Dr Stewart Southey

My journey into blockchain began in an entirely different world—Medicine. As a trained Anaesthesiologist, I spent years working in healthcare, where I saw firsthand the inefficiencies and structural limitations of the system. This inspired me to complete an MBA, and I immersed myself in Healthcare Management and Strategy Consulting with a focus on digital health and emerging technology transformation projects.
My curiosity about technology and its potential to improve these systems led me to explore blockchain. After watching a TED talk on the topic in 2016, I was inspired to seek further education, which led me to the University of Nicosia (UNIC)’s free MOOC. Completing the course convinced me that UNIC was the right path to follow, and I was thrilled to learn that Andreas Antonopoulos, whose YouTube videos I had frequently watched, would be teaching in the MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency program – an opportunity that ultimately led me to earn my MSc degree from UNIC in 2019.

One of my first major contributions in the space was helping to launch Medicalchain, a company pioneering blockchain-based electronic healthcare records. This experience reinforced my belief in blockchain’s ability to enhance transparency, security, and efficiency in healthcare. Later, I had the opportunity to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) on projects exploring blockchain’s role in post-market surveillance, ensuring drug safety and regulatory compliance.

Beyond healthcare, I have worked on a diverse range of blockchain projects, from pharmaceutical supply chains to real estate asset tokenisation, carbon offset trading, and DeFi applications. Tokenised renewable energy financing is another area I’ve focused on, leveraging blockchain to unlock new funding models for sustainable projects.

Throughout my career in blockchain, I have also dedicated myself to research and education. I have published extensively on blockchain in healthcare and the broader implications of distributed ledger technology in regulated industries. Recognising the need for structured, high-quality advisory support, I founded Catena MBA, a company specialising in blockchain consulting and education. The goal is to equip businesses and professionals with the knowledge to build sustainable, compliant, and effective blockchain ecosystems.

The educational experience with the MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency from UNIC was superb and gave me the opportunity to interact with a fascinating group of highly motivated and educated students and learn from some of the best leaders in the field. It was an incredibly valuable experience, and I am truly grateful for the opportunities it has enabled.

For me, blockchain is not just a financial tool—it is a foundational technology that intersects with industries in profound ways. My work continues to focus on bridging the gap between traditional sectors and emerging digital models, ensuring that blockchain’s integration is not only innovative but also practical and impactful. The success of blockchain projects relies on robust business use cases that solve problems unsolved by Web2 infrastructure. The design of sustainable tokenomics models is a critical component of this, and Catena MBA is focused on helping founders get this right.

I would absolutely recommend the MSc in Blockchain and Digital Currency program to everyone! Not only is the educational content of high quality, and the instructors very knowledgeable and approachable, but the cohort of students also makes it an incredibly edifying experience. Unlike other master’s programs where students are in their early 20s, most of my fellow students were already senior in their respective industries. Their perspectives on blockchain through the lens of law, finance, engineering and some other industries provided me with insights I would not have gained otherwise.