The Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) has unveiled a distinguished four-member independent judging panel for the second edition of the Digital Innovation Awards 2026.
The panel features leading regional and international figures spanning artificial intelligence, digital transformation, governance, and fintech.
Dr Khalid Ahmed Almutawah, deputy chief executive of operations and governance at the Information and eGovernment Authority, brings over two decades of expertise in enterprise architecture and data analytics.
He is joined by Dr Ana Barjasic, founder and chief executive of Connectology and former European Innovation Council board member, who brings extensive global venture capital and policy experience.
Rounding out the panel are Tey Bannerman, senior adviser to McKinsey and Company and co-author of The AI Revolution, and Prof Tek Yew Chia, senior adviser at Boston Consulting Group and adjunct professor at the National University of Singapore’s Asian Institute of Digital Finance, who boasts 30 years of strategic transformation experience across Asia and the Middle East.
Operating independently from the organising committee, the panel of judges will evaluate entries based on market relevance, problem-solving impact, execution quality, and measurable outcomes.
BAB chief executive officer Zeeba Askar highlighted that the high-profile panel underscores the credibility and rigour of the awards, noting that their combined strategic insight will ensure a rigorous assessment focused on delivering true market value.
Submissions will compete across three categories: Individual, SME, and Corporate.
Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on October 8, held as part of the Fintech Forward 2026 forum.
Hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board and supported by the Central Bank of Bahrain, BTEA, and Bahrain FinTech Bay, the two-day event will be programmed by Forbes Middle East.
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