in the 21st Century and Beyond”, published by Springer Nature, which explores visionary approaches to modern trade finance. He embraces diverse roles as an entrepreneur and technocrat, while also serving as a startup mentor at T-Hub Innovation Center in Hyderabad, guiding entrepreneurs to transform their innovative visions into reality.

Erik is a CITT-certified logistics professional with over 30 years of experience in global supply chain management. As the co-founder and partner of Besner Lachaine Valiquette, a leading executive recruitment firm specializing in supply chain and logistics, he has helped organizations build strong leadership teams equipped to navigate today’s dynamic business environment. Erik also serves as CEO of the Blockchain Supply Chain Association, where he supports collaborative efforts to improve supply chain systems through emerging technologies. His work emphasizes practical innovation, transparency, and long-term sustainability bringing together people, processes, and tools to build supply chains that are not just efficient, but responsible and resilient.

Stephan is the Founding Member and Chairman of the Verifiable Trade Foundation, a Swiss not-for-profit organization. In March 2024, he was appointed Chairman of the Industry Advisory Board of the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), supporting global alignment and adoption of digital trade standards. Since 2023 he has also been a member of the Board of ICC Germany. From 2014 to 2024, Stephan was CEO of the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF). Earlier, in 1989, he co-founded IS Innovative Software GmbH, which later became part of Interactive Data Corporation (NYSE-listed), where he held the position of Global Chief Technology Officer.

Bob is a platform strategist and advisor specialising in digital ecosystems, international trade, and sustainable business transformation. With over 15 years’ experience, Bob has played a key role in launching and scaling blockchain-powered platforms that connect global trade partners, streamline processes, and enable real-time ESG tracking. He is recognised for integrating platform thinking and ethical governance into complex value chains, helping organisations unlock value and drive sustainable growth. As an advisory board member at The Open Working Group, Bob supports strategic direction, ecosystem development, and the international scaling of innovative digital initiatives.

Subra is a tech industry veteran with 35 years of track record, building and scaling businesses across the Asia Pacific. Over the past decade, he has emerged as a respected thought leader in the digitization of trade. As the founder and principal of TOTTA, Subra is driven by a core belief: digitization isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the key to bridging the trade finance gap especially for. He also predicts that by 2030, non-banking financial institutions will have to play a huge role and share in closing this gap.

Tenured Professor of Commercial Law at UCLM. Member of the Academic Advisory Body of INATBA (International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications). International Fellow at the Information Society Law Center (Milan). Visiting Professor at Università degli Studi (Milan), lectured at “Sicurezza informatica, privacy e protezione dei dati sensibili”, nel corso di Laurea in Giurisprudenza e corso di Laurea in Scienze dei Servizi Giuridici and “Data protection, Law and AI” nel corso di Laurea magistrale in Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. Founding member of the Blockchain Association of Castilla-La Mancha. Research stays in Turin, Bonn, and Harvard.

Bryan Clark is a leading expert in international trade and policy, currently serving as the Managing Director of NeXTRADE, an ecosystem that enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to navigate global trade with increased efficiency and reduced costs. With a career defined by high-level advocacy, he was a Strategic Adviser to the Simplified Trade System (STS) Implementation Taskforce, providing expert policy advice on international supply chains and compliance regimes. Previously, as Director of the International Chamber of Commerce at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Bryan led Australia’s international engagement with major global bodies including the WTO, UN, and OECD. A recognised authority on trade agreements and regulatory reform, he currently serves as a Non-Executive Director for the Australian Centre for International Trade and Investment, where he continues to advance Australia’s economic engagement through research and professional networks.

Hans brings 30 years of experience in logistics, marketing and the financial industry encompassing several different roles in IT management, project- and program-management, always aligning business requirements with IT capabilities. He has worked in Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, the US and extensively in virtual global work environments. He is a freight forwarding agent by trade and holds a diploma in business administration. Being a thought leader in trade digitalisation, he was instrumental in building the trade tech lab of one of Germany’s biggest private banks and oversaw research cooperations with customers, other banks and trade service providers. Hans has been a member of the ICC Banking Commission and served as a board member of the Corda Network Foundation. He was one of the driving forces of establishing ICC’s Digital Trade Standards Initiative and has pushed ML-ETR adoption in Germany and Europe. As a founder and initiator of the Verifiable.Trade Foundation he serves in the Board of Trustees and procures the migration of the trade landscape into a zero-trust architecture.

Hariesh is a seasoned industry professional with over 36 years experience in the global trade ecosystem covering shipping, freight, logistics, supply chain and trade. Hariesh is the Founder of the hugely popular Shipping and Freight Resource and Shipping and Freight Academy, which he created to provide and industry education, market insights, and enable knowledge-sharing. Hariesh specialises in the digital transformation of the industry specifically on electronic trade documentation and working capital rotation and works closely with industry organisations like DCSA, GSBN and the ICC DSI.

Ayhan is a trade finance, cross border payment expert with over three decades of experience in corporate and commercial banking, as well as more than five years of consultant on the same business domains. His responsibilities at the bank included operational management of cross-border payments products and Trade Finance products . Throughout his career, Ayhan has gained extensive experience in trade and cross border payment digitalisation, using DLT-based trade finance flows and ISO 20022 standardization for cross border payments.

Darragh is the CEO of LEI Worldwide, a leading provider of Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) services. With a strong background in business strategy and financial technology, Darragh drives LEI Worldwide’s mission to streamline compliance processes for global institutions and foster adoption of the LEI standard with the aim of standardising identification of legal entities engaging in cross border transactions globally.

Avijit is a seasoned technology executive and a recognized blockchain speaker with extensive leadership experience in product strategy and digital transformation. He serves as a jury member for international blockchain hackathons and has successfully led cross-functional teams across fintech, healthcare, supply chain, and EdTech industries, delivering enterprise-grade blockchain solutions. His expertise encompasses tokenization platforms, digital wallets, smart contracts, DeFi protocols, and AI-driven product development, with a proven track record of transforming complex concepts into market-ready products through comprehensive go-to-market strategies.

Lance is a multidisciplinary professional whose career spans blockchain ecosvstems. business development industrial sales, and military service. He brings a rare ability to bridge the technical and practical, delivering go-to-market strategies, as well as onboarding and integrating projects. At the XDC Foundation, he leads strategic programs that drive blockchain adoption and supports real-world integrations across multiple industries.

Fahmy is a banking and finance professional with over 20 years of experience across trade finance, supply chain financing, and corporate client management in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. His work has focused on helping businesses navigate financial solutions that support growth, manage risk, and improve access to working capital—particularly in cross-border and structured trade contexts. Through roles in both traditional banking and emerging fintech platforms, Fahmy has gained practical insights into how financial systems adapt to changing business needs. He is especially interested in how digital tools and sustainable approaches can enhance efficiency in trade and support more resilient supply chains. Fahmy approaches every engagement with a strong foundation in relationship management and a thoughtful, problem-solving mindset—always aiming to find clear, workable solutions that align with long-term goals.

With 19 years of extensive banking experience, Kareem is a distinguished leader in Global Transaction Banking. His journey in the financial sector began in 2006 at NSGB, specializing in trade operations before transitioning to corporate banking. He played a pivotal role in leading the Export Desk and heading Trade Services. Today, he leads QNB-Egypt’s Global Transaction Banking (GTB) department, overseeing Trade Services and Cash Management. Kareem holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Cairo University (2006, Very Good) and an MBA from the University of East London (2024). His expertise is backed by numerous certifications in trade finance, blockchain, SME credit…etc. Kareem’s contributions to the field have been recognized internationally. He was honored by the EBRD in Minsk, Belarus, ranking among the top participants in their advanced trade finance program, earning a prestigious training scholarship at the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) in Austria.

Enrico is a designer, creative director and consultant based in Livorno, Tuscany, Italy, with over 20 years of experience. He specializes in translating complex ideas into simple, effective, and timeless solutions. Enrico’s network includes highly skilled and passionate creatives working across multiple disciplines and time zones. He partners with a wide range of brands and clients in the cultural, scientific and commercial sectors. His studio’s work encompasses visual identities, publications, websites, motion graphics, and exhibitions audiences always find smart, unique, and functional.