Dr. The Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley, a distinguished political figure in the British Virgin Islands, currently serves as the Premier and holds multiple vital ministerial portfolios. Dr. Wheatley represents the Seventh District and is a dedicated member of the Virgin Islands Party (VIP). He was first appointed to the British Virgin Islands Parliament in 2019 as the Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture and Representative for the Seventh District. 

Dr. Wheatley’s educational background is marked by his 2016 Ph.D. in Languages and Cultures of Africa from the University of London. He also holds a Master of Arts in Literary Studies from Purdue University and an undergraduate degree in English from Clark Atlanta University.  

In his current capacity as Premier, Dr. Wheatley simultaneously serves as the Minister of Finance, the Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Sustainable Development. His diverse portfolio highlights his commitment to driving economic development, environmental sustainability, and cultural enrichment in the British Virgin Islands. 

Dr. The Hon. Natalio D. Wheatley’s multifaceted background and his unwavering dedication to the betterment of the British Virgin Islands establish him as a respected and highly capable leader in the region, entrusted with multiple critical ministerial responsibilities. 

Lorna Smith is a distinguished leader with decades of experience in public service, financial services, and international business development in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). She played a key role in establishing BVI Finance and has been instrumental in positioning the BVI as a leading global financial centre and premier tourism destination.

Elected to the House of Assembly in 2023, Lorna served as Deputy Premier and Minister of Financial Services, Labour and Trade. She has also held senior roles including Vice President of Bank of Asia and Director of several BVI companies.

As head of the BVI International Finance Centre, she led global promotional initiatives across major financial hubs including London, New York, Hong Kong, and Singapore. She also played a vital role in the recovery efforts following Hurricanes Irma and Maria through both government and community leadership.

Lorna was awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her contribution to public service in the BVI and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow for her contributions to Rotary.

Mr Glenford Malone was appointed Deputy Managing Director, Regulation in January 2022 and is responsible for implementing the Commission’s overall regulatory strategy. Mr Malone has over two decades of experience within the regulatory environment, having served many roles, such as Senior Regulator, Deputy Director, Investment Business and prior to 2002, assistant Registrar of Mutual Funds with the former Financial Services Department, now BVI Financial Services Commission. Mr Malone is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and is a trained Financial Examiner in the FATF Methodology of Assessing Compliance with the FATF 40 Recommendations. 

Professional Qualifications 

• Master of Laws (Distinction) in Law and Finance, 2005 

• Bachelor of Business Administration (Economics and International Business), 1997

Kishelle Cameron is the Deputy Director of the Specialised Supervision Unit of the Financial Services Commission. She is responsible for the oversight of high-risk licensees, and those of systemic importance in the jurisdiction. This includes all banks, systemically important TCSPs, Insurance Companies and all high-risk Investment Businesses and Virtual Asset Service Providers. Kishelle leads the Commission’s FinTech Working Group and serves as the Deputy Chair of the Risk Monitoring Committee. She is also the former Deputy Director of the Investment Business Division. In her previous capacity as the Deputy Director of the Investment Business Division, Kishelle gained significant experience in supervising high-risk financial entities and has been instrumental in shaping policies and strategies within the financial regulatory framework. Kishelle is a certified member of several prestigious institutions and has completed various specialised training programs, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and expertise in her field. 

Professional Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Corporate Finance from the EADA Business School, Spain 

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, University of Maryland 

• International Studies certification, Shanghai University 

• Diploma in Compliance and Risk Management, International Compliance Association 

James Knox is the Regional Managing Director of Aon’s Blockchain and Technology Practice, leading growth across the technology and digital asset sectors. He advises many of the world’s leading blockchain and technology companies and has supported over 100 firms with insurance strategies for IPOs on U.S. and international exchanges.

A trained attorney, James previously served as CEO of Nasdaq’s international insurance division, Carpenter Moore PLC, and as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City. He is also a recognized speaker and moderator on blockchain, digital assets, and regulatory trends across global markets.

Gbenga Omosuyi is Head of Global Business Development at Sphere Labs, a payments infrastructure company at the forefront of compliant cross-border money movement. He focuses on expanding the company’s global presence and forging partnerships that accelerate stablecoin innovation and adoption across global institutions. With over a decade of experience bridging traditional finance and crypto, Gbenga has held senior business development roles across some of the industry’s most influential companies: at BitGo, as Head of Strategic Partnerships, and at Fireblocks, as Strategic and Enterprise Business Clients Development for North America. He began his career began at Deutsche Bank, where he progressed through roles in OTC Derivatives Clearing, Prime Brokerage, and Wealth Management. Beyond his operational work, Gbenga is a Venture Partner at WAGMI Ventures, where he hosts the WAGMI Ventures Podcast. He holds an MBA from Yale University.