The council will advise the FinTech on global trade, AI adoption, and financial infrastructure as Airwallex expands support for businesses operating across international markets.
The council brings together distinguished leaders with extensive experience across finance, government, and economic policy. „They will challenge our thinking, deepen our engagement with policymakers and business leaders across the markets we serve, and ensure that the conversations shaping the future of global trade and economic productivity – especially for small and mid-size businesses – is one to which we are actively contributing.” – says Jack Zhang Co-founder and CEO of Airwallex.
Members of the Council
. Senator Roy Blunt – Former U.S. Senator, Missouri | Former Chair, Senate Republican Policy Committee | Member, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
. Morgan Ortagus – Former Deputy Presidential Envoy to the Middle East | Former U.S. State Department Spokesperson | Former U.S. Treasury Intelligence Analyst | Deputy U.S. Treasury Attaché, Riyadh | Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Reserve
. Stephen Cutler – Former General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase | Former Director, SEC Division of Enforcement | Former Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
. The Hon. Josh Frydenberg – Former Treasurer of Australia (2018–2022)
Jack Zhang explains the Council’s goal: „We are growing in the United States, Europe, Canada, and other major markets with a clear purpose: to give businesses of every size access to the financial infrastructure that was once reserved for large corporations. A founder in Melbourne, Missoula, or Mexico City should be able to move money, pay suppliers, and collect revenue around the world as easily as a Fortune 500 company. We make that possible and we do so responsibly, to the highest standards of compliance, security, and institutional integrity.„
AI is accelerating everything. The convergence of new payment rails, digital infrastructure, and AI-native tools is reshaping what is possible for small and mid-size businesses faster than at any point in our history. These are the businesses where most jobs are created and where the gap between what is theoretically possible and what is practically accessible has historically been widest.
„Closing that gap — for businesses in every market we enter — is the opportunity we are building toward. We have spent a decade doing the work that makes this possible, with 85+ licenses across some of the world’s most demanding markets, building close relationships with regulators on every continent, and assembling a team with the expertise to deliver financial infrastructure that is both powerful and secure. We look forward to announcing additional members as our work together develops.” – Jack Zhang adds.
A priority for the council will be to share unique insights and reports into how businesses of every size are actually growing and adopting AI, and giving policymakers a ground-level view of the global economy that few platforms can offer.
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From a coffee shop, into a global multi-billion dollar business
In 2015, Jack Zhang and three fellow entrepreneurs launched a coffee shop in Melbourne as a laboratory to test and learn around rising global trends in retail. By the end of 2018, Airwallex was handling billions of dollars in transactions and raised a further US$80 million to support a valuation of US$450 million.
In 2025, Airwallex entered a new phase of growth. A Series G fundraise pushed the company’s valuation to US$8 billion, while continued global expansion and our 200,000+ customers helped the business surpass US$1 billion in annual recurring revenue.
Banking 4.0 – „how was the experience for you”
„To be honest I think that Sinaia, your conference, is much better then Davos.”
Many more interesting quotes in the video below:
