Global Developments in Digital Currencies

Benedicte N. Nolens
Head | BIS Innovation Hub

Bénédicte is the Head of the BIS Innovation Hub, Hong Kong Centre. Prior to this appointment, she was a managing director at SC Ventures, the innovation arm of Standard Chartered Bank that leads a series of new ventures across digital banking, banking as a service, SME finance and blockchain. From 2018-2019, she was the Vice President of International Government Relations at Circle, involved in the evolution of blockchain and digital assets.

From 2012-2018, she was the Head of Risk & Strategy of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and in that capacity also acting as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Emerging Risks and the Fintech research lead for the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). From 2007-2012, she was a managing director at Credit Suisse and before that from 1997-2007 she was an associate and executive director at Goldman Sachs.

Originally from Belgium, she holds LL.M. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Leuven. She is admitted to the New York Bar since 1999. In 2016, she was a recipient of the China Daily Asian Women Leadership Awards for her efforts related to entrepreneurship, innovation and charity. She remains closely engaged in these topics, most recently through her involvement in the Fintech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK) and Women in Finance Asia (WiFA.)  

Urszula McCormack
Partner, Cross-Border Finance & Technology | King & Wood Mallesons

Urszula McCormack is regulatory and digital economy specialist, with a focus on emerging technologies. 

Urszula is one of the leading blockchain, tokenisation and digital platform specialists globally and has helped pioneer the creation of one of the Asia-Pacific’s most respected fintech practices. She runs a large cross-border team based in Australia and Hong Kong, and has spent over 15 years practising law in Hong Kong.

Urszula advises global banks, technology companies, crypto ecosystem players and payment institutions on new products, cross-border transactions, financial services licensing, data-sharing arrangements and global compliance.  Urszula has also advised several governments and multilaterals on designing robust digital economy legal frameworks across multiple Asia-Pacific markets.

Urszula is especially well known for building global digital ecosystems, supporting nascent industries and early-stage companies and leading major multi-stakeholder projects involving large commercial banks and central banks. Key recent projects include advising the Bank for International Settlements on the “mBridge” multi-CBDC platform, acting on the Hong Kong Government’s landmark digital green bond launch, supporting several e-AUD and e-HKD pilot participants and advising multiple exchanges, brokers and fund managers with their licences under the Hong Kong virtual asset, securities and futures regimes.

Urszula has been appointed to multiple advisory bodies, as well as to the Panel of Recognised International Market Experts (P.R.I.M.E.). She is regularly invited to brief governments, regulators, academics and transnational policymakers. Urszula is admitted to practice law in Hong Kong, Australia and England & Wales.  

Justin Chung
Engagement Manager | Quinlan & Associates

Justin is an Engagement Manager at Quinlan & Associates. Prior to joining Quinlan & Associates, he worked at a blockchain advisory firm, acquiring hands-on knowledge and experience in the digital assets domain.

 Justin has led a number of strategic projects related to digital assets for a broad range of companies, including digital asset exchanges, digital asset custodians, tokenisation companies, stablecoin issuers, public entities, and other financial institutions.

 In addition to his project work, Justin has published numerous thought leadership reports related to the retail and wholesale adoption of digital assets, including a recent report with BISIH on the wholesale adoption of CBDCs, stablecoins, and deposit tokens (i.e. tokenised liabilities).

Nigel Dobson
Banking Services Portfolio Lead | ANZ

Nigel Dobson is the Banking Services Lead at ANZ.

The Banking Services portfolio has responsibility for developing and implementing ANZ’s payment platform strategy, supporting the enterprise and our partners. This includes a number of enterprise functions including build, run and operate across the banks payments services in 32 countries. Nigel manages development and operations teams in Melbourne, Singapore and Bengaluru and is also responsible for the Wholesale Digital team who are dedicated to delivering digital channels and integration services for the Institutional Bank.

Banking Services is also responsible for delivering ANZ’s response to Open Banking in Australia and shaping our business services strategy to meet the demands of an open data economy.

Nigel also leads the banks Digital Asset Services strategy and associated activities, including fostering partnerships and industry pilots. Nigel is currently a director of Lygon 1B, a digital bank guarantee start-up, a Director of Australian Payments Plus and is a Fellow of Blockchain Australia.

Prior to this role, Nigel spent 4 years in senior Transaction Banking roles at ANZ, including Global Head of Payments and Cash Management and Global Head of Transaction Banking Products.

Nigel joined ANZ in July 2009 from Citi in Hong Kong where he was Regional Head of Trade and Transaction Services. Nigel had spent a total of 19 years at Citi in various senior Markets and Transaction Services roles in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Nigel has a Bachelor of Economics from Victoria University, New Zealand