Team
Meet the people behind Toroa
Ryan Johnson-Hunt - Founder & CEO
A seasoned consultant and thought leader, Ryan brings a unique blend of expertise in cutting-edge technologies and business acumen to the forefront of the digital securities space. As co-founder of Johnson & Hunt Consulting, Ryan has been instrumental in guiding organisations across various industries to navigate the transformative potential of blockchain, Web3, and the emerging Metaverse. He combines international business experience with postgraduate studies in Marketing, Management, and Finance. He founded Toroa with a vision to create a platform that catalyses economic growth, facilitates cross-border investments, and democratises access to capital for both established players and budding entrepreneurs. His entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with his keen eye for emerging trends, positions him well to steer the Toroa towards market leadership.
Tim Maclean - Legal and Compliance Advisor
Tim serves as Legal and Compliance Advisor at Toroa, where he leads the development and implementation of a global compliance framework. With a career grounded in financial services regulation—including tenure at New Zealand's FMA and the UK's FCA—Tim applies his regulatory knowledge and problem-solving skills to navigate complex legal and compliance issues. He ensures the company adapts to evolving regulations across multiple jurisdictions while fostering a culture of integrity and proactive risk management. By combining his expertise in legal frameworks, risk analysis, and stakeholder engagement, Tim ensures Toroa remains well-prepared to meet regulatory and operational challenges.
Will Remor - Product & Risk Advisor
Will is an experienced risk analytics and blockchain expert. He brings a unique blend of technical expertise, risk management, and regulatory knowledge to Toroa, making him the ideal partner for businesses looking to work in projects involving Stablecoins and the tokenisation of off-chain assets. Will's role is to bridge the gap between software engineering teams and business users, ensuring that the technical solutions delivered are aligned with the business goals and meet the regulatory requirements. With a strong focus on Stablecoin projects, Will has a deep understanding of the Ethereum and DeFi ecosystem and specialises in using data science and machine learning techniques to deliver high-value applications in these areas. His expertise includes applied finance, economics and smart contract security. Will is an active contributor to various working groups and industry associations shaping the regulatory environment for DeFi, Stablecoins and CBDCs, making him a valuable asset to Toroa. Whether it's through data analysis, predictive modelling, risk management or developing decentralised financial systems, Will has a proven track record of delivering impactful and innovative solutions to clients.
Dave Ananth - Strategic Advisor for Global Expansion
Dave Ananth brings over three decades of experience as a legal and taxation expert, complemented by a robust global network spanning ASEAN, Middle East, and beyond. His expertise has been instrumental in navigating complex regulatory landscapes and fostering international business collaborations. As Strategic Advisor for Global Expansion, Dave leverages his relationships with key stakeholders, including ambassadors, business associations, and investors, to accelerate Toroa's entry into emerging markets. His guidance helps shape the company's global footprint in tokenised securities and digital finance, ensuring compliance and fostering sustainable partnerships. Dave's dedication to driving innovation and connecting opportunity-rich markets with scalable capital solutions aligns seamlessly with Toroa's mission to revolutionise on-chain finance worldwide.
Danu Abeysuriya - Technical Advisor
Danu is CTO and the Founder of Rush Digital, one of New Zealand's most innovative and respected digital engineering studios. Danu has nearly two decades of experience as a technical innovator, entrepreneur, and leader in technology. Danu founded Rush Digital, in 2009 and the company boasts an enviable list of clients over the years, including Disney, Google, Microsoft, Nestlé, Heineken, Air New Zealand, the BBC, TVNZ, Fonterra, Samsung, Nokia and The Warehouse. Danu oversees the technological direction of RUSH, with the ultimate purpose of designing and building technology to better serve humankind. Personally, Danu is passionate about social equity, poverty alleviation and education. "We have a responsibility to use our developer privilege to change the world for the better."