Uncover Cost. Unlock Value. Remove Friction.
Overview
Kuala Lumpur marks the opening chapter of the Cost-Discovery-Removal Framework Roadshow, bringing together senior leaders from banking, financial services, and digital-first enterprises.
As institutions across Malaysia accelerate digital transformation and margin optimization, the conversation is shifting from broad cost-cutting exercises to a more structured and intelligence-led approach to cost transformation.
This session will explore how organizations can systematically identify hidden cost structures (Discovery), challenge embedded inefficiencies (Analysis), and redesign operating models for sustainable cost removal (Removal)—without compromising growth, customer experience, or regulatory compliance.
Participants will engage in a focused dialogue on how leading institutions are embedding cost intelligence into strategic decision-making, rather than treating it as a periodic finance exercise.
Event Format
Each session will include:
Case Studies
In-depth analysis of successful use cases from other markets.
Roundtable Discussions
Interactive discussions among participants to share perspectives and identify solutions.
Expert Presentations
Insights on industry trends and best practices.
We'll aggregate participant insights through a survey to inform the roundtable proceedings and distribute key points and minutes to attendees and a wider audience under Chatham House Rules.
Participants
Cyrus Daruwala
Chairman and Board Advisor
ASEAN FinTech Forum, Singapore
Pavle Vukmanovic
Executive Vice President - IT Governance and Group Project Portfolio Management
Qatar National Bank, Qatar
Charif El-Baba
Deputy Head of Retail Banking
Doha Bank, Qatar
Mohammad Taffal
Enterprise Agile Coach - Group Transformation
Al Rayan Bank, Qatar
Ali Nanji
Regional Director, Sales and Strategic Accounts - Middle East
Backbase, UAE
Halil Ozcan
EVP, Chief Digital Officer
Burgan Bank, Turkiye
Fahim uz Zaman
Founder & Director
3A Ventures International, UAE
Ahmad Ghandour
Regional Vice President - Middle East
Backbase, UAE
Omar Tabch
Regional Director - Strategic Business
Backbase, UAE
Khalid Al Arid
Head of Information Technology
Lesha Bank, Qatar
Bassem Itani
Head of IT & PMO
First Finance Company, Qatar
Prem Anandh Kasilingam
Head of Operations
Lesha Bank, Qatar
Opey Akinlolu
Senior Project Manager - Enterprise Program Management Office
The Commercial Bank, Qatar
Shahdan Shokry
Field Marketing Manager, EMEA
Backbase, UAE
Bilal Ahmed Dawood
CIO
Qatar Development Bank, Qatar
Srimurugan Govindan
Head Digital Technology & Payment Systems
The Commercial Bank, Qatar
Houssam Itani
Group Chief Transformation Officer
Al Rayan Bank, Qatar
Partners
Event Highlights
Thank YOU and the wonderful TLR team for the very well-organized event. It was truly insightful, and I enjoyed taking part in this and being around the table with such prominent industry thought leaders. I look forward to the next event.
Zein Malhas
Blink by Capital Bank, Jordan
Testimonials
I would like to thank you and the team for organizing this excellent event. I loved participating as well as sharing and hearing insights from industry leaders.
Nitin Bhandari
SVP & Head of Payit Digital Wallet, First Abu Dhabi Bank, UAE
I extend sincere appreciation to the TLR team for their professionalism, coordination and logistical support. The event's success was further elevated by the skilled moderation. I'm grateful for the recognition and look forward to continued collaboration.​
Fredy Aga
CFO, Trust Bank, Singapore
I’d like to echo the heartfelt thank you to our friends, paritcipants and partners, the UAE Decision Makers Roundtable was indeed and event worth attending. Insightful discussion, collaborative spirit, active paritcipants and interactive session made it a great success.
Gyorgy Ladics
Regional MD MENASA, Silverlake, UAE
I commend TLR for hosting a productive forum on digital banking. The exchange of expertise between global leaders, particularly from Poland, UAE, Singapore, Jordan, India and Oman, was enlightening. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute and look forward to future collaborations.
Aleksandra Krajewska
Banking Strategy & Digitization Expert, UAE
Insightful event, well organized and good networking. ​
Thank you Fahim uz Zaman and The Leaders Roundtables (TLR) team.
M. Ibrahim Iqbal
SVP, Head of Digital Platforms, Dubai Islamic Bank, UAE
Agenda
11:00 AM
Registration & Networking
11:30 AM
Welcome Remarks & Agenda Setting
Lunch Roundtable Discussion
01:00 PM
Short Client Presentation
01:20 PM
Closing Remarks
01:30 PM
11:35 AM
End of event
Why attend?
Expert insights
Gain valuable perspectives from industry thought leaders and peers on the latest trends and innovations in core banking and payments.
Networking opportunities
Connect with senior bankers, fintech innovators and industry experts, fostering collaborations and partnerships.
Regional focus
Dive into the unique challenges and opportunities facing GCC's financial sector, tailored to the local context.
Leave with actionable strategies and best practices to modernize core banking systems, enhance payments infrastructures and drive digital transformation.
Practical takeaways
Exclusive format
Staying ahead
Engage in intimate and interactive roundtable discussions, ensuring meaningful interactions and knowledge-sharing.
Stay up-to-date on regulatory requirements, security threats and emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge.
