Current Speakers SEA

Ben Assanasen joined Tune Protect Thailand, an associate company of Tune Protect Group, as its Chief Executive Officer and Group Health Leader. Ben brings with him a wealth of industry experience that spans over 2 decades – encompassing general management as well as hands-on operational roles covering a broad range of functions. Prior to Tune Protect, he has worked for the Group from Ernst and Young (EY), where he was an Associate Partner for ASEAN, as the Managing Director of Bupa Health Insurance and the Chief Executive Officer of Aegon in Thailand. He has also been appointed as Director and Advisory Director of the Accident and Health Insurance Committee of the Thailand General Insurance Association (TGIA).

Xuan Ly is Regional Director in Sun Life Vietnam. Currently, she manages and build up new Business Development Channel named De La Sól. De La Sól is a mixed concept space in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A fluid intersection of exhibition halls, cafe lounge, retail displays, and client experience center of Sun Life Vietnam (also the primary investor). As a Regional Director at Sun Life, a leading international financial services organization that provides insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individuals and corporate clients. I have a BASc in International Business from Houston Community College, and I am a professional speaker and a business development, growth, and product strategy expert in banking and insurance.

With over 10 years of experience in wealth management and retail banking in Asian markets, I have worked with leading banks such as HSBC, SCB, Standard Chartered, and Citibank in various roles across retail banking. I have skills and experience in customer relationship management (CRM), business relationship management, customer engagement, sales, team management, product and project development, and leading complex projects with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. I am a multicultural and multilingual candidate, who is internationally oriented, eager to learn, quickly adaptable, and dedicated to obtaining outstanding results in a challenging environment. I am also a keynote speaker and a panelist on various industry forums and conferences, and I have a proven interpersonal and motivational ability to ensure a strong team approach and the attainment of maximum performance levels and productivity.

My mission is to provide innovative and customer-centric solutions that meet the diverse and evolving needs of our clients, and to deliver value and excellence to our stakeholders. I am passionate about creating and nurturing long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with our customers, partners, and colleagues, and I am always looking for opportunities to learn, grow, and contribute to the success of our organization and industry.

Pariwat Kanithasen is Deputy Director of the Payments & Fintech Department of the Bank of Thailand and is in charge of policies relating to Thailand’s cross-border payment connectivity.

He has recently led several projects on payment infrastructure linkages between Thailand and other countries in the region, including Singapore (PromtPay-PayNow), Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. His current projects include bilateral linkages with India and Hong Kong as well as the multilateral “Project Nexus” with the BIS.

He is currently Co-Chair of the ASEAN Working Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems, Vice Chair of the EMEAP Working Group on Payment and Market Infrastructures and country manager for “Project Nexus”.

Prior to this, he worked on regional financial integration, regional financial cooperation and also acted as the Bank of Thailand’s chief negotiator of financial services and investment chapters of several regional and bilateral Free Trade Agreements, including RCEP and AANZFTA.

He was also seconded to the IMF in Washington D.C., as an Advisor to the Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Voting Group, representing the interests of 13 countries in the IMF’s Executive Board.

Supanwongse (Dean) joined HSBC Thailand in 2018 as Senior Vice President, TH Country Head of Sales – Global Liquidity & Cash Management (GLCM) and was later appointed as Director, TH Country Head of Global Payments Solutions (GPS). Prior to joining HSBC, Dean was with Citi for 12 years in a variety of roles including operations, account management, product management, and sales in Direct Custody & Clearing, Markets & Securities Services, and Treasury & Trade Solutions in both Bangkok and Singapore.

Dean holds a Bachelor’s degree in Bio-Medical Science from Mahidol University International College graduating with First-Class Honors and a Master’s degree in International Business and Law from the University of Sydney with Distinction.

Seasoned experiences in banking and consulting. Been in progressive leadership roles across the full spectrum of cash management business from product & e-channel management, sales, onboarding to services. Prior consulting background with specialization in business process & technology transformation.

Nurul Ain is a Change Practitioner with previous background in marketing, business development, channel development, PMO, transformation, M&A and change management in different industries. She is passionate about helping organizations navigate and embrace change. Nurul believes that change is inevitable, and that strategic change management is integral to an organization’s success in today’s ever-changing world. She specializes in developing actionable change management plans for new technology, new ways of work, organizational change, and transformation programs. She helps organizations drive adoption and minimize resistance through creating a culture of feedback, open communication, and active collaboration.

Rahul Kulkarni, currently serving as the Director of Presales for APAC & MEA at Unify, boasts an impressive 25 years of experience in the Telecommunications industry. Over his dynamic career, Rahul has successfully navigated various roles, including field services, pre-sales, solution design, technology consulting, and product management. He has overseen numerous critical communication projects, showcasing expertise in the complete project lifecycle—from consulting and design to implementation and workflow management. He possesses a unique skill for simplifying complex technology into tangible customer benefits. Beyond his professional achievements, he is an avid reader and finds joy in sharing his knowledge through teaching and guest lectures, particularly with engineering students. Rahul also actively contributes technical articles to industry magazines and forums, further solidifying his standing as a thought leader in the field.

Jean-Marc is a thought leader in digital and customer experience transformation strategies, blending customer experience, digital and AI technologies, innovation and employees empowerment.

As Director Digital & AI Asia Pacific at Verint, Jean-Marc is responsible for strategic digital transformation with emerging technologies and processes, helping organisations embrace a holistic, enterprise-wide view of CX and EX across Sales and Service.

With experience spanning Europe and Asia Pacific, Jean-Marc brings an international perspective to the Experience economy.

Based in Bangkok, Thailand, David spearheads real-time Financial Services monitoring across the APAC region, aiming to elevate customer experiences. With a keen eye on IT operations, his focus lies in pre-emptively addressing issues before customers are impacted, vital for superior service. In a landscape disrupted by Fintech advancements, David champions Operational Resilience and digital excellence for traditional financial entities.

At ITRS, boasting a 25-year legacy supporting over 4000 organisations globally, his role as Partner Sales Manager for ASEAN involves expanding their footprint in Asia, collaborating with partners to fortify real-time monitoring solutions.

Ritesh is the Global Head and Vice President for the Business Solutions Group at Newgen. He is a key member of the leadership team in the organization. During the last two decades of his stay, he has been instrumental in expanding Newgen’s presence from being a local Indian player to the globally recognized product organization it is today. Ritesh is a Subject Matter Expert in Banking and Financial Services, Insurance, and Shared Services (BPO/ BPM) industries and has strong technical expertise in Workflow Management, Information Management, and Digital Automation tools. He is a known face in conferences and delivers thought leadership sessions globally. Ritesh brings to the table a unique mix of understanding technology and applying it to business. An avid writer, his articles on technology and banking are published regularly in renowned magazines. He has recently also ventured into blogging about his experiences through the years

Experienced financial services leader with 25+ years’ expertise, passionate about unleashing tech’s potential for business impact. Author, active community contributor, and trusted consultant in personal finance, change, and strategy. Recognized for a growth mindset and creative thinking.

With over 25 years of experience, I am passionate about driving innovation and digital transformation in IT project development. I have successfully delivered complex projects across the globe, from the bustling cities of the USA and Singapore to the tranquil landscapes of Laos and Thailand. My expertise in business consulting is focused on harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies, such as Data Mining, Machine Learning, Big Data, and Cloud Architecture, on helping companies achieve their goals. As an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 related project manager, I ensure the highest quality and security standards. I am excited to continue exploring new opportunities to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of technology.