Level 12, Auditorium
10:00AM – 1:00PM
DMCC Crypto Centre, in partnership with Edison Smart, invites founders, hiring managers and Web3 professionals to explore the latest talent market trends shaping the UAE.
The session will cover recruitment strategies, salary benchmarks and hiring insights for startups and regulated firms, followed by a dedicated Talent Clinic where attendees can receive one-to-one guidance from Edison Smart's recruitment specialists.
Panellists:
Access world-class processing, storage, tea blending, and packaging facilities, along with valuable networking opportunities.
Head of Web3, Blockchain & Crypto for the Middle East and APAC,
Edison Smart
Max Crumpton is the Head of Web3, Blockchain & Crypto for the Middle East and APAC at Edison Smart. He specialises in partnering with high-growth technology companies to build world-class leadership and engineering teams across AI, digital assets, financial technology and emerging technologies.
Based in Dubai, Max works with venture-backed startups, scale-ups, global technology vendors and enterprise organisations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the wider APAC region. His expertise spans Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Web3, Blockchain, Digital Assets, Cloud, Platform Engineering and Cybersecurity, helping organisations secure the specialist talent required to scale in highly competitive markets.
With extensive experience in executive technology recruitment, Max advises founders, C-suite executives and hiring leaders on talent strategy, market intelligence, organisational growth and executive hiring. He has built a strong network across the AI and digital asset ecosystems and partners with some of the world's most innovative companies, supporting their growth through strategic talent acquisition and long-term hiring partnerships.
Regional Manager for the Middle East & APAC,
Edison Smart
Ross Porter is the Regional Manager for the Middle East & APAC at Edison Smart and founder of the company's Dubai office. He partners with leading technology businesses across the region to build high-performing technical, commercial and executive teams across Artificial Intelligence, Smart Infrastructure, Industrial Automation, Web3 and Digital Finance.
Based in Dubai, Ross works with multinational organisations, scale-ups and venture-backed technology companies across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Hong Kong and the wider APAC region. His expertise spans AI & Data, Smart Infrastructure, Industrial Automation, FinTech, Digital Assets and Trading Technology, helping businesses secure the specialist talent required to drive innovation and growth.
With over 15 years' experience across the UK, Middle East and APAC, Ross has built and scaled recruitment businesses, established talent acquisition functions in startup environments and transformed recruitment strategies within global organisations. He advises CEOs, founders and executive leadership teams on talent strategy, market intelligence and workforce planning, supporting organisations through digital transformation and the development of future-focused technology teams.
Account Manager,
Edison Smart
Account Manager at Edison Smart, specialising in fintech, crypto and Web3 tech recruitment
Dora Gyorfi is an Account Manager at Edison Smart specialising in tech recruitment within the fintech, crypto, and Web3 space. Based in Dubai, she partners with digital banks, crypto exchanges, regulated fintechs and venture-backed startups to build high-performing engineering and technology teams across MENA, APAC and Europe.
With deep expertise across the region's hiring markets and regulatory landscape, Dora works closely with CTOs, engineering leaders and talent teams to advise on talent strategy, market intelligence and candidate sourcing — helping businesses secure the specialist technical talent needed to drive growth and innovation.
Managing Consultant – Quant, Data and Platform Engineering,
Edison Smart
Lee Choules is a Managing Consultant at Edison Smart, specialising in Quant, Data and Platform Engineering across APAC and the GCC. He partners with wealthtech, digital banking, crypto and digital asset businesses, helping them build the engineering and leadership teams powering the next generation of financial platforms.
Based in Dubai, Lee works with venture-backed startups, scale-ups and established financial institutions across Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and the GCC. His expertise spans Platform Engineering, AI, Data and Quantitative Technology, connecting organisations with the specialist talent needed to scale in highly competitive markets.
With over a decade in specialist technology recruitment, Lee advises founders, CTOs and executive leadership teams on talent strategy, market intelligence and scaling high-performing engineering organisations, supporting some of the world's fastest-growing fintech, wealthtech and digital asset businesses.
Senior Manager,
DMCC Crypto Centre
Zaher El Orm is the Crypto Centre Manager at DMCC, where he leads the growth and development of the Web3 ecosystem. In this role, Zaher drives strategic initiatives that promote blockchain technology's adoption and practical application, ensuring that DMCC remains at the forefront of the industry. By partnering with top-tier industry players, he provides end-to-end solutions and support to entrepreneurs and companies looking to scale their crypto operations within a dynamic and rapidly evolving market.
Zaher holds an MBA from the University of Rome Tor Vergata, where he specialised in the intersection of blockchain technology and supply chain management. His academic and professional background, combined with his forward-thinking approach, positions him as a key influencer in the ongoing evolution of the blockchain landscape.
The DMCC Tea Centre is a purpose-built facility supporting the global tea trade, with the capacity to handle over 43,000 tonnes of tea annually. Located next to one of the region’s largest ports, the centre offers end-to-end capabilities, including:
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