Dr Bijna Kotak Dasani

Advisory Board Member Fintech Connect

Bijna has led Strategy, (Digital) Transformation and Innovation within the Financial Services sector across the UK, EMEA, the Americas and Asia. Presently, Bijna lends advisory services to start-up’s and Fintech’s across geographies; she has also advised established groups such as Bank of Lichtenstein, Vienna.

Bijna also holds advisory (board) roles with the Inclusive Companies Network, FinTech Connect, CIONET, Generation Success, Cajigo and DMU Alumni Women’s Network. Additionally, she serves as a Host / Judge for a portfolio of initiatives including EfMA, the Inclusive Companies Awards, Dublin Tech Summit and The Diversity in Tech Awards powered by Microsoft.

On the subjects of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Innovation and Technology, Bijna has addressed audiences globally for Stylist Magazine, Deutsche Bank, Deloitte, Edinburgh DataFest, Amazon, Sky, Lloyds Banking Group, Lyca Radio, Universities (Auburn, BPP, Edinburgh, De Montfort, Imperial College, Oxford, Sheffield), Appway, CIO NEXT, Bloomberg, Retail Banking Forum Europe, FinTech Connect, Bold Strategy Summit, EveryWoman India, The Next Gen Project, Genpact, Morgan Stanley, Citywire, BBC, WHEN (Women in Higher Education Network), Seamless Middle East, Charlotte Tilbury, FinTech Abu Dhabi, Unfold Consulting’s Intrapreneurship Conclave, Banking Frontiers, NRI World, Calastone, The Crown Estate, Seamless Saudi Arabia and more.

Bijna is featured in publications including following books: The Seamless Middle East e-book (2022), CIO NET’s Digital Transformation Cookbook (2022), Aspire To (2021), The Ultimate Professional Networker's Guidebook Volume 1 (2019) and Women Kind: Unlocking the power of women supporting women (2018); She is also featured in the Citywire Tech Travels Podcast (2021), is a former host and presenter of the Women in Business TV show (2018) and featured on the Dream Corner podcast (2012).

Bijna has been awarded Global Icon (2022) by World Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (WASME) supported by the Ministry of MSME, Government of India. She has been recognised by Yahoo Finance and Involve People as #28 of the Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executives #EMPower list (2022) across all industries and sectors globally. Furthermore, she has been awarded title of Pride of India by NRI World across 100+ countries (2022), Advocate of the Year for Diversity and Inclusion (2021) by Morgan Stanley and Digital Leader of the Year (2021) by Seamless Middle East and Terrapin under the patronage of HH Sheikh Saif Bin Zayad Al Nahyan; In 2021, Bijna was also recognised by Yahoo Finance and Involve People as #40 of the Top 100 Women Executives (2021) and as one of the Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executives (2021) across all industries and sectors globally. Bijna is an appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (2020) by Her Majesty, The Queen for her services to Diversity and Inclusion in Financial Services. Bijna has also been appreciated as follows: Bijna was named Britain’s Rising Star, UK Women of Inspiration awards (2019), #29 in the World’s Top 100 Women Execs by Yahoo and HERoes (2019), one of Top 50 Women to Watch (2019) by Cranfield University, #EMRoleModels19 Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executives (2019), Innovate Finance Women in Fintech Powerlist (2019-18), one of the #TechWomen100 (2019), as 'Business Role Model of the Year' by the Women in IT Awards & Amazon (2019), by the Lloyds Banking Group Top 100 BAME Role Models List (2019, 2018) as a 'Global Champion' (#60) of the Top 100 Executive #FTHERoes18 by the Financial Times (2018) and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from De Montfort University (2018) for her ‘outstanding services to Business’.

She was honoured by felicitation at the House of Lords (UK), at the NRI Pride of India World Summit (2017) for 'Making India Proud'. Bijna is credited as one of the Top 50 Visionary Young Leaders in Business, by Henley Business School (2017), one of 35 leading British Businesswomen under 35, by Management Today, Accenture and The Telegraph (2015) and has received recognition with 15 further honours including the National Diversity Awards (2012) and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards (2010). Bijna is also the International Women’s Day Young Achiever of the Year (2006).

Bijna is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA), and an alumnus of Oriel College, University of Oxford and Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University.