Zaher El Orm
Manager - Crypto Centre,
DMCC Ecosystems
Speaker Profile
Zaher El Orm
Manager - Crypto Centre,DMCC Ecosystems
Dr. Ayesha Binlootah
Assistant Vice President,
VARA
Speaker Profile
Dr. Ayesha Binlootah
Assistant Vice President,VARA
Dr. Ayesha Bin Lootah is a self-driven and visionary leader with over 16 years of experience across licensing, supervision, digital assurance, inspection, internal audit, risk management, information security, governance, and business continuity management. Her multifaceted expertise extends into excellence and service improvement, crisis and city-level emergency response—including leadership roles during the COVID-19 pandemic—and spans diverse sectors such as financial institutions, virtual assets, tourism, hospitality, real estate, economic development, and public administration.
She currently serves as Vice Chairman of Emaar Development PJSC and Independent Director of SALIK PJSC, and holds additional committee roles as an independent director within publicly listed entities on the Dubai Financial Market. With more than 11 years of board governance experience at the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) – UAE Chapter, she has chaired several national and international committees, including the record-breaking International Audit Conference.
Dr. Bin Lootah’s distinguished career includes senior appointments across the Federal Government, Dubai Government, the Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), where she plays a pivotal role in advancing regulatory excellence.
She holds a Doctorate of Business Administration in Tourism Investments, is a Certified Corporate Governance Practitioner (UK), and is COSO Certified, underscoring her commitment to best-in-class risk and control frameworks in both corporate and public sector environments.
Dan Johnson
General Manager,
VARA
Speaker Profile
Dan Johnson
General Manager,VARA
Dan Johnson is the General Manager of the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, where he oversees the strategic implementation of regulatory frameworks designed to foster innovation, safeguard market integrity, and advance Dubai’s leadership in the global digital economy.
With over 17 years of international experience across financial services, technology risk, and regulatory advisory, Dan has held senior positions at leading global firms including PwC, Thomson Reuters, Oracle, and Capgemini. His expertise lies in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and designing technology-enabled risk management solutions for dynamic markets.
Dan has been instrumental in the establishment and operationalisation of VARA since its inception in 2022. As a core member of the founding advisory team, he contributed to the development of VARA’s comprehensive regulatory framework, licensing architecture, and supervisory regime, ensuring alignment with global standards. In 2023, he formally assumed the role of General Manager, where he continues to lead the Authority’s efforts in building a resilient and forward-looking virtual asset ecosystem.
An advocate for responsible innovation, Dan brings deep domain expertise in blockchain, digital assets, and emerging financial technologies. His work continues to shape the regulatory environment in a way that balances innovation with market safety and consumer protection.