IX INTERNATIONAL BANKING FORUM

Namig Aliyev was born in 1977 in Baku. He is a graduate of Baku State University. During his student years, he worked on a number of periodical publications. In 1999-2000 he worked in the Republican Scientific and Technical Library and in 2001-2003 in the Main Department of Cultural Education of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan as a leading specialist. As of 2004, he worked as a correspondent, leading correspondent, assistant editor, editor at the Free Azerbaijan Broadcasting Company "Azad Azərbaycan".

He started working in the Communication Department of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan in May 2010. Since July 2011, he has been the Head of the Public Relations Division of aforementioned department. He is the presenter of "Economic News" program  at Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint-Stock Company (AZTV).

Born: 1987, town of Shaki, Azerbaijani.

Education:

2008 – the Baku State University, Bachelor’s degree in Informatics.

2011 – the Baku State University, Master degree in Informatics.

2015 – 2017 the EMBA joint program of ADA University and Maastricth School of Management, Master degree in International Business Management.

2020 – Kopenhagen Business School, a course in Digital Transformation in the Financial Sector.

2021 – Harvard Business School, a course in Business Analytics, Economics for Managers, Financial Accounting.

OCM certificate on the organizational architecture of the Oracle

2024 – up to now – the London Metropolitan University, Master degree in Applied Psychology.

Professional career:

2009 – Technical Specialist, the ICL LLC.

2010-2011 – Web programmer, the Infosecurity LLC.

2011-2016 – Junior Programmer, Programmer, Leading Programmer, the Azercell Telekom LLC.

2016-2018 – Head of the Product and Service Development Unit, the Azercell Telecom.

2018-2020 – Head of the Digital Engineering Division of the Digital Lab Department of the Pasha Bank OJSC.

January, 2021 – May, 2024 – Chief Technology Officer, the Pasha Bank OJSC.

May, 2024 –up to now – Executive Director of the Central Bank.

Married with 3 children.

Chairman of the Board, Banks Association of Türkiye

Włodzimierz has been working  in the banking sector since 1991.

He began his career as director of the foreign department at the National Bank of Poland (central bank) and participated in Poland's negotiations with the London Club and the Paris Club on debt relief. From 2002 to 2011, he served as the President of the Management Board of Nordea Bank Polska. During this time, he also served on the governing bodies of the Polish Bank Association. In 2012, he assumed the position of Vice President of Finance at KGHM Polska Miedź. Since 2017 he’s been serving as Vice President of Polish Bank Association.

Born on April 7, 1975, in Imishli region of Azerbaijan Republic.

Education:

In 1992 he was admitted to the Azerbaijan State Economic University with the largest score and graduated from high school in 1997 and received his second higher education in the Journalism profession of the Georgian Institute of Public Relations in 2004. In 2009, he defended his PhD in economics and in 2017 he defended his doctorate in economics.

Prof. Dr. Vusal Gasimli was awarded a certificate of completion for the "Leading Economic Growth" Program, [February-May/2021], John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.

In 2022-2023 Vusal Gasimli completed the University of Oxford's Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Strategy and Innovation.

In 2013 Vusal Gasimli was given the title of associate professor.

V.Gasimli was engaged in pedagogical activity in the UNEC Special Talented Group and MBA program in 2010-2014.

V.Gasimli read public lectures at Washington University, California University, Cairo University, Warsaw University, Seoul Hanyany and Hankuk University, and Rio de Janeiro University.

Vusal Gasimli got the award of Astana Economic Forum for outstanding research achievements in 2012.

Worked as a guest scientist at Korea International Economic Policy Institute in 2013.

He has 10 books and about 500 scientific and publicist articles in Azerbaijani, Russian, Korean and English.

Vusal Gasimli is professor at the Azerbaijan Public Administration Academy under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan since 2021.

Labor Activity:

During the 12.05.2000-06.12.2003, the economic consultant in Express newspaper edition,

15.02.2005-19.11.2005, Economic Reviewer at ANS-PRESS Publishing House LLC,

19.11.2005-30.04.2007, President of ANS-PRESS Publishing House LLC,

09.02.2009-11.05.2011, Deputy of head of the Department at Azerbaijan-Public-Political University,

In 2007-2011, he worked on projects implemented by the European Union, the World Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and several international organizations.

In 2011-2016, he worked as Head of the Department for Economic Analysis and Globalization of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In 2015, he represented Azerbaijan at the T20 platform of brain centers of the G20.

From 10.05.2016 to present he is the executive director of theCenter for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

He was awarded the Progress Medal in 2018.

Vusal Gasimli was appointed Focal Point of UNESCAP in 2021.

Married, has three children.

With over 17 years of experience in finance and management consulting, Kutay began his career at HSBC Turkey and later joined Peppers & Rogers Group, where he specialized in financial services consulting. Since 2013, he has held several key positions at Mastercard, collaborating with leading financial institutions on impactful projects. As Vice President of Customer Management, a role he assumed in 2022, he played a pivotal role in positioning Turkey as a market leader and one of the fastest-growing markets in the region.

After graduating from the secondary school he was admitted to the department of “Accounting” at Azerbaijan State Economic University and completed the full course on the speciality of “Economist” in 1981. Zakir Nuriyev started his labour activity as Leading Accountant at the “Control and Inspection” department of the Ministry of Communications, Azerbaijan Republic in 1981.

 Zakir Nuriyev did his military service during 1981-1983. He worked in the capacity of Accountant – Inspector, Chief Inspector and Deputy Chief Accountant at the “Control and Inspection” department of the Ministry of Communications, Azerbaijan Republic from July, 1983 until January, 1989 after having served in the military.

 He was appointed to the post of Manager of the “Control and Accounting” division at “Regional Communication” Production Association of the Ministry of Communications, Azerbaijan Republic in 1989. Zakir Nuriyev worked in the capacity of Chairman of the Management Board at “Rabitabank” Joint-Stock Commercial Bank during 1993-1998 and has been acting as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at “Rabitabank” Open Joint-Stock Company since 1998 up to date. He was elected President of the Azerbaijan Banks Association in 1996 and worked in that capacity until 2006. He has been member of the Presidium at Azerbaijan Banks Association from 2006 till 2015. He was re-elected President of Azerbaijan Banks Association in 2015.

Emil Zeynalov, started his career at the Credit Europe Bank in Russia. His career also extended to various positions at local commercial banks in Azerbaijan. Emil Zeynalov has been with Mastercard for more than 6 years, where he played a pivotal role in growing the business and managing relationships in the country.

Eren Özkan “Mastercard Advisors & Consulting Services” şirkətində Türkiyə, Azərbaycan, Ukrayna və Moldova üzrə klaster rəhbəridir. O, Avropa, Yaxın Şərq və Asiya-Sakit okean regionunu əhatə edən 20-dən çox ölkədə 16 illik idarəetmə konsaltinq təcrübəsinə malikdir və hazırda 4 yüksək inkişaf edən bazarda 130 nəfərlik komanda onun rəhbərliyi altında çalışır. Onun əsas fəaliyyət sahəsi maliyyə xidmətlərini əhatə edir. Bura inkişaf strategiyası, loyallıq, portfelin optimallaşdırılması, rəqəmsal transformasiya, müştərinin həyat dövrünün idarə edilməsi və analitikası, yeni məhsulların inkişaf etdirilməsi daxildir.

Otabek Nasirov is the Chairman at Central Asian Fintech Association, a member of the expert council at Cyber Park, AICA, and the working groups of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Otabek actively participates in the development of the fintech market and community in Central Asia, regulatory sandboxes and local legislation of the fintech industry, including education on blockchain technology, convergence technologies such as AI, digital assets, cyber security and others. Represents and lobbies for the interests of the fintech community within key government agencies of Uzbekistan, including the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Central Bank, the Competition Promotion and Consumer Protection Committee, the National Agency for Perspective Projects, and the State Tax Committee.

Otabek member of the UMAY Angels Club, ICLUB by Venture Found TA Ventures and cooperates with the Uzbekistan Venture Capital Association (UzVCA), the National Venture Capital Fund (UzVC), and the AloqaVentures.

His knowledge and experience are the result of working in international and global companies such as Coca-Cola, Carlsberg Group, General Motors, Ernst & Young and SIT Learning within the Swiss International Research Institute Schaffhausen Institute of Technology and others.

Graduate of the Tashkent State Law Institute and the Moscow School of Management "Skolkovo".

Otabek is an ambassador for Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC) and Chapter Zero Uzbekistan (Climate Governance Initiative | CGI ).

Mr. Altunbas is a seasoned strategy, business and corporate development professional with over a decade of experience in accelerating the digital transformation across emerging markets. Leveraging his proficiency in creating collaborative partnerships, he has led a wide array of landmark projects in the eCommerce and fintech spaces across EEMEA. Currently at Mastercard, he is dedicated to scaling secure and seamless digital payment solutions, empowering people and powering economies.

Edqar Abdullayev Türkiyənin Yeditepe Üniversitesinin, Biznesin İdarə  Olunması üzrə  Magistr təhsilini almışdır.

On altı illik idarəetmə təcrübəsi vardır. İş həyatının 11 ilini Telekommunikasiya,  2 ilini Nəqliyyat və Turizm sahəsində, 6 ilini isə Bankçılıq və Maliyyə Texnologiyaları sahəsində  işləmişdir. 2008 – 2014-cü illərdə, Azercell Telecom şirkətində Daxil Olan  Müraciətlərin İdarə Olunması Bölümünün Rəhbəri kimi fəaliyyət göstərmişdir.  2014 – 2016 – cı illərdə DOST TAXI MMC-nin Baş İcraçı Direktoru kimi  çalışmışdır. 2016 – 2019-cu ilin əvvəlinə qədər PAŞA Bank ASC-də təşkilati  İnkişaf və Keyfiyyətin Təminatı Departamentinin Direktoru vəzifəsində bir sıra  yeniliklərə imza atmış və bankda boyük dəyişikliyin idarə olunması  komandasının üzvü olmuşdur.

2019-cu ildən 2021-ci ilə  kimi Azerconnect şirkətində, Müştəri və Rəqəmsal  Xidmət İdarəsinin Direktoru vəzifəsində, böyük bir komanda ilə uğurlu şəkildə çalışmışdır. Hal-hazırda United Payment MMC şirkətinin Baş İcraçı Direktorudur və ölkənin “Rəqəmsal Ödəniş Strategiyasına” öz töhfəsini verməkdədir.

Mr. Ramil Mahmudov is a Deputy Director of the Payment systems and settlements department at Central Bank of Azerbaijan Republic. He is an experienced professional in payment systems, e-banking, card business, digital payments with more than 20 years at central banking. As co-author of several regulations and recommendations for payment institutions and Fintech, he also familiar with international experience about payments systems ecosystem and payment instruments and also with risk management, fraud management, chargeback rules.

Mr. Mahmudov holds Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from University of Luxembourg and Master’s degree in Finance from Azerbaijan State Economic University. He received Executive education diploma from New York University Stern School of Business and numerous training certificates in the field of payments and management in Europe and Asia.

Alexander has 20+ years of experience in payments and leads product development at eComCharge, the company behind the white-label SaaS platform beGateway.

Vic Omelchenko – CCO & Managing Partner, Banza Vic Omelchenko is the Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Partner at Banza, a global IT company specializing in CRM & BPM systems, and web & mobile applications. With 20 years of experience in IT, Vic is a passionate leader, venture investor, and startup mentor. Under her leadership, Banza has grown to over 200 employees across 17 countries and delivered more than 300 digital transformation projects. Vic focuses on the synergy of no-code platforms and process optimization to simplify IT for banking, sales, logistics, manufacturing, and customer service sectors. She brings deep insight into how modern technologies can accelerate business growth and improve customer experience. At the event, Vic will share her perspective on how no-code solutions are reshaping the way businesses operate and innovate.  

Iskandar Shodiev is the Regional Director for Central Asia at zypl.ai, an AI-driven fintech company headquartered in Dubai with operations in 20+ countries. He leads strategic partnerships across Central Asia and CIS, focusing on AI solutions for risk management in the financial sector, synthetic data solutions, and digital transformation for banks and MFIs.

Iskandar has extensive experience in marketing, project management, and business development across international companies. With an MBA and a strong cross-border track record, he bridges technology, finance, and innovation to drive growth in emerging markets.

Jalal Orujov graduated from Azerbaijan State University of Economics, Faculty of Finance and Credit in 1999.

He started his career in 2001 at European Union TACIS Program’s Coordination Bureau as Lead Expert. In the course of 2002-2005, J. Orujov worked as Lead Expert and was promoted to position of Head of Division at Payments systems and Information technologies department of Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 2005 to 2006 he was the Director of “Millikart” Processing Centre of Central Bank.

From 2006 to 2016, he was Executive Director of “Millikart” LLC Processing Centre. In 2016-2017, he worked as CTO of Unibank and in 2017-2018 he pursued his career as Managing Director of International Bank of Azerbaijan.

He started his career at PASHA Bank in 2018 as Member of the Executive Board and Chief Operations Officer.

Dmytro Kovalenko leads BS/2’s business development and partnership activities in Georgia and Azerbaijan. He joined the company in 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience in the banking sector, along with a strong background in manufacturing and FinTech project development.

Mikheil is a seasoned technology and policy expert with cross-sector experience in banking, government, and more. He began his career in 1997 as a programmer, steadily advancing into strategic and leadership roles.

Since 2020, Mikheil has led Georgia’s Open Banking initiative within the Banking Association, developing national standards and guiding financial institutions toward compliance. Prior to this, he held senior roles within the Ministry of Justice’s Public Service Development Agency, where he contributed extensively to Georgia’s e-Governance ecosystem. His work included improvements to electronic ID infrastructure and co-authorship of the law “On Electronic Document and Electronic Trust Services.” His work helped shape foundational digital services and trust frameworks for the country. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Deputy Chairman and Director of IT Development in the same agency, and during interim chairmanship, temporarily oversaw broader domains such as population registry, citizenship, and migration.

In 2023–2024, Mikheil consulted on Georgia’s next-generation e-passport and e-ID programs. Earlier, he contributed to high-impact banking projects at Bank of Georgia (2006–2012), including IBAN migration, PCI DSS compliance, and RTGS integration. He remains active as a systems architect and mentor, with deep expertise in software development, cloud computing, and secure digital identity.

Farrukh Farajullayev is a commercial leader with over 10 years of experience in the IT, cloud, and digital technology sectors. As the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at AzInTelecom, he drives commercial strategy and execution, overseeing key functions such as sales, marketing, product development, and business development. His expertise in cloud, digital solutions, and emerging technologies enables him to design and implement initiatives that deliver substantial revenue growth and business expansion.

Farrukh has played a pivotal role in the development and rollout of services including AzInTelecom’s cloud solutions, the SİMA digital solutions platform, and other innovative offerings designed to support businesses in their digital transformation journey. His strategic vision has led to effective go-to-market strategies aligned with market needs, resulting in significant revenue and market share growth.

Committed to customer satisfaction, innovation, and collaboration, Farrukh has cultivated strong relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders, fostering long-term loyalty and sustainable success.

Vyacheslav Fedorov is a payment systems and e-commerce expert with over 15 years of professional experience. He has held senior positions at companies such as Yandex.Money, Yota, DengiOnline, Go2See, and Go2Sport, leading the launch and development of innovative payment solutions and digital projects.

He is currently a Managing Partner at AllSailing.Store and a member of the Interagency Working Group on the Digital Transformation of the Sports Industry under the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation.

As a mentor and expert, Vyacheslav contributes to startup schools and business incubators (FRII, Ingria, Hack Day) and regularly speaks at leading conferences organized by Skolkovo, Vedomosti, ComNews, and others on topics related to e-commerce and electronic payment systems.

His areas of expertise include digital product strategy, payment infrastructure development, business process automation, and preparing projects for investment rounds.

Gunay Asgarova is a distinguished finance and sustainability professional with over 13 years of specialized experience in auditing, IFRS accounting advisory, finance transformation processes, corporate governance, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. As Director of Broader Assurance Services (BAS) and Sustainability for PwC Azerbaijan, she has established expertise in financial and non-financial sector transformation and sustainability services. Gunay has extensive experience working with multinational corporations and financial institutions across Azerbaijan, specializing in IFRS implementation, ESG maturity assessments, and sustainability reporting frameworks. Her banking sector expertise includes leading audit and consulting engagements for prominent local banks, as well as managing IFRS transitions and risk management frameworks for major financial institutions. She holds an MBA in Finance from Khazar University and maintains prestigious certifications including ACCA membership, (FCCA), and GRI Certified Sustainability Professional. Gunay's comprehensive skill set encompasses corporate and process governance, risk and regulatory compliance, sustainability and accounting advisory, ESG data governance, and sustainability assurance, making her an invaluable voice in discussions about sustainable banking practices and regulatory compliance in the evolving financial landscape.

I am the founder and CEO of Sanction Scanner, a company that provides enhanced All-In-One Risk & Compliance services to support your company. I have been leading Sanction Scanner since 2018, with the mission of preventing financial crime and enabling secure and compliant transactions for financial institutions and businesses.

With over 15 years of experience in developing payment, fintech, and banking solutions, I have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the financial industry. I have a master's degree in computer science and an MBA in business administration and technology management.

Andrew Riabchuk is the Founder and CTO of Akurateco, a global payment software vendor providing customizable PCI DSS-certified solutions for payment providers, banks, and global merchants. With over 20 years of experience in online payments, Andrew has a deep understanding of how to develop products that boost revenue and reduce payment processing costs for businesses. Since founding the company in 2019, Andrew has been leading Akurateco’s development and architecture.

Ilker Kurtulus is an accomplished leader in data, analytics, and AI with over 10 years of experience transforming financial institutions and fintechs through data-driven strategy. Currently serving as Director at Mastercard Advisors & Consulting Services, he helps financial institutions unlock value through data modernization, GenAI adoption, and product strategy.

Before joining Mastercard, Ilker led Data Offices within leading banks and fintechs, delivering measurable impact through scalable data platforms, GenAI and monetization use cases. His expertise spans data strategy, governance, and innovation, with a focus on building future-ready organizations through applied GenAI and intelligent automation.

Recognized for his analytical precision and strategic vision, Ilker is dedicated to helping financial ecosystems evolve toward smarter, more inclusive, and AI-enabled operations. Beyond his professional work, he is passionate about mentoring data talent and exploring how emerging technologies can drive meaningful economic transformation.

Bora Gül graduated from Sakarya University’s Computer Engineering in 2009 and began his career as a Software Engineer at Türkiye Sigorta. Following his experience there, he joined Agito, a company providing software solutions for the insurance sector, where he worked as a Software Engineer for approximately three and a half years.

Gül later joined OBSS, one of Turkey's largest software companies, where he worked as Technical Lead, Resource Manager, and Account Manager for five years. During this time, he held both technical and operational responsibilities in large-scale digital transformation projects for the banking industry.

In 2018, he founded Assistbox with Yildiray Yilmaz, which marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. He has since overseen the company's sales, business development, and growth initiatives. Today, Assistbox is recognized as a SaaS solution that provides video communication technologies to a variety of industries, including finance, insurance, and retail.

Bora Gül continues to make valuable contributions to the business world by combining his technology and software expertise with extensive industry experience and leadership abilities.

Head of Expresspay

Hamid is the Business Development Director at Mastercard Services, where he leads strategic partnerships with financial institutions in Azerbaijan, helping them unlock value through Mastercard’s advanced technology, analytics, and advisory solutions.

Prior to joining Mastercard, Hamid had over 10 years of experience in banking and management consulting, having worked at McKinsey & Company and Big Four firms in Azerbaijan and Middle East. He has advised leading organizations across the Banking, FinTech, Manufacturing, and Retail sectors on business strategy, new proposition development, go-to-market execution, and operating model transformation.

Mr. Kokcen currently serves as the Vice President of EEMEA Cyber Security Sales at Mastercard. In this crucial role, he is dedicated to building a trustworthy digital ecosystem and enhancing resilience across the region, ensuring all stakeholders are secured against evolving cyber threats.

He brings over 15 years of experience across cybersecurity, cloud computing, and fraud, specializing in taking emerging technology products to market. He has successfully spearheaded transformative projects across a wide range of sectors, including finance, retail, e-commerce, telecommunications, and smart cities.

Prior to his recent role, Mr. Kokcen gained significant leadership experience within Mastercard, including serving as the SSO Business Development lead for Eastern European countries.

Before joining Mastercard, and after completing his studies in Industrial Engineering, he held diverse segment, product management, and business development roles focused on cutting-edge technology products in these varied sectors.

Fatih Alali is a seasoned leader in AI, risk management, and banking, with over 15 years of experience spanning Mastercard, McKinsey & Company, SAS, and the banking sector. At Mastercard, he serves as Vice President, leading initiatives in AI strategy & use case implementation, underwriting, collections, and payments transformation across Turkey, the CIS, and Central & Eastern Europe.

Before joining Mastercard, Fatih led AI-driven transformations that boosted growth and reduced risk for major banks and fintechs at McKinsey. Earlier in his career at SAS, he directed strategic risk analytics programs.

Combining deep quantitative expertise with strategic consulting experience, Fatih partners with C-suite leaders to drive innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth in financial services.

Özgün Kars is a Solution Advisor specializing in financial technology, global payment systems, and AML compliance. With over 15 years of experience, he has contributed to the design and implementation of Swift infrastructures and AML compliance platforms for major financial institutions across the EMEA region. His expertise lies in translating complex regulatory and operational requirements into secure, efficient, and scalable financial systems. At the International Banking Forum in Baku, he will share perspectives on strengthening the speed, transparency, and regulatory alignment of cross-border payments through advanced technology.

Orkhan Ismayilov earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Azerbaijan State University of Economics (2008–2012) and later completed his Master’s degree in Public Administration at ADA University (2021–2023). He is a specialist with extensive professional experience in public administration, strategic partnerships, digital government, and innovation.

He began his career in 2008 as a Specialist in Data Management Systems at the regional department of the Ministry of Education, where he gained practical experience in public administration and the implementation of information systems. From 2013 to 2018, he worked in the private sector as a Senior Specialist in International Economic Partnerships, acquiring significant expertise in international cooperation, market research, and global project coordination.

Between 2018 and 2023, he led the Marketing and Commercial Department at the E-Government Development Center, where he oversaw key initiatives focused on promoting digital government services, improving user experience, and shaping commercial strategies.

Since 2023, Orkhan has been leading the Strategic Partnerships Department at the Innovation and Digital Development Agency, driving initiatives aimed at fostering collaboration among government institutions, international organizations, and the private sector. He is also a finalist of the first “Yüksəliş” leadership competition and a founder of a technology startup.

Tamerlan Mashadihasanli is Head of “Products and Services” division at AzIntelecom. Recognized as a professional expert in digital solutions, Tamerlan has greatly contributed to the progress of innovative technologies in Azerbaijan. This talented young man, who earned his PhD at the age of 27, has significantly influenced the spread of digitalization in various sectors. With his leadership skills in developing secure digital identification services through SİMA, he is considered one of the leading figures in Azerbaijan's digital transformation.

Born in Azerbaijan in 1988, Vugar Mammadrzayevis a senior executive with more than 15 years of experience in financial services and payment technologies. He began his career in 2008 at the Royal Bank of Azerbaijan and has since built deep expertise in global payment systems, operational excellence, risk management, and innovation, becoming one of the leading professionals in the industry.

Throughout his career, he has managed large-scale global payment portfolios across B2B, B2C, and C2C channels, overseeing monthly volumes exceeding USD 115 million and establishing strategic partnerships with more than 60 financial institutions in 85 countries. His customer-centric mindset and strong commercial acumen have consistently contributed to organizational growth.

His work with teams across diverse markets, combined with the communication strategies he has developed, has played a key role in strengthening customer satisfaction and enhancing organizational alignment. He also regularly delivers high-level presentations to boards of directors, contributing to effective internal decision-making processes.

Committed to continuous improvement, Vugar Mammadrzayev leads at least one innovation-driven project each year, focusing on process optimization and sustainable value creation. His accumulated expertise and leadership approach position him as a trusted thought leader in the payment technologies sector.

Nadir Babazade was born on February 15, 1988. After completing his secondary education at Pritchett High School in the state of Colorado, USA, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Finance from 2006 to 2010 at the Special Talents Group of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC). In 2023–2025, he continued his education at the prestigious IE Business School in Spain within the Global Executive MBA (GXMBA) program. He began his professional career at Azercell Telecom LLC. He then served as a divison head in the Treasury Department of Unibank OJSC, where he demonstrated strong competencies in financial market management and risk management. In subsequent years, he held a senior managerial position at Unicapital Investment Company OJSC, playing a key role in achieving the company’s strategic objectives.

He is currently the Executive Director of ABB-Invest Investment Company CJSC, one of the leading investment firms in the country. Additionally, he serves as a member of the Board of Directors at the Azerbaijan Capital Markets Association (AKBA) and a member of the Supervisory Board at the National Depository Center (NDC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Ogtay Gasimov was appointed Chief Commercial Officer of the Baku Stock Exchange in November 2023. With extensive experience in banking since 2005—focusing on trading, treasury, and capital markets—he currently oversees the business development, capital markets relations, and marketing departments.

Prior to his current role, Ogtay Gasimov worked as a Wealth Management Manager at PASHA Private Banking, providing tailored financial advisory services to high-net-worth clients. He is a distinguished graduate of the Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC), where he earned his Master’s degree in Banking and Finance in 2007.

Since 2023, Ogtay Gasimov has held the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation awarded by the CFA Institute.

Javidan Afandiyev is a specialist with over 10 years of experience in the banking and financial ecosystem of Azerbaijan, combating both financial and non-financial fraud.

Throughout his career, he has worked in various capacities in banks, processing centers, and the Azerbaijan Banks Association, contributing to the development and implementation of anti-fraud strategies in the country.

He currently works at the International Bank of Azerbaijan OJSC and focuses on strengthening fraud prevention mechanisms, improving risk management, and implementing modern anti-fraud solutions.

His professional skills include fraud detection and prevention, analysis, fraud risk assessment, anti-fraud systems integration, training and education, digital payment security, and industry collaboration.

Tamerlan Mashadihasanli is Head of “Products and Services” division at AzIntelecom. Recognized as a professional expert in digital solutions, Tamerlan has greatly contributed to the progress of innovative technologies in Azerbaijan. This talented young man, who earned his PhD at the age of 27, has significantly influenced the spread of digitalization in various sectors. With his leadership skills in developing secure digital identification services through SİMA, he is considered one of the leading figures in Azerbaijan's digital transformation.

Rustam Abbasov is the Lead Product Owner for Next-Generation ATMs at ABB Bank. With 15+ years in banking and payment technologies, he leads innovative ATM projects in smart cash-in/cash-recycling, operational security, and digital customer experience.

Elmir Hasanli is the Head of Data Operations and Analytics at the Central Bank of Azerbaijan.

He has over 15 years of experience in the banking and financial sector, and prior to joining the Central Bank, he served as Financial Director at foreign-invested bank. Elmir has led key initiatives in data management, analytics, and digital transformation, contributing to data-driven decision-making and enhanced organizational efficiency.

He is an ACCA member and holds the CDMP certification, demonstrating strong expertise in financial management, data governance, and international standards. Currently, at the Central Bank, Elmir Hasanli plays a leading role in SupTech and RegTech projects, supporting the modernization of the regulatory ecosystem.

Director of the Information Security Department at Bank Respublika OJSC. More than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, IT operations, and banking technology. In addition to the banking sector, a number of cybersecurity projects have been implemented in the educational and financial sectors. Holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. An accomplished instructor with many years of teaching experience at the Cisco Networking Academy. Maintains certifications in IT, information security, and cybersecurity.

He is an experienced leader with over 25 years of expertise in the banking and corporate sectors, specializing in financial markets, investments, and treasury management. Throughout his career, he has held key managerial positions in the country’s leading financial institutions, including serving as the Acting Chairman of the Management Board of the Baku Stock Exchange.

His professional background covers asset and liquidity management, foreign exchange operations, international financial relations, and the development of strategies aimed at optimizing financial processes. He has also participated in the implementation of several projects in cooperation with international financial institutions.

He currently heads the Investment Center of Azər-Türk Bank OJSC.

His international MBA education and diverse professional experience enable him to deeply understand both local and global financial processes and effectively apply practical skills in his work.

Elşad İbrahimov has been appointed Director of the Treasury Department at Kapital Bank OJSC as of November 2025. Prior to this appointment, he served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Assist Finance Investment Company OJSC and as Chief Financial Officer and Management Board Member at InvestAZ Investment Company during 2024–2025. In earlier years, he worked at AFB Bank as a Management Board Member and Director of the Treasury Department. From 2013 to 2017, he headed the Treasury Department at DemirBank OJSC and also held various leadership positions in several financial institutions.

He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s studies in Business Management at Azerbaijan State University of Economics. From 2018 to 2020, he obtained an Executive MBA degree from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

FinTech expert with over eight years of experience at the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan, specializing in digital finance, regulatory innovation, and emerging technologies. During this time, I have led major digital transformation initiatives, including the development of digital identification system, FinTech regulatory frameworks, and the regulatory sandbox, while guiding stakeholders through complex regulatory environments and shaping the country's FinTech ecosystem. My expertise covers designing innovation policies, strengthening financial inclusion, and fostering collaboration across sectors, with a current focus on virtual asset regulation, CBDC development, and building secure, efficient, and innovation-friendly financial solutions to modernize the national financial system.

CBAR, Senior Specialist, Payment Systems and Product Development Department