Award-Winning Financial Times Columnist, Economist and BBC Broadcaster

Tim Harford is a world-renowned behavioural economist, award-winning Financial Times columnist, data detective and BBC broadcaster. Described as ‘Britain’s Malcolm Gladwell’ (and as ‘a genius at telling stories that illuminate our world’ by Gladwell himself), and by the New Statesman as ‘perhaps the best popular economics writer in the world’, Tim brings storytelling, humour, insight and intelligence to the world of data, work and statistics.

His long-running Radio 4 show and podcast More or Less looks at the truth behind the dubious statistics and manipulated figures making the news, whilst his Cautionary Tales podcast is a journey through stories of human error and its unexpected impact, with guests including Russell Tovey and Alan Cumming. He’s also presented the popular Fifty Things That Made The Modern Economy series (and wrote the accompanying books) and, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, he hosted How To Vaccinate The World. On television, he wrote and fronted Channel 4’s examination of the nation’s financial challenges in Skint: The Truth Behind Britain's Broken Economy.

Although he’s a ‘serious’ economist with a career spanning Oxford, Shell and the World Bank, Tim’s FT columns dwell on the economics of daily life and offers tongue-in-cheek solutions to readers’ problems. His first book The Undercover Economist, sold almost two million copies, and built on these themes. It was likened to Freakonomics in its explanation of everything from coffee shops to organised crime to development aid. He's since gone on to be one of the foremost writers on economics.

Tim’s other titles include: The Logic of Life which applies economic theory to the world to explain how rational (or otherwise) our decisions are; Adapt: Why Success Always Starts With Failure which shows how challenges of all types need to be tackled by learning to improvise and allowing for failure. Messy: How to Be Creative and Resilient in a Tidy-Minded World, considers why tidiness, organisation and predictability aren’t always the best environments to foster innovation and achievement; and How to Make the World Add Up: Ten Rules for Thinking Differently About Numbers, equips readers with the tools to understand and question the numbers that dominate headlines, and sometimes seem to confirm our own biases.

From why we might be misunderstanding the advantages and difficulties of AI (and what the history of technology can tell us about both) to how to identify and challenge misinformation. Why it’s so hard yet so important to learn from mistakes, how to deal with uncertainty, predict disasters and deal with flawed forecasting, Tim explores a fascinating world of behaviours, numbers and assumptions. Taking in everything from the military to game shows, aviation to ballet, he questions received wisdom, common sense, and statistical certainty. His accessible, easy style provides entertaining, thought-provoking insights relevant to every person and organisation. Tim is a member of Nuffield College, Oxford and continues to be an honorary fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. He’s a two-time winner of the Bastiat Prize for economic journalism and has been named Data Commentator of the Year, Economics Commentator of the Year, and has won the Society for Business Economists writing prize and the Royal Statistical Society prize for journalism.

Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, International and Treasury Services, BNY

Rajeev Bhatnagar is the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer for BNY’s International business. Based in London, Rajeev is responsible for managing risk and compliance across all risk and compliance disciplines for all businesses and legal entities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM. He is also the global Chief Risk and Compliance Officer for Treasury Services. Rajeev has more than 30 years of international banking experience. Prior to joining BNY in 2020, he was in senior roles at Commonwealth Bank of Australia for over six years and at Citigroup for 21 years. Rajeev has broad-based banking and risk management experience, spanning corporates and financial institutions, business banking and retail banking. In risk management, he has held Chief Risk Officer roles at country, regional and global levels. He has managed teams across all risk categories, including credit risk, operational risk, market risk, compliance and financial crime compliance. Rajeev is an Engineer and holds a master’s in business administration.

Chief Platform & Functions Officer, Legal, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Secretariat, Standard Chartered Bank

Libby brings over 25 years of expertise in managing non-financial risks and strategic change in the financial markets and services sector. As the Chief Platform & Functions Officer, for Risk, Compliance, Legal and Global Corporate Secretariat functions, she now leads the transformational GRC platform innovation, development and implementation for the Bank. Her experience has provided a unique insight and understanding of the interplay between multiple risk disciplines, including financial crime, operational, reputational, regulatory, information and cyber security, and conduct risk management. Before joining SCB she held several senior executive roles in RBS, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and BNP Paribas.

Head of Enterprise and Non-Financial Risk, London Stock Exchange Group

Robert is the Head of Enterprise and Non-Financial Risk at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Robert was previously the Group Head of Capital Risk Management at Revolut. Before this, Robert was the UK Head of Enterprise and Non-Financial Risk at Credit Suisse. He holds a Mathematics degree from University of Leeds and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

Managing Director, Compliance, Barclays UK

Victoria is an experienced risk and compliance leader. She is is currently a Managing Director in Compliance at Barclays. Previously, Victoria was the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at the Cambridge Building Society, where she was awarded Outstanding Chief Risk Officer by Credit Strategy in 2019 and was previously Deputy Chair of the PRA Practitioner Panel.

Head of Group Risk Office, Nordea

Jacob is a former external consultant and key note speaker within change management and transformation. Today, Jacob is the business owner of the development of Nordea’s new GRC implementation, Integrated Risk Management Application (IRMA) – a large digital and cultural transformation that will change the way Nordea work with risk management and compliance within all 3 lines of defense.

Global Head of Cybersecurity and Technology and Data Protection Regulatory Risk, BNP Paribas

Fox Ahmed is the Global Head of Cybersecurity and Technology and Data Protection Regulatory Risk, with 20+ years in financial services, specializing in cybersecurity, risk management, and regulatory compliance. He holds an MSc in Information Technology from Royal Holloway, University of London, along with multiple industry certifications (Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt, Security+, CRISC, CISM, CISA). A published expert, speaker, and mentor. Fox has led global cybersecurity frameworks, regulatory assessments, and risk initiatives while shaping industry standards through trade associations.

Head of Enterprise and Operational Risk, Nationwide Building Society

Ben is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in risk and control disciplines within large Financial Services businesses for almost 25 years. Roles have spanned the three lines of defence, as well as several years as an external reviewer. His current role is at Nationwide, where he has spent the last 9 years – with responsibilities centred around setting the risk framework; overseeing its application; and reporting on risk insights.

Head of Compliance Analytics and Innovation, Zurich Insurance Group

Around 20 years experience in IT strategy, IT risks, IT governance, analytics, innovation, GRC, digitalization and AI. Significant international experience, working for various industries, now leading digitalization and innovation for second line of defence at Zurich Insurance Group.

Chief Auditor - Risk, Credit, Financial Crime, NatWest Group

Nick is a Chief Auditor at NatWest, focused on Risk, Credit and Financial Crime and also sponsoring work on the future  shape of NatWest's Internal Audit function.   Nick has worked in external audit, internal audit and first line controls roles across a thirty year career in the financial services industry.  Prior to joining NatWest in 2023, Nick was Chief Controls Officer at Nationwide. A Chartered Accountant and Chartered Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors, Nick has also led audit and controls teams across Barclays, Northern Trust, Prudential and UBS, working across many aspects of the industry including Asset & Wealth Management, Cards & Payments, Retail Banking and Custody/Fund Services.

Head of Compliance, Roche

A steadfast advocate for innovation and collaboration, Tetiana envisions a world where healthcare is not just a privilege, but a fundamental right for all. 

With a wealth of experience as an international leader in Life Sciences, she is passionately dedicated to shaping the future of the industry through healthcare policy and systems advancements. 

Master’s degrees in International Business Law and Relations along with 20+ years of experience in international business, laws, ethics, risk intelligence, opportunities exploration, technology domains, continuously enriching her capacity to drive meaningful change. 

Tetiana excels in orchestrating global initiatives that encompass governance, digital transformations, innovations and partnerships, all aimed at ensuring enhanced access to healthcare for patients in multiple countries and continents.

Her extensive advisory background and resilience empowers her to navigate complex challenges in an uncertain environment, while her visionary leadership inspires others for collective efforts towards a healthier future.

Head of Compliance, RWE Renewables

Elena García Aguado is the Head of Compliance at RWE Renewables , where she leads the design and implementation of a comprehensive compliance management program for the Onshore and PV renewable energy sector. Her role includes advising on strategic compliance measures related to antitrust, corruption, money laundering, and international sanctions. Elena is a Spanish-qualified lawyer, with over 20 years of experience in the legal and compliance sectors in Spain, Belgium and Germany. She is fluent in Spanish, German, English, and French.

Global Head of Resilience Risk Management, BNY

Nick Fuller is the Global Head of Resiliency Risk Management and Head of International Technology Risk Management at BNY. In these roles, he provides independent oversight and challenge of the firm's operational resiliency capabilities and technology risks, including the enterprise resiliency lifecycle, testing program and response capabilities. Before joining BNY, Nick led the development of Credit Suisse’s approach to operational resilience. Prior to that, he was the EMEA Head of Business Continuity Management, with over 20 years of experience in developing and implementing a firm-wide business continuity and crisis management framework. Nick has managed a wide variety of crisis events, including system outages, environmental issues, and civil unrest. In addition, he is actively engaged in industry collaboration, including previously being co-chair of the Securities Industry Business Continuity Management Group (SIBCMG) and supporting the development of multiple UK and international industry exercises.

IT Business Partner - GRC Corporate Functions, Zurich Insurance Group

With over 25 years of IT experience, I have built a career at the intersection of technology, governance, risk and compliance (GRC). Since 1999, I have contributed to IT strategy, project delivery and operational excellence. Supporting business transformation across industries. Based in Zurich since 2007, I have partnered with global organizations to drive IT initiatives, ensuring alignment between technology and regulatory requirements. My expertise spans IT project management, operations &  service delivery, with a strong emphasis on enabling business functions through secure, compliant and efficient IT solutions. Currently, my focus is on GRC transformation, helping organizations navigate regulatory landscapes, mitigate IT risks and strengthen compliance frameworks in an era of digital disruption. Passionate about emerging technologies, I see AI as a key enabler for the future of governance, risk management and compliance. Keen on leveraging its potential to drive innovation and efficiency.

Global Director - Financial Services Regulatory Compliance, Microsoft Corporation

Chris is currently a Director within Microsoft’s Worldwide Financial Services Regulatory Compliance team where he engages with regulators and customers on topics such as Operational Resilience, Cyber Security, Third-Party Risk and forthcoming AI regulation. Prior to Microsoft, Chris was a regulator at the PRA focusing on Operational Resilience and Cloud Outsourcing across multiple Banking, Insurance, and Investment firms. Chris has also worked directly within the 1LoD and 2LoD within an Operational/Technology Risk capacity and started his career at KPMG in London. He graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2013 and professional certifications include CISSP, CISM, CISA & CRISC.

Chief Project Manager - Group Risk Change Management, Nordea

30 plus years experience within the financial sector. 20 years with project and programme management and the thereof the last 10 with GRC solutions

Chief Compliance Officer / Co-Head of Global Legal, Compliance, Risk and ICS, BSH Home Appliances Group

Dr. Adriane Winter is a lawyer and has been with BSH Hausgeräte GmbH (BSH) since 2013, currently serving as the Co-Head of Global Legal, Compliance, Risk, and Internal Control Systems (GLE) as well as the Chief Compliance Officer. In her role, she is primarily responsible for compliance, enterprise risk management, the internal control system, and matters pertaining to digital and data protection. Prior to her tenure at BSH, Dr. Winter was a lawyer at the law firm Taylor Wessing in Munich, where she specialized in corporate law, corporate litigation, and compliance. She pursued her legal studies in Passau, Bologna, and Munich, and she holds a doctorate in business mediation from the University of Passau. Driven by a passion for transforming risks into opportunities, Dr. Winter is committed to devising the most effective compliance strategies within an optimal governance structure.

Deputy CRO, Hargreaves Lansdown

Currently the Deputy Group Chief Risk Officer of HL. Over 25 years experience in theUK Financial Sevices industry covering First and Second line roles in wealth management, asset management, and life insurance sectors.

Managing Executive: Corporate Risk and Security , Vodacom Group

Wilna Meiring is a powerhouse in the world of risk and security, with over 30 years of experience driving impact across the telecommunications and mining industries. As the Managing Executive of Risk and Corporate Security at Vodacom Group, she leads with vision and precision—overseeing enterprise risk, corporate security, and insurance across multiple regions. Known for turning complexity into clarity, Wilna is a trusted voice at the boardroom table, guiding executive teams through ever-evolving risk landscapes. Her sharp technological insight and strategic mindset have shaped business resilience and empowered high-performing teams to thrive in uncertainty. Beyond her executive role, Wilna is deeply committed to advancing the profession. She serves on the board of the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) and is an alternate trustee for both COMRiC and the Vodacom Retirement Fund. But her influence doesn’t stop there. As a certified leadership coach, Wilna is passionate about growing future-fit leaders—helping individuals unlock their potential, lead with authenticity, and make bold, meaningful impact.

Executive Director – Global Head of CIB Markets E-Trading Compliance, Conduct and Operational Risk, JPMorgan

Carlos Martin is an Executive Director at JPMorgan and Global Head of CIB Markets Electronic Trading Compliance, Conduct and Operational Risk Management. Carlos brings about 30 years of experience in Financial Services across all regions, having worked previously at Morgan Stanley, CIBC, BNP Paribas, UBS, RBS NatWest and EY in Trading, Technology, Finance, Audit, Financial and Non-Financial Risk Management. Carlos collaborates with the Council for International Securities and Investment (CISI), the Professional Risk Managers International Association (PRMIA) and the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). He is a certified Financial Risk Manager, holds a Master of Science in Finance by the University of Syracuse, New York, a Bachelor of Business Administration by the Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, and Academic Qualifications in Economics, Computer Programming, Market Risk and Operational Risk.

Head Of Conduct Risk, Eurobank SA

Works since 2019 in Eurobank SA in Group Compliance. Previous experiences include work on benchmarks and regulatory surveillance on ICE Benchmark Administration, Intercontinental Exchange and trading in BNP Paribas and Fortis Bank NV/SA. Enamoured with his role as Conduct Officer in Eurobank SA and believes Compliance carries an ambassadorial duty.

Chief Data Protection Officer, Robert Bosch

Experienced Tech and Compliance lawyer with a proven track record in private practice, corporate and business. Focusses on wholistic GRC approaches. Chief Data Protection Officer at Bosch Group, former Deputy Head of Compliance Investigations at Bosch Group, former senior attorney at Freshfields, former project manager and customer care. Fully qualified lawyer. Fable for happiness.

Group Executive Head: Business Risk Management, Vodacom

Renisha is the Group Executive head of Business Risk Management responsible for enterprise and product risk management across Vodacom Group of Companies across Africa. She is Multi-disciplined executive with a demonstrated history and over 18 years of experience working within the Risk Management and IT systems environment within the telecommunications sector. Renisha holds an MBA and an MCOM in Applied Risk Management and is the winner of numerous industry awards for driving innovative risk management practices.

Renisha has a vast range of experience ranging from Information Technology, Business Process Improvements, Business Strategy and Risk Management. She is responsible for owning the process of identifying, measuring and management of risks, as well being responsible for developing risk requirements and benchmark standards for risk management across the Vodacom group of companies. Her main focus is driving risk management that is pre-emptive, agile and fail fast focusing on risk by design principles. Renisha has also worked extensively with executives locally and across Africa to drive risk implementation and the value thereof.

Head of Resilience, Royal London Group

Sarah has worked within the resilience industry for over ten years, building resilience functions in firms across the legal, financial and professional services sectors. Sarah’s career has spanned Business Continuity, Incident Management and Operational Resilience practices, and her current role focusses on continued compliance with the Operational Resilience UK regulation for March 2025. In addition, Sarah has a particular interest in supplier resiliency and third party compliance, and she is dedicated to ensuring that the next generation of resilience professionals have the relevant opportunities to welcome them into the industry.

Head of Operational Resilience and Business Continuity, QBE

Tim Armit is Head of Operational Resilience and Business Continuity for QBE.  He has worked in resilience for 36 years working across over 100 companies in all sectors around the world, responsible for the innovation and implementation of a number of resilience practices. He served as an Officer in the Army and then joined Guardian Royal Exchange working in IT before moving into full time resilience in 1989.  From GRE to the Post Office ensures he has first hand experience of all aspects of resilience and using plans in anger. He developed the first methodology for implementing Turnbull processes leading to what is now known as operational risk and was responsible for developing the first BS7799 software assessment tool. He is also the first consultant to complete every aspect of the business continuity lifecycle up to and including achieving accreditation to BS25999 for a client before it transitioned to the ISO standard now in place.   He has managed global resilience projects operating in up to 16 countries simultaneously and understands the impact of the global risks in large companies. Tim was the lead for the UK Tripartite to benchmark the UK financial sector and  has helped establish a consultancy in Spain in conjunction with the BME (Spanish Stock Exchange).  

Head of Assurance, Risk and Internal Controls, ABB

Head of Assurance, Risks, and Internal Controls at ABB, with over 20 years of experience in developing and strengthening SOX compliance and internal control frameworks across pharmaceutical and engineering sectors. Specializes in integrating emerging technologies and new trends into risk and control environments to drive operational excellence.

Head of Non-Financial Risk Taskforce, Canada Life UK

Dave has worked in financial services for 36 years, starting his career at Nationwide Building Society, where he held a number of senior roles in internal audit and compliance. Dave joined the Lending Standards Board (LSB) as Compliance Director in July 2013, and became CEO in 2016. Dave worked closely with the industry and the regulators in developing self-regulation and voluntary standards as a key complement to statutory regulation, enabling firms to deliver good customer outcomes in SME lending, APP scams and branch closures, with the emphasis on improving standards. Dave joined Virgin Money’s Risk function in 2019 and held various roles covering change, operational and conduct risks. In 2023 he moved to first line to head up implementation of Consumer Duty before joining Canada Life in 2024 as Head of Risk & Compliance, focusing on operational and conduct risk. Since February he has moved to first line to lead the non-financial risk taskforce which is implementing improvements to the operating environment and making sustainable changes in areas such as operational resilience, cyber and IT, third party, Consumer Duty. Dave’s focus in all of his roles has been on improving standards and thinking about the delivery of outcomes.

EHS Audit and Risk Director, Haleon

Started my career as a graduate trainee with SmithKline Beecham, worked in production and packaging operations for 8 years then moved into Environment, Health and Safety (EHS). Now have over 25 years’ experience as a EHS professional within the private and public sector. Gained significant experience of completing and driving improvements of EHS, including audits against company standards. In addition, have experience of managing Health and Safety regulator interventions, covering different topics with scrutiny from national topic specialists. Experience of leading various EHS and risk projects and initiatives, for example, EHS data gathering, reporting systems, competency and driving positive behaviours and cultures. Over last 10 years having completed a second master’s degree in risk management, built up knowledge and as well as practical understanding of enterprise risk management. Managed teams with broad skillsets and familiar with different governance and assurance approaches, along with the three lines of defence model. Over the last 3 years gained knowledge and experience of global operations, along with the challenges, in terms of different regulations but also differing approaches and cultures.

Compliance Officer, Knorr-Bremse

Gabor Molnar is a seasoned Compliance Leader and Global Trade Expert with over two decades of experience driving robust compliance, risk management, and international trade programs across multinational corporations. With a proven track record of advising executive leadership and spearheading transformative compliance strategies, Gabor has developed and scaled globally recognized compliance frameworks in the automotive, engineering, manufacturing, and other industries. Currently serving as Compliance Officer at Knorr-Bremse AG, Gabor leads compliance initiatives, including aligning regional operations with global standards. Prior to this, he was the Head of the Compliance Program Office at Sandvik Group, where he oversaw the global compliance architecture, implemented cutting-edge risk assessment systems, and led compliance training and governance efforts across four business areas. Earlier in his career, Gabor played a pivotal role in establishing the compliance infrastructure at Zeekr Technology Europe (former CEVT, China Euro Vehicle Technology) and Volvo Cars Group, supporting international market expansion and regulatory alignment. His tenure at organizations such as General Motors, General Electric, PwC, and Philips Industries further solidified his expertise in customs, international trade, export control, and anti-corruption initiatives. Gabor holds a degree in Economics with a focus on Commerce and Management, and has completed the Ethics and Compliance Leadership Program at INSEAD. His professional influence is reflected in his longstanding memberships with organizations such as the Society of Corporate Compliance & Ethics (SCCE), World Free Zones Organization, and European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Fluent in aligning global strategies with local execution, Gabor is recognized for his ability to build resilient compliance cultures, foster ethical business environments, and deliver measurable impact through governance innovation and operational excellence.

Operational Risk Lead, National Bank of Kuwait (International)

Currently heading the Operational Risk function at the National Bank of Kuwait in the UK, I have spent several years designing, implementing and embedding operational risk management frameworks across various sectors of financial services, including Retail Banking, Payments and FinTech. I have served on the Executive Committee of the Institute of Operational Risk Management and currently supporting the Institute of Risk Management and similar organisations in the UK and abroad, including the Caribbean.

Chief Risk Officer, Allianz Technology

As a Risk and Technology leader, Sowmya has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, covering roles in governance, technology, consulting, and business transformation. She has worked in startup, M&A and established environments and has a proven track record of overseeing large-scale transformation and establishing governance post M&A. She collaborates closely with Boards to drive risk-informed decision-making and deliver sustainable growth. She is based in Barcelona and is currently the Chief Risk Officer of Allianz Technology Group

Global Head of Risk & Assurance, IQ-EQ

Simon is the Global Head of Risk and Assurance at IQ-EQ and has overseen the embedding of MetricStream across the Group. Prior to IQ-EQ, Simon worked at Deloitte, Prudential plc and most recently M&G plc, holding a variety of roles across Risk and Audit. At M&G, Simon was responsible for the transformation and listing readiness of the Risk, Compliance, Legal and CoSec functions. Upon listing on the FTSE 100, Simon assumed responsibility for Operational Risk across the Group, including simplifying the approach to risk and control, overhauling the firm’s risk culture, and implementing MetricStream.

Head of UK Compliance & MLRO, Mollie UK

Dane is the Head of Compliance & MLRO at Mollie, specialising in risk assessments, governance frameworks, and embedding compliance cultures. She is a Justice of the Peace and senior compliance expert with over 15 years of experience in financial regulation, consumer credit, and payments. A magistrate in HM Courts and Tribunal Services, Dane is also dedicated to mentoring and supporting individuals through advisory roles.

CTO & Co-Founder, Intento

Prior to Intento, Grigory worked in industry (Yandex) and academia (Higher School of Economics). He spent more than 20 years in software engineering, of which about 15 years in data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Since 2011, he has been engaged in deep learning. Grigory is a Google Developer Expert in Machine Learning and has a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence.

GRC Practice Manager, Vivid Edge

Raghu Muniyappa is a distinguished GRC Practice Manager, celebrated for his profound expertise across the entire Governance, Risk, and Compliance domain. For over a decade, Raghu has been instrumental in leading and executing numerous Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), Operational Risk Management (ORM), and Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) implementations for top multinational enterprise customers worldwide. This extensive practical experience underscores his exceptional ability to translate complex GRC theories into tangible, high-impact solutions. A true expert in Risk Management, Raghu meticulously identifies, assesses, and mitigates potential threats, crafting proactive strategies that safeguard organizational assets and ensure business continuity in dynamic global environments. His deep understanding of Compliance Management enables him to design and implement robust frameworks that strictly adhere to global and industry-specific standards, including GDPR, SOX, and HIPAA. He ensures rigorous alignment of internal operations with legal and ethical mandates, thereby minimizing regulatory exposure. Furthermore, Raghu’s acute proficiency in Regulatory Management is a cornerstone of his practice. He possesses an unparalleled awareness of evolving legislative landscapes, adeptly translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable strategies that keep organizations agile and compliant. He excels at preparing organizations for audits and navigating intricate regulatory terrains with a proactive, forward-thinking approach. In his leadership role, Raghu champions collaboration and the strategic adoption of GRC technologies to drive efficiency and resilience. His ability to articulate intricate GRC concepts to diverse stakeholders, coupled with his unwavering commitment to ethical governance and his proven track record in critical risk implementations, makes Raghu Muniyappa an invaluable leader dedicated to building secure, compliant, and responsibly managed organizations.

Founder, Board Member and Strategic Advisor, Alpha Flow Zenith

An accomplished Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Leader and Chief Audit Executive with over two decades of impact-orientated leadership experience and business acumen, transforming organisational landscapes, from startups to multinationals. Advocates ethics, integrity, digitalisation and innovation; harnesses the latest and emerging technological advancements such as data analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enable informed strategic decision-making. An influential and trusted board member who strengthens governance, Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), and increases financial and investor confidence. Showcases global exposure and scales world-class operations comprising top talent.

Director and Founder, The Op Risk Company Ltd

Elena Pykhova is award-winning risk expert, author, international trainer and educator. She is the founder of a boutique risk management consultancy, The OpRisk company, specializing in risk transformation, board and executive level advice on effective operational and enterprise risk management strategy, design and implementation. Elena is an author of a best-selling book, Operational Risk Management in Financial Services: A Practical Guide to Establishing Effective Solutions. She is a renowned educator, running public and in-house training courses in the UK and internationally for world-leading organisations including the London Stock Exchange Group Academy, the Moller Center Cambridge University, and the Institute of Internal Auditors. Elena is a thought leader, influencer and founder of a prominent industry think tank, the Best Practice Operational Risk Forum. She is a former Director for Education at the Institute of Operational Risk and chair of the Expert Panel for the Association of Foreign Banks. Passionate about the discipline, she founded her training and consulting practice after 20 years of experience in senior roles at Fortune 500 companies.

Analyst & Pundit, GRC 20/20 Research & GRC Report

Michael Rasmussen is an internationally recognized thought leader and pioneer in governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC). With over 30 years of experience, he has extensive expertise in enterprise GRC strategy and processes supported by robust information and technology architectures. Known as the “Father of GRC,” Michael was the first to define and model the GRC market in February 2002 while at Forrester, setting the foundation for the modern understanding of GRC.

Head of Operational Risk, Santander

Ben joined Santander UK in 2023 as Head of Operational Risk - Governance, Reporting & Standards. As part of this role, Ben oversees the non-financial risk framework, policies, structures and underlying programmes and infrastructure including Risk Appetite, RCSA, Issue/Action Management, Taxonomies and Systems. Ben has approximately 20 years experience in Financial Services in the US and UK including at Citi where he operated in a number of leadership roles across the first and second lines of defence, including compliance, operational and enterprise risk. Ben has broad subject matter expertise in Governance, Risk & Compliance, risk identification and assessment, control design and testing, and risk monitoring and reporting.

Chief Researcher, Chartis Research

Sid is a research director at Chartis Research with more than 20 years of experience in the financial, energy, and commodities markets in various functions across the trade and software development lifecycles. He has held various roles in product development, trading, risk management, software development, and consulting in banks, hedge funds, and risk advisory and software firms, including Standard Chartered Bank, TCG Group, HCL, and Cognizant.

Sid’s specific areas of interest and research include risk data, model risk management, quantitative models in illiquid markets, high-performance analytics, energy and commodity trading risk, market structure design, new computational models, and the use of innovative mathematical methods in various emerging areas of risk management. He has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management and is a qualified Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst CAIA, Financial Risk Manager (FRM), Energy Risk Professional (ERP), Member of GARP and CIPM from the CFA Institute.

Chief Executive Officer, MetricStream

Marc Levine joined MetricStream in April 2025 as Chief Executive Officer. Marc is a proven leader with over two decades of experience in enterprise SaaS, data, and analytics, including more than 10 years at Moody’s Analytics, where he led the Structured Finance division.

Marc has a track record of driving revenue acceleration, EBITDA expansion, and operational excellence in both public companies and privately held organizations. He has deep expertise in managing high-growth business units, optimizing cost structures, and executing strategic pivots to enhance enterprise value. With a strong background in SaaS workflow solutions tailored to reporting, compliance, accounting, and risk, Marc is skilled in value-based pricing, transitioning from one-time to recurring revenue models, and executing high-impact commercial strategies to expand market penetration. He has also led deal negotiations, due diligence, and seamless integration of acquired businesses to maximize synergies and drive shareholder returns. Marc's leadership is customer-centric and growth-focused, experienced in structuring enterprise-level partnerships, negotiating strategic customer contracts, and positioning businesses for long-term success. Marc holds a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University, with high honors, and lives outside Boston with his wife.

Executive Chairman, MetricStream

Gunjan Sinha is a visionary, entrepreneur, and business leader. He currently serves as the founder and executive chairman of MetricStream. He is probably still best known as the founder of WhoWhere?- an internet search engine which he sold to Lycos in 1998. He is also the co-founder and board member of the customer engagement software company, eGain (NASDAQ: EGAN). Throughout his career, he has been an active investor and board member in numerous successful Silicon Valley start-ups and venture funds.

Gunjan is a strong believer in social entrepreneurship, having helped create Child Family Health International, a United Nations recognized public non-profit, to transform global health education. From 2010 to 2017, Gunjan became the founding board member of the US India Endowment Board - started by the US State Department along with the Office of Science and Technology at the White House – an endowment fund that supports innovation and commercialisation of science and technology for social good in the US and India.

Gunjan is passionate about social innovation, diversity, inclusiveness, and global risk management. He envisions a world that brings the power of socially conscious innovations to better disrupt its risks, and create opportunities for all.

Co-founder & Vice Chairman, MetricStream

Gaurav Kapoor is the Co-Founder, Vice Chairman and Board Member at MetricStream focused on AI-First growth strategy and execution, customer expansion and market competitiveness.

Prior to this, as CEO, Gaurav led MetricStream to become a global market leader in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), delivering value to customers, shareholders, employees, and partners. Over the past decade, he has played key leadership roles—Co-CEO, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Marketing Officer—driving Strategy, Go-to-Market, Sales, Marketing, Partnerships, Customer Success, Service Delivery, and Support through various phases of the company’s growth.

Gaurav also served as the founding CFO of the company helping lay the early foundation for the company’s long-term success. Under his leadership, MetricStream has expanded its global footprint, serving customers in over 30 countries with a workforce of more than 1,000 employees. Its investors have included BlueTorch Capital, Goldman Sachs, Clearlake Capital, Sageview Capital, CM Growth, Kaiser Ventures, and Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDBI). MetricStream counts many Global 500 companies among its customers.

Prior to MetricStream, he was at OpenGrowth, an incubation and venture firm where he helped build and grow several companies including ArcadiaOne and Regalix. Prior to that, he spent several years in high growth business roles at Citi in Asia and the U.S including consumer digital payments and derivative financial products.

Mr. Kapoor has a Bachelor's degree in Technology (with Honors) from the Indian Institute of Technology, a degree in Business from FMS, Delhi, and an MBA from the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar. He has served on the board of Regalix, a digital innovation and marketing company for a decade and an investor/advisor to other technology companies.

Apart from a high degree of customer intimacy working closely with dozens of the largest global organizations, he has been a regular contributor and speaker at the GRC Summit, IIA, Ops Risk, GARP, RMA, and SIFMA, among many other industry platforms. He is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council and NACD certified member.