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Gunsel Topbas brings over two decades of executive management experience in financial services as a thought leader in the Middle East and Africa region for securities services and digital transformation. He specializes in fintech, digital assets, and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), frequently speaking at major industry forums. Gunsel is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Manifest Executive Consultancy, a boutique firm based in Dubai, focusing on fintech, digital transformation, and the future of finance. He advises financial institutions and market infrastructures, as well as fintech companies for the transformation of post-trade and for building capabilities to use AI and to serve digital assets. He is also the Co-founder & CEO of a stealth startup that will operate globally on blockchain technology, and the founder of a SustainTech initative targeting implementation across Middle East and Turkey. Gunsel served 20 years at Citibank, over various executive management roles, most recently as MD and Regional Head of Custody for Middle East and Africa, responsible for 14 countries across the region. Prior to Citi, he served as the Head of International Department at Takasbank, the post-trade market infrastructure institution of Borsa Istanbul, representing Turkey at international securities industry organizations, and adopting international securities standards in the country. Gunsel is an adjunct faculty lecturing on Alternative Assets & Investments at universities in the UAE. He also delivers specialized workshops and educational programs aimed at equipping the executives and future financial leaders with the tools to navigate the evolving finance landscape. Gunsel holds a PhD in Corporate Finance, MSc degrees in International Banking & Finance and Money & Banking, and a BSc in Computer Engineering, graduating as valedictorian.
Gunsel Topbas brings over two decades of executive management experience in financial services as a thought leader in the Middle East and Africa region for securities services and digital transformation. He specializes in fintech, digital assets, and the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), frequently speaking at major industry forums. Gunsel is the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Manifest Executive Consultancy, a boutique firm based in Dubai, focusing on fintech, digital transformation, and the future of finance. He advises financial institutions and market infrastructures, as well as fintech companies for the transformation of post-trade and for building capabilities to use AI and to serve digital assets. He is also the Co-founder & CEO of a stealth startup that will operate globally on blockchain technology, and the founder of a SustainTech initative targeting implementation across Middle East and Turkey. Gunsel served 20 years at Citibank, over various executive management roles, most recently as MD and Regional Head of Custody for Middle East and Africa, responsible for 14 countries across the region. Prior to Citi, he served as the Head of International Department at Takasbank, the post-trade market infrastructure institution of Borsa Istanbul, representing Turkey at international securities industry organizations, and adopting international securities standards in the country. Gunsel is an adjunct faculty lecturing on Alternative Assets & Investments at universities in the UAE. He also delivers specialized workshops and educational programs aimed at equipping the executives and future financial leaders with the tools to navigate the evolving finance landscape. Gunsel holds a PhD in Corporate Finance, MSc degrees in International Banking & Finance and Money & Banking, and a BSc in Computer Engineering, graduating as valedictorian.
