An experienced chairman and board member with a near 50-year career in the US, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, particularly in banking, private equity and venture capital, John is a former senior executive at Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter Reynolds and Kemper Securities. He is the incumbent chairman since 2003 of an investment banking division of Citic Group, the trillion-dollar Chinese state-owned conglomerate, executive director of Nev World and Goldenport Enterprises, holds positions in a number of investment vehicles, and is chairman of the BFD media group. He is a published author and accomplished speaker, including on investments and blockchain, and he holds a bachelor’s in business administration focused on accounting.

Yuya is a finance professional with a decade’s experience in traditional and disruptive financial products, services and technologies, and in market trading. Following a career start with Hong Kong-based pan-Asian wealth management firm, Harris Fraser, where he was responsible for developing the advisors’ network in Japan, he co-founded and is the ex-CEO of Uraus Platforms. Yuya co-founded the Axys group in 2023 and is the group CEO. Yuya developed and is the current CEO of Crypto Trust, an AI-assisted digital assets trading platform, producing over 300% annual returns through the bear market. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from leading private university, Kwansei Gakuin in Hyogo, Japan.

Chisako is the co-founder and CEO since February 2024 (formerly COO) of digital fintech company Uraus Platforms, and the co-founder and group COO of Axys group, alongside longstanding business partner, Yuya Takemura. She is also COO of the multichain trading marketplace, Neo Garden, the first buyer-side minting platform operating across the Binance, Ethereum, Avalanche and Polygon chains. Earlier in her career, Chisako established and operated the popular Marilvio beauty salon in Japan, receiving media attention and a celebrity following. She has a loyal and influential HNW and VIP customer-base, which trusts her for her straightforward Web3 insights and her integrity.

Edwin has 30 years’ experience as a certified public accountant, chartered accountant and a seasoned board member and CFO of numerous private and publicly listed companies in North America, the Middle East and Asia. Formerly at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Edwin was partner for 15 years of a corporate finance firm, heading up Dubai, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices. As ex-CEO of venture capital firm NeoVision Ventures, director of KoreConX private equity platform and interests in Web3 projects, he has a strong technology focus, as well as biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals and infrastructure. Edwin is SEO of Stonearb, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada.

Stefano brings over two decades of experience in principal investments, fund management, investment banking and corporate strategy. Beginning his career at Goldman Sachs, Stefano has held key roles, including OCIO, for multiple leading global companies. He is the former Group CFO of Tier One Holdings and head of private equity for multinational conglomerate National Industries Group, responsible for investments in infrastructure, telecoms and technology. Prior to this, Stefano was based in Montreal and Geneva with Pictet and Cie, where he led new initiatives within equities and derivatives capital markets. A CFA Charterholder since 2001, he holds a BSc from Queen’s University, Canada, and an MBA from Insead.

Peter is an experienced lawyer and commercial advisor with two decades’ experience in resolving complex disputes, white-collar crime and non-contentious matters. A Cambridge University graduate, Peter trained at the Bar before starting his practicing career at LeBoeuf Lamb (later Dewey & LeBoeuf) in the City of London. Peter moved to Dubai in 2010, where he is now co-managing partner at ADG Legal, one of the region’s largest firms with offices also in the UK, Saudi Arabia and North Africa. Peter is highly recommended for his commercial, efficient and friendly approach, and he sits on numerous boards. Published in leading journals, Peter is often a keynote speaker.