Nick serves as a senior advisor at SquirePattonBoggs and as a special advisor to the BP Chief Representative in Abu Dhabi, offering expert guidance on various initiatives related to the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. His connection to the Emirates dates back to his childhood, when his father, a British Army officer, was stationed in the UAE with the Trucial Oman Scouts.

Early in his career, Nick managed His Highness Sheikh Zayed’s Royal Stud Farm before attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he was commissioned as an officer in the Brigade of Goorkhas.

Following his service in the British Army, Nick returned to the UAE where he built a 40-year career, taking on senior leadership roles at two major multinational companies, focusing on government relations, client engagement, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives.

In addition to his advisory roles, Nick is the chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Abu Dhabi and serves on the advisory board for Sightsavers in the Middle East. He also chairs the Middle East Advisory Board of the Energy Industries Council and co-chairs the Energy Working Group of the UAE-UK Business Council. In 2013, he was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of his contributions.

Nick recently published Early Days in the Emirates, a memoir reflecting on his formative years in the UAE.

Anand is a second-generation entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience in the jewellery industry. He is a seasoned professional in strategic initiatives and holds directorial and shareholder roles in various jewellery and bullion enterprises.

He is credited with envisioning and executing a successful bullion trading business, expanding its presence across the Middle East, Far East Asia, and India. Driven by a passion for digital technology, Anand has successfully spearheaded the launch of FinTech ventures in the jewellery sector, including GoldCityMall, GoldMine kiosks, BeSpoke Solutions, Gold Experience Center, and AIPM.

With a background in engineering, Anand is also a recognized speaker on topics related to precious metals and Bullion FinTech, having presented at global industry events.

Rachel Chia currently leads SDAX as CEO. She is an accomplished professional who has more than 20 years of experience in various industries including investment banking, fintech and legal. Having attained US and UK attorney qualifications from prestigious institutions such as University of Chicago Law School and London School of Economics and Political Science, she has held positions at leading international law firms and investment banking groups such as Clifford Chance, Latham & Watkins and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. She has also prior experience with fintech and blockchain projects, including a ground-breaking fine art blockchain project, and a stablecoin.

As the Chief Commercial Officer at SDAX, Melwyn brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the business.

A storied Banker over 35 years in the banking industry, he is a seasoned professional with a rich and diverse skills set and experience spanning Retail Banking, Investment Banking, Private Banking and the Family Office space, across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Besides being a Top of the Class Private Banker, with a deep understanding of client needs, and a proven record of delivering optimal solutions across all wealth life stages, he has been recognized for building and mentoring high-performing teams and developing scalable businesses within the private wealth space.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering, a Master’s in Management Studies from Bombay University, and a degree in Leadership Management from IMD Lausanne. Additionally, Melwyn serves as a visiting professor in Private Banking & Alternative Investments for the Masters of International Finance (MIF) program at the French university ESSEC.

Azman Jaafar is the Managing Partner and one of the founding members of RHTLaw Asia LLP, a regional law firm with its ASEAN Plus Group network offices across Asia and beyond.  He is also the Chairman of ASEAN Plus Group and he also heads the firm’s Indonesia practice group and he is a strong advocate of change and transformation.

The mainstay of his law practice is in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance; although his chief preoccupation today is the management of the law firm, the deployment of technology within the firm, its transformation, and collaboration across the firm’s regional network, together with its multidisciplinary professional service offerings under ONERHT.

He is an ad hoc tutor and lecturer at the National University of Singapore Law Faculty’s Legal Case Studies programme and is also a regular speaker at seminars on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and regulatory compliance in Singapore.

Azman was awarded a Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat, PBM) by the President of the Republic of Singapore in 2007 in recognition of his voluntary work as a councillor with Northeast Community Development Council since 1997. Having served under three different administrations, he has also worked in and chaired several standing committees within Council. He was also awarded the Long Service Award from Northeast Community Development Council.

Azman was the Chairman of the Executive Committee of SAFRA Jurong Clubhouse and member of the Management Committee of SAFRA. He remains a volunteer in SAFRA. He was also Chairman of the Tanjong Katong Girls School Advisory Committee and he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Industrial & Services Co-operative Society Ltd (“ISCOS”). He is also a serving member of the Management Committee for Home United Football Club (“HUFC”).

James is the Vice President of Portfolio Management at The Straits Trading Company Limited since 2015. He is responsible for oversight of the portfolio companies’ performances, as well as the development of strategies to improve performance.

Prior to Straits Trading Company, he has held positions in Ascendas and Titan Capital, with responsibility for capital markets, transaction management and deals structuring.

James holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical Engineering) (First Class Honours) from National University of Singapore. He is a CFA charter holder.

Eddy Ng is PSA’s Head of Group Commercial & Supply Chain Sustainability Solutions.  He sits on the Senior Management Council of PSA International.

Eddy steers the PSA Group’s commercial strategies in support of its activities and relationships with key global shipping lines, as well as develop PSA supply chain solutions with stakeholders to further PSA decarbonisation efforts in maritime and supply chain production systems. In addition, Eddy has a leadership role in Group Process Excellence, with a focus on strengthening and cascading PSA’s technology roadmap and digital developments in PSA projects globally. 

Eddy holds directorship positions in Vopak Terminal Singapore Pte Ltd and MSC-PSA Asia Terminal Pte Ltd. In recognition of his contributions that span over two decades in PSA, Eddy was conferred the PSA Global Champions Award in 2017.  Eddy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Merit from the National University of Singapore.

Mr Ivan Koh has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate sector covering property management, centre management, marketing & leasing, asset and investment management, and project development management in Singapore, China and India.

Prior to joining APM Property Management, Ivan was CEO of Perennial Real Estate, China. His portfolio comprised over 5.5 million sqm of developments including six operational assets, six projects under development and healthcare assets in first-tier cities and major provincial cities. Ivan previously held various positions including COO (Retail) at DLF International Holdings Pte Ltd in New Delhi and Regional General Manager of West China and General Manager of North China at CapitaLand Retail Limited (renamed CapitaLand Mall Asia Limited).

Ivan holds a Bachelor of Science in Management (Honours) from the University of London, UK.