Bryan Stirewalt

Executive Advisor

Grant Thornton

Bryan Stirewalt has nearly 40 years of experience in financial services across the public and private sectors—including more than 25 years of international experience in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He is a board member of the Astana Financial Services Authority, the regulator of the Astana International Financial Center as well as an independent director for financial services companies in the UAE. Bryan is also a special advisor on public policy issues in the financial services industry for Grant Thornton. He is a frequent public speaker on future finance topics such as Fintech, artificial intelligence, financial crime, market conduct risks, and prudential risks. Prior to these roles, Bryan spent more than 14 years at the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), including nearly four years as Chief Executive. As Chief Executive, he was responsible for the regulation and supervision of more than five hundred authorized firms operating in the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). Bryan led the DFSA as the organization developed its approach to new and innovative financial sector entrants and new financial products such as digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and directed the DFSA’s efforts in consistency with international standards, including those related to combating money laundering and terrorist finance. Bryan is an active member of the Global Coalition to Fight Financial Crime and the MENA Fintech Association. He is also working closely with a group of current and former regulators to highlight the role that culture plays in both the public and private sectors. Bryan previously served as the co-chair of the Basel Consultative Group for 10 years, representing non-member countries at the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. Prior to his roles in the UAE, he was an advisor on emerging market development programs in Poland, Ukraine, Cyprus, and Kazakhstan. Bryan started his career at the U.S. Treasury's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as a national bank examiner specializing in policy development and implementation, problem bank rehabilitation, and banking fraud initiatives.