Cayman Islands
Richard Scott-Hopkins
Founder, Independent Director and Business Consultant
Richard is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and is an Accredited Director with the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada. Richard has over 20 years’ experience in the financial services sector and currently serves as a Director on boards of hedge and private funds as well as structured products and regulated and unregulated investment management entities. Richard was an audit and advisory partner at KPMG working with managers running a range of strategies such as equity, credit, structured products, global macro, event driven and quantitative investment strategies. Richard was one of the Financial News 100 Rising Stars of 2009. Richard’s experience includes: financial statement and regulatory audits; valuation advisory services; consulting on internal processes and controls, business integrations, transactions and forensic projects. Richard’s clients have included hedge, private equity and debt funds across the UK, US, Europe and the Middle East covering a wide range of financial instruments such as private equity, loan instruments, repos, CLOs, ABS and derivatives. Richard led the team that revalued the investment assets for the Bank of Cyprus and Laiki Bank during the Cypriot economic crisis. Richard worked with the Troika (International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank) on valuation models utilised for the restructuring of these Cypriot banks. Richard also assisted with the setting up of UKFI, the company tasked with managing the UK Government’s investments in financial institutions. Prior to moving to the Cayman Islands, Richard was a Director and COO of the asset management audit practice with KPMG in the UK. Richard also spent 3 years with KPMG in Kuwait. In Kuwait he assisted with starting the current KPMG practice and worked with sovereign wealth, pension funds and investment managers on audit and consulting projects. Richard also worked with NGOs and non-profit organisations assisting with the rebuilding of Iraq post the second Gulf war. Richard trained and qualified with KPMG after graduating with honours in Mathematical Statistics and Operational Research from the University of Exeter.
+1345 925 0293
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Channel Island
Paul Parkins-Godwin
Independent Director and Operational Due Diligence Consultant
Paul is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (ICAEW) having trained at Ernst & Young London, and has over 23 years’ experience leading Operational Due Diligence teams at three of the world’s most prominent hedge fund allocators —Man Group plc, UBS Asset Management and Financial Risk Management. He has worked directly with some of the largest global institutional investors, delivering governance insights and investor protection across complex fund structures. Unblemished investment track record, having conducted deep-dive evaluations of over 1,000 fund management businesses spanning the UK, US, Ireland, continental Europe, Nordics, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and China—ranging from emerging boutiques to trillion-dollar platforms. Routinely and actively engaged with C-suite leadership to implement governance enhancements, operational and service provider upgrades, and strategic changes to investor terms and policies to align with institutional allocator expectations. As an independent director, Paul brings: · Institutional Investor Lens – Forensic Operational Due Diligence expertise across the full spectrum of alternative strategies and structures, spanning public and private markets, offshore vehicles, and regulated UCITS platforms. With a career spanning across multiple market cycles—including the 2008 Global Financial Crisis—Paul offers a panoramic allocator-grade perspective on fund governance, investor protection, and regulatory resilience. His 23+ years of engagement with industry stakeholders—independent directors, fund administrators, valuation agents, outsourced operations providers, regulatory hosts, and background check agencies—equip him with strong fluency in cross-border fund oversight. · Industry Thought Leadership – Co-author of multiple AIMA Sound Practices Guides, including the Fund Directors Guide, Operational Risk Management Guide, and successive versions of the Valuation Guide, Paul has helped shape the governance standards adopted by institutional allocators, fiduciaries and asset managers worldwide. His contributions reflect deep operational insight and a commitment to elevating industry-wide best practices. · Strategic Location – Operating from Guernsey, Paul offers rapid-response coverage for UK managers of offshore fund structures, while maintaining seamless governance reach across Asia-Pacific and US jurisdictions. Bespoke ODD Consulting – Paul provides bespoke Operational Due Diligence consulting services, spanning strategic guidance on anticipated changes or targeted topics, through to ODD Health Checks for investment managers preparing to attract institutional capital. Amid rising regulatory scrutiny and the growing influence of ODD in investment decision-making, asset managers face mounting pressure to evidence robust processes, controls, and governance infrastructure—not only to secure initial allocations, but to sustain and grow institutional capital over time. Paul graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Sheffield, UK.
+44 7799 155 105
CHANNEL ISLAND
Dubai
Simon Calder
Independent Director
Simon is a progressive, accomplished leader with over 20 years’ banking experience acrossmajorfinancial centers in Europe, Asia, North America and theMiddleEast. He has proven operational, risk, regulatory and transformation experience coupled with strongfinancial acumen, considerable corporate client coverage capabilities as well as strong board engagement. Simon is currently providing independent consultancy, advisory and NED services to UAE-focused entities. Most recently, Simon served as the Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer for HSBC in the UAE, a position held from 2018 through 2024. During this time, he obtained board approval for a new strategy for the market, and executed against this to deliver significant profit growth. He also led the Executive Committee, and was an active participant in the Risk Management and Assets & Liability Committees. Simon led regulatory development and engagement for the UAE entity, and represented the bank on both the Advisory and Consultative Committees of the UAE Banks Federation. He also supported the UAE CEO with definition and execution of a People & Culture Strategy, through which HSBC won recognition as a Top UAE Company to work for in 2023 and 2024. As COO, he led teams across the core disciplines of transformation; technology; data architecture; corporate real estate; operations & transaction processing; procurement & vendor risk; and business management to deliver efficiency gains, while sustaining and enhancing operational resilience. During his tenure, Simon delivered a multi-million dollar real estate programme, several enterprise-wide transformation programmes (including financial crime and operational resilience), a core banking upgrade, and led HSBC’s response to critical industry payments infrastructure changes, including Open Finance Regulation. From 2019, Simon was also the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) for the HSBC Bank Middle East branch in the Abu Dhabi General Market (ADGM), where he established a new operation, navigating relevant licencing requirements and building teams to support both private banking clients and institutional advisory. Simon was also a director of HSBC Financial Services Middle East over this period. Prior to these roles, Simon was the Chief Operating Officer for Commercial Banking at HSBC in the UAE (2015 – 2018), where he fundamentally repositioned the franchise, de-risking the business during HSBC’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) and establishing a platform for safe growth in the market. He also led the business implementation of FATCA, as well as UAE VAT and other local regulatory requirements. Simon moved to the UAE in 2011 to establish HSBC’s international commercial proposition (now a USD200m business), and also led the Corporate Banking team in the Jebel Ali free zone, extending trade facilities of over USD1bn to trade-based clients. Prior to moving to the UAE, Simon held a number of client coverage and product roles with HSBC in New York, Hong Kong, Australia and London. Thematically, in these roles he supported international corporate clients with a range of working capital, trade and treasury solutions. Simon has a Master’s degree from New York University, is a Fulbright Scholar and is a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. He is South African and is a big fan of rugby [and continued HSBC’s support of the UAE Rugby Federation to expand the reach of the game]. He is married and has a young family.
+971 55 670 3883
DUBAI
Mike Davis
Independent Director
Mike is a Senior Finance Professional with more than 15 years of management experience across 8 countries and 5 continents. Mike has excellent technical skills and a strong understanding of the UAE Financial Services regulatory environment. Mike is currently working as a Sr Consultant for the GCC Debt Advisory business at PWC. Mike moved to the UAE in 2018 to lead the Corporate Bank for HSBC. In this role Mike sat on the HSBC UAE Exco, the Risk Management Committee and the Financial Crime and Compliance Committee. Mike left HSBC in 2021 and joined the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank as the Head of Wholesale Banking. At ADIB Mike was a member of the Exco and the Risk Management committee. During his time at ADIB the bank was involved in several landmark IPOs and ADIB opened an Asset Management firm in the DIFC. Most recently, Mike was the CFO for the UAE’s largest listed REIT. Mike was hired to refinance the REIT’s existing sukuk. The sukuk was rated CCC+ in Dec/22 and was refinanced in Dec/24 at BB+. The new sukuk was > 300 bps cheaper and had significantly more favourable terms and conditions. In preparation for the issuance Mike worked with Sr Management and the Board to increase transparency and improve control functions. During Mike’s time at the REIT its share price increased 3x. Prior to moving to the UAE Mike was a member of HSBC’s International Manager program. He held significant roles in Canada (MD Western Canada - Corporate Banking) and Asia (MD and Regional Head of Structured Banking and Mid Market Sponsor Coverage). Mike is originally from Canada and started his banking career at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Canada, Central America and Peru. During the course of his career Mike has led internal projects or advised his customers on commercial strategy, financing structures, turn-around/restructuring strategies, HR planning, ESG framework development and technology design and implementation. Mike has an International MBA from Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada and speaks English, French and Spanish.
+ 971 50 317 5452
DUBAI
Martin Homberger
Independent Director
Martin is an accomplished senior legal professional with extensive financial services experience in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. His career combines "Magic Circle" private practice at Clifford Chance in London, Budapest and Tokyo with substantial in-house leadership roles at major financial institutions in the Middle East. Based in Dubai since 2007 (initially with Deutsche Bank AG), Martin has held progressively senior regional leadership positions. From 2015 to 2018 he was regional head of legal for Barclays, managing a team covering Barclays Investment Banking, Global Markets, Corporate Bank and Private Banking businesses across the MENA region. In 2018 he took on additional responsibilities to lead the Bank's regional Compliance, and Financial Crime functions which included management of large multi-disciplinary teams in multiple locations and oversight of the bank’s legal and conduct risk management frameworks in the region. Martin has deep experience with complex Emerging Market financial and regulatory landscapes, demonstrated by his support for Barclays' licensed businesses in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, and (pre-divestment) Russia. He also supported strategic growth in areas like payments and Islamic Finance. He guided the bank’s response to key regional issues such as Emiratisation, FATF grey-listing, cross-border business risks, and significant legal changes like the DIFC Data Protection Law and UAE Corporation Tax. He also supported a range of business entries into new markets, and managed a number of complex and sensitive disputes and litigation matters. His product experience spans sales and trading, derivatives, and private and corporate banking. He also possesses a strong understanding of regional corporate governance and regulatory compliance, particularly within the UAE (incuding the DIFC). At Barclays, Martin served on numerous country, regional, and functional management committees, was registered as a "person exercising significant management function" with the QFCRA, and regularly engaged with regulators and stakeholders. He also served a two year term on the UAE Banks Federation Legal Committee (from 2020), advising the Central Bank and policymakers on the legislative impact on the UAE banking sector. Martin is an English qualified solicitor and graduated from Haverford College (BA, History) in the United States.
+971 55 514 3108
DUBAI
Mark Emmerson
Independent Director
Mark is a senior banking professional with 40 years of international experience. In the last 15 years Mark has focused on strategic leadership roles in trade finance, payments & cash management and related regulatory restructuring. Mark has significant Board and C-Suite exposure including as Chairman of HSBC Invoice Finance and Director roles across multiple HSBC companies and countries and has in depth understanding of compliance including financial crime, regulatory and conduct risk. Mark held Senior Management Function roles (SMF 21 & 22) regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority in HSBC and Commerzbank and was registered with the Hong Kong Securities & Futures Commission. Mark served on the Audit Committee of the UK India Business Council, as Council Member of the International Chamber of Commerce UK and as Vice-Chair of the European Business Chamber Indonesia. Mark has a track record of driving growth in corporate, commercial and transactional banking arenas. He has broad knowledge of strategic planning, government relations, stakeholder management, operations, people development and project management. Mark’s extensive experience has been gained across developed and emerging markets in the UK, UAE, Oman, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Armenia. Most recently, Mark was Head of Global Transaction Banking for Al Masraf bank in the UAE developing international growth strategies in trade and payments whilst rolling out a new on-line banking platform, channel finance and insurance escrow structures. Prior to moving to the UAE in 2021, Mark was Head of Global Trade Finance & Cash Management for Commerzbank in London leading growth and governance whilst successfully restructuring transactional banking in accordance with UK and US regulations. During 28 years in HSBC’s International Management programme, Mark undertook a range of leadership roles in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Mark wrote and implemented global commercial banking strategies leading to a 500% revenue increase in Hong Kong. In Indonesia, Mark led corporate and transactional banking to 117% growth whilst HSBC initiated the acquisition of Bank Ekonomi. Mark then led a team of 720 whilst restructuring and expanding HSBC’s Global Trade and Receivable Finance teams across Europe and the UK working closely with the UK regulator. Mark also developed a successful global engagement model enhancing HSBC’s standing with key Governments leading to the publication of a UK ‘Manifesto for Exports” and close ties with relevant Ministers, MPs, regulatory bodies and media contacts. Mark also enjoyed steering HSBC’s Executive Training Development Programme communicating the Group’s strategy and core values to colleagues across over 60 countries. Mark holds a BSc (Hons) in Banking Finance and qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
MARK.EMMERSON@
DAYMER.GROUP
+ 971 502 871 058
DUBAI
Yoko Shimada
Independent Director and Automation Consultant
Yoko Shimada is a global healthcare strategist with over 20 years of experience leading data-driven innovations to strengthen health systems and improve service delivery and outcomes worldwide. She specializes in digital health transformation, health financing, and strategic consulting, working with governments, providers, international agencies, and private sector partners to design and scale technology-enabled solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and equity in healthcare. Yoko’s expertise spans healthcare digitization, AI-enabled systems, market assessments, and financial and economic impact analyses of health investments. She holds a Master of Health Science from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she is currently completing her doctorate, focusing on the economic and financial evaluation of digital technologies in the health sector. With strategic leadership experience across 37 countries, Yoko has worked with and contributed to organizations such as the World Bank, WHO, UNAIDS, the Gates Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, McKinsey Health Institute, and the Palladium Group. She combines advanced analytics and data science skills with a deep understanding of policy, regulation, and cultural context to deliver actionable, evidence-based insights. Multilingual (fluent in English and Japanese, proficient in German, and conversational in French) and highly adaptable, Yoko has lived and worked across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Beyond her consulting work, she is the founder of MITERA, a motherhood lifestyle startup, and was recognized as a finalist in the Tory Burch Foundation's Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Fellows Program. Her honors include the Outstanding Alumni Award and Mach Arom '89 Award from Connecticut College, the VPU Team Award from the World Bank for her work on the Lesotho PPP project, and a High Performance Award from the Palladium Group. An endurance sports enthusiast, she regularly competes in triathlons and cycling events, and contributes to community initiatives such as Dubai Cares and the Rashid Center for People of Determination.
+971 56 488 1829
DUBAI
Isle of Man
Grant Harding
Independent Director and Business Consultant
Grant Harding is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (ICAEW), a Certified Public Accountant (AICPA), and holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He has over 15 years of experience in the f inancial services sector, with a focus on public and private equity markets, credit, and technology driven businesses. He currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Tholus Capital Management, a private equity investment manager, and has previously held senior leadership roles across investment management and e-commerce platforms. Grant was most recently Principal Finance at Amazon Business in the United States, where he provided strategic financial leadership to a multi-billion-dollar services business. His work included developing business plans, structuring procurement deals, conducting customer value assessments, and overseeing supplier due diligence. He spent a decade with Samena Capital, a private equity and credit investment platform with operations in the UK, Middle East, and South Asia. He served as Group CFO, Executive Committee Member, and Board Director, overseeing corporate and fund finance, regulatory and tax compliance, investor reporting, and operational restructuring. During his tenure, he led the group’s expansion into new jurisdictions, secured and restructured investment vehicle financing, executed post-acquisition value creation plans, and implemented firm-wide cost-efficiency strategies. Grant’s expertise includes the development of strategic business plans, financial and regulatory reporting, investment valuation, operational due diligence, credit structuring, and the development of cross-border investment platforms. He has worked with both regulated and unregulated entities across the US, Cayman Islands, BVI, UK, Isle of Man, UAE, Mauritius, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Singapore, managing engagement with regulators, institutional investors, service providers, and financial counterparties. Earlier in his career, Grant was a Manager with KPMG Cayman Islands, where he led audits of private equity, credit, and hedge funds, in addition to conducting investment valuation reviews and forensic investigations, including a Madoff-related fraud case. He began his career with EY UK, undertaking audits of financial institutions and leading forensic reviews that were reported to Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).
+44 7624 403061
ISLE OF MAN
London
Melanie Scotland
Independent Director and Compliance Consultant
Melanie is an experienced financial services professional with proven technical abilities and strong interpersonal skills. Melanie has Twenty-five years’ experience in the financial services sector, working at a senior level with a range of firm types, operating under a broad range of international regulators, industry bodies and legislative frameworks in jurisdictions including London, the US and Malta. Melanie is well versed in helping to design and implement compliance and risk systems and controls which leverage cutting-edge technology to provide fast, efficient and scalable monitoring solutions. Melanie has a demonstrated ability to develop solid relationships at all levels throughout the business in order to ensure open lines of communication and a reliable flow of information, helping to effectively advise firms on matters of strategic development. Melanie’s career spans the launch and development of Palekana Ltd, a London-based investment firm where she was instrumental in shaping its compliance infrastructure and regulatory strategy across jurisdictions. Prior to that, she served as Co-Head of Compliance Solutions at Throgmorton UK Ltd, leading the firm’s expansion into consultancy and RegTech innovation. In 2009, Melanie founded AM Compliance Ltd, delivering outsourced compliance services and advisory to asset managers with international operations. Her early career includes senior compliance posts at GSA Capital Partners, Beach Capital Management, and Aspect Capital, giving her a robust foundation in hedge fund regulation, risk frameworks, and policy design. Melanie has a Law degree from Exeter University, United Kingdom.
+44 7817 473288
LONDON
Iain Colquhoun
Independent Director and Business Consultant
Iain Colquhoun began his career in 2000 and has spent 25 years building and leading buy-side infrastructure across a wide range of investment strategies and jurisdictions. He has held senior roles within large international asset managers and boutique investment firms in London, Monaco, and Malta, and has served as a board member in Luxembourg, the UK, Czechia, and Hong Kong. Iain’s experience spans the full spectrum of hedge fund and traditional asset management strategies, including long/short equities, emerging markets, credit, and multi-strategy funds. Iain has been directly responsible for core control and support functions including operations, fund accounting, treasury, and compliance, ensuring robust governance, risk management, and investor confidence across diverse investment platforms. Iain has designed and implemented front-to-back operating models that support complex investment products, covering portfolio management, trade lifecycle, finance, and investor reporting. Iain has also led large transformation programmes, built cross-jurisdictional governance frameworks, and established scalable operating platforms to support both start-ups and institutional managers through periods of rapid growth and regulatory change. Iain advises management teams and fund boards on structuring, outsourcing, and best practice under AIFMD, MiFID, and global fund governance standards. Iain holds a BSc in Business Studies from the University of Wales European Business Management School and is a fellow of the Assocition of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
+44 7464 724088
LONDON
Saudi
USA
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Tom Gamali
Independent Director, Cyber Security and Technology Consultant
Tom Gamali is a seasoned technology and cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience supporting FTSE 100 companies and multinational organizations. He specializes in cybersecurity governance, digital transformation, enterprise risk management, and regulatory compliance. Throughout his career, Tom has successfully led cybersecurity and operational resilience initiatives across the financial services, technology, and diversified industries sectors in Europe and the Middle East. Tom previously served on the European Advisory Council of (ISC)², where his expertise in cybersecurity leadership, the evolving role of the CISO, and enterprise risk management earned him high regard among industry peers and the broader professional community. He currently serves on an Enterprise Risk and Credit Committee within the financial services sector, providing strategic guidance on integrating cybersecurity into enterprise risk frameworks, enhancing organizational resilience, and ensuring compliance with international and regional regulations, including the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the SAMA Cybersecurity Framework. A trusted advisor to boards and senior executives, Tom counsels on cyber risk oversight, strategic technology innovation, and the integration of emerging technologies to drive sustainable business growth. He is recognized for his collaborative leadership style, strategic foresight, and ability to navigate complex regulatory and risk environments.
+966 55 566 8114
SAUDI
USA
Ronald Garrity
Independent Director and Business Consultant
Ronald has over 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government Contracting (GovCon) sector working as a trusted advisor to boards of directors and C-Suite executives, delivering strategic advice across the full federal business lifecycle. Ronald specialises in the design and execution of business strategies to align clients with emerging federal procurement trends and modernization priorities. Ronald has successfully led the capture and delivery of more than $2.1 billion in federal contracts, including multiple $100M+ prime awards across U.S. Department of Defense and federal civilian agencies. Ronald offers due diligence and fiduciary services to clients utilising his extensive, well-established network of senior relationships across U.S. Department of Defense branches and agencies, U.S. federal civilian agencies, U.S. state governments, and U.S. foreign security cooperation offices. This access, combined with Ronald’s visibility into GovCon acquisition priorities and landscapes provides clients with a competitive advantage in identifying opportunities and analysing target company products and services against future and current Government requirements. Ronald has led companies through operational turnarounds, growth-stage scale-ups, competitive positioning, transformational growth, and successful exit events aligned with corporate acquisition strategies. Ronald has provided immediate strategic value to clients seeking to expand their technical footprint and federal customer base. Currently, Ronald guides small and mid-market firms through start-up and post-award growth, M&A positioning, and go-to-market pivots in response to government priorities, National Defense Authorisation Act driven compliance mandates, and shifts toward as-a-service procurement models. Ronald has also advised clients on their strategies with regards to GovCon requirements for artificial intelligence (AI/ML), natural language processing (NLP), zero trust architecture, data analytics & visualization, cybersecurity, cloud services & virtualization, C6ISR, Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems and sensitive compartmented information facilities / Intelligence Community Directive 705 Compliance. Ronald has a Bachelor of Science in business from Drexel University. Ronald also holds certificates in Project Management Professional, Six Sigma Green Belt and is a Certified ScrumMaster. Ronald previously served as a Paratrooper within Airborne units of the US Army.
+1850 276 8991
USA
CoBOS team
Davesh Patel
CoBOS Founder
Davesh has over 25 years experience of using technology to provide organisations with robust and fit-for-purpose technology platforms. His career includes stints at Tier 1 investment banks and most recently as the CTO of a multi-strategy European hedge fund.
LONDON
Toby Farmer
CoBOS Founder
Toby is a highly adaptable executive director and interim leader, with over 20 years experience helping businesses develop new strategies, transform their operations and put in place governance frameworks to ensure that vital safeguards are in place.
LONDON
Jeremy Hughes
CoBOS Founder
Jeremy started his career in commercial publishing, held senior positions at a Tier 1 bank, moved into alternative finance, and is now a Treasury and Portfolio Financing Manager with extensive experience on both the buy and sell side.
LONDON