How to engage prospects and clients in a more impactful way

Before joining EFG as Senior Managing Director, Head of Private Banking, Richard Straus was Managing Director and Market Head responsible for Bank Julius Baer's Taiwan customer franchise. Originally from the United States, he has lived and worked in Asia for nearly 20 years. He moved from Citi Private Bank where he headed up the Asian Family Office and Institutions business to Bank Julius Baer. Prior to that, Richard was in charge of Citi's offshore and onshore private banking activities for Taiwan. His 29 year banking career includes senior sales and product management roles as well as CFO and COO assignments in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and the United States. Richard has a bachelor degree from Haverford College (PA, USA) and an MBA from Washington University (MO, USA). He has been a CFA charter holder since 1998. He is a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts, the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts, and the Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute. Richard resides in Hong Kong with his wife. He has two adult children, who live and work  in the United States. He enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking and playing the guitar.

Noor has more than 40 years of experience in a broad range of services within the wealth management and financial services industries, spanning across various industry segments. Her previous positions held, all based in Singapore with regional/global responsibilities, include being Director and Head, Business Development (South East Asia), The Citigroup Private Bank, Director, Business Development (South East Asia), GE Capital, and Deputy Managing Director, Rabobank Asia Ltd. Her main area of expertise was developed through engaging high networth individuals, families and corporate leaders to initiate, negotiate and facilitate the implementation of wealth advisory and financial transactions, including private equity and mergers and acquisitions across industries. Her extended years in managing account relationships and leading teams to serve international high net worth individuals, families and corporations in Asia, Europe, the US and the Middle East has resulted in her being able to share best practices to optimize outcomes realistically. As a result of this experience she has built an extensive global network comprising organisations and individuals in multi-geographies, which she now applies towards a key service provided by NQ International – its talent identification, executive placement and specialized executive coaching services for C-suite and near C-suite level individuals. This service encompasses coaching sessions relating to real-time situations, tailor-made to suit the particular circumstance of the individual or group. The service reaches out to individuals involved with the challenge to successfully drive organizational change, as well as those facing career progression challenges. The participation and involvement of women leaders, as part of gender diversity is also a key service provided by NQ International. NQ International formulates custom-designed leadership development strategies to help corporate leaders develop the capabilities needed to achieve their strategic objectives. Embedded in these programmes is also the critical issue of the enhancement of cultural assimilation, especially between Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, given the enhanced need for mobility by corporate leaders today. The specially designed programs also incorporate the transfer of leadership skills across industries, by individuals, using tried and tested tools of influential and effective leadership techniques, as well as critical thinking. Through these services, corporate leaders who face career challenges or those seeking advancement in their current role, are guided to formulate decisions with a purpose and to chart a realistic leadership development strategy by maximizing their individual resources. Noor is a frequent speaker at major international conferences on human capital, talent placement and retention, global wealth management and family office advisory issues. She is currently, among others, a founding member and President of Breast Cancer Foundation, Board Member of The Singapore Ireland Fund, Board Member, ISCA Cares (Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants), member of the Woman's Health Advisory Council, Singapore, and a was joint co-chairperson of BoardAgender in Singapore, an organization formed to encourage women to take on board positions, for diversity. Noor is also a member of the Disciplinary and Inquiry committees of the Singapore Dental Council, and a member of the Inquiry committee of the Law Society, Singapore. Founded in Singapore in October 2007, NQ International is also engaged in not-for-profit activities which include various charity-related activities in which Noor is actively involved with. Noor is married with 3 grown children and seven grand children, She is an avid musician, often performing to raise funds for various regional charities. 

Damien Ryan is Senior Advisor at Teneo. Mr. Ryan has deep experience in Asia advising senior management of leading public and private companies on reputation and operational critical issues. This includes delivering counsel to CEOs, boards and senior management around transactions, special situations, restructuring, fundraising and litigation. Mr. Ryan was a senior journalist with Bloomberg News. He interviewed and profiled many of business world’s highest profile leaders. Mr. Ryan was also regularly assigned to cover leading business gatherings including gatherings of the IMF, OPEC, World Bank and World Economic Forum. Mr. Ryan has lived in Hong Kong since 2005 with his family. He is originally from Australia and has also lived and worked in the UK and Europe. He is actively involved in communities across Asia, including supporting several charities, schools and sporting organisations. Previously, Mr. Ryan was the Founder and Managing Director of Ryan Communication, which was acquired by Teneo in 2017.

David MacDonald is the Head of Business Development for AAM Advisory. MacDonald began his career in banking, being affiliated with the Royal Bank of Scotland from 1995 to 2005, before moving on to lead teams of wealth managers within large financial services organisations in the UK. In 2001, He founded Macsimise, a consulting & training company which serviced clients across Asia-Pacific, The Middle East, and India. In 2011, MacDonald joined Hubbis as the Head of Learning Solutions, where he developed relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers, to then create and deliver skills & competency development interventions with corporate clients across Asia Pacific, India, and The Middle East.

Karen Tan is the Head of Private Banking at VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch. She oversees a team that advises clients from all over Asia on investments and their wealth management needs. Prior to that, she has worked at Indosuez Wealth Management, where she was a Managing Director. She was also Senior Vice President and Team Head at CIC Banque Privée. Karen brings with her over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial sector. Her specialties include Foreign Exchange trading, sales, and marketing in Treasury and Exchange Traded Products, derivatives, as well as coaching and leadership development. Karen is an avid volunteer for the Council Board for Club Rainbow Singapore, a non-profit charity organization supporting children suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses. She also volunteers for PRYME, a project to assist scholars in Singapore and is a speaker at ITE Central Scholars’ Program, sponsored by the US Embassy. Karen was a recipient of the Great Women of Our Times Award 2006, under the ‘Most Inspiring Woman’ category.

Karen Tan is the Head of Private Banking at VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch. She oversees a team that advises clients from all over Asia on investments and their wealth management needs. Prior to that, she has worked at Indosuez Wealth Management, where she was a Managing Director. She was also Senior Vice President and Team Head at CIC Banque Privée. Karen brings with her over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial sector. Her specialties include Foreign Exchange trading, sales, and marketing in Treasury and Exchange Traded Products, derivatives, as well as coaching and leadership development. Karen is an avid volunteer for the Council Board for Club Rainbow Singapore, a non-profit charity organization supporting children suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses. She also volunteers for PRYME, a project to assist scholars in Singapore and is a speaker at ITE Central Scholars’ Program, sponsored by the US Embassy. Karen was a recipient of the Great Women of Our Times Award 2006, under the ‘Most Inspiring Woman’ category.

Noor has more than 40 years of experience in a broad range of services within the wealth management and financial services industries, spanning across various industry segments. Her previous positions held, all based in Singapore with regional/global responsibilities, include being Director and Head, Business Development (South East Asia), The Citigroup Private Bank, Director, Business Development (South East Asia), GE Capital, and Deputy Managing Director, Rabobank Asia Ltd. Her main area of expertise was developed through engaging high networth individuals, families and corporate leaders to initiate, negotiate and facilitate the implementation of wealth advisory and financial transactions, including private equity and mergers and acquisitions across industries. Her extended years in managing account relationships and leading teams to serve international high net worth individuals, families and corporations in Asia, Europe, the US and the Middle East has resulted in her being able to share best practices to optimize outcomes realistically. As a result of this experience she has built an extensive global network comprising organisations and individuals in multi-geographies, which she now applies towards a key service provided by NQ International – its talent identification, executive placement and specialized executive coaching services for C-suite and near C-suite level individuals. This service encompasses coaching sessions relating to real-time situations, tailor-made to suit the particular circumstance of the individual or group. The service reaches out to individuals involved with the challenge to successfully drive organizational change, as well as those facing career progression challenges. The participation and involvement of women leaders, as part of gender diversity is also a key service provided by NQ International. NQ International formulates custom-designed leadership development strategies to help corporate leaders develop the capabilities needed to achieve their strategic objectives. Embedded in these programmes is also the critical issue of the enhancement of cultural assimilation, especially between Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, given the enhanced need for mobility by corporate leaders today. The specially designed programs also incorporate the transfer of leadership skills across industries, by individuals, using tried and tested tools of influential and effective leadership techniques, as well as critical thinking. Through these services, corporate leaders who face career challenges or those seeking advancement in their current role, are guided to formulate decisions with a purpose and to chart a realistic leadership development strategy by maximizing their individual resources. Noor is a frequent speaker at major international conferences on human capital, talent placement and retention, global wealth management and family office advisory issues. She is currently, among others, a founding member and President of Breast Cancer Foundation, Board Member of The Singapore Ireland Fund, Board Member, ISCA Cares (Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants), member of the Woman's Health Advisory Council, Singapore, and a was joint co-chairperson of BoardAgender in Singapore, an organization formed to encourage women to take on board positions, for diversity. Noor is also a member of the Disciplinary and Inquiry committees of the Singapore Dental Council, and a member of the Inquiry committee of the Law Society, Singapore. Founded in Singapore in October 2007, NQ International is also engaged in not-for-profit activities which include various charity-related activities in which Noor is actively involved with. Noor is married with 3 grown children and seven grand children, She is an avid musician, often performing to raise funds for various regional charities. 

Damien Ryan is Senior Advisor at Teneo. Mr. Ryan has deep experience in Asia advising senior management of leading public and private companies on reputation and operational critical issues. This includes delivering counsel to CEOs, boards and senior management around transactions, special situations, restructuring, fundraising and litigation. Mr. Ryan was a senior journalist with Bloomberg News. He interviewed and profiled many of business world’s highest profile leaders. Mr. Ryan was also regularly assigned to cover leading business gatherings including gatherings of the IMF, OPEC, World Bank and World Economic Forum. Mr. Ryan has lived in Hong Kong since 2005 with his family. He is originally from Australia and has also lived and worked in the UK and Europe. He is actively involved in communities across Asia, including supporting several charities, schools and sporting organisations. Previously, Mr. Ryan was the Founder and Managing Director of Ryan Communication, which was acquired by Teneo in 2017.

Michael is a prominent figure in the financial services industry in Asia. He is the founder and CEO of Hubbis, a renowned provider of intelligence and connectivity for the Asian wealth management industry. With a depth of experience and expertise, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the industry for over 30 years, becoming a leading industry presence in the events, professional development, and publishing space in the region. Hubbis is a multi-generational family-owned and managed business.

He has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region since 1993. And has lived in Asia since 1995, holding positions in Hong Kong, Sydney, and Singapore. 

For over 14-years, Hubbis has established itself as the gold standard media and events brand in wealth management thought leadership in Asia. Each year providing a very large body of cutting-edge editorial and sponsored content, organizing top-flight events.

During that time Hubbis has become the platform of choice for many high-profile C-suite leaders to communicate their vision of the Asian wealth management.

Before his involvement with Hubbis, Michael founded Pacific Prospect in 2002, a financial services media company. Under his leadership, the company achieved significant success and was subsequently acquired by global business-to-business publisher Incisive Media in 2006. Michael continued to serve as the CEO of Pacific Prospect until October 2008.

Prior to his entrepreneurial ventures, Michael garnered 5 years of experience in financial markets publishing. His career in this field began in 1993 when he joined Euromoney Publications as the publisher of the quarterly magazine, International Bond Investor. In 1995, Michael joined Thomson Financial Services (now owned by LSEG) and spearheaded the conception and launch of Finance Asia magazine. During his tenure as Managing Director of Finance Asia, he also initiated the Asian Debt Review, Asian Private Capital Magazine, and the Finance Asia Conference Business. In 1997, he founded FIA Limited, further expanding his contributions to the financial publishing industry.

Born in North Wales, Michael served as the head boy of St David's College Llandudno. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Cardiff University. Beyond his professional endeavours, Michael is a family-oriented individual and is happily married with three children: Reanna, Garett, and Tarryn.