The Cayman Islands–Asia Connection: Shaping The Future of Global Investment

09:30 – 10:15
Panel Discussion

10:15 – 11:00
Networking and Light Refreshments

Speakers

Honourable Andre Ebanks
Premier at Cayman Islands

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The Hon. André M Ebanks MP is the Premier of the Cayman Islands and the Minister for Financial Services and Commerce. He was first elected to the Cayman Islands House of Parliament on 14 April 2021, and reelected to Parliament on 30 April 2025.

Before the 2021 election, the Hon. Premier was the Cayman Islands Representative to the UK and Europe, from 2019 to 2021. His role included representing Cayman’s political, policy and regulatory affairs; liaising with other Overseas Territories and the UK Foreign Office; and business development.

He was Deputy Chief Officer in the Ministry of Community Affairs from 2018 to 2019, with primary responsibility for the Department of Children and Family Services, the Needs Assessment Unit, and the Gender Affairs Unit; and senior policy advisor in the Ministry of Financial Services, from 2014 to 2018.

Prior to joining the civil service, he was an investment funds lawyer at two of Cayman’s largest law firms.

The Premier was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2005, and to the Cayman Islands Bar in March 2006. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Liverpool; a degree in sociology from Morgan State University (Maryland); and a Masters in Legal Practice from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Among his professional and civic activities is his membership with the Honourable Middle Temple in England.

Kin Chi Lai (Moderator)
CEO of Amicorp Fund Services

Kin Lai has been with Amicorp Group since 2006, starting as an interim operations manager and subsequently Managing Director of the Hong Kong office. In 2012, he became Group CFO before taking on the role of Global Head of Fund Services – Sales in 2015. He was responsible for developing the strategy and driving global sales of the fund services business.

Before Amicorp, he was Head of Corporate Finance and CFO at Bunstat International Group Ltd, CFO at Artec Technologies (Asia) Ltd, and an investment manager at BHL Investment Ltd and Burwill Holdings Ltd. He is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (“ACCA”).

He speaks Chinese and English.

Gene DaCosta
Government Representative – Overseas Office (Asia) at Cayman Islands Government

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Gene DaCosta is the Cayman Islands Representative to Asia within the Ministry of Financial Services and Commerce.

His role includes representing Cayman’s policy and regulatory affairs; liaising with other Overseas Territories; and business development. While his primary focus will be around matters related to the financial services industry, Gene will also be involved, where appropriate, in other topics of interest to the Cayman Islands Government, such as education, healthcare, innovation, investment, tourism and security.

Gene previously served as a director for the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands and was part of the authority’s Cayman Islands Maritime Sector Consultative Committee. Gene also recently stepped down as a director of the Health Insurance Commission and as the Deputy Chairman of the Cayman Islands Trademarks Appeals Tribunal, the Design Rights Tribunal and the Copyrights Tribunal.

Gene holds an LLB from the University of Liverpool and was previously a senior partner of an international law firm in the Cayman Islands. His expertise covers all aspects of corporate and commercial law including intellectual property, investment funds, private equity funds and asset, debt and structured financing, with an emphasis on commercial and private aircraft and ship financing.

Preetha Pillai
Head of Singapore Office at Conyers

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Preetha Pillai is a Director and Head of the Singapore office of Conyers. After more than a decade in Singapore legal practice and as in-house counsel, Preetha joined Conyers in 2006.

Preetha advises on corporate and securities matters involving Bermuda, BVI and Cayman Islands law, such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and direct investments, equity and debt issues, IPOs and stock exchange listings, privatisations and de-listings, investment funds, banking and finance, and general corporate advisory work. With clients based in Singapore and the region, Preetha’s clients include publicly-listed and private companies, banks and financial institutions, venture capital funds and investment managers/advisers, SMEs, and private individuals. Preetha also worked in Conyers’ Cayman Islands office in 2008- 2009 where she focused on corporate and investment funds work.

Preetha has been consistently recognised by Lexology Index and Best Lawyers in Singapore for her work in private funds, mutual funds, and private equity law.

Martin O’Regan (Moderator)
MD at Solas Fiduciary Services Pte Ltd

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Martin O’Regan is the founder and managing director of Solas, providing a truly independent directorship service, based in, and privately owned in Asia. With over 25 years of experience in investments funds and other alternative investment vehicles, Martin has held senior roles for Deutsche, Citi, Apex and UBS in Bermuda, Dubai, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Martin is licensed as a director with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). He is also Chairman of the Singapore Fund Directors Association (SFDA). He is an Executive Committee member of both the Singapore Funds Industry Group (SFIG) and Chinese Offshore Private Funds Association (COPFA).