Designing Trust and Innovation for the Future of Secure Documents

After having BSc degree in Chemical Engineering, Ahmet worked in defense and pharmaceutical industries. He pursued further education in Forensic Medicine at Medical School and Criminalistics at the NPA. He served in Counterfeit Analysis and R&D departments at Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye and currently, Ahmet is responsible for the Planning and Design department.

Gunnar achieved his Master of Fine Arts in 1979, becoming a Banknote Engraver in 1981.

During his career Gunnar has worked at Tumba Bruk (1981-1990) and Crane Currency (2007-2020). He has been freelancing 1990 - 2007 and from 2020, working on numerous projects for Tumba Bruk, Giori de la Rue, Crane Currency, De la Rue, KBA to name but a few.

Since 1979 also an active printmaking artist with several solo and joint exhibitions, intaglio developments, teaching and more. 

After completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California, Hervé worked in the US before moving back to Europe. Following his return to Europe, he worked as a Creative Director in different marketing teams in online companies.

After 16 years of working at Koenig & Bauer as a Security Designer, Head of Design, and Head of Central Bank Solutions, he joined Oberthur Fiduciaire to leverage his long design experience in promoting the group’s latest innovations and expertise.

Following an exchange at KTH – Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Aurélie completed her engineering degree in France at Grenoble INP-Pagora, the international engineering school specializing in paper, printed communication and biomaterials. She joined Oberthur Fiduciaire in 2020, initially working for one year within the Quality Department. Since 2021, she has been working as a Project Manager, overseeing projects and contributing to the development of innovative solutions within the group.

Svetlana Nekrasova is a Banknote Designer whose work explores the intersection of cultural storytelling, security technology, and visual identity. She approaches currency as one of the most widely experienced forms of public design, seeking to create banknotes that are both highly secure and deeply meaningful. By combining research into cultural heritage with contemporary design methods, she develops visual systems that foster trust while celebrating identity. Her work is guided by the belief that security features and aesthetic expression can strengthen one another, creating currency that is both resilient and memorable.

Svetlana has 22 years’ experience in coin and banknote security printing. She started her career at the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus and then proceeded to relocate to Malta to become a banknote designer at Crane Currency. In the last years, Svetlana has been the lead designer on projects such as Sudan and Fiji.

Felix Ehrtmann is an experienced Product Manager who is driving forward the product portfolio in G+D’s Banknote Solutions division. He has been active in the banknote and security printing industry for over 15 years and has a background in Printing and Media technology with a diploma from the University of Applied Sciences in Stuttgart, Germany. In his role, he collaborates with various internal and external stakeholders, with banknote design being one of his main areas of focus.

Juan Pablo Romo studied Graphic Design in Mexico City and Banknote Engraving at the Intaglio Engravers Academy in Urbino, Italy. Throughout 16 years working at Banco de México, he has engraved portraits and vignettes, designed and originated banknotes and security features, and performed adversarial analysis at different levels. As an engraver and as a Lead Designer, he has spent much of his time looking into the importance of design in the battle against counterfeiting.

Sara is a Senior Banknote Designer and Head of Banknote Design for Crane Currency. Sara has since 2012 been part of and led the work of many international banknote designs projects as new series and upgrades, including the Swedish, Mozambique, Denmark, Bolivia, Ghana and Tunisian banknote series. The new Aruba and Curaçao en Sint Maarten series on which Sara worked as Lead Designer, each include banknotes named by the IBNS as Bank Notes of Year, i.e., the 100 Forin (2019) and 200 Caribbean guilder (2025). Notably, the $5 polymer note of the new Fijian banknote series (2025), also designed under Sara’s leadership, claimed runner-up status. With her experience in artistic design and holistic view of the banknote design process, Sara is a frequent presenter of Crane Design Services to central banks worldwide via customer meetings, workshops, and international conferences.  Sara has a background in print design and art with a Master of Fine Arts degree from The Royal Institute of Fine Art in Stockholm. Sara will share her insights and experience on “Ensuring Quality and Security in Urgent Design Workstreams

Pascal Wicht is a strategic systems researcher and designer studying how societies adapt to technological, social and environmental transitions globally. A specialist in adoption and systemic change, his work examines the invisible architectures that shape trust, sovereignty and the circulation of value, with a particular focus on cash and its interactions with mobile money and fintech innovations, especially in the Global South.

In parallel to his international research and consulting work, he also teaches at the University of Lausanne and ECAL Art and Design School, where his courses connect strategic design, social sciences and future thinking to explore how infrastructure, economies and societies can evolve within planetary boundaries and strong social foundations.

Mohamed Abdelrahman Krory is the General Manager of Sudan Currency Printing Press Co. Ltd. With 25 years of experience in operations, security printing and strategic planning, he previously served as Commercial GM – Sudan Currency  before becoming General Manager of Sudan currency in March 2025. He holds a B.Sc. (Honours) in Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science from the University of Gezira, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Software Engineering, and a Diploma in Business Administration. A regular speaker and participant in over 45 international conferences and specialized workshops, Mr. Krory focuses on strategic leadership, process optimization, and organizational growth.

Phil Hodge is Principal Document Expert at Keesing Technologies, bringing over 24 years' experience in document security, authentication, and fraud prevention. A former Forensic Laboratory Lead, NDFU-trained document specialist, and holder of a Forensic Diploma in Document Examination from the University of Strathclyde, he advises on document design, security features, and identity verification. Phil has delivered training to government departments and international law enforcement agencies and contributed to the advancement of document verification technologies. Awarded a Queen's Honour for services to reducing UK fraud, his work has prevented millions in losses while strengthening document security and fraud detection capabilities.

Sound engineer and artistic director since 1993, she became a producer for her own classical music label in 2005 and gradually trained in video for its promotion. Curious and passionate, she continues her approach with graphic design, 3D modelling and FX. She therefore decided to change career and arrived at SURYS in 2018 as graphic studio manager. Along with her team, she designs customer security holograms, but she also actively collaborates with R&D and marketing and provides support to other units involved in secure components.

Ernesto González Candela, (PhD Physics), CEO and founder of UnderCurrency (2019), a company specialized in consulting and development services for the security document market niche. He has 25 years of experience on security documents and international recognised expertise in banknote technology, security and durability assessments. He has led the development of new technologies, devices and security features, some of which resulted in patents. He has focused on computer vision and AI algorithms applied to different aspects of banknotes, security documents and OVD’s. He recently partnered with Prof. Jane Raymond to establish PerceptNote®, a new technology for predicting and evaluating banknote perception.

Linking his studies in arts and philosophy, Adrian Heuberger-Lewerenz has been working as a concept designer since 2005. He played a key role in the team that designed the current Swiss banknotes. He joined Bundesdruckerei as a Senior Expert Currency Developer, where his work focuses on exploring the boundaries of existing forms of money through design and function. Drawing on his philosophical background, he places great importance on conveying a compelling and coherent story through images. He is the inventor of the world’s first black banknote – the EX NIHILO house note series, a cooperation project dedicated to foster innovation in the security printing industries.

Nicholas Eichberg is a Currency Developer and Security Designer at Bundesdruckerei. After studying Print and Media Engineering in Berlin, he joined the company in 2021, where he develops security documents by combining visual design with security technologies and production requirements. As Principal Designer and co-conceptor of the EX NIHILO house note series, he contributed to the development of a platform that explores new approaches to banknote design and innovation within the security printing industry. His work includes the integration of innovative security features, as well as the development of award-winning projects including IGNIS and STELLA. He particularly enjoys creating the overall identity of a project—from the first concept and visual language to the final product and its communication. He is especially interested in developing coherent design systems in which aesthetics, storytelling and security features work together as one.

Andy Macey is a Principal Banknote Designer with over 25 years design experience, all of them with De La Rue! For the first seven years, he worked at Portals paper-mill as a watermark artist. The combination of fine art portraiture and the technicalities of papermaking helped him to form a technical design mindset that has been the backbone of his career. In the following years, Andy has lead multiple banknote design projects and has been lucky enough to visit some wonderful parts of the world in the process. He feels very fortunate to work in such an amazing industry.

Security Designer and Software Application Specialist at Jura JSP GmbH, Beatrix combines expertise in high-security document design with a strong foundation in economics and finance. Her work focuses on the development and design of secure products, including passports, banknotes, and other security documents, while also contributing to software applications that support authentication and document protection technologies. Alongside her design responsibilities, she serves as a trainer for Jura software solutions, helping clients and partners maximize the use of advanced security technologies.

Kumiko is a Sales Representative with Komori Corporation's Security Press Business Group. She has been engaged in the international sales and promotion of security printing equipment, supporting customers across North America and Europe and her work focuses on developing solutions for banknote, passport, and secure document production.

Kumiko is currently leading Komori's House Passport project, an initiative designed to demonstrate the integration of advanced security printing technologies with secure document design. Through this work, she collaborates closely with experts from the global security printing and design community.

A student of Graphic-Design and Sculpture in Augsburg and Barcelona. He graduated in 1996 with a Diploma as a Graphic-Designer.

Marc worked in the advertising industry for several international advertising agencies in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Munich. With a focus on printed products, such as books, brochures, corporate designs, and advertising campaigns. For many years in the capacity of Creative Director with managerial responsibilities (team leader) and responsible for conceptual design and corporate publishing.

Currently Marc is the Head of the Design Department at G+D and is responsible for design-output, including security features and overall design. He has been leading the team at G+D since 2009. With many years’ experiences in passport-design, banknote design and ID-cards. He has been involved in more than 6 new banknote series for different countries worldwide and several passports. Responsible for relaunches of more than 5 single denominations in Asia and Africa and Middle East.

Achieving success with his team by winning multiple awards from 2017 to 2026 including “Best Regional Banknote of the Year 2018”,“2024 Best Banknote Feature Product or Process” and “2024 Best New Banknote Latin America. 2025 best new Commnote Asia and Latin America.

Jérôme Haldemann is a Security Documents Designer at Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, working on intricate visual compositions, anti-counterfeiting features, and software. Built on graphic design studies in Lausanne, a communication agency apprenticeship, and hands-on experience as an independent letterpress printer, he developed a strong appreciation for print craftsmanship. Today, Jérôme applies this multidisciplinary foundation to modern security printing technologies to help develop resilient secure documents and dedicated solutions.

Tom Baran is co-founder and CEO of Fathom Optics, an MIT spin-out leveraging high-performance computation to design, originate, and authenticate dynamic security features produced entirely in-print.  He holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT and specializes in translating complex optical physics into intuitive, robust, counterfeit-resistant features for secure documents

Kyle is a seasoned Motion Designer with two decades of expertise in crafting intricate technical graphics, spanning from 2D/3D animations to illustration, modeling, lighting, compositing, and creative guidance. His education near Disney-Pixar and mentorship from the studio shaped his career. Working in San Francisco and Seattle, he broadened his skills in art direction and communication, later teaching at universities. Now, Kyle thrives in the banknote security sector, mastering complex holographic and OVD features.

Nicole Lüscher is Product Manager Security Pre-Press Solutions at Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions SA, with more than 30 years of experience in the graphic and security printing industry. She began her career in 1991 as an offset printer in a small print shop, where she quickly took on business responsibility and developed its design and pre-press capabilities alongside her hands-on printing work. 

Moving to the supplier side in 2000, she gained experience in R&D, product management, sales, and customer support, including developing Computer-to-Plate solutions for banknote and security printing. 

Since 2008, she has focused on security pre-press and plate-making at Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions SA. 

Today, she is driven by the challenge of continuously improving what is possible with available technologies and equipment, while optimising the entire workflow from design to production

Tom Bates is a Junior Engraver and Illustrator from Hampshire, UK. Having trained at Kingston University London, attaining a BA in Illustration and Animation, Tom joined DeLaRue in 2022, beginning his journey into the world of banknote engraving, learning the tradition, craft, and subsequent developments in engraving. Tom continues the legacy of the age-old skill by learning to create engravings by hand and preserving the wealth of experience of his mentors, whilst looking to the future of the craft. Outside of work, Tom enjoys his own creative practice, producing illustrations, ceramics, and zines.

Colin Herbert Howell is an experienced senior designer with a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in the international trade and development sector, specialising in high-security document and currency design.

He spent ten years as a currency designer, creating banknote series for the Kenyan shilling, the Zambian kwacha, and Kazakhstan, as well as producing a contemporary design submission for the euro.

For the past twenty years, Colin has focused primarily on passport and national identity card design. He was the lead designer for the award-winning UK passport, Estonia’s e-passport (ePP), and the Kingdom of Bahrain’s passport books.

A highly accomplished arts and design professional, Colin has collaborated with central banks, governments, and security-printing organisations across more than 50 countries worldwide. His expertise combines innovative design with advanced security features, contributing to internationally recognised identity and currency projects

Siobhan Byrne works in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for over 30 years working in a variety of roles both in Ireland and Abroad.  Siobhan’s current role is that of Director of Reform in the Irish Passport Service, a service responsible for the issuance of both Passports and Foreign Birth Registration to Irish Citizens globally.

As Director, Siobhan is responsible for transformation of the Service, ensuring it remains innovative and responsive to the needs of Irish Citizens globally.   Maintaining the integrity of the Service is also a primary focus of her role with her most recent achievement being the recent launch of the new Irish Passport Book and Card.

Wil Byrne is Technical Director and founder of AG2, with almost 30 years’ experience in security design and the development of identity documents. A four-time international design award winner, Wil has served as lead designer on projects for countries such as Ireland, Tanzania, Nigeria and Honduras, combining creative vision with deep expertise in security features, print production and anti-counterfeiting technology.

Wil’s portfolio includes the award-winning Irish Passport Card and 2013 Irish Passport. Most recently, Wil played a central role in the creation of Ireland’s 2026 passport, a revolutionary design which combines a distinctly Irish visual identity with advanced security technology.

László Andrikó is a specialist in the field of high security printing and graphic design. Formerly he had been working for 23 years as a graphic designer, software specialist, trainer, and gaining expertise at a high security printing software developer and supplier company. Since 2021, he has been working as a Senior Secure Document Designer at ANY Security Printing Company PLC, strengthening the graphic design team by developing creative, high security, unique graphic arts solutions and leveraging his experience to advance the company’s document security initiatives. 

Linking his studies in arts and philosophy, Adrian Heuberger-Lewerenz has been working as a concept designer since 2005. He played a key role in the team that designed the current Swiss banknotes. He joined Bundesdruckerei as a Senior Expert Currency Developer, where his work focuses on exploring the boundaries of existing forms of money through design and function. Drawing on his philosophical background, he places great importance on conveying a compelling and coherent story through images. He is the inventor of the world’s first black banknote – the EX NIHILO house note series, a cooperation project dedicated to foster innovation in the security printing industries.

Urs is a designer with over 15 years of professional experience, specializing in the design of high-security documents and banknotes. Since 2012, he has been working at OVD Kinegram in the field of high-security design, contributing to the development and design of international banknote projects.

His work combines classical graphic design principles with advanced security and printing technologies. He focuses on creating visual concepts, security features, and innovative effects that are not only technically effective but also intuitive and visually compelling. Throughout his career, he has gained extensive experience working on international banknote projects and collaborating with clients and partners from around the world.

In addition to his work in the high-security industry, he has a strong interest in the intersection of design, technology, and interaction. He holds a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Interactive Design, which has broadened his perspective on digital media, user experience, and the development of integrated design solutions.

One of the topics that particularly fascinates him is how design influences the perceived value and authenticity of a security document. He believes that successful banknote design emerges where aesthetics, functionality, security, and intuitive perception come together.

As a designer, he combines extensive experience in banknote design with an interdisciplinary approach to graphic design, technology, and visual communication. He is particularly passionate about transforming complex technical requirements into clear, engaging, and visually impactful design solutions.

Lachlan McDonald is a Chemist and has over 29 years of international experience in banknote substrate and print. Over this time Lachlan has worked for Portals Ltd, De La Rue Currency and for the past 18 years, CCL Secure.

Since 2014 Lachlan has lived in Zurich and is currently on the EMEA regional management team responsible for CCL Secure’s technical support to Banknote printers, technology partners and Central Banks. This cover all areas from Banknote design, production and destruction and recycling.

Security Designer and Software Application Specialist at Jura JSP GmbH, Beatrix combines expertise in high-security document design with a strong foundation in economics and finance. Her work focuses on the development and design of secure products, including passports, banknotes, and other security documents, while also contributing to software applications that support authentication and document protection technologies. Alongside her design responsibilities, she serves as a trainer for Jura software solutions, helping clients and partners maximize the use of advanced security technologies.

Julia Dean is the Technology Director at Luminescence Sun Chemical Security, leading the organisation’s global R&D and technology teams in the development of advanced security inks and features. With over 25 years of experience in the banknote industry, she has played a central role in the innovation of printed security technologies used worldwide.

During her career she has contributed extensively to the research and development of security inks and printed features for banknotes and a wide range of secure documents. Her career has also spanned technology development within design functions and pre‑press operations in high‑security printing.

She is fascinated by both ink and colour and still finds the industry as interesting as when she first started.

Agata Wojciechowska graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Engineering at Lodz University of Technology. She has been working in the secure documents industry for nearly 20 years, focusing on the development of secure document solutions and security technologies. She currently serves as an R&D Manager, responsible for the development of secure documents and the implementation of new solutions in this field. She is a co-inventor of numerous patent applications and is actively involved in research and development projects related to document security.

Carlos Almenar Diaz is a Venezuelan-born French-Australian banknote designer, contemporary Op-artist, and journalist with three decades of global experience across the Central Bank of Venezuela, Oberthur Fiduciaire, and CCL Secure. Accredited in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1997, he is a leading expert in banknote polymer substrate design (GUARDIAN™ and SPARTAN™), having developed banknote designs and security features for over 90 circulating banknotes across 50 countries, as well as passports and coins. As a fine artist, his work includes public art installations in Melbourne and Shanghai, a custom Swatch collection showcased at World Expo Dubai 2020, and an artistic collaboration with fashion designer Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada.

Pg Maslina binti Pg Hj Mahmud is the Executive Director of Currency Management at Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB). She has over 27 years of leadership experience across banking, risk management, audit, and currency management.

Since joining BDCB in 2014, she has led Brunei Darussalam’s currency strategy and operations, overseeing the full currency lifecycle and spearheading the development of new banknote series and commemorative currency programmes. She is dedicated to advancing currency security, quality, and public confidence. She plays an active role in international collaboration with currency authorities, security printers, mints, and industry partners to drive innovation and promote best practices in currency design, production, and management.