With 13 years of experience in the currency industry, Natasha began her career at the South African Mint Company in 2003 in Engineering Administration. She concluded her tenure at the company as Area Manager and Sales Coordinator for the Circulation Coin Export Division, focusing on circulation coin sales, business development activities in target regions, and acting as relationship manager and customer support liaison to the existing Central Bank, Monetary Authority and Mint customer base.

Natasha is the Conference Coordinator for the MEA Cash Cycle Seminar and the Central Bank Payments Conference and also supports the Banknote Conference. Natasha is based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Mariosa has over 10 years’ experience in finance and accountancy. Throughout her career she has achieved many goals and aims and worked in different sectors which have made her stronger and more knowledgeable in what she loves to do, which is understanding and working the numbers. Mariosa’s experience prior to joining Currency Research allowed her responsibility for preparing and analyzing financial reports, managing deadlines, projects and teams to ensure the smooth running of the department and accounting function. She is currently studying for the ACCA qualification.

Mariosa is based in Malta.

Brianna Erban is the Editor-in-Chief of Central Bank Payments News (CBPN). Based in Edmonton, Canada, Brianna has extensive experience in writing business and academic reports, editing, in-depth research and analysis, project planning and management, and communications. For almost five years and counting, Brianna has focused her research on developments in the fast-moving world of cash and payments. Although primarily focused on news emerging from the digital payments ecosystem, she remains interested in efforts to uphold cash as a consumer choice and democratic right. Brianna studied at Keele University (UK) and the University of Alberta (Canada), and holds a Master of Arts in English Literature degree and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies.

Shaun has spent over 20 years in the cash and payments industry. A tenured currency and central banking expert, before joining Currency Research, Shaun spent 16 years at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Shaun also spent several months with the Digital Dollar Project where he gained extensive knowledge of all things digital assets and digital currencies. He is CR's go-to currency subject matter expert.

Shaun began his career at the Federal Reserve in 2000 with the Division of Monetary Affairs, where he forecasted daily changes in currency in circulation. In 2003, he transitioned to the Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems where he oversaw all operational and policy aspects of U.S. banknote issuance and processing. Shaun was appointed Assistant Director in 2013 and was responsible for the global issuance of U.S. currency and operations of Reserve Bank cash processing centers. Shaun is an expert on the usage and circulation of U.S. currency and represented the Federal Reserve on numerous domestic and international policy-making groups. Shaun also chaired the Committee on Custody Controls and served on the Interagency Currency Design Committee where he gained extensive knowledge of security features, design elements, and counterfeit risks.

Shaun joined CR in 2017 as Managing Director for the Americas region. He was promoted to Vice President for Global Currency Products in 2020 and was appointed Senior Advisor to the CEO in 2023.

Helen is responsible for managing all operational relationships with the sponsors across CR events as Head of Client Relations. She has many years of experience managing conferences and other corporate events within the legal and medical sectors. These events ranged from seminars for up to 350 delegates through to glamorous award ceremonies with 900 attendees. Helen particularly enjoys meeting new people and building lasting relationships. She of course also loves to travel.

Helen is based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK.

Dan Harrison has 25 years’ experience working in the currency industry. He has held senior management and senior sales roles in a variety of highly regarded multi-national companies including CSI, De La Rue and Prosegur, providing solutions across the cash cycle. Dan has worked closely with Central Banks, Issuing Banks/Authorities, Commercial Banks, Cash Management and Logistics Companies, Casinos, and ATM Deployers, as well as small, medium, and large Retailers across Europe and the South East Asia region.

Dan has led teams working with these organisations to deliver tailored solutions including high-speed automation, medium speed processing systems, Cash Management Software, Cash recycling, and Self Service solutions. Dan is also experienced in designing and delivering Cash Management and Cash Logistics services to the FI and Retail sectors.

As VP Operations at Currency Research Dan combines this wealth of experience across the currency industry with his passion for Education and Learning. He holds a Bachelors Degree of Education and Training from the University of Melbourne; during his studies he was awarded a place on the Dean Honours List. Dan is currently based in Melbourne Australia and also worked in Europe.

As Vice President Asia, Melanie oversees relationships and activities across the wider Asia Pacific region for Currency Research. She brings over 20 years’ experience in Banking and Finance having held senior management roles with several major Australian Banks.

Based in Malaysia, Melanie works throughout South East Asia and beyond, working closely with Central Bank and Commercial partners to deliver on CR’s broad initiatives. Melanie has a strong interest in the payments industry with a particular focus on digital currency and payments.

Richard Haycock

Chairman

Mr. Richard Haycock has over 30 years of experience within the currency industry, and has devoted his time to increasing the education, communication, and community within this industry. With a degree in Computer Science, Richard has a background in the computer and telecommunications industry, and has established himself as a serial entrepreneur. In 1991, he founded and was CEO of Currency Systems International (CSI), Currency Software Solutions (CSS), and Currency Consulting International (CCI). These companies were sold in 2001 to De La Rue, which resulted in Richard founding Currency Research.

Throughout his career, he has developed a knowledge and understanding of the key areas within the currency industry, and is the Founder and Chairman of the Currency Conference (1992) and Cash Cycle Seminars (ICCOS 1996), Founder and co-Chairman of the International Association for Currency Affairs (2004), co-Founder of Currency News (2004), co-Founder and Chairman of Intelligent Currency Solutions (2008), and the co-Founder and past Chairman of the Coin Conference (2010).

Mr. Haycock specializes in the Future of Currency and Central Banks.

Giulia Rossi has joined Currency Research as Database Marketing Coordinator, overseeing Marketing email communications, and managing and maintaining the Database system. Prior to joining CR, Giulia has acquired experience in both Marketing and Event Managing across multiple platforms and Regions.

Giulia is currently based in London, UK

Shelley Jackson is based in Vancouver, Canada and has joined the CR team in the role of Operations & Marketing Director. Shelley brings extensive knowledge to the team with over 20 years of experience in Marketing, Events, Logistics and Team Management. Her career has touched on various industries, with the most recent in the Wine Industry, living and working in China for the past 6 years. Interests are food, wine, travel, biking, hiking, and distance running.

Tom has been with Currency Research (CR) since 2014, involved in a number of key engagement and operations roles particularly in the EMEA region, as well as managing a number of CR’s relationships for global premium events. Tom was appointed Vice President/Director in 2019, took over leadership of the EMEA ICCOS event in 2021 and was appointed Currency Conference Co-Chair in 2023. These roles see Tom regularly engaging with the largest companies, Financial Institutions and thought leaders in the digital and physical currency industries to help provide unparalleled networking, educational and promotional opportunities. Tom is also a co-host of the Cash News Podcast.

Prior to joining CR Tom worked in real estate and accountancy. Tom holds a Masters in Business Management from the University of Reading and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Exeter.

Ana Osorio has joined the Currency Research team an Event Manager. She is a passionate event organizer with a bachelor’s degree in hotel management and a speciality degree in Marketing. Since the beginning of her career, 8 years ago, Ana has organized multiple conferences in varying industries bringing with her a wide range of experience

Some of her interests include tennis, biking, and traveling.

She is currently based in Mexico City.

Gonzalo Santamaria is VP Payments and has led the payments business stream since 2015. He has honed much of his leadership skills and industry knowledge within a realm spanning more than 36 years of technical, commercial and managerial experience in the currency and payments sectors. He forged much of his background first in the technical, and consequently in the commercial/ business development streams within world-class technology companies in the industry. During these tenures, he successfully assisted in designing and implementing state-of-the-art automated currency vault solutions, cash management re-engineering including commercial cash processing patents, and supply chain optimization solutions.

Gonzalo holds a Degree in Computer Sciences & Electronics Technology.

Jens has been in the industry for 30 years with senior management roles in sales and marketing, operations, customer service, business development, and general management. During his time with both Thomas Cook and Travelex, he developed complex outsourcing propositions, building turnkey end-to-end solutions including client front-end systems, efficient fulfilment options, accurate interfacing with back office systems, and the provision of timely reporting.

During his career, Jens managed up to 18 global cash centers simultaneously and led a global wholesale banknotes business. He has significant experience in building and modernizing cash centers, running extensive transformation programs, and introducing new automation solutions, best demonstrated through his pivotal role in the Taxidia project. Jens led a number of major change programs throughout the years and managed teams of up to 450 people across five continents, generating revenues of several tens of millions of pounds.

Jens joined CR in 2018 as Vice President, Business Development and Consulting. In November 2020, he was appointed as President/CEO.

Tan Chee Meng worked as an electronic design engineer for five years prior to joining the currency community 29 years ago. His currency experience started at the Central Bank of Malaysia where he gained a thorough understanding of high speed sorting machines and the currency supply chain. In 1995 he joined Currency Systems International (CSI) to further enhance his knowledge in the field of high speed currency processing and detection. Additionally, he ran an engineering and parts depot in Malaysia to service all of CSI’s customers in Asia.

When De La Rue acquired CSI in 2001, his knowledge in the industry expanded to include teller assist units, ATMs, substrates and security features. Tan joined Currency Research in October 2009 as Managing Director of Asia and Middle East. Tan is currently the Secretary of the Asian Cash Management Association (ACMA).

Tan Chee Meng specializes in Cash Management Alternatives and is a regional expert in Asia on all sections of the cash cycle. He is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sergio Sánchez has more than 25 years of professional experience, with 18 years’ Senior roles specialized in the Cash/Banknotes Industry.

He collaborated with highly regarded multinational corporations including Citigroup, De La Rue, G+D and Permaquim , working closely with Central Banks, Issuing Banks/Authorities, Commercial Banks, Cash in Transit as well as Casinos and Retailers.

Sergio has been leading teams in LatAm markets delivering tailored solutions including Single Note Inspection systems, High-Medium speed processing equipment, Cash Management Software and Cash Deposit-Recycler automation as well as Self-Service solutions to the Retail Industry.

He holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico City. He has a profund interest in diverse payment methods and focused on the payment industry trends like CBDC’s, openbanking, fintechs, digital payments etc.

Sergio is currently based in Mexico and his last assignment was in Santiago de Chile as Managing Director of Permaquim Chile SPA.

Jordan Taylor holds a degree in Philosophy as well as a Masters in Library and Information Science from the University of Southern California. Jordan provides support for a number of CR’s initiatives, but his main focus is research and editing for Central Bank Payments News (CBPN). He is based in Richmond, Virginia.