Archives: Speakers

Rob van den Heuvel is General Manager of DLL Europe, overseeing the company’s operations across 16 countries in the region. He began his career at DLL in Risk Management and later served as global CFO in two of DLL’s Global Business Units. In 2013, Rob was appointed Senior Vice President Asset Management & Insurance and in 2017 he joined DLL’s joint venture with AGCO. Within AGCO Finance he was President & Global CEO for three years, managing all retail and commercial finance operations globally.

Throughout his career, Rob has led large, diverse teams and driven transformation, digitalization, and sustainable growth in highly regulated, international environments.

Rob holds a Masters degree in Econometrics, and finished his Executive MBA at TIAS/Nimbas in the Netherlands.

As Operations Manager of the Fibonacci Group, Salvatore Pira leads strategy and market development in the Leasing and Rental sector, with the aim of strengthening the group’s presence in Italy and promoting its international expansion.

After graduating in Economics and Business from the University of Milan-Bicocca in 2015, he held leadership roles at Lutech and RGI, contributing to innovation, digitization, and IT company integration projects.

Today, with his extensive experience in the financial and technology sectors, Pira is responsible for the entire leasing area of the Fibonacci Group, where he continues to promote operational excellence and innovation.

Boon-Hiong Chan leads Securities Market and Technology Advocacy for APAC at Deutsche Bank, and drives applied innovations in securities servicing. With over 20 years of experience, Boon has shaped transformation strategies and client solutions in post-trade and investment services, blending expertise in AI, tokenization, cybersecurity and regulations to advance resilient, forward-looking approaches.

A co-recipient of five innovation awards, a Singapore IBF Fellow and mentor, Boon actively contributes to industry discussions including in MAS Project Guardian and Pathfin.AI.

Based in Singapore, Boon champions financial literacy; modernization and collaboration across the region’s capital markets.

Dr. Mariapaola Barbato is a cognitive neuroscientist with over 15 years of experience studying how brain and mental health are shaped biological and sociocultural factors. She has worked across leading international research groups in cognition, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatry, bringing a unique lens to the interplay between cognitive function and lived experience. Currently based in Zürich, she serves as the Scientific Lead of the Women’s Brain Foundation (WBF), where she drives research and advocacy to advance precision medicine in brain health and close the gender gap in healthcare. Passionate about translating science into action, she is committed to ensuring that discoveries in neuroscience lead to more inclusive policies, better treatments, and healthier futures for all.

Giorgia Bigioni leads the Start-Up & Clinical Operations Unit at 1MED, guiding clients through the launch and management of complex clinical studies. Energetic and forward-thinking, she brings new perspectives to her team and fosters a collaborative, supportive environment where people can grow.

She holds a degree in pharmacy, a Master’s degree in Phytotherapy from the University of Cagliari and a Master’s degree in Biomedical and Biotechnological Business Management from the University of the Sacred Heart. After early roles at Abbott, AbbVie, and IQVIA, she has spent the past almost 8 years at 1MED driving excellence.