Rene Michau is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning across the financial, army, and technology sectors. Currently serving as the Head of Fintech Client Advisory at Standard Chartered Bank, Michau led the establishment of a global business line that focuses on building strategic partnerships with Fintech platforms and delivering core banking services across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He is a dynamic and engaged leader who has built a team of trusted advisors within the bank, with expertise in fintech, payments, regulation, blockchain, crypto-currencies and the evolution of central bank digital currencies. Michau continues to drive innovation using his ability to find and connect talent, deploying an enterprise-grade AI and Machine Learning platform that delivers client insights, first-line risk management, and financial crime risk mitigation.

Michau has been well-entrenched in the Fintech community, supporting meet-ups, industry podcasts, academic research, and speaking at industry events where he challenges the industry to strive for excellence. He co-led the bank's collaboration with a major Chinese firm to develop their blockchain-based, real-time cross-border, wallet-to-wallet payments solution - which was delivered from the whiteboard to live in production with nodes running in the client's blockchain network and payments flowing in just eight weeks.

His prior experience includes working at HSBC, leading the payments and collections product business across Asia-Pacific and developing product innovations leveraging mobile wallets and a range of new technologies to improve the customer relevance of legacy platforms. Michau has also worked for ANZ and National Australia Bank, where he was awarded for innovation for establishing a cloud-based merchant platform and the establishment of a carbon trading capability, respectively.

Michau served as an officer in the Australian Army and is passionate about Rugby Union. He is committed to equality and promoting diversity. He studied the Higher School Certificate at Pittwater House, Diploma of Financial Markets FNS51015 at the Australian Financial Markets Association (AFMA), a Diploma of Management at Royal Military College - Duntroon, BA at UNSW, and a Diploma at University of New England (AU).