AFSS 2026 Financial Challenge
A premier global competition uniting 20 distinguished investors and strategists from across Asia and leading international markets.
These finalists will compete for the championship title, a grand prize of USD 500,000, and the honor of representing their nations as keynote speakers at the AFSS 2026 Summit, voicing their country’s financial vision on the world stage.
Vikram Kapoor
India 🇮🇳
Chief Strategy Analyst at MIB Securities with 23 years of research experience. Specializes in macroeconomics and multi-asset allocation. Formerly at Goldman Sachs and ICICI. Dedicated to advancing India’s capital market through structured investment and global integration.
Wu Zhiqiang
China 🇨🇳
Head of Research at CITIC Securities. Focuses on China’s macro policy and structural A-share opportunities. Leads multiple cross-border research projects and advocates data-driven insights to enhance long-term Alpha generation in Chinese assets.
Takuya Sato
Japan 🇯🇵
Chief Investment Officer at Nomura Asset Management. Expert in Japanese equities and global interest rate cycles. Combines quantitative modeling with macro trend analysis to deliver sustainable long-term returns for institutional clients.
Lee Junwei
Singapore 🇸🇬
Strategic Advisor at Temasek Holdings with extensive sovereign wealth management experience. Focuses on emerging Asian markets and technology investments. Promotes long-term strategic capital allocation aligned with national policy priorities.
Ahmed Nabil
United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
Fund Manager at Emirates Investment Authority. Manages cross-regional portfolios across the Middle East and Asia. Specializes in geopolitical risk assessment and sovereign fund allocation, driving the global integration of regional capital.
Kwok Daniel
South Korea 🇰🇷
Head of Research at Mirae Asset Global Investments. Concentrates on Asia’s technology and manufacturing sectors. Integrates AI-based quantitative analysis with fundamentals to craft innovative strategies and robust risk frameworks.
Lim Hong Wei
Malaysia 🇲🇾
Chief Strategist at Maybank Investment Bank. Focuses on Southeast Asian markets and green finance. Advocates standardized ESG investment frameworks and promotes inclusive finance with sustainable return objectives.
Charles Devereux
United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Macro Analyst at HSBC Global Markets. Specializes in global monetary policy and capital flows. Experienced in constructing multi-currency portfolios and bridging European capital with Asian investment opportunities.
Juan Hernandez
Mexico 🇲🇽
Investment Director at Banorte Asset Management. Leads Latin American asset allocation. Expert in emerging market cycles and commodities. Promotes diversified regional strategies to strengthen portfolio resilience.
Christopher Dlamini
South Africa 🇿🇦
Head of Sustainable Investments at ABSA Group. Focuses on ESG and climate finance. Drives Africa’s sustainable capital market transformation and integrates policy research with practical investment execution.
Ivan Petrov
Russia 🇷🇺
Investment Manager at Sberbank. Specializes in energy and resource sector analysis. Combines quantitative and policy-based research to enhance cross-border capital flows between Russia and Asian markets.
Liam O'Connor
Ireland 🇮🇪
Strategic Advisor at AccelWealth Europe. Possesses extensive experience in EU regulatory frameworks and multi-asset portfolio construction. Focuses on Europe–Asia cross-border investment collaboration and structured wealth solutions.
Thura Htun
Myanmar 🇲🇲
Founding Partner of Yangon Strategic Fund. Concentrates on emerging economies in Southeast Asia. Expert in early-stage equity investment and policy analysis, advancing Myanmar’s financial market globalization.
Chen Yi-Hua
Taiwan 🇹🇼
Chief Economist at Yuanta Financial Holdings. Specializes in Asian equity markets, particularly semiconductor and technology supply chains. Advocates data-driven, cyclical asset allocation strategies for sustainable Alpha.
Nathan Cook
Australia 🇦🇺
Head of APAC Investments at Macquarie Group. Oversees multi-asset portfolios with a focus on infrastructure and renewable energy. Promotes synergy between Australian capital and Asian growth markets.
Adeel Qureshi
Pakistan 🇵🇰
Investment Advisor at Meezan Asset Management. Expert in Islamic finance and domestic capital markets. Integrates AI with compliance frameworks to enhance transparency and market efficiency in Pakistan.
Sebastian Müller
Germany 🇩🇪
Director of Strategic Planning at Deutsche Bank. Specializes in macroeconomic policy and structured product innovation. Develops strategies connecting European capital with global emerging markets.
Fahd Rahmani
Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
Senior Strategy Analyst at Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF). Focuses on sovereign capital deployment and green energy initiatives. Supports cross-border collaboration aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Diego Souza
Brazil 🇧🇷
Head of Quantitative Research at BTG Pactual. Expert in multi-factor modeling and high-frequency trading. Analyzes volatility and arbitrage opportunities in Latin American markets through AI-driven strategies.
Antoine Dubois
France 🇫🇷
Research Director at BNP Paribas Global Strategy Office. Focuses on global macro strategy and ESG transition. Facilitates long-term capital collaboration between European institutions and Asia’s growth markets.