Gunsel Topbas

Background

About Gunsel Topbas

Senior executive roles with globals banks, financial market infrastructure institutions & fintechs, with hand-on expertise in leading securities services and digital asset solutions. I am the Co-Founder & Fintech Practice Lead of Manifest Executive Consultancy -a boutique consultancy firm in Dubai, advising financial institutions & market infrastructures on digital transformation across the Middle East & Africa, and working as strategic advisor with fintech companies for their scaling efforts in the GCC region. I am also an adjunct faculty at American University of Sharjah, lecturing on Alternative Investments, and on Crypto Currencies & Digital Assets. Simultaneously, I lead the regional business development and expansion of Rudiq, a progressive fintech providing tokenized RWAs and digital assets related solutions to financial institutions - recognized by the leading accelerator programs in the UAE, Turkiye and the USA. In my previous role with Citi, I led the custody business across the Middle East & Africa, built lasting relationships with leading financial institutions & institutional investors, worked closely with local regulators & market infrastructures. Before joining Citi, I served as International Department Head at Takasbank, the CSD and Clearing House for Borsa Istanbul. The securities services industry is undergoing a profound transformation with the adoption of new technologies. Over the next few years, this evolution will reshape the landscape, demanding that regulators, intermediaries, and infrastructure not only adapt but take a proactive role in leading with the vision, skills, and technological capabilities necessary to thrive. In response, I have dedicated recent years to focusing on emerging areas such as paytech, digital assets, tokenisation of RWAs, and AI. My mission is to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital innovation. I am the Chair of the Finance Industry Committee at the Turkish Business Council in Dubai and Northern Emirates, independent member of the Fintech and Innovation Committee at the Arab Federation of Capital Markets (AFCM), and member of the Digital Assets Working Group at the MENA Fintech Association. I hold a PhD in Corporate Finance, MSc degrees in International Banking & Finance and Money & Banking, and a BSc in Computer Engineering. The combination of my professional & academic background, and my leadership skills, provides me a unique edge to lead innovative institutions for successful digital transformation and growth, while ensuring strong governance and regulatory compliance.