HUBBIS WEALTH SOLUTIONS FORUM - Dubai 2023

Marc-André Sola is a serial entrepreneur. He started his first company at the age of 20 and has since founded, or co-founded, a number of businesses in different fields and in multiple countries. Mr. Sola holds a Masters of Law degree from the University of Zurich and serves on the board of various companies. He specializes in insurance and retirement planning, as well as tailored asset protection and estate Tax planning solutions. For over 20 years, he has been advising clients from all over Europe, North & South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Mr. Sola is a sought after speaker at international investment, asset protection and estate planning conferences worldwide. Furthermore, he has published a variety of professional articles and co-authored the book, The Insured Portfolio, published by John Wiley & Sons (2010). He is a member of YPO (Young Presidents Organization), Zurich Chapter.

Priyanka Roy is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of cross-functional and cross-industry experience. She has a proven track record of successfully managing assignments that align with the overall objectives of organizations, making her a trusted and respected leader in her field. Priyanka holds a Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst certification (FMVA) with a specialization in Mergers and Acquisitions/Venture Finance from Oxford University, showcasing her expertise in financial analysis and strategic planning. Her in-depth knowledge and skills in this area have been honed through her work with renowned companies such as Metlife and Quilter International. With a strong background in sales management, strategy, new business development, start-up operations, account management, and brand building, Priyanka has a diverse skill set that has enabled her to excel in various roles and industries. She has extensive experience working in Dubai and London, two global business hubs, which have enriched her understanding of different markets and cultures. Priyanka's commitment to excellence and her ability to deliver results have earned her a reputation as a thorough professional. She is known for her strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to drive business growth. Her expertise in financial modeling and valuation, coupled with her strong business acumen, allows her to provide valuable insights and recommendations to organizations for making informed decisions and achieving their strategic objectives. As a sought-after speaker and industry expert, Priyanka Roy has been invited to share her insights and knowledge at various conferences and events. Her wealth of experience and expertise make her a valuable contributor to discussions on sales management, strategy, business development, and brand building, providing practical and actionable insights that can benefit organizations across industries.

Mehrez Kheir was born in Lebanon, received his education in Lebanon graduating with a Business Degree in Marketing and Finance from the Lebanese American University back in 1988. He later received investment certifications from the FSA in the UK and the CSI in Canada. Mehrez has spent the last 29 years working in Finance and Banking in Beirut and Dubai where he moved to in 2016. Over this span he has worked for banks like Julius Baer, Societe Generale, Bank J.Safra Sarasin and lastly for International Bank of Luxembourg. In 2022, Mehrez decided to join Abbey Road Investment Group founded by his friend and ex colleague Arjun Mittal. Abbey Road has 3 key areas of focus. 1. A multifamily office advising clients on all aspects of their wealth, including investments, structuring (trusts, foundations) and ancillary requirements. 2. An Asset management business with its own UCITS regulated mutual fund, starting with a Global Equities fund. 3. Private Market Investing like a traditional merchant bank, where Abbey Road sources deals and is also a cornerstone investor using its own proprietary capital.

Midya is a tax lawyer with 10 years of experience advising private clients, business owners and corporate structures of international tax matters. Midya specialises in advising HNW individuals, family businesses and family offices in international tax matters. Prior to joining Al Tamimi, Midya worked for a prestigious tax consulting firm in Dubai where she was focusing on corporate taxation and private client services including regional and cross-border tax matters including establishing business, transparency, restructuring of ownership, setting up Family Office, succession planning by using trust / foundation and asset protection. She has also worked in Stockholm, Sweden for one of the Big 4 firms and the Swedish Tax Authorities. Midya has published articles, including in the STEP TQR, and presented at the external seminars on topics related to Private Clients and Wealth management across the region including Iraq, UAE, KSA and Kuwait

Asghar has over 25 years of experience acquired at leading financial institutions and within diverse corporate cultures across Switzerland, Bermuda, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Passionate about the wealth planning value proposition, he assists High Net and Ultra High Net Worth individuals and families with succession and liquidity planning solutions, covering all segments and markets in the region. He has previously worked with UBS Switzerland SA in Geneva and Zurich as a Senior Wealth Planner covering the Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific markets, advising Private Banking clients on a wide spectrum of wealth planning solutions ranging from trusts, foundations, private trust companies, and private label funds. Prior to UBS, he acquired extensive trust and estate planning marketing and sales experience as well as fiduciary advisory services with Pictet & Cie and Lombard Odier & Cie. He started his carrier with JP Morgan Suisse SA in the private banking and investment management business. Asghar is fluent in 4 languages, holds a Master of Science Degree in Applied Economics from the Université de Geneve, and is an International Trust & Estate Practitioner and full STEP member.

Diana Hamade Attorneys at Law is a boutique lawfirm awarded the lawfirm of 2020 by LexisNexis. Founder and Managing Partner Diana Hamade is ranked in Band 1 of Chambers HNW Private Wealth Law in the United Arab Emirates. As a family lawyer and succession planning practitioner with expertise in Sharia she has become a recognized and well reputed practitioner especially in relation to Family Business succession planning and Governance in the region. Career Diana is a lawyer and legal consultant qualified in the UAE and licensed by the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Affairs Department of Dubai. She has right of audiance before all UAE courts including DIFC. Professional Memberships Diana is a member of the International Bar Association and the Vice Chair of the Arab Regional Forum of the IBA. She is also a member of STEP Arabia and is on the board of the Special Interest Group of International HNW clients of STEP. She is also a member of the International Academy of Family lawyers and a member of the Emirates Lawyers Association in the UAE.

Bryan Henning is a wealth management specialist with over 30 years of experience. He represents Eton Solutions as Senior Vice President of International Sales. Bryan is based in Singapore, where he leads Sales & Marketing efforts in the Asia Pacific region. As Senior VP of International Sales, he leads client interactions, sales, implementation, and services throughout the Asia Pacific region and supports all company operations in Singapore. Throughout his multi-decade career, Bryan has worked in banking and wealth management, leading divisions for Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Wealth, and HSBC, where he developed and managed all aspects of wealth management offerings to retail, mass affluent, HNW, and UHNW clients. While Bryan has successfully built and run wealth management and investment product and services businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, the majority of his experience is based in Asia. He is a Permanent Resident of Singapore, where he currently resides, and he has Canadian and Australian roots.

Nirav is qualified as Chartered Accountant from Gujarat, India. Being an excellent academia, he has secured 6th Rank in Inter CA and 36th rank in CA Finals. He then moved to KPMG in Mumbai and had specialized in International Tax and Finance and is advising on various cross border transactions from International and Domestic Tax and Regulatory perspective. His skills help companies do set up right Corporate Holding structure for the group, Evaluation of New Business/Investment Opportunities, Strategic Inputs/Reviews for businesses and Managing Compliance issues. Nirav has a 25 plus years’ experience from own practice to leading consulting firm to working with large family-owned corporate group. He has a hands-on experience of establishing and managing structures and compliances in more than 12 jurisdictions; evolving suitable corporate structures for holding companies, acquisition of business, financing, and IP optimization structures; establishing suitable family structures for Asset protection, succession planning, efficient ownership, and valuable experience of operating in multiple jurisdictions. Nirav had successfully conducted VAT Trainings for Dubai SME, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Dubai, Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) Dubai and Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai (to name a few), with a total participant of around 1,600+ Professionals who work from 550+ Companies, coming from the 7 Emirates of UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah). Nirav is also a full member of Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP).

Philip Rosenberg is Managing Director and Head of Distribution - Middle East. He looks after institutional, private wealth, and wholesale relationships across the region. Phil has been involved with asset management distribution for over 33 years, including fixed income, equities, and alternatives. He joined GAM Investments in 2010 and has been closely connected to the firm since 1998. Before joining GAM, Phil was an Executive Director at Julius Baer, in the Middle East team. He also worked at EFG Bank advising clients in the US, Middle East, and the UK. Prior to this, he held senior distribution and marketing roles at Liberty Ermitage, and Credit Lyonnais. Phil started his career at Lehman Brothers in 1989 where he was a pioneering member of the alternatives investment team. He studied sound engineering and music technology and holds the CFA Level III (IMC) and CISI Level 6 qualifications. He is based in London.

In the course of over 16 years of his progressive career, Anuj has gained extensive exposure with a prime focus on strategic guidance, business advisory, transformation and critical thinking. He has worked across leading global networks for over a decade; and has significant experience in cross border M&A, inbound / thru-bound / outbound investment structuring, regional/international tax advisory; and transfer pricing principles. Anuj has been instrumental in securing many high-profile clients and has served as Lead Client Partner on several priority accounts. He has successfully partnered on client engagements across country corridors, alliance partners, service line and sector focus initiatives. He has a proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams with a blend of strategic thinking and a strong endeavor to be ahead of the curve while pursuing success. Anuj has worked on an array of sectors such as Consumer & Retail (e-commerce, F&B, consumer durables), Technology, ENR, Government, Real Estate, EPC, Healthcare. His global coverage includes diverse markets, such as the EU Nations, UK, United States, AsiaPac, Middle East, North & East Africa.

George Stoyanov is a Senior Partner and Head of Advisory at Grant Thornton UAE. Throughout his career, he has gained over 23 years of professional experience across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. George advised numerous family business conglomerates in the Middle East region on corporate governance, succession planning, growth and expansion strategies and has extensive experience in developing policies, procedures, delegation-of-authority matrices and organisational structures. He has serviced clients in the financial services industry, including banks, regulators, private equity and insurance companies, in addition to clients in the real estate, telecoms, and oil and gas sectors. George has an MBA from the London Business School and is a doctoral candidate.

Tim Denton is a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and is the Head of Wealth Structuring for Habib Bank AG Zurich, based in Dubai. Tim has over 20 years of experience in structuring wealth for private banking clients and has lived in Dubai for 18 years. Tim has previously worked for Citi, Barclays and Emirates NBD private banks, as well as being a former chairman (and current committee member) of the Middle East branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP Arabia).

Philippe Amarante is a Managing Partner at Henley & Partners and the Head of the firm’s Dubai and Pakistan offices. Philippe has been successfully advising private and institutional clients across industries, countries, and cultures for over 15 years as a successful business, relationship, and brand builder. Before his current role, he served as the Global Head of Brand and Group Marketing Strategy at Credit Suisse Group. Philippe is a strategic thinker who enjoys a hands-on approach, delivering results across board and governmental levels in complex and international environments. His interests include nascent technologies and emerging business models and related trends. Philippe also has experience in non-profit organizations and luxury, retail, and finance industries.

Sunita is a well-known authority and legal adviser in the private wealth community. Her trusted relationships with UAE Regulatory authorities, financial advisors, corporate services providers, family offices and banks enable her to provide expert legal advice to her private wealth clients, especially in the GCC, Southwest Asia and Africa. She is a full member of STEP (Africa and Arabia) and often acts as moderator at international forums and conferences. As a thought leader, Sunita regularly publishes in prominent publications and participated, amongst other in the ground-breaking “Women in Wealth Management” GCC roadshow. She is recognised by various legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Global Stars Report, and was peer-selected for the Private Client Global Elite Directory (2022 – 2023). Sunita has actively promoted women’s empowerment for young professionals in India and the Middle East and is a professional mentor for young female executives in the Middle East.

Zain Satardien is a qualified attorney who currently leads the Global Trade and Tax Law service line at Hourani & Partners law firm in Dubai, UAE. His core areas of expertise lie in WTO and international trade law, GCC tax law, corporate regulatory and related litigation. Drawing on 15 years’ experience, and with a precise approach to the practice of international trade and tax law, Zain works with multi-nationals and government authorities to provide them with legal and strategic trade and tax advice. As Hourani & Partners’ International Trade and Tax Law leader, Zain advises various major clients on international trade law, customs law, tax law (such as income tax, excise tax, transfer pricing rules, zakat, withholding tax, economic substance) and related litigation. Zain’s practice extends across the GCC in these areas. Zain has authored numerous articles on a variety of areas on GCC Tax Law, and is a Lexis Nexis Middle East Award Winning Author for his contributions. He recently published a book with Lexis Nexis Middle East, titled “Global Trade Law in the Middle East: Essential Principles for the Gulf States”, which is the first and only of its kind for the GCC. He is currently completing his Doctor of Laws in Customs Valuation and Transfer Pricing law.

Aakriti is an Australian qualified lawyer who specializes in tax law. Having started her career in Australia, Aakriti moved to the GCC as value added tax was introduced in the UAE and has been involved in the introduction of VAT in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. Aakriti provides clear, practical guidance on how clients can effectively manage tax, focusing on achieving commercial objectives and ensuring tax compliance. In her time in the region, she has provided tax advice on complex MENA and global transactions, including advising on tax structuring, documentation reviews, transaction implementation and post-transaction integration. In addition, Aakriti has worked with a broad range of clients across various industry sectors including, F&B, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Education and Sovereign Wealth Funds. Prior to joining Hourani & Partners Aakriti held posts at Herbert Smith Freehills, Deloitte, and EY Consulting.

Mark Smallwood TEP is based in the UK from where he advises predominantly Asian UHNW families on the structuring and ongoing administration and management of their estate and succession plan, family office, investment process and governance. He sits on the Business Advisory Council of a successful privately held business spanning multiple jurisdictions. After nearly 35 years in financial services across the global, including the UK, Caribbean, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore and having held senior positions in one of the leading global private banks, Mark has unique insights and brings an independent, unconflicted view which enables UHNW families to objectively evaluate their decision making process.

Phil is the Senior Executive Officer and Head of Distribution for Investors Trust Assurance in the EMEA region. He joined ITA in July 2014 to build the distribution network for Investors Trust Assurance in the EMEA region. He brings over 26 years of experience in the global insurance markets, from the UK, to Asia and Africa. He has been in the Middle East for most of the last 17 years holding General Management, Board positions (Middle East and Africa) and C suite positions with some of the largest Global insurance companies. He is also the Chairman of the DIFC Insurance Association, a community of professionals committed to shaping a prosperous and sustainable insurance market in the DIFC, UAE and beyond.

Karim is the Founder and CEO of Legacy Line Family Office, established in 2004. Karim is an entrepreneur who parlayed his almost two decades of family financial planning experience into a Company that offers financial coaching to fellow entrepreneurs. As an independent certified Estate Planner and Family Wealth Advisor (CFWA), Karim draws on his own passions to guide individuals and family businesses through their legacy planning, including long-term wealth structuring, family governance, tax planning, citizenship-by-investment, and planned giving that matches an individual’s philanthropic ideals. Karim began his career in 1993 in Ottawa, Canada. His career path brought him back to the Middle East where he works with clients in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE. He is fluent in both English and Arabic and offers services tailored to meet either Shari’a or non-Shari’a compliant client needs.

Yann is the Managing Partner of M/HQ, a Dubai & Abu Dhabi based Private wealth optimization, multi-services platform. He focuses on private wealth, structure optimization, legacy planning and asset protection. With 17+ years of Gulf presence, he has vast experience in advising successful entrepreneurial families with Middle East exposure in building, managing and protecting their wealth. He assists in the design and implementation of proprietary investment and/or legacy planning strategies - with a particular emphasize on local solutions accounting for Sharia principles - using an array of tools (i.e. private and purpose foundations, holding companies, prescribed companies, Single Family Offices, trusts). He is also regularly involved in the ongoing management of such structures – as a board member, council member, guardian or protector - and a frequent speaker on these themes.

Nicholas is an online trading industry veteran of 25 years, who is passionate about commercialising innovative and disruptive technology. Nicholas is responsible for building white-label partnerships. These collaborations are transforming banks and financial institutions across the region as they navigate ever-changing markets and regulatory systems. Nicholas’ current focus is on providing financial institutions with BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service), multi-asset execution, robo-advisory, digital channels and prime brokerage. Prior to his time at Saxo Bank, Nicholas successfully launched and led cuttingedge products, services and platforms for major brands including Bloomberg, Dresdner Kleinwort, Mubasher and Beltone.

Damian leads Saxo Bank’s expansion strategy in the MENA region via the digital delivery of global trading platforms for direct/private clients and Institutional partners. Damian has been the CEO for 2 of the leading Digital Banks in the UAE over the last 10 years, being Swissquote Bank (Swiss) and Saxo Bank (Denmark). Saxo’s mission is the delivery of timely, relevant content and access to global financial markets, with a passion of constant innovation. Whether for our direct clients, or to our Partners serving their end-clients, our Vision is to enable people to fulfil their financial aspirations and make an impact. Prior to joining Saxo Bank, Damian worked in a number of senior roles for HSBC in the Middle East region, and as an Executive Director for Falcon Private Bank, the Abu Dhabi owned Swiss Private Bank.

Tan Woon Hum is widely regarded as one of the rare senior market leaders specialising in investment funds, REITs and trusts, especially Variable Capital Companies (VCCs) and family offices. He heads a team of specialist lawyers in the Trust, Asset & Wealth Management practice at major Singapore law firm Shook Lin & Bok LLP. He is ranked as a Band 1 leading investment funds lawyer by Chambers Asia-Pacific since 2014 and top 100 lawyer in Singapore by Asia Business Law Journal in 2023. He advises on fund formation, (including hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds and single-family funds) using Singapore funds (including VCC) and offshore funds structures (eg. Cayman LP funds and segregated portfolio companies). He drafts and reviews the full range of fund documents and is extremely well versed with independent asset managers, external asset managers, multi-family offices and single-family offices, and has an extremely strong track record in securing the relevant regulatory licences and exemptions. His excellent and long-term professional relationship with the local regulators, authorities and major industry players add credence to his practice. He has advised on and helped clients launched about 100 VCCs as at May 2023. He has extensive experience in advising private clients (including ultra-high net worth individuals and single-family offices) and trustees on the establishment of private trusts, family offices, single-family funds, Sections 13O and 13U (formerly 13R and 13X) structures and drafts trust documents, fund documents, global investor programme documents and family charters. Woon Hum is bi-lingual (English and Mandarin), has a law degree and a MBA (Finance). He is a highly sought after speaker and speaks regularly at public conferences, forums and seminars since 2002 in Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Dubai, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur.

Zac has experience in all areas of international private client law including cross border tax, trust, estate, family, divorce and succession laws. Zac also has extensive experience advising in relation business family and family office governance and succession planning, and international private client regulatory laws, including the Common Reporting Standard, Mandatory Disclosure Rules, Economic Substance Rules and Beneficial Ownership Registers.

Alastair leads the private wealth practice in the Middle East with a significant amount of his work having an international dimension to it and often involving cross-border succession and tax planning. Having been based in the Middle East for a decade Alastair is regarded as an expert in planning for clients with a nexus in the GCC. His clients consist of ultra-high net worth individuals and families based in the region, be they GCC nationals or global expatriates. Alastair's expertise includes advising on family trust and governance structures encompassing both business and private assets, tax efficient UK real estate investment structures, immigration, cross-border estates and tax residency advice for those moving to or leaving the UK. In addition, Alastair is increasingly advising clients on legacy planning involving regional assets and has a particular focus on DIFC and ADGM foundation and trust structures. Alastair is the technical director for the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP) Arabia and a member of the International Academy of Trusts and Estates Lawyers. 

David Varley is Chief High Net Worth Officer at Sun Life Financial in Hong Kong. He specializes in HNW and Ultra HNW Planning and Insurance Structuring solutions for clients and families in Asia. He has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, with an Honors in Management, and a thesis in Innovation – from Melbourne University. Previously he was Head of HNW for Asia for AXA, and Head of International Business for Aviva.

Dave is the General Manager and Senior Executive Officer of the Trident DIFC office. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with over 15 years of experience in financial services and investment funds. After spending five years with a Big Four accountancy firm, Dave held numerous senior positions in the private equity, listed REIT and family office space. Dave holds a BCom (Acc) Honours and an MSc in Property Studies. Through his current role as General Manager of the Trident DIFC office, Dave was one of the first private wealth professionals in Dubai to assist clients in establishing DIFC Foundations, and has a deep understanding of the DIFC Foundation offering.

Michael is a prominent figure in the financial services industry in Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Hubbis, a renowned provider of intelligence and connectivity for the Asian wealth management industry. With a depth of experience and expertise, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry for over 30 years, becoming a leading industry presence in the events, professional development, and publishing space in the region. Hubbis is a multi-generational family-owned and managed business.

He has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region since 1993. And has lived in Asia since 1995, holding positions in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Singapore. 

For over 14-years, Hubbis has established itself as the gold standard media and events brand in wealth management thought leadership in Asia. Each year providing a very large body of cutting-edge editorial and sponsored content, organizing top-flight events.

During that time Hubbis has become the platform of choice for many high-profile C-suite leaders to communicate their vision of the Asian wealth management.

Before his involvement with Hubbis, Michael founded Pacific Prospect in 2002, a financial services media company. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant success and was subsequently acquired by global business-to-business publisher Incisive Media in 2006. Michael continued to serve as the CEO of Pacific Prospect until October 2008.

Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Michael garnered 5 years of experience in financial markets publishing. His career in this field began in 1993 when he joined Euromoney Publications as the publisher of the quarterly magazine, International Bond Investor. In 1995, Michael joined Thomson Financial Services (now owned by LSEG) and spearheaded the conception and launch of Finance Asia magazine. During his tenure as Managing Director of Finance Asia, he also initiated the Asian Debt Review, Asian Private Capital Magazine, and the Finance Asia Conference Business. In 1997, he founded FIA Limited, further expanding his contributions to the financial publishing industry.

Born in North Wales, Michael served as the head boy of St David's College Llandudno. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Cardiff University. Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a family-oriented individual and is happily married with three children: Reanna, Garett, and Tarryn.

Damian leads Saxo Bank’s expansion strategy in the MENA region via the digital delivery of global trading platforms for direct/private clients and Institutional partners. Damian has been the CEO for 2 of the leading Digital Banks in the UAE over the last 10 years, being Swissquote Bank (Swiss) and Saxo Bank (Denmark). Saxo’s mission is the delivery of timely, relevant content and access to global financial markets, with a passion of constant innovation. Whether for our direct clients, or to our Partners serving their end-clients, our Vision is to enable people to fulfil their financial aspirations and make an impact. Prior to joining Saxo Bank, Damian worked in a number of senior roles for HSBC in the Middle East region, and as an Executive Director for Falcon Private Bank, the Abu Dhabi owned Swiss Private Bank.

Tim Denton is a qualified Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and is the Head of Wealth Structuring for Habib Bank AG Zurich, based in Dubai. Tim has over 20 years of experience in structuring wealth for private banking clients and has lived in Dubai for 18 years. Tim has previously worked for Citi, Barclays and Emirates NBD private banks, as well as being a former chairman (and current committee member) of the Middle East branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP Arabia).

Karim is the Founder and CEO of Legacy Line Family Office, established in 2004. Karim is an entrepreneur who parlayed his almost two decades of family financial planning experience into a Company that offers financial coaching to fellow entrepreneurs. As an independent certified Estate Planner and Family Wealth Advisor (CFWA), Karim draws on his own passions to guide individuals and family businesses through their legacy planning, including long-term wealth structuring, family governance, tax planning, citizenship-by-investment, and planned giving that matches an individual’s philanthropic ideals. Karim began his career in 1993 in Ottawa, Canada. His career path brought him back to the Middle East where he works with clients in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE. He is fluent in both English and Arabic and offers services tailored to meet either Shari’a or non-Shari’a compliant client needs.

Asghar has over 25 years of experience acquired at leading financial institutions and within diverse corporate cultures across Switzerland, Bermuda, the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. Passionate about the wealth planning value proposition, he assists High Net and Ultra High Net Worth individuals and families with succession and liquidity planning solutions, covering all segments and markets in the region. He has previously worked with UBS Switzerland SA in Geneva and Zurich as a Senior Wealth Planner covering the Middle East, Africa & Asia Pacific markets, advising Private Banking clients on a wide spectrum of wealth planning solutions ranging from trusts, foundations, private trust companies, and private label funds. Prior to UBS, he acquired extensive trust and estate planning marketing and sales experience as well as fiduciary advisory services with Pictet & Cie and Lombard Odier & Cie. He started his carrier with JP Morgan Suisse SA in the private banking and investment management business. Asghar is fluent in 4 languages, holds a Master of Science Degree in Applied Economics from the Université de Geneve, and is an International Trust & Estate Practitioner and full STEP member.

Phil is the Senior Executive Officer and Head of Distribution for Investors Trust Assurance in the EMEA region. He joined ITA in July 2014 to build the distribution network for Investors Trust Assurance in the EMEA region. He brings over 26 years of experience in the global insurance markets, from the UK, to Asia and Africa. He has been in the Middle East for most of the last 17 years holding General Management, Board positions (Middle East and Africa) and C suite positions with some of the largest Global insurance companies. He is also the Chairman of the DIFC Insurance Association, a community of professionals committed to shaping a prosperous and sustainable insurance market in the DIFC, UAE and beyond.

Marc-André Sola is a serial entrepreneur. He started his first company at the age of 20 and has since founded, or co-founded, a number of businesses in different fields and in multiple countries. Mr. Sola holds a Masters of Law degree from the University of Zurich and serves on the board of various companies. He specializes in insurance and retirement planning, as well as tailored asset protection and estate Tax planning solutions. For over 20 years, he has been advising clients from all over Europe, North & South America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Mr. Sola is a sought after speaker at international investment, asset protection and estate planning conferences worldwide. Furthermore, he has published a variety of professional articles and co-authored the book, The Insured Portfolio, published by John Wiley & Sons (2010). He is a member of YPO (Young Presidents Organization), Zurich Chapter.

Philippe Amarante is a Managing Partner at Henley & Partners and the Head of the firm’s Dubai and Pakistan offices. Philippe has been successfully advising private and institutional clients across industries, countries, and cultures for over 15 years as a successful business, relationship, and brand builder. Before his current role, he served as the Global Head of Brand and Group Marketing Strategy at Credit Suisse Group. Philippe is a strategic thinker who enjoys a hands-on approach, delivering results across board and governmental levels in complex and international environments. His interests include nascent technologies and emerging business models and related trends. Philippe also has experience in non-profit organizations and luxury, retail, and finance industries.

Mehrez Kheir was born in Lebanon, received his education in Lebanon graduating with a Business Degree in Marketing and Finance from the Lebanese American University back in 1988. He later received investment certifications from the FSA in the UK and the CSI in Canada. Mehrez has spent the last 29 years working in Finance and Banking in Beirut and Dubai where he moved to in 2016. Over this span he has worked for banks like Julius Baer, Societe Generale, Bank J.Safra Sarasin and lastly for International Bank of Luxembourg. In 2022, Mehrez decided to join Abbey Road Investment Group founded by his friend and ex colleague Arjun Mittal. Abbey Road has 3 key areas of focus. 1. A multifamily office advising clients on all aspects of their wealth, including investments, structuring (trusts, foundations) and ancillary requirements. 2. An Asset management business with its own UCITS regulated mutual fund, starting with a Global Equities fund. 3. Private Market Investing like a traditional merchant bank, where Abbey Road sources deals and is also a cornerstone investor using its own proprietary capital.

George Stoyanov is a Senior Partner and Head of Advisory at Grant Thornton UAE. Throughout his career, he has gained over 23 years of professional experience across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. George advised numerous family business conglomerates in the Middle East region on corporate governance, succession planning, growth and expansion strategies and has extensive experience in developing policies, procedures, delegation-of-authority matrices and organisational structures. He has serviced clients in the financial services industry, including banks, regulators, private equity and insurance companies, in addition to clients in the real estate, telecoms, and oil and gas sectors. George has an MBA from the London Business School and is a doctoral candidate.

Yann is the Managing Partner of M/HQ, a Dubai & Abu Dhabi based Private wealth optimization, multi-services platform. He focuses on private wealth, structure optimization, legacy planning and asset protection. With 17+ years of Gulf presence, he has vast experience in advising successful entrepreneurial families with Middle East exposure in building, managing and protecting their wealth. He assists in the design and implementation of proprietary investment and/or legacy planning strategies - with a particular emphasize on local solutions accounting for Sharia principles - using an array of tools (i.e. private and purpose foundations, holding companies, prescribed companies, Single Family Offices, trusts). He is also regularly involved in the ongoing management of such structures – as a board member, council member, guardian or protector - and a frequent speaker on these themes.

Mark Smallwood TEP is based in the UK from where he advises predominantly Asian UHNW families on the structuring and ongoing administration and management of their estate and succession plan, family office, investment process and governance. He sits on the Business Advisory Council of a successful privately held business spanning multiple jurisdictions. After nearly 35 years in financial services across the global, including the UK, Caribbean, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore and having held senior positions in one of the leading global private banks, Mark has unique insights and brings an independent, unconflicted view which enables UHNW families to objectively evaluate their decision making process.

Bryan Henning is a wealth management specialist with over 30 years of experience. He represents Eton Solutions as Senior Vice President of International Sales. Bryan is based in Singapore, where he leads Sales & Marketing efforts in the Asia Pacific region. As Senior VP of International Sales, he leads client interactions, sales, implementation, and services throughout the Asia Pacific region and supports all company operations in Singapore. Throughout his multi-decade career, Bryan has worked in banking and wealth management, leading divisions for Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Wealth, and HSBC, where he developed and managed all aspects of wealth management offerings to retail, mass affluent, HNW, and UHNW clients. While Bryan has successfully built and run wealth management and investment product and services businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, the majority of his experience is based in Asia. He is a Permanent Resident of Singapore, where he currently resides, and he has Canadian and Australian roots.

Zain Satardien is a qualified attorney who currently leads the Global Trade and Tax Law service line at Hourani & Partners law firm in Dubai, UAE. His core areas of expertise lie in WTO and international trade law, GCC tax law, corporate regulatory and related litigation. Drawing on 15 years’ experience, and with a precise approach to the practice of international trade and tax law, Zain works with multi-nationals and government authorities to provide them with legal and strategic trade and tax advice. As Hourani & Partners’ International Trade and Tax Law leader, Zain advises various major clients on international trade law, customs law, tax law (such as income tax, excise tax, transfer pricing rules, zakat, withholding tax, economic substance) and related litigation. Zain’s practice extends across the GCC in these areas. Zain has authored numerous articles on a variety of areas on GCC Tax Law, and is a Lexis Nexis Middle East Award Winning Author for his contributions. He recently published a book with Lexis Nexis Middle East, titled “Global Trade Law in the Middle East: Essential Principles for the Gulf States”, which is the first and only of its kind for the GCC. He is currently completing his Doctor of Laws in Customs Valuation and Transfer Pricing law.

In the course of over 16 years of his progressive career, Anuj has gained extensive exposure with a prime focus on strategic guidance, business advisory, transformation and critical thinking. He has worked across leading global networks for over a decade; and has significant experience in cross border M&A, inbound / thru-bound / outbound investment structuring, regional/international tax advisory; and transfer pricing principles. Anuj has been instrumental in securing many high-profile clients and has served as Lead Client Partner on several priority accounts. He has successfully partnered on client engagements across country corridors, alliance partners, service line and sector focus initiatives. He has a proven track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams with a blend of strategic thinking and a strong endeavor to be ahead of the curve while pursuing success. Anuj has worked on an array of sectors such as Consumer & Retail (e-commerce, F&B, consumer durables), Technology, ENR, Government, Real Estate, EPC, Healthcare. His global coverage includes diverse markets, such as the EU Nations, UK, United States, AsiaPac, Middle East, North & East Africa.

Midya is a tax lawyer with 10 years of experience advising private clients, business owners and corporate structures of international tax matters. Midya specialises in advising HNW individuals, family businesses and family offices in international tax matters. Prior to joining Al Tamimi, Midya worked for a prestigious tax consulting firm in Dubai where she was focusing on corporate taxation and private client services including regional and cross-border tax matters including establishing business, transparency, restructuring of ownership, setting up Family Office, succession planning by using trust / foundation and asset protection. She has also worked in Stockholm, Sweden for one of the Big 4 firms and the Swedish Tax Authorities. Midya has published articles, including in the STEP TQR, and presented at the external seminars on topics related to Private Clients and Wealth management across the region including Iraq, UAE, KSA and Kuwait

Nirav is qualified as Chartered Accountant from Gujarat, India. Being an excellent academia, he has secured 6th Rank in Inter CA and 36th rank in CA Finals. He then moved to KPMG in Mumbai and had specialized in International Tax and Finance and is advising on various cross border transactions from International and Domestic Tax and Regulatory perspective. His skills help companies do set up right Corporate Holding structure for the group, Evaluation of New Business/Investment Opportunities, Strategic Inputs/Reviews for businesses and Managing Compliance issues. Nirav has a 25 plus years’ experience from own practice to leading consulting firm to working with large family-owned corporate group. He has a hands-on experience of establishing and managing structures and compliances in more than 12 jurisdictions; evolving suitable corporate structures for holding companies, acquisition of business, financing, and IP optimization structures; establishing suitable family structures for Asset protection, succession planning, efficient ownership, and valuable experience of operating in multiple jurisdictions. Nirav had successfully conducted VAT Trainings for Dubai SME, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) Dubai, Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) Dubai and Indian Business & Professional Council (IBPC) Dubai (to name a few), with a total participant of around 1,600+ Professionals who work from 550+ Companies, coming from the 7 Emirates of UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah). Nirav is also a full member of Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP).

Tan Woon Hum is widely regarded as one of the rare senior market leaders specialising in investment funds, REITs and trusts, especially Variable Capital Companies (VCCs) and family offices. He heads a team of specialist lawyers in the Trust, Asset & Wealth Management practice at major Singapore law firm Shook Lin & Bok LLP. He is ranked as a Band 1 leading investment funds lawyer by Chambers Asia-Pacific since 2014 and top 100 lawyer in Singapore by Asia Business Law Journal in 2023. He advises on fund formation, (including hedge funds, private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds and single-family funds) using Singapore funds (including VCC) and offshore funds structures (eg. Cayman LP funds and segregated portfolio companies). He drafts and reviews the full range of fund documents and is extremely well versed with independent asset managers, external asset managers, multi-family offices and single-family offices, and has an extremely strong track record in securing the relevant regulatory licences and exemptions. His excellent and long-term professional relationship with the local regulators, authorities and major industry players add credence to his practice. He has advised on and helped clients launched about 100 VCCs as at May 2023. He has extensive experience in advising private clients (including ultra-high net worth individuals and single-family offices) and trustees on the establishment of private trusts, family offices, single-family funds, Sections 13O and 13U (formerly 13R and 13X) structures and drafts trust documents, fund documents, global investor programme documents and family charters. Woon Hum is bi-lingual (English and Mandarin), has a law degree and a MBA (Finance). He is a highly sought after speaker and speaks regularly at public conferences, forums and seminars since 2002 in Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Dubai, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh and Kuala Lumpur.

Zac has experience in all areas of international private client law including cross border tax, trust, estate, family, divorce and succession laws. Zac also has extensive experience advising in relation business family and family office governance and succession planning, and international private client regulatory laws, including the Common Reporting Standard, Mandatory Disclosure Rules, Economic Substance Rules and Beneficial Ownership Registers.

Diana Hamade Attorneys at Law is a boutique lawfirm awarded the lawfirm of 2020 by LexisNexis. Founder and Managing Partner Diana Hamade is ranked in Band 1 of Chambers HNW Private Wealth Law in the United Arab Emirates. As a family lawyer and succession planning practitioner with expertise in Sharia she has become a recognized and well reputed practitioner especially in relation to Family Business succession planning and Governance in the region. Career Diana is a lawyer and legal consultant qualified in the UAE and licensed by the Ministry of Justice and the Legal Affairs Department of Dubai. She has right of audiance before all UAE courts including DIFC. Professional Memberships Diana is a member of the International Bar Association and the Vice Chair of the Arab Regional Forum of the IBA. She is also a member of STEP Arabia and is on the board of the Special Interest Group of International HNW clients of STEP. She is also a member of the International Academy of Family lawyers and a member of the Emirates Lawyers Association in the UAE.

Dave is the General Manager and Senior Executive Officer of the Trident DIFC office. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with over 15 years of experience in financial services and investment funds. After spending five years with a Big Four accountancy firm, Dave held numerous senior positions in the private equity, listed REIT and family office space. Dave holds a BCom (Acc) Honours and an MSc in Property Studies. Through his current role as General Manager of the Trident DIFC office, Dave was one of the first private wealth professionals in Dubai to assist clients in establishing DIFC Foundations, and has a deep understanding of the DIFC Foundation offering.

Alastair leads the private wealth practice in the Middle East with a significant amount of his work having an international dimension to it and often involving cross-border succession and tax planning. Having been based in the Middle East for a decade Alastair is regarded as an expert in planning for clients with a nexus in the GCC. His clients consist of ultra-high net worth individuals and families based in the region, be they GCC nationals or global expatriates. Alastair's expertise includes advising on family trust and governance structures encompassing both business and private assets, tax efficient UK real estate investment structures, immigration, cross-border estates and tax residency advice for those moving to or leaving the UK. In addition, Alastair is increasingly advising clients on legacy planning involving regional assets and has a particular focus on DIFC and ADGM foundation and trust structures. Alastair is the technical director for the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP) Arabia and a member of the International Academy of Trusts and Estates Lawyers. 

Nicholas is an online trading industry veteran of 25 years, who is passionate about commercialising innovative and disruptive technology. Nicholas is responsible for building white-label partnerships. These collaborations are transforming banks and financial institutions across the region as they navigate ever-changing markets and regulatory systems. Nicholas’ current focus is on providing financial institutions with BaaS (Banking-as-a-Service), multi-asset execution, robo-advisory, digital channels and prime brokerage. Prior to his time at Saxo Bank, Nicholas successfully launched and led cuttingedge products, services and platforms for major brands including Bloomberg, Dresdner Kleinwort, Mubasher and Beltone.

David Varley is Chief High Net Worth Officer at Sun Life Financial in Hong Kong. He specializes in HNW and Ultra HNW Planning and Insurance Structuring solutions for clients and families in Asia. He has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, with an Honors in Management, and a thesis in Innovation – from Melbourne University. Previously he was Head of HNW for Asia for AXA, and Head of International Business for Aviva.

Priyanka Roy is a seasoned professional with over 17 years of cross-functional and cross-industry experience. She has a proven track record of successfully managing assignments that align with the overall objectives of organizations, making her a trusted and respected leader in her field. Priyanka holds a Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst certification (FMVA) with a specialization in Mergers and Acquisitions/Venture Finance from Oxford University, showcasing her expertise in financial analysis and strategic planning. Her in-depth knowledge and skills in this area have been honed through her work with renowned companies such as Metlife and Quilter International. With a strong background in sales management, strategy, new business development, start-up operations, account management, and brand building, Priyanka has a diverse skill set that has enabled her to excel in various roles and industries. She has extensive experience working in Dubai and London, two global business hubs, which have enriched her understanding of different markets and cultures. Priyanka's commitment to excellence and her ability to deliver results have earned her a reputation as a thorough professional. She is known for her strategic thinking, analytical skills, and ability to drive business growth. Her expertise in financial modeling and valuation, coupled with her strong business acumen, allows her to provide valuable insights and recommendations to organizations for making informed decisions and achieving their strategic objectives. As a sought-after speaker and industry expert, Priyanka Roy has been invited to share her insights and knowledge at various conferences and events. Her wealth of experience and expertise make her a valuable contributor to discussions on sales management, strategy, business development, and brand building, providing practical and actionable insights that can benefit organizations across industries.

Philip Rosenberg is Managing Director and Head of Distribution - Middle East. He looks after institutional, private wealth, and wholesale relationships across the region. Phil has been involved with asset management distribution for over 33 years, including fixed income, equities, and alternatives. He joined GAM Investments in 2010 and has been closely connected to the firm since 1998. Before joining GAM, Phil was an Executive Director at Julius Baer, in the Middle East team. He also worked at EFG Bank advising clients in the US, Middle East, and the UK. Prior to this, he held senior distribution and marketing roles at Liberty Ermitage, and Credit Lyonnais. Phil started his career at Lehman Brothers in 1989 where he was a pioneering member of the alternatives investment team. He studied sound engineering and music technology and holds the CFA Level III (IMC) and CISI Level 6 qualifications. He is based in London.

Sunita is a well-known authority and legal adviser in the private wealth community. Her trusted relationships with UAE Regulatory authorities, financial advisors, corporate services providers, family offices and banks enable her to provide expert legal advice to her private wealth clients, especially in the GCC, Southwest Asia and Africa. She is a full member of STEP (Africa and Arabia) and often acts as moderator at international forums and conferences. As a thought leader, Sunita regularly publishes in prominent publications and participated, amongst other in the ground-breaking “Women in Wealth Management” GCC roadshow. She is recognised by various legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Global Stars Report, and was peer-selected for the Private Client Global Elite Directory (2022 – 2023). Sunita has actively promoted women’s empowerment for young professionals in India and the Middle East and is a professional mentor for young female executives in the Middle East.

Dave is the General Manager and Senior Executive Officer of the Trident DIFC office. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant, with over 15 years of experience in financial services and investment funds. After spending five years with a Big Four accountancy firm, Dave held numerous senior positions in the private equity, listed REIT and family office space. Dave holds a BCom (Acc) Honours and an MSc in Property Studies. Through his current role as General Manager of the Trident DIFC office, Dave was one of the first private wealth professionals in Dubai to assist clients in establishing DIFC Foundations, and has a deep understanding of the DIFC Foundation offering.

Bryan Henning is a wealth management specialist with over 30 years of experience. He represents Eton Solutions as Senior Vice President of International Sales. Bryan is based in Singapore, where he leads Sales & Marketing efforts in the Asia Pacific region. As Senior VP of International Sales, he leads client interactions, sales, implementation, and services throughout the Asia Pacific region and supports all company operations in Singapore. Throughout his multi-decade career, Bryan has worked in banking and wealth management, leading divisions for Standard Chartered Bank, Barclays Wealth, and HSBC, where he developed and managed all aspects of wealth management offerings to retail, mass affluent, HNW, and UHNW clients. While Bryan has successfully built and run wealth management and investment product and services businesses in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, the majority of his experience is based in Asia. He is a Permanent Resident of Singapore, where he currently resides, and he has Canadian and Australian roots.

Aakriti is an Australian qualified lawyer who specializes in tax law. Having started her career in Australia, Aakriti moved to the GCC as value added tax was introduced in the UAE and has been involved in the introduction of VAT in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain. Aakriti provides clear, practical guidance on how clients can effectively manage tax, focusing on achieving commercial objectives and ensuring tax compliance. In her time in the region, she has provided tax advice on complex MENA and global transactions, including advising on tax structuring, documentation reviews, transaction implementation and post-transaction integration. In addition, Aakriti has worked with a broad range of clients across various industry sectors including, F&B, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Education and Sovereign Wealth Funds. Prior to joining Hourani & Partners Aakriti held posts at Herbert Smith Freehills, Deloitte, and EY Consulting.

Sunita is a well-known authority and legal adviser in the private wealth community. Her trusted relationships with UAE Regulatory authorities, financial advisors, corporate services providers, family offices and banks enable her to provide expert legal advice to her private wealth clients, especially in the GCC, Southwest Asia and Africa. She is a full member of STEP (Africa and Arabia) and often acts as moderator at international forums and conferences. As a thought leader, Sunita regularly publishes in prominent publications and participated, amongst other in the ground-breaking “Women in Wealth Management” GCC roadshow. She is recognised by various legal directories such as Chambers & Partners, Global Stars Report, and was peer-selected for the Private Client Global Elite Directory (2022 – 2023). Sunita has actively promoted women’s empowerment for young professionals in India and the Middle East and is a professional mentor for young female executives in the Middle East.

Mark Smallwood TEP is based in the UK from where he advises predominantly Asian UHNW families on the structuring and ongoing administration and management of their estate and succession plan, family office, investment process and governance. He sits on the Business Advisory Council of a successful privately held business spanning multiple jurisdictions. After nearly 35 years in financial services across the global, including the UK, Caribbean, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore and having held senior positions in one of the leading global private banks, Mark has unique insights and brings an independent, unconflicted view which enables UHNW families to objectively evaluate their decision making process.

Mark Smallwood TEP is based in the UK from where he advises predominantly Asian UHNW families on the structuring and ongoing administration and management of their estate and succession plan, family office, investment process and governance. He sits on the Business Advisory Council of a successful privately held business spanning multiple jurisdictions. After nearly 35 years in financial services across the global, including the UK, Caribbean, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore and having held senior positions in one of the leading global private banks, Mark has unique insights and brings an independent, unconflicted view which enables UHNW families to objectively evaluate their decision making process.

Michael is a prominent figure in the financial services industry in Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Hubbis, a renowned provider of intelligence and connectivity for the Asian wealth management industry. With a depth of experience and expertise, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry for over 30 years, becoming a leading industry presence in the events, professional development, and publishing space in the region. Hubbis is a multi-generational family-owned and managed business.

He has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region since 1993. And has lived in Asia since 1995, holding positions in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Singapore. 

For over 14-years, Hubbis has established itself as the gold standard media and events brand in wealth management thought leadership in Asia. Each year providing a very large body of cutting-edge editorial and sponsored content, organizing top-flight events.

During that time Hubbis has become the platform of choice for many high-profile C-suite leaders to communicate their vision of the Asian wealth management.

Before his involvement with Hubbis, Michael founded Pacific Prospect in 2002, a financial services media company. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant success and was subsequently acquired by global business-to-business publisher Incisive Media in 2006. Michael continued to serve as the CEO of Pacific Prospect until October 2008.

Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Michael garnered 5 years of experience in financial markets publishing. His career in this field began in 1993 when he joined Euromoney Publications as the publisher of the quarterly magazine, International Bond Investor. In 1995, Michael joined Thomson Financial Services (now owned by LSEG) and spearheaded the conception and launch of Finance Asia magazine. During his tenure as Managing Director of Finance Asia, he also initiated the Asian Debt Review, Asian Private Capital Magazine, and the Finance Asia Conference Business. In 1997, he founded FIA Limited, further expanding his contributions to the financial publishing industry.

Born in North Wales, Michael served as the head boy of St David's College Llandudno. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Cardiff University. Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a family-oriented individual and is happily married with three children: Reanna, Garett, and Tarryn.