OUR CURRENT SPEAKERS (CHICAGO-USA)

As Field CISO for Thales, Jay Thurston serves as a trusted advisor to organizations across North, Central, and South America, helping them design and execute cybersecurity strategies that balance business resilience with regulatory demands. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Jay focuses on encryption, risk mitigation, and compliance, guiding customers to align with frameworks such as OSFI B-13 and NIST. He also partners closely with sales and operations teams to close technical gaps and strengthen GRC initiatives.

Lizzie Pine is the Executive Director and Head of Commercial Bank Card Product Strategy & Transformation at JPMorgan Chase & Co. In this role, Lizzie is responsible for leading the strategy and transformation of commercial bank card products by developing innovative, customer-centric solutions, creating fintech partnerships, and modernizing product offerings to meet the evolving needs of clients. She leads a team that drives initiatives spanning enterprise-level clients and startups, ensuring alignment with the bank’s strategic goals.

Previously, Lizzie held a role as Business Strategy Manager at Accenture, focusing on Banking, Capital Markets, and Payments. She also co-founded the Design Thinking Club at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, fostering innovation and human-centered design among future business leaders.

Matt Cashatt is the founder and CEO of Polyrific, the company behind Inferr.ing™, a SOC-2-compliant enterprise AI platform that helps banks and credit unions streamline back-office operations, accelerate underwriting, and drive deeper share-of-wallet growth. Under Matt’s leadership, Polyrific delivers production-ready AI in weeks — not months — using autonomous agent orchestration and a unique hybrid data architecture that ensures every decision is made with full enterprise context and bank-grade security.

Gary is the Chief Technology Officer at TruStone Financial Credit Union. In this role, Gary is responsible for TruStone’s Digital strategy and transformation by creating fintech partnerships and modernizing TruStone’s technical architecture to better serve members in a constantly changing digital environment. He is privileged to lead the technology team that supports over 200,000 members and 650 employees.

Previously, Gary had multiple roles within UnitedHealth Group including Vice President, Technology Transformation where he led architecture and development teams, and Vice President of End User Computing where he led a department of 1,300 global employees responsible for the end user computing products and operations supporting the 250,000 employees of UnitedHealth Group. His career also includes multiple leadership roles within General Electric, Ceridian, and the United States Army.

Gary earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati, and Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a concentration in Electrical Engineering from the United States Military Academy.

Anthony Pili is currently a Senior Vice President and the Chief Innovation Officer at New York based Orange Bank & Trust company where he oversees Cash Management, Marketing, Product Development and bank-wide innovation. With assets of $2.4 Billion, the Bank has 15 offices across the Counties of Westchester, Rockland and Orange and the Bronx Borough. He joined Orange Bank & Trust in 2018 and has over 20 years of experience in finance, banking and marketing.

Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Pili served as a Senior Vice President at Greater Hudson Bank, where he ran the Westchester County market while serving as Director of Strategic planning, overseeing their cash management, marketing, renewable energy lending and SBA programs. In addition, Mr. Pili held Marketing, Sales, Product, Lending and Strategy positions at both Union State Bank and Hudson Valley Bank.

Mr. Pili is a winner of the Rockland County 40 under 40 award, Fairfield County Milli Award, 2024 & 2025 NY Real Estate Journal “Ones to Watch Industry Leader” winner and two time Westchester County 40 under 40 finalist. He holds a bachelors in finance and economics from Pace University, an MBA in Financial Management from lona College and a Post Masters in marketing from Fordham University. He was also a Director of the Westchester Bankers Association, Habitat for Humanity of Rockland and the United Way of Rockland and currently sits on the Rockland Workforce Development Board.

Chris LaCour has been a professional Technologist for over 30 years. Working at every level in the IT industry, today he is the CTO for Dickinson Financial Corporation, Academy Bank, and Armed Forces Bank. Chris spent a multitude of years working with streaming video, and at every location achieved a notable level of success. The last 3 years have been centered around generative AI. Using the technology, training LLM’s and agents, and building a practical guide on how corporations can stand up a Generative AI R&D department or full center of excellence in their enterprise (successfully planning and executing 16 such environments!). His current project of focus is creating a practical curriculum for students ranging from ages 13 to 22 to become versed in Generative AI to establish a method of building genAI-ready interns and freshmen corporate employees.

On the personal side, Chris spends many hours on woodworking and metalworking projects, building computers, and doing his best to speak more and more in public about this emerging technology along with imparting information on new or younger tech leaders to help them grow in their positions.

Darlyne Keller is President/CEO of Rock Valley Credit Union, where she applies over 25 years of experience in financial services to drive growth and transform organizational cultures. Her passion lies in fostering positive, engaging work environments by developing and aligning talent for specific business results. She has initiated innovative technological solutions, tailored to the unique needs of the organization, which have significantly improved processes and strengthened employee and member engagement. Darlyne has successfully guided teams through cultural transformations, turning resistant environments into vibrant, thriving organizations.

Darlyne holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Organizational Development from Upper Iowa University. She is SHRM-CP and PHR certified, and is skilled in various human relations systems, including EQi, Motivators, Predictive Index, and the CQ® System for Change Intelligence®.

Strategic Data Engineering & Digital Transformation leader with focus on Generative AI/ DATA strategy, platform architecture, engineering, software development and Digital Cloud Technology Leader, VP/Director with expertise in Capital Markets / Derivatives trading solutions; front to back efficiency.

Established Cloud Transformation CCOE/ Tribe, with Assessment frameworks, Well Architected Framework, governance, Security, Compliance, Cost Optimization. Led data management initiatives across AWS, AZURE, OCP, leveraging DevSecOps/ MLOps for decisioning/ reporting / risk analytics boosting operational efficiencies.

Certified in Leading SAFE (4.5) Agilist, Proven track record in leading large scaled agile transformations with product centricity, roadmaps, budget, building, empowering global teams,achieving over 90% delivery efficiency through cross functional collaboration

Chase Larson, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at St. Cloud Financial Credit Union, DaLand CUSO board member, and board member of the TriUnity Foundation, is a dynamic leader with nearly two decades of strategic experience in finance, credit unions, and community banking. His expertise spans risk management, member business lending, strategic portfolio growth, and emerging areas such as digital finance, crypto, and tokenized assets.

As the executive driving SCFCU’s digital asset strategy, Chase leads the development and execution of innovative financial solutions, including the CU-Digital Asset Vault, ensuring the credit union remains at the forefront of this evolving space. His leadership extends across a l facets of lending, fostering a culture of growth and innovation. This is evident in the successful launch of the Business Services Strategy, the SBA initiative, and the insured “Extra Mile Loan Program.” He
is deeply committed to people development, coaching, and creating an environment where every team member can thrive.

Chase also plays a crucial role in SCFCU’s long-term strategy, particularly in integrating lending products with fintech infrastructure like DaLand’s R Path. His deep understanding of lending, risk management, and strategic growth ensures that SCFCU remains adaptable and competitive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

Driving digital transformation by leveraging innovative emerging technologies like Robotics, Machine Learning, Distributed Ledgers, Tokenization etc.

Wide ranging international experience.
U.S., Belgium, France, Canada and India, including offshore delivery experience.

Hands-on manager, co-inventor on 3 Blockchain related patents.

Basel is the Director of Audit Analytics for City National Bank. He has over 18 years of analytics experience working in multiple industries (IT, Education, Health Care, and Banking). Prior to joining CNB, Basel worked for Wells Fargo as an Analytics Manager in the Corporate Risk and Auto Lending Finance divisions, and at Balboa Capital as the Director of Analytics where he led Credit Risk, Marketing and Sales analytics.

Areas of specialty are Innovation, Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, managing algorithms, Analytical Reporting, Advanced Data Management, Designing Data Warehouses / Data Pipelines.

Basel earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management and Management Information Systems from Purdue University. He also earned his Master’s in International Business from the University of Florida.

Tipu V. Swaran is a multi-discipline Business and Technology leader with ~20 years of experience in CxO advisory, data-driven strategies and transformations that drive growth, cost synergies, operational efficiencies, and customer experience. He has enabled 20+ F500 companies to–align business and technology strategy (products & services), run technology like a business, manage business operations, deliver innovative solutions and transform technology organizations from cost/service centers to strategic partners.

As a people and innovation leader, he has led new business opportunities, market research, technology trends, industry benchmarking, go-to-market strategies, capability assessments and strategic investments for operating models, organization design, financial planning and transformation roadmaps. His transformational leadership spans Enterprise Architecture, M&A, Cloud, AI & BI/Analytics, Process Improvements, Cost Optimization, and Digital Product Management. He has led Program & Transformation Offices enhancing Business Relationship Management, Cross-Functional Partnerships and Organization Change Management.

LEADERSHIP SKILL SET:
—‐–‐———————————-
Entrepreneurial, Strategic & Innovative
Sales/Account/Budget Management
Business Relationship Management
Operational Excellence
Executive & Business Communication
Analytical & Critical Reasoning
Data-driven Story-telling
Persuasion & Coalition Building
People & Stakeholder Management
Coaching & Development
Cross-Functional Leadership
Emotional Intelligence

TECHNICAL SKILL SET:
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Strategy/Management/Technology Consulting
Operating Models & Organization Design
Workforce Management & IT Sourcing
Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
Transformation & Program Management
Product & Portfolio Management
Enterprise Architecture/TOGAF Frameworks
Benchmarking/Market Research/Business Analysis
Rationalization/Standardization/Modernization
Data Analytics & Business Intelligence
Business Case & Financial Management
SDLC (Agile / Waterfall) Methodologies
Organization Change Management
Service Management/ITIL Frameworks

Over fifteen years of corporate & Big 4 experience with numerous internal audit and assurance leadership engagements for large multinational companies, delivering value-added Risk Advisory services including, Sarbanes Oxley Compliance, SOC Reporting, Enterprise-Wide Risk Assessments, developing ERM and IT Risk Assessment frameworks, Cybersecurity, GDPR readiness assessments as well as execution of internal audit plans.

Worked with organizations to establish a platform for the delivery of next-generation internal audit services, through the use of analytics, automation, and other emerging tools as well as the adoption of advanced methodologies, approaches, and tools.

Successfully helped several clients build organizational competency by setting up their internal Audit Departments including recruiting team members and training them to ensure compliance with SOX and other regulatory requirements.

Prathap is a seasoned IT leader with over two decades years of experience in enterprise software development, test automation, and product lifecycle management.  Oversees end-to-end product strategy, roadmap planning, stakeholder engagement, and delivery alignment across multiple digital platforms. He works closely with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into actionable technology solutions, prioritizing features, managing releases, and ensuring value delivery. Prathap is a strategic technology leader specializing in intelligent automation, Generative AI integration, and enterprise-scale quality engineering. He brings deep hands-on expertise in combining Generative AI with Playwright MCP to create adaptive, self-healing test scripts, accelerating automation efficiency and improving test resilience. He has led the design of modular RPA frameworks using UiPath, enabling regression, smoke, and sanity testing across critical enterprise systems. His solutions include exception-aware, data-driven workflows, seamless CI/CD integration, and orchestrated bot deployments—dramatically improving release velocity and reducing operational overhead.

Jacob is responsible for the Cyber & Tech E&O underwriting team and products at Tokio Marine HCC. Jacob has 25 years’ experience in a wide range of underwriting disciplines across the US, European and Lloyd’s insurance markets. He most recently worked at the Hartford where he was Chief Underwriting Officer for the Cyber Risk and Technology E&O business. Prior to this, Jacob was Head of US Technology E&O, Cyber and Media Liability at CNA.

Proven leader with expertise in IT governance, risk, compliance, security, cloud strategy, audit, and quality assurance with experience across diverse industry verticals – financial services; healthcare/pharmaceuticals; commerce; and information management companies. Experience in building; designing; and implementing complex internal controls, continuous process improvement/monitoring, cyber security strategy, compliance / regulatory engagements for domestic and international operations; security program governance and Information Technology Security projects. Early career in IT (systems and network administration; data center; help desk) provides a deep foundation for assessing IT risks and controls, and providing pragmatic and informed IT security solutions. Experience supported by certifications and on-going learning and training.

Paul is the Head, Data, Analytics and AI Risk at BMO where he leads the second line of defence in establishing the AI risk management framework which includes setting risk-based expectations for how different uses of AI are governed and approved across the Bank’s global footprint, and maintaining the framework in response to ever-changing industry trends and regulatory and compliance expectations. He has over 18 years of risk management experience in financial services spanning model risk management, capital planning, and risk analytics. Paul holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BSc in Mathematics & Financial Mathematics from University College Cork in Ireland.

As a strategic senior technology executive with over 20 years of success, I have had the privilege of being the visionary behind multiple enterprise-wide transformation initiatives in Financial Services and other industries.
I am known for providing innovative insight to navigate rapidly changing environments, resolve complex business challenges, and digitally transform multinational organizations. Results consistently include propelling operational efficiency, enabling significant growth, and raising customer satisfaction.
An energetic and passionate leader, I achieve world-class results by building cohesive teams and championing cultural change towards a customer-centric mindset, turning challenges and change opportunities into global corporate success.

I’m a versatile executive with a background in digital, finance, marketing, product, operations, business development, M&A, strategy, and innovation. I’ve worked at both large companies and startups and can operate in either. I have a bias for action and a deep passion for developing talent to maximum potential. I have a lengthy track record with Fintechs and strategic partnerships, and I thrive in/on turnarounds, launches, POCs, and paradigm-shifts.

Most people know me for:
• Strategy
• Analytics
• Business development/new technologies
• Execution / getting things done
• Employee engagement and motivation
• Superior work capacity

Current role: Head of Fintech Strategic Initiatives for KeyBank. In this role, I’m leading a new, focused effort to acquire, integrate, and scale Fintech and AI capabilities across KeyBank’s most critical and strategic transformation projects. KeyBank has recently invested in, partnered on, or acquired Fintech teams, specialty tools, rapid-cycle developer frameworks, and speed-enabling capabilities to tackle unique challenges. My mission – determine where special tools and tactics are a best-fit for unique business challenges and evangelize these new capabilities with leaders around the enterprise.

Highly influential and result-oriented leader and product manager with an exceptional track record of driving collaboration and delivering change in the financial services industry. Proven ability to take ownership of the overall strategic direction and drive execution for digital experiences. Effective at hiring and developing talented professionals while aligning to deliver on team goals.

Meltem Singh is an executive leader with over 17 years of experience at the intersection of data, analytics, AI, and enterprise transformation across healthcare, life sciences, high-tech, and financial services. As a Managing Partner at Gartner and a recognized voice in the AI and analytics space, she has advised Fortune 500 organizations on scaling responsible AI, modernizing legacy systems, and building high-impact data teams from the ground up.
Her work focuses on helping senior leaders embed GenAI into critical business workflows from decision-making and compliance to risk management to operations unlocking speed and precision while maintaining transparency, fairness, and regulatory alignment. She brings deep experience navigating implementation challenges tied to emerging risks like cybersecurity, climate volatility, and systemic disruption across complex, regulated environments.
A contributor to Gartner Research and OpenAI’s expert community, she is known for translating emerging technologies into pragmatic strategies that deliver measurable business value. A former competitive athlete, she brings intensity, clarity, and structure to every conversation making her a trusted advisor and sought-after moderator in high-stakes, cross-functional discussions.

Mo Haghighi is Senior Director and Distinguished Engineer in Cloud Platform and Infrastructure at Discover Financial Services. With deep expertise in cloud-native architectures, AI-driven automation, and distributed systems, he has led large-scale cloud migration and digital transformation initiatives across enterprises.

Holding a PhD in Agent-Based Decentralized Architectures, Mo specializes in building intelligent, resilient, and scalable cloud platforms across AWS, Azure, and GCP. He has held senior leadership roles at IBM and Intel, spearheading cloud, AI, and developer advocacy teams across global markets and contributing to next-generation enterprise infrastructures.

Passionate about innovation, Mo brings over two decades of experience in advancing cloud, AI, and emerging technologies shaping the future of digital transformation.

Dedicated Innovation Leader with over two decades of experience in Information Technology, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Data Architecture, Analytics, and Data Strategy. Currently serving as the Director of Underwriting Innovation at Zurich North America, where I specialize in harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive transformative change in the Commercial Insurance sector.

My expertise lies at the intersection of AI and Commercial Insurance, where I have implemented numerous AI-based solutions tailored specifically to enhance underwriting processes, risk assessment, and decision-making. This specialization has enabled me to deliver tangible value, streamline operations, and drive competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving industry landscape.

What sets me apart is my unique skill set that combines a strong IT background with a deep understanding of Underwriting processes. Working within Business Units has honed my ability to bridge the gap between technology and business objectives, allowing me to lead innovation efforts that directly impact underwriting efficiency, profitability, and customer experience.

I’ve led global strategies, cracked thorny problems, navigated change, and helped digital transformations go from Post-it notes to reality — all while building teams that actually enjoy working together (with laughs and hugs along the way). With deep roots in Asia and a soft spot for complexity, I specialize in turning ambiguous ideas into strategies that scale across borders and time zones.

I’ve worked with leaders of all stripes — the visionary, the skeptical, and the “please-make-this-go-away” types — and have learned how to communicate, influence, and occasionally even inspire them to move in the same direction.

Whether it’s launching a new digital feature, reshaping how a product goes to market, or building bridges between tech, business, and customer teams, I believe the magic happens when strategy meets storytelling — and people feel like they’re part of something meaningful.

Biggest learning? Successful launches are never about you or the product. They’re about creating a story, a context, a scenario that customers instantly get and want to be part of. It’s not a reveal; it’s a resonance.

As an executive entrepreneur with a passion for innovation, Alp owns two responsibilities at CoBank,
leading the Innovation Organization and the AI Center of Excellence.

As Head of Innovation, Alp is dedicated to establishing and advancing the innovation function at CoBank,
bringing a deep understanding of how business and technology are reshaping the financial services
industry.

Focusing on horizon 2 and 3 technology disruptions, Alp’s primary mission is to advance cutting-edge
solutions, cultivating a culture of creativity and bringing innovation, incubation, and acceleration to the
next generation of credit and other value-added financial, technological and industry services to support
CoBank associates and customers.

Leading his team through early concept development and prototyping, alliance building, identifying
capability gaps, and exploring opportunities for new innovative approaches, Alp maintains strategic
partnerships with FinTech’s, startups, and other external partners.

In his role leading the AI Center of Excellence, Alp is responsible for promoting AI adoption throughout
CoBank’s lines of business, managing the centralized AI model, and serving as the executive lead for the
central governance body of experts and advisors.

Prior to joining CoBank, Alp held executive leadership roles as Group Chief Technology Officer for Telstra
Enterprise and Senior Director of Strategy and Innovation at AT&T Business.

Alp graduated from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, with a Master of
Science in Network Systems, a Graduate Diploma of Information Technology in Systems Development,
and a Graduate Diploma of Science in Network Systems.