Archives: Speakers

Andrew Coan

Andrew Coan is a Business Applications Specialist at Microsoft. With a background in investment banking technology from his tenure at JP Morgan, he has honed his expertise in delivering innovative solutions that drive efficiency and growth. His experience also includes working in FX cross-border payments, where he developed an understanding of global financial transactions and their technological underpinnings. Andrew is passionate about leveraging cutting-edge technology to enable financial institutions to streamline operations and deliver a hyper-personalized client experience and customer service using the power of AI, fostering a more integrated and efficient financial ecosystem

David McGachy

David is a Business Applications Specialist at Microsoft, where he harnesses cutting-edge technology to spearhead transformative projects and forge impactful partnerships for financial services clients. Through his time at Microsoft and working in the Microsoft partner ecosystem, David’s mission is to ensure firms deliver exceptional client engagement, outstanding customer service, and innovative solutions through the power of AI and automation.

Dr. Charlene Liu, Sc.D.

Dr. Charlene Liu is a renowned expert in regulatory strategy development and nonclinical studies for tobacco harm reduction products. She brings nearly a decade of leadership experience in toxicology and risk assessment at R.J. Reynolds, JUUL Labs, and RELX International. With nearly 20 years of prior experience in human health risk assessment at Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites, Dr. Liu was a pioneer in applying quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to evaluate the relative health risks of tobacco harm reduction products over a decade ago. She has successfully developed and applied QRA methodologies for PMTAs and substantial equivalence filings. Her work has influenced the FDA to adopt QRA as a key component in evaluating toxicological risk in ENDS PMTA for regulatory decisions on APPH.
In 2023, Dr. Liu founded Riskwise Solution, a consulting firm providing expertise in nonclinical science, including chemical characterization, stability, toxicology, and risk assessment, to help clients navigate the evolving PMTA regulatory landscape.

Rui Alves

Rui’s 25 years of experience span across multiples industries, from software development to education, retail, financial markets, aeronautics and hospitality. Rui was the the Head of IT of PortoBay for the past 10 years and is now deeply focused in the digital transformation process.

With a degree in Systems Engineering and a Master’s degree in Software Development, with a Thesis in Organisational Engineering, Rui is passionate about leveraging technology to enhance human’s activity, both from the guest, as well as from the staff perspective.

Rui is co-founder of the Digital Forum at PortoBay Hotels and Resorts, an internal initiative that envisions to empower people from across all the organisation to become part of the digital transformation process, a cross-pollination of knowledge and experiences from which all the organisation will benefit.

Rui is also passionate about aviation and photography.