The Future of Finance: Next-Generation Financial Cities
Webinar
With Thanks To Our Event Sponsor:
Background: Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) is preparing to launch its final Future of Finance report of 2025 which focuses on The Future of Finance: Next-Generation Financial Cities. The report series is developed in partnership with Asia House and explores the rise of next-generation financial hubs and the innovative approaches these cities are adopting - spanning governance, regulation, technology, infrastructure, and talent attraction - to become new epicentres of global capital.
To coincide with the launch, DIFC will be hosting a webinar that covers the report findings and perspectives from industry leaders – this is where we would be delighted to receive your support! May we invite you to participate in the panel discussion, sharing your views on Next-Generation Financial Cities. The webinar will be chaired by Michael Lawrence OBE, Chief Executive of Asia House, although you may also know him as being the former Global News Editor for Reuters.
Speakers:
Professor Michael Mainelli MStJ PhD MPhil BA FCCA FCSI(Hon) FBCS FRSA CITP FIC CMC MEI is a qualified accountant, securities professional, computer specialist, and management consultant, educated at Harvard University and Trinity College Dublin. He gained his PhD at the London School of Economics where he was also Visiting Professor of Innovation & IT. Originally a research scientist in aerospace (rocket science) and computing (architecture & cartography), after directing mapping projects in Switzerland he became a senior partner with accountants BDO Binder Hamlyn directing global consulting, and Corporate Development Director for Europe’s largest R&D firm, then the Ministry of Defence’s 14,000 strong Defence Evaluation & Research Agency. During a mergers & acquisitions spell in merchant banking with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, he founded Z/Yen in 1994, the City of London’s leading think-tank, promoting societal advance through better finance and technology, renowned for its Global Financial, Green Finance, and Smart Centres indices. Michael is the Alderman for the Broad Street ward, was a Sheriff of the City of London 2019-2021 and the 695th Lord Mayor of London for 2023-2024.
Since 2018, Dr Jochen Biedermann has served as Managing Director of the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC), an international non-profit association registered in Belgium, representing 29 leading international financial centers across five continents. WAIFC members are government agencies, associations, and similar institutions developing and promoting their financial centers. WAIFC facilitates cooperation between its members, exchanging best practices and communication with the general public. Also, Jochen is the Managing Partner of FinTech Consult, a network of FinTech experts in Asia, Europe, and Africa supporting FinTechs in raising capital and expanding globally. He serves as an expert at the Sino-German Center for Finance and Economics in Frankfurt, backed by the central banks, government institutions, and leading universities in China and Germany. He is also a Fellow of the Think Tank of the Asian Financial Cooperation Association, based in Beijing. Jochen is a long-standing advisor at Frankfurt Main Finance, the Frankfurt financial center initiative. Furthermore, he is a mentor at Cyberport in Hong Kong, OneEleven in Toronto, the Plug and Play Tech Center, the Accelerator Frankfurt, and 1000 Black Voices. Jochen is a board member of several FinTech and Blockchain companies. Finally, he is a working group member of Dubai's new DIFC Digital Economy Court. Jochen holds a mathematics & computer science diploma from the University of Goettingen and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Cottbus, Germany. For two decades, he has been a regular lecturer and external supervisor for the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management and has given guest lectures at leading universities and business schools in Europe, America, and Asia.
Wolfgang Engel is the General Manager & Chief Representative of the IIF Middle East & Africa Regional Office in Dubai. He leads the IIF’s efforts to establish and strengthen relationships with members in the Middle East & Africa and to identify and address their most important issues.
Before joining the IIF, Wolfgang was a member of the Management Committee at Société Générale in charge of the Financial Institutions Group Germany and Austria. In that role, he was primarily responsible for advising institutional clients on regulatory issues and debt and equity markets solutions.
Wolfgang held several positions at BNP Paribas, including Head of the Debt Capital Markets Europe in London, Head of Institutional Clients Coverage Group for Germany and Austria and Head of Corporate Banking Division in Germany, among other roles. He has also served in senior positions at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in Frankfurt, the Asian Development Bank in Manila and JPMorgan in Frankfurt and New York.
Michael Lawrence leads the Asia House team in delivering business and market intelligence to some of the world’s biggest companies and governments in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Michael was appointed Chief Executive in September 2012 after a distinguished career as a journalist, editor and executive in international media. He has developed Asia House into the premier UK-based institution on Asia and the Middle East, chairing high-level dialogues between senior political figures and multinational businesses.
Michael is in regular conversations with global leaders in foreign affairs, finance, trade, technology and national development, and can offer valuable perspectives on how to navigate the intersection between economic, security and political issues.
Prior to joining Asia House, Michael spent 18 years at Reuters (later Thomson Reuters), the international news and financial information organisation, where he held several senior positions including Global Editor (2006-2012). In his roles at Reuters, Michael was on the frontline of all major international news events as they evolved over more than 30 years.
Michael was awarded an OBE in the King’s 2023 New Year Honours list for his services to international relations between the UK and Asia.
Date
Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Time
9:00 - 10:00 GMT
Cost
Free
Speaker(s):
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Professor Michael Mainelli
Chairman
Z/Yen Group
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Dr Jochen Biedermann
Managing Director
World Alliance of International Financial Centers
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Wolfgang Engel
General Manager and Chief Representative
International Institute of Finance, Middle East & Africa
Chairman:
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Michael Lawrence OBE
Chief Executive
Asia House