Alfonso Garcia Mora is IFC’s Vice President for Europe, Latin America & Caribbean in the World Bank Group (WBG).

In this capacity, Mr. Garcia Mora is responsible for all IFC operations, advisory and investments in the two Regions covering all sectors (Financial Institutions, Infrastructure, Manufacturing Advisory and Services, Disruptive Technologies and Funds and PPP), building a strong program for private sector investments, and fostering collaborative opportunities with key stakeholders to maximize impact. He also serves as Chair of the Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN).

Previously, Mr. Garcia Mora was IFC Vice President for Asia and Pacific, and before he was the Global Director for the Finance Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice at the World Bank. He led the World Bank’s work on financial stability and integrity; financial infrastructure, inclusion and access; long-term finance and capital markets; and crisis and disaster risk finance across all regions.

Since joining the WBG in January 2013, Mr. Garcia Mora has led different regional responsibilities as Manager and Director in Latin America, Middle East and North Africa, and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, advising governments, supervisors and regulators on projects related to financial-sector development, access to finance, banking crises, capital markets and financial regulation. Mr. Garcia Mora managed the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), leading several assessments, and represented the WBG in different committees of the Financial Stability Board and other standard-setting bodies.

Before his WBG career, Mr. Garcia Mora worked in the private sector for over 12 years, including as Partner-Managing Director at Analistas Financieros Internacionales Consulting Group.

Mr. Garcia Mora holds a PhD in Economics from Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and served as a visiting PhD student at Boston University. He also holds a Master of Finance from the Catholic University of Leuven. Mr. Garcia Mora has lectured and published extensively on banking and financial- sector issues.

Allen Forlemu has been the Regional Head of Industry and Director, FIG Asia Pacific since 2021. Allen joined IFC’s Financial Markets Department in 2006 as an Investment Officer in the Global Transactions Group. Between 2015-2018, he served as New Business Manager for FIG in West and Central Africa and between 2018-2021 was Regional Head of Industry and Senior Manager for FIG in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining IFC, Allen spent ten years in investment advisory and private equity in Africa. He holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Andi Taufan Garuda Putra
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Amartha Financial

Taufan is the Founder and CEO of Amartha Financial and a recognized pioneer in fintech and social impact for Indonesia.

He founded the organization in 2010 as Indonesia’s first women-led MSME microfinancing platform. Today, Amartha Financial has evolved into a full stack fintech, providing digital lending, payment, and micro-investment services. Cumulatively, Amartha Financial has served over 3.3 million grassroots users and women-led MSME in over 50,000 Indonesian villages.

Previous positions include as Executive Advisor to the President of the Republic of Indonesia. He was also a former Consultant at IBM. He graduated from Institut Teknologi Bandung, then earned a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, USA where he was an Edward S. Mason Fellow.

His leadership and vision have been recognized by numerous awards including Young Changemaker from Ashoka (2010), Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist from EY (2018), Growth Stage Impact Venture SEA Winner from UNDP (2019), and Product Innovation of the Year from IFC SME Finance Forum (2022).

• Graduated from Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad in 1993, holding a degree of Masters in Public Administration (MPA). Have attended various International and national training and workshops.
• Currently working at the Bank of Punjab, as SEVP-G/Group Chief – Consumer Banking.
• An experienced and highly accomplished banking & management executive with a proven track record of 30 years of success & rich exposure to Retail and Commercial Banking, SME, Agriculture, Consumer, Public Sector led initiatives, Trade Finance & General Banking, Strategic Planning, Execution and Implementation in various Financial Institutions namely, The Bank of Punjab, Habib Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited, Royal Bank of Scotland, Pakistan ,formerly ABN AMRO Bank and State Bank of Pakistan (Central Bank).
• Proven track record of successful affiliation at senior / country level positions with leading local and international financial institutions.
• Established leadership skills with in depth understanding and exposure to managing large / country level portfolios and teams.
• A strong and widespread network of personal and business contacts across the country, different geographic locations, industries and official entities including Central Bank, State Ministries and Financial / Developmental Organizations etc.
• Director BOP Exchange (Pvt) Ltd; a company recently formed to undertake currency exchange business
• Chairman BOP Capital Securities (Pvt) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Bank of Punjab

Carol Oyedeji currently oversees the Commercial Banking Business in the 33 Africa markets where Ecobank operates. This scope entails Client relationships in Local Corporate type companies, Small and Medium Enterprises, Faith Based Organizations, Educational institutions, Agric and Government Business. Prior to her present role, she was the Deputy Managing Director of the Bank’s Nigeria subsidiary.

With over 30 years in the Financial Services industry, she has extensive experience across all the client facing segments of Consumer/Retail Banking, Commercial Banking and Corporate / Institutional Banking.

Before joining Ecobank, Carol was the Regional Head of Client Acquisition & Client Relationship for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered Bank, where she oversaw Retail Distribution in the countries across the Region. Carol was also at various times, Head of Business Clients for Standard Chartered Africa, Regional Head for the Bank’s Consumer Banking in West Africa, and Non-Executive Director at Standard Chartered Bank Gambia. She started her Career as a Credit Analyst and later moved into Core Banking in 1995 when she joined the then FSB International Bank (now Fidelity Bank Nigeria).

She has developed critical skills in Strategy development, Sales Management, Credit Analysis, Digital Banking, Product Development, Wealth Management, Asset & Liability Management, and several other areas of financial expertise.

She is a graduate of Chemistry from the University of Lagos and holds an MSc in Financial Management from the University of London and an MBA in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos. She has attended several Leadership courses in Harvard, Oxford, INSEAD, UCLA and Stanford Universities. Carol is a member of the Women Corporate Directors Nigeria chapter, honorary member Chartered institute of Bankers Nigeria and member Institute of Directors Nigeria. She also has Board level experience from several Institutions.

Farkhat Sarsekeyev is Chairman of the Management Board of Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC, Kazakhstan’s national development institution supporting entrepreneurship and improving access to finance for SMEs.

He has more than 16 years of professional experience in banking, corporate finance, development institutions, and SME support. Throughout his career, he has held senior management positions at Damu Fund, Freedom Bank Kazakhstan, Sberbank, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, and other financial institutions.

Mr. Sarsekeyev previously served as Deputy Chairman of the Management Board and Managing Director of Damu Fund, giving him extensive experience in entrepreneurship support and financial instruments for businesses.

He holds degrees in Engineering and Technology from Satpayev Kazakh National Technical University and in Economics from the Kazakh Academy of Labor and Social Relations. He is fluent in Russian and English.

Ghana Msibi is the Chief Executive Officer of FNB Business Banking, appointed in August 2025 to lead South Africa’s largest SME lender, serving over one million customers. In this role, Ghana drives FNB Business’s growth strategy, focused on accelerating market leadership in business banking through customer-centric solutions, digital innovation, and strategic partnerships. His mandate includes deepening SME engagement, expanding access to finance, and positioning FNB as the bank of choice for entrepreneurs and corporates in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Previously, Ghana served as CEO of WesBank (2022–2025), where he spearheaded transformation in vehicle and asset finance, delivering record profitability and advancing digital capabilities. Since joining the FirstRand Group in 2015, he has held several executive roles, shaping WesBank’s strategy and integration within the group. His career spans over 22 years in financial services, with expertise in banking, channel management, insurance, risk, and compliance, complemented by senior leadership positions across multiple organisations.


Born and raised in Soweto, Ghana’s journey from township schoolboy to CEO exemplifies resilience and purpose. He holds a degree in Cost and Management Accounting, a postgraduate qualification in Risk and Compliance Management, and an MBA.

Known for his servant leadership style, Ghana values humility, simplicity, and respect, believing leadership is an act of service that demands hard work and sacrifice.

Beyond the boardroom, Ghana is passionate about traveling, golf, and family time. His favourite book is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and he lives by the quote:

“If two of us are alike, one of us is unnecessary,”
reflecting his appreciation for diversity in people, places, and cultures.

Mr. Gong Li joined WeBank in 2015 and currently serves as Executive Assistant President, with a strategic mandate in corporate and institutional banking. He spearheaded the launch of "Weiyedai" and architected a multi-tiered banking service framework that delivers comprehensive financial solutions to MSMEs at every level.
Over the course of his tenure at WeBank, he has held multiple senior roles spanning risk management and fraud prevention.
Mr. Gong is a graduate of Peking University and brings over two decades of commercial banking experience from his career prior to WeBank.

JD Yap is a banking and finance executive with over 25 years of experience serving SME and retail clients across Asia. His career spans banking, fintech, and private equity, with expertise in financial planning, strategy, growth, risk management, and analytics.

As Chief Financial Officer, JD oversees the Bank's financial planning, regulatory reporting, investor relations, and capital management, and chairs its Asset-Liability, Product, and Sustainability Committees. Previously, he led Security Bank's Business Banking Segment, where the loan portfolio grew more than 2.7x, supported by improvements in sales productivity, product capabilities, and digital solutions.

JD serves as Co-Chair of the East Asia and Pacific Regional Chapter of the SME Finance Forum, a global network established by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to advance small business finance and financial inclusion.
His career includes regional leadership roles at Grab Finance, United Overseas Bank, Fullerton Financial Holdings, and Standard Chartered Bank. He holds an MBA from Nanyang Business School, where he was an ASEAN Scholar and a Dean's Honours List awardee.

Katia Daude Gonçalves is the Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and a member of the World Bank Group (WBG). She is based in the WBG’s Singapore offices. She works closely with regional investment and advisory teams to help drive cross-border investments and capital mobilization between Singapore-based companies and financial institutions in emerging markets and developing economies around the world, while playing a critical role in building IFC's nascent presence and portfolios in Malaysia and Brunei. A Mozambican/Portuguese national, Ms. Daude Gonçalves joined IFC in 2009 and previously served as IFC's Resident Representative for Mozambique. She began her career at Banco Internacional de Mozambique Investimento, the country's first fully fledged investment bank. She also a Master’s degree in Development Finance from the University of Manchester.

Luca Antonio Ricci is an Assistant Director and Mission Chief at the International Monetary Fund, and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research. He leads the IMF African Department Working Group on CBDC and Digital Payments, which issued a Departmental Paper, organized a survey of the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Central Banks (CBs), and created a network of the SSA CBs on these issues. He is also Mission Chief for the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). He previously was Mission Chief for the Ivory Coast, Chile (negotiating the $24bn Flexible Credit Line), Ecuador Panama, and Oman. He held positions in the IMF’s Research Department, publishing over 40 papers in refereed journals on exchange rates, international finance, external debt, growth, inflation, macroeconomic insurance, social unrest, trade, and firms’ location choices. In 2010 he spent one year at Barclays Capital, as Managing Director and Head of International Economics. Prior to joining the IMF, he was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University and a Researcher at the University of Konstanz. Mr. Ricci received a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Economics from The Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, summa cum laude.

Mahesh Uttamchandani is the World Bank’s Regional Practice Director for Digital and AI in East Asia and Pacific (EAP) and South Asia (SAR) regions. In this capacity, he oversees the World Bank’s lending, advisory and knowledge programs in the area of digital transformation in all EAP and SAR countries and is a member of the Regional Leadership Teams for both EAP and SAR.

He joined the World Bank in April 2006, as Senior Counsel in the Legal Vice-Presidency. He has since held various positions in both the World Bank and International Finance Corporation, including Global Manager for Financial Inclusion & Infrastructure where he led the Bank's work on expanding access to finance through digital financial services and the financial sector aspects of digital ID and digital payments.

Prior to joining the Bank, Mahesh worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, UK and as a commercial litigator at a leading law firm in Toronto, Canada. He has taught and lectured at universities around the world and has published extensively, including key World Bank publications on fintech and as an author in the World Bank’s flagship World Development Report, 2022.

Mark Barnett is the global head of Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) at Mastercard, and a member of the company’s Management Committee. He oversees all SME products and solutions, including card and acceptance products, along with an extensive suite of data, cyber, and embedded software solutions - each designed to help business owners run, grow, and protect their operations.

In this key global role, Mark is responsible for enabling small and medium businesses to thrive through trusted partnerships, seamless technology, and innovative services. Mark leads a business committed to doing well by doing good and is focused on bringing more small businesses into the digital economy by expanding access to seamless payment experiences – powering global economies.

Michael Schlein brings nearly 30 years of extensive international banking, management, and public service experience to his role as President and CEO of Accion. He is responsible for creating and implementing Accion’s strategy, managing its global team, and maintaining a high-performing organization.

Michael’s strategic leadership has built Accion into a leading early-stage investor in fintech for inclusion and an expert in the digital transformation of financial service providers. During his tenure, he has cultivated partnerships that strengthen Accion’s work to develop and scale cheaper, more accessible, and customer-friendly financial solutions for underserved people globally.

Michael joined Accion in 2007 as a member of its Board of Directors and in 2009, became Accion’s President and CEO. Prior to his employment at Accion, Michael served as President of Citigroup’s International Franchise Management, where he managed the bank’s network of 100 Chief Country Officers. Before that, he ran communications, philanthropy, government relations, branding, and human resources for Citigroup. He served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Clinton Administration and in New York’s City Hall in the Dinkins and Koch Administrations. He began his career in investment banking.

From 2014 until Jan. 2021, Michael served as the Chairman of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, which encourages economic growth throughout New York City’s five boroughs and facilitates investments that build capacity, generate prosperity, and catalyze the economic vibrancy of city life as a whole. Michael has graduate and undergraduate degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Mohamed Gouled is IFC’s Vice President, Products and Clients. In this role, he leads IFC’s institution‑wide efforts to strengthen client relationship management, ensuring a more unified, strategic, and solutions‑oriented approach to serving private‑sector partners . He is responsible for IFC’s private equity and venture capital business, trade and supply chain finance, and structured products, advancing the institution’s ability to deploy innovative financial solutions that meet the evolving needs of clients in emerging markets. He is also responsible for driving new product innovation and development across IFC, helping expand the organization’s toolkit to catalyze private investment and enhance development impact.

A Djiboutian national, Mr. Gouled previously served as IFC’s Vice President of Industries, where he led global sector communities of practice, strengthened IFC’s thought leadership contributions to the World Bank Group’s knowledge agenda, and oversaw business development with global clients. Prior to that, he was IFC’s Vice President of Risk and Finance, responsible for IFC’s risk frameworks, financial sustainability outlook, and reporting to senior leadership and the Board.

Mr. Gouled joined IFC in 1999 as an Investment Officer in the Financial Markets Division of the Sub‑Saharan Africa Department. He later worked in the Global Financial Markets Department on several groundbreaking transactions, including pioneering residential mortgage‑backed securitizations across Europe, Central Asia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council region, as well as first‑in‑market capital instruments in Tunisia’s banking sector.

He has held several leadership positions at IFC, including Manager for the Financial Markets Group in Sub‑Saharan Africa, Chief Credit Officer for the EMENA region, and Director of the Special Operations Department. Before joining IFC, Mr. Gouled worked at the African Development Bank in Abidjan in the Treasury and the Industry and Infrastructure Departments.

Pamela Coke-Hamilton is the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in developing countries to trade.

An international trade lawyer by training, she has spent her career working across government and international organizations, and with the private sector, to expand economic opportunities through trade. Before leading ITC, she held senior leadership roles at UNCTAD, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Export Development Agency. She began her career in Jamaica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, with her first posting at the Permanent Mission of Jamaica in Geneva during the Uruguay Round Negotiations.

Since taking the helm of ITC in 2020, she has championed a simple but powerful idea: That trade is ultimately about people, and that economic opportunity should be accessible to those who have historically been left furthest from global markets.

QAMAR SALEEM heads SME Finance Forum, managed by the World Bank Group, working to expand access to financial services for small and medium businesses globally. Prior to this role, Qamar Saleem was heading IFC’s Financial Institutions Group Advisory Services business for Asia and Pacific providing integrated client solutions across SME, Gender, Climate, Digital, Housing, Trade, Capital Markets, Agri and Supply Chain Finance. Qamar has been with IFC since 2012 and served in his previous roles as global technical lead for SME and Supply Chain Finance.

Qamar has overall 30+ years of global financial services experience having supported clients across 80+ countries internationally, managing large business lines while leading multi-cultural and cross-functional teams. He is a recognized thought leader, featured speaker, and an industry mentor with several publications and thought pieces to his credit. Prior to IFC, for a period of two decades, Qamar was associated in leadership roles with international organizations like HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank as well as large regional banks in MENA while serving in several emerging markets where he also led SME Banking, Transaction Banking, and Commercial Banking Divisions.

Rohit Arora is the CEO and co-founder of Biz2Credit & Biz2X and is responsible for driving a collective mission to help small businesses worldwide, via both direct lending and embedded finance solutions. His leadership has resulted in more than $12b in funding for small businesses. Rohit is often quoted on small business lending by major news media, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Entrepreneurs, American Banker, CNNMoney, MSNBC, Inc., and the Washington Post. Rohit was named Crain's NY Business "Entrepreneur of the Year 2011". He holds a Master's in International Business from Columbia University and an Engineering degree from India.

Mr. Sherif Lokman is currently the Sub-Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt for Financial Inclusion and Sustainability since September 2021, taking the responsibility of financial inclusion for individuals and MSMEs, in addition to sustainable development and financial literacy.
In March 2026, he was appointed as a non-executive board member in the United Bank's Board of Directors.
Mr. Lokman has an extensive experience in the banking sector spanning over 30 years, during which he held a number of leading positions, setting valuable imprints on the banking sector through his accomplishments. Prior to joining CBE, Mr. Lokman was appointed in 2021 as the Deputy CEO in ALEXBANK, in addition to his responsibilities, as the Head of Retail and SMEs division since 2018. Moreover, he was the Head of Retail and Branches Network in 2016, after holding the position of “Head of Branches Network” for 4 years, when he first joined ALEXBANK in 2010.
Before joining ALEXBANK, Mr. Lokman joined Barclays Bank Egypt as “Regional Branch Banking Head”, until he became “Head of Branches” in 2009 at Barclays Bank. In March 2006, Lokman joined NSGB as Zone Sales Manager.
Mr. Lokman’s career in the banking sector commenced at Misr International Bank (MIBank) soon after graduating from Cairo University - Faculty of Commerce - in 1995. His performance and efficiency qualified him to be appointed in a number of positions in MIBank, reaching the “Head of Business Development and Market research”.

Sopnendu Mohanty is the Co-founder and Group CEO of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), a global advisory and investment firm. At GFTN, he leads innovative strategies that drive development and transformation in the financial sector through four operating arms: Forums, Advisory, Platform, and Capital.

He served at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as its first Chief Fintech Officer for nearly a decade, establishing Singapore on the global map as a leading center for innovation in the financial sector and a dynamic hub for fintech development. He continues to advise MAS on technology and innovation.

He currently serves on several boards, including the board of A*STAR, Singapore’s leading public sector agency dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation. Before his leadership role in the public sector, he spent nearly two decades at Citigroup. He is credited with developing many public goods, including the notable PayNow, Singapore’s digital public infrastructure for payments. He conceptualized the globally well-known Singapore Fintech Festival and its global network of forums; today, the GFTN forum is the world’s largest convenor of tech, policymakers, and the financial sector community. Mr. Mohanty has co-authored several patented works in digital finance and received numerous industry accolades. He advises governments and various institutions on policies and implementation strategies for innovation, infrastructure, and ecosystem development in the financial sector.

Sunayna Tuteja is a globally recognized innovation leader operating at the nexus of finance, technology, and policy. She most recently served as the first Chief Innovation Officer of the Federal Reserve System, where she built and led the Fed’s innovation agenda across the 12 Reserve Banks and Board of Governors. Her work focused on both the application of emerging technologies within the institution and assessing the policy implications shaping the future of the financial system - including artificial intelligence, digital assets, tokenization, quantum computing, and the future of money and payments.

With more than a decade of experience as a builder, investor, and operator across TradFi, fintech, crypto, and central banking in North America and Asia, Sunayna is known for helping institutions meet the moment - by solving gnarly problems and translating bold ideas into practical execution, shipped outcomes, and measurable business value. Prior to the Federal Reserve, she built the digital assets practice at TD Ameritrade and led major digital transformation initiatives across TD Bank in both Canada and the United States.

A connector of ideas, individuals, and institutions, Sunayna has spent her career creating the conditions for active engagement between the public and private sectors. Her regularly hosted and curated (and over subscribed!) roundtables have yielded not only a forum for spicy conversations, but also positive connections and productive collaboration. When Sunayna is not nerding out about all things innovation, you can find her adventuring the the skies in her Cessna.

Syed Abdul Momen is the Additional Managing Director of BRAC Bank PLC and a banking leader with over 30 years of experience in SME banking, digital transformation, and financial inclusion.

Since joining BRAC Bank in 2005, he has played a key role in building Bangladesh’s largest SME banking franchise, driving innovation and expanding access to finance for micro, small and medium enterprises, women-led businesses, and underserved entrepreneurs. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of BRAC Afghanistan Bank, where he established SME banking operations and contributed to the country’s SME banking framework.

Syed holds a Master of Development Studies from BRAC University and is a graduate of the Chief Executive Officer Program at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Communications with Distinction from Middlesex University, UK.

He serves as a Governing Board Member of the SME Finance Forum (IFC/World Bank Group), is a Global SME Finance Awards judge, and is a frequent speaker on SME finance, digital banking, and inclusive growth.