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Nigeria’s Ibukun Awosika has been appointed to the new Global Advisory Board (GAB) of Binance – the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. The board comprises distinguished experts in public policy, government, finance, economics, and corporate governance from around the world.

The board is chaired by former US Senator and Ambassador to China, Max Baucus.

Awosika is the first female Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, founder of The Chair Centre group, Chairman of Nigerian Advisory Board for Impact Investing and Convention on Business Integrity, and Member of G7 International Task Force for impact investing.

The other African on the board that was recently constituted at a meeting in France is South Africa’s Leslie Maasdorp, a former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the New Development Bank, former Managing Director & President for Southern Africa at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, former Vice Chairman of Barclays Capital, and former International Adviser to Goldman Sachs.

Also appointed to the global advisory board is South Korea’s HyungRin Bang, an Advisor of the Korea Presidential Committee, PR/Communications Advisor of Yoon Seuk-Yul’s 2022 Presidential Campaign, former CEO, SoftForum Inc., and former Executive Director at Hyundai and Samsung.

On the board from Brazil is Henrique de Campos Meirelles, the country’s former Minister of the Economy, former President of the Central Bank of Brazil, former Member of the Council of Lloyd’s of London, and former Chairman of Lazard Americas.

From Mexico is Adalberto Palma, an Honorary Board Member of The Aspen Institute Mexico, former Senior Advisor at the Chief of Staff Office to the President of Mexico, President of Bankers Trust Mêxico, Colombia and Venezuela, and Managing Director of Citibank Mexico.

Another US member of the GAB is David Plouffe, a former Campaign Manager and Senior Advisor to President Obama in the White House.

The other members of the board are German Christin Schäfer, founder and Managing Director of acs plus, and Member of the Data Ethics Commission, German Federal Government; French Bruno Bezard, Managing Partner of Cathay Capital, former Vice Minister of Finance, former Economic Advisor to the French Prime Minister, and  former head of the French Treasury; UK’s Lord Vaizey, Member of the House of Lords and former Minister and Member of Parliament; and EU’s David Wright, Chair, EUROFI and former Secretary General of International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).

Binance said the new advisory board is a major step in the company’s efforts to support the sustainable development of blockchain technology. The board will advise Binance on some of the most complex regulatory, political, and social issues the entire crypto industry faces as it grows and evolves at a fast pace.

"For the past five years, Binance has been at the forefront of pioneering the exciting new world of crypto, blockchain, and Web3," said Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao. "In that time, we've tackled complex issues no one even knew existed. We've maintained our focus throughout on delivering compliance solutions that protect the interests of crypto users, while keeping a brisk pace of socially-beneficial innovation. The GAB represents the next big step forward in our journey to share the benefits of modern finance and the blockchain with the entire world."

Binance seeks to harness the GAB's collective experience and expertise to benefit the sustainable development of the industry as a whole, by weighing in on the toughest and most sensitive regulatory and compliance issues facing crypto, blockchain, and Web3.

Max Baucus said that of all the technologies with the potential to create positive disruption, the world of crypto, blockchain, and Web3 is among the most exciting and the most promising.

“The transparency and accountability with which Binance seeks to deliver services to its clients is impressive,” said Ibukun Awosika. “As a company of the future, Binance must continue to evolve, build and find solutions in real time. I am proud to play a role as a member of its Global advisory board and to be a part of truly transforming the web3 economy.”