Conference Programme

The year so far has been anything but dull. It has been marked by a whirlwind of events, heightened uncertainty, and significant market choppiness. In this session, Edward Lee, will share insights into key global and regional trends and emerging risks that may shape the road in the months ahead.

The world as we know it is changing rapidly as new tariffs, sanctions, and geopolitical risks disrupt trade flows and corridors between East and West. This session assesses the impact of these disruptions to trade, identifies emerging opportunities in the Global South, and outlines the crucial role of Singapore as a global trade hub.

• Robert Besseling, Chief Executive Officer, Pangea-Risk

Robert Besseling

Chief Executive OfficerPangea-Risk

Robert is the chief executive officer and founder of Pangea-Risk. At Pangea-Risk, Robert oversees all areas of the business and leads a team of partners, researchers, and contributing analysts to produce actionable forecasts on country risk in emerging markets across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Robert also retains the lead on strategic advisory projects for blue chip corporations in a range of sectors.

Robert founded Pangea-Risk in 2015 after pursuing a career in political risk forecasting at industry-leading firms in the UK and US. He is regularly invited to speak at major international conferences on topics such as metals and mining, trade and export finance, and global security matters.

Robert frequently appears on televised media and contributes to international print media.

He is fluent in English, Dutch, and French.

• Sabine Koszteczky, Head of Trade Finance and Executive Director, Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI)

Sabine Koszteczky

Head of Trade Finance and Executive DirectorRaiffeisen Bank International (RBI)

Sabine Koszteczky brings over two decades of experience in the banking industry, having started her career in the late 1990s. Since 2001, she has been a key figure at Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) Group, where she spent 15 years in management positions, leading initiatives to enhance customer satisfaction and drive product innovation.

In her current role as Head of Trade Finance at RBI, she has developed extensive expertise in the secondary market business, recognizing its growing importance and potential for banks in the trade finance sector.

Sabine is known for her strategic mindset, collaborative leadership, and commitment to delivering value-driven solutions. She holds a degree from the University of Economics in Vienna and earned an MBA in Banking & Finance from the same institution in 2010. Her career reflects a strong focus on innovation, teamwork, and creating products that respond to the evolving needs of clients in a dynamic market.

• Cecilia Sharma, Head of Trade, Singapore, BBVA

Cecilia Sharma

Head of Trade, SingaporeBBVA

Cecilia has more than 20 years of work experience in the banking industry.

She has worked in various banks across her tenure – both large international as well as regional banks.

Her career in banking spans both relationship management and transaction banking.  She has managed large teams of people across multiple countries and driven business development and profit centre initiatives. Her experience spans a deep knowledge in relationship management, cash management and trade finance, as well as in sales, product commercialization and implementation, across multinational and multi-jurisdictional corporate transactions as well as corporate lending across multinationals, the international commodity traders and  middle-market lending.

During her career, she has delivered training on a range of topics including selling skills, graduate programs, as well as product-specific training.

• Pankaj Mundra, Co-founder & Chairman, 360tf

Pankaj Mundra

Co-founder & Chairman360tf

CA Pankaj Mundra is the Co-Founder & Chairman of 360tf, a fintech platform revolutionising global trade finance with a financing arm, 360tf Capital, regulated under IFSCA in GIFT City, Gujarat. With 21+ years in investment and consumer banking, he has led cross-border financing initiatives through Nimai, which he founded in 2009. Previously, he held leadership roles at ICICI Housing Finance, Standard Chartered, ABN Amro, and Mashreq Bank.

A thought leader, Pankaj has spoken at 50+ global conferences on trade finance, branding, and cross-border trade. He has served on key industry committees, including ICC UAE and BAFT, and was Chairman of ICAI Dubai Chapter (2016-17).

Under his leadership, 360tf has won multiple awards, including Best Startup in Finance/Fintech (2024, Economic Times). Featured in CA (Class Apart) Makers of World Economy, he believes in the power of positive thoughts and swift action.

• Sinan Ozcan, Senior Executive Officer & Board Director, DP World Trade Finance

Sinan Ozcan

Senior Executive Officer & Board DirectorDP World Trade Finance

Sinan has 25 years of executive experience across banking, financial services, and logistics, with a focus on trade and structured finance, supply chain finance, and business development.

He joined DP World in 2021, where he founded and leads DP World Trade Finance as Senior Executive Officer and Board Director. Previously, he launched Maersk Trade Finance in the UAE, serving as SEO, Board Director, and Regional Head for the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East & Africa. Sinan also served as Regional Director for UK Export Finance, expanding its presence across Europe, MENA, and Central Asia. Earlier roles include leading Trade Finance at CNH Industrial for Africa-Middle East and Asia-Pacific and serving as Auditor at VakifBank.

He holds an MBA from Philadelphia University and a Master’s in Banking & Entrepreneurship from Venice and Udine Universities. Fluent in five languages, he has lived and worked in Turkey, the USA, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, and the UAE.

Industry leaders take the stage to unpack the major shifts redefining trade finance, from regulatory shake-ups to breakthrough technology. Expect sharp insights and real-world strategies as banks, insurers and fintechs navigate new realities and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

• Natasha Condon, Global Head of Trade Sales, J.P. Morgan

Natasha Condon

Global Head of Trade SalesJ.P. Morgan

Natasha is the Global Head of Trade Sales and EMEA Trade Region Head within Payments at JPMorgan Chase. She has 19 years of experience across trade finance and working capital solutions for both corporate and financial institutions. Her global team provide strategic working capital advisory, risk mitigation, sales growth, and digital efficiencies for the top multinationals in the world.

She was recognized for her ESG advisory work in trade finance by Innovate Finance in the Women in Fintech Powerlist 2021 and was awarded the 2022 Social Impact award by Women in Payments. She was until recently the Co-Chair of the Bi+ Council, a global JPM-wide employee organization, and is active in JPM’s business resource groups for women and for underrepresented minorities.

Prior to her current role Natasha was the Global Head of Core Trade for JP Morgan, in which capacity she ran all documentary trade products for the business. She served as Board Observer for JP Morgan on the board of fintech Taulia from 2020-22. Natasha joined the firm from Citi, where she was Global Trade Sales Head and a member of the Global Trade Management Committee.

Natasha holds a Master of Arts from Oxford University where she studied Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE).

• Thierry Hebraud, Chief Executive Officer, Mauritius Commerial Bank (MCB)

Thierry Hebraud

Chief Executive OfficerMauritius Commerial Bank (MCB)

Thierry joined MCB in October 2019 as Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB). Prior to joining the Bank, he has accumulated extensive experience in Corporate and Investment Banking over the last 35 years, holding leading positions within Crédit Agricole Group in Eastern and Central Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Thierry has a solid track record in managing large teams and senior bankers in a multicultural environment. He was appointed CEO designate of MCB Ltd on 24 May 2023, before taking charge as CEO on 1 January 2024.

• Surath Sengupta, Managing Director, Head of Trade & Working Capital, Lloyds Bank

Surath Sengupta

Managing Director, Head of Trade & Working CapitalLloyds Bank

Surath is a strategic and focused banking leader with over 25 years of experience, having held senior positions across the globe most notably in India, Hong Kong and London. Currently he leads Innovation and Transformation for Working Capital and Trade at Lloyds Banking Group. Prior to this, he was on the global board of HSBC’s Trade and Receivables Finance business. Surath is the Vice-Chair of the International Chambers of Commerce Banking Commission and is regularly represented in numerous publications both print and across social media.

• Patrik Zekkar, Chief Executive Officer, Enigio

Patrik Zekkar

Chief Executive OfficerEnigio

Patrik Zekkar is CEO of Enigio — the company behind trace:original, the only open network for digital trade, allowing original electronic trade documents to be sent to anyone, anywhere. Patrik holds an M.Sc. in Business Administration & Economics and brings more than 20 years of experience in global transaction banking, trade, and fintech. He has held senior leadership roles at Nordea, SEB, and DanskeBank, including Global Head of Trade Finance & Working Capital Management, Head of Supply Chain Finance, and Vice President of Nordea’s Singapore branch. In addition to his executive roles, he has served on the board of the blockchain trade platform we.trade and contributed to several industry initiatives advancing digital trade infrastructure.

• Anand Jha, Managing Director and Global Head Financial Institutions & Regional Head, Trade & Lending Middle East & Africa, Deutsche Bank

Anand Jha

Managing Director and Global Head Financial Institutions & Regional Head, Trade & Lending Middle East & AfricaDeutsche Bank

Anand Jha is a Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Institutions & Regional Head Trade & Lending Middle East & Africa at Deutsche Bank since October 2019. Mr. Jha has more than 20 years of banking experience working with renowned organizations such as Citi, HSBC and ICICI. Mr. Jha has a Masters in International Business, IIFT.

 

 

This session explores the role of non-bank investors in trade finance, focusing on ITFA’s ITFIE initiative, which connects institutional capital with trade finance assets. Panellists will examine key opportunities, risks and regulatory considerations, providing insights into collaboration between banks, insurers and fintechs to drive innovation and growth in trade finance.

• Thomas Dunn, Chairman, Orbian Management Ltd

Thomas Dunn

ChairmanOrbian Management Ltd

Thomas Dunn is a seasoned financial executive with over two decades of global experience. He spent 16 years at JPMorgan, holding senior roles in London, Melbourne, Sydney, and Tokyo, ultimately becoming Managing Director and Head of Credit.

In 2004, Tom founded Raglan Capital, an investment firm specializing in opportunities within the Payments and Credit industries. His expertise has been instrumental in guiding the firm’s growth and success.

Since 2007, Tom has also served as Chairman at Orbian, a leading provider of supply chain finance solutions. His leadership has helped drive Orbian’s position in the market, supporting businesses with innovative financial solutions.

• Deesha Doshi, Head of Lenders Solutions Team, APAC, WTW

Deesha Doshi

Head of Lenders Solutions Team, APACWTW

Deesha has over 23 years of banking and broking experience covering Debt Markets, Corporate and Institutional banking, Trade Finance and most recently in Credit and Political Risk Insurance.

She currently Heads the Lenders Solutions Team for WTW across APAC, based in Singapore.

Deesha started her career in 2002 in ABN AMRO’s retail banking division, then with JP Morgan’s Derivatives desk in London and Mumbai. She then moved on to Westpac where she spent 15 years across various teams and geographies. She was instrumental in setting up the bank’s Mumbai branch, India Trade Finance business before moving onto a decade long stint in the Loans Syndications team in Singapore. She is a senior specialist in originating and structuring debt solutions for clients across all sectors in Asia and Europe and distribution of loans in the Asia-Pacific region. With her elaborate banking network, she now advices Financial Institutions on adoption of credit risk distribution solutions through insurance.

She is enthusiastic about supporting customers and has passionately grown the businesses she led throughout her career.

She has previously Chaired the APLMA Women in Loan Markets (WILMA) and the APLMA Young Leaders for the Singapore Branch.

Deesha has a double masters’ degree in Management Studies and in Commerce, both from Mumbai University.

• Nishit Kumar, Head Loan Syndications & Distribution, Mashreq

Nishit Kumar

Head Loan Syndications & DistributionMashreq

Nishit has around 23 years of experience in banking and financial services across MENA, India, North America, Europe & Africa, with a primary focus on loan syndication, structured & acquisition finance and trade assets distribution. Nishit has worked in multiple markets including India, Middle East & USA. Prior to joining Mashreq in 2015, he has handled senior level roles in Standard Chartered and ICICI Bank. He has closed numerous transactions for clients, raising over USD 100bn in the public and private markets, across multiple sectors, including Sovereigns, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Shipping, Trading, GREs amongst others

Nishit is a mechanical engineer from IIT Kharagpur, India, and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, India.

• Nicolas Langlois, Managing Director, Global Head of Trade Distribution, Syndicate & Financing Risk, Standard Chartered

Nicolas Langlois

Managing Director, Global Head of Trade Distribution, Syndicate & Financing RiskStandard Chartered

Nicolas Langlois is a Managing Director, Global Head of Trade Distribution, based in Singapore.  Since July 2015, he looks after all Trade Distribution channels globally for Standard Chartered Bank including Trade Asset Sales and Syndications, Programs, Trade Credit Insurance and Trade Securitisations.

Nicolas started his career in audit with Arthur Andersen in Paris and worked for American Express where he held several roles in finance and business planning in Paris, Hong Kong and Singapore, prior to joining Standard Chartered Bank as CFO for Transaction Banking.

As ESG evolves in response to shifting global sentiment, the market must adopt more meaningful, compliant and cost-efficient approaches. This session explores ITFA’s focus on Social Return on Investment (SROI) – a transformative framework that quantifies social, environmental and economic impact beyond traditional balance sheets. Panellists will discuss how SROI can enhance financial decision-making, drive inclusivity and create real value for investors and stakeholders.

• Sean Edwards, Chairman, ITFA

Sean Edwards

ChairmanITFA

Sean Edwards is a Special Adviser to the Trade Finance Department and in the Trade Innovation Unit at SMBC Bank International plc, part of the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. Sean is Chairman of ITFA. He helped draft the Uniform Rules for Forfaiting (URF) and the Standard Definitions for Techniques of Supply Chain Finance published by ITFA, ICC, FCI, BAFT and the EBA.

He is a former member of the Executive Committee of the ICC Banking Commission and the ICC Working Group on Digitalisation in Trade Finance. Sean is a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Finance Expert Group, and he is a non-executive director of KomGo S.A.

Sean has written for all the major trade finance magazines and is on the editorial board of Global Trade Review (GTR). He has presented at many conferences.

• Rebecca Harding, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Economic Security

Rebecca Harding

Chief Executive OfficerCentre for Economic Security

Dr. Rebecca Harding is CEO of the Centre for Economic Security and an independent trade economist, public speaker, and author. She specialises in digital and sustainable trade, supply chain finance, and the intersection of geoeconomics and geopolitics. She is a member of the Alphen Group and serves as Chief Economic Adviser to the Defence Security and Resilience Bank, among other senior advisory roles.

Her strategic advisory firm, Rebeccanomics, focuses on international trade and sustainable trade finance. She has built three data-driven technology businesses and was named “Net Zero Entrepreneur of the Year” at the 2022 Scale Up Group’s Enterprise Awards.

Dr. Harding has held senior roles including Chief Economist at UK Finance and the Work Foundation, a Senior Fellow at London Business School, and Head of Corporate Research at Deloitte. She has advised the Treasury Select Committee, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Entrepreneurship, and served as a Trustee of the German British Forum.

This session, aligned with ITFA’s TF COP initiative, will outline the next steps in closing the US$2.5tn trade finance gap, building on the momentum from last year’s inaugural summit in Washington, DC. With commitments in place to halve the gap by 2030 and eliminate it by 2040, the discussion will focus on how banks, DFIs, insurers and fintechs can turn strategy into action.

• Steven Beck, Director, Trade and Supply Chain Finance, Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Steven Beck

Director, Trade and Supply Chain FinanceAsian Development Bank (ADB)

Steven Beck is head of the Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which delivers guarantees and loans in support of over 10,000 transactions a year worth about US $5 billion annually. Steven has 25 years’ experience in international trade and has led the program’s growth and launched multiple initiatives to make trade and supply chains green, inclusive, resilient, transparent, and socially responsible.

Steven established the first global default and loss data in trade financing, originally called the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)—ADB Trade Finance Register, during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007- 2008. This has influenced the regulatory treatment of trade finance, freeing billions of dollars in additional financing capacity as a result.

Steven launched ADB’s Trade Finance Gaps, Growth and Jobs study: the first and only study to estimate market gaps and unmet demand for trade finance, which currently stands at US $2.5 trillion. It is the world’s barometer on global trade finance gaps and highlighted the imperative to address this market failure to create transformative economic benefits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Steven led the TSCFP as an effective crisis response vehicle, facilitating over 1,400 transactions worth US $1 billion in the food and agriculture sector and supporting the distribution of vital medicines and vaccines across Asia.

Steven has been an advocate for the digitalization of global trade, creating the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) in partnership with the Government of Singapore and the International Chamber of Commerce. Beyond the DSI, Steven is driving initiatives seeking to track and report carbon and labour standards in supply chains; address trade-based money laundering; narrow financing gaps for smaller companies; and enhance greater participation of women in trade.

He serves on the Governing Board of the DSI, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Working Group for Trade Finance. Steven is also a member of the Advisory Council of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and its International Sustainable Standards Board (ISSB) Foundation.

Early in his career, Steven was a special assistant to the Canadian minister for international trade and as a senior manager at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). He left CIBC to help start up a new multilateral development bank – the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) – which focused on economic development in Türkiye, Russia, and countries of the former Soviet Union. Following BSTDB, he took up roles as a senior consultant, including work with the United States Agency for International Development in southern Africa.

He holds an M.A. from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, USA and a B.A. from Queen’s University, Canada.

• Nathalie Louat, Global Director, Trade and Supply Chain Finance, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Nathalie Louat

Global Director, Trade and Supply Chain FinanceInternational Finance Corporation (IFC)

Nathalie Louat is IFC’s Global Director of Trade & Supply Chain Finance, overseeing programs that address the trade finance gap in emerging markets, with a focus on SMEs, women-owned businesses, and climate-smart transactions.

She has held senior leadership roles at IFC, including Global Senior Manager for Innovation, Capital Markets, Insurance, and Distressed Assets, and previously led Portfolio Operations in East Asia and the Pacific. Before IFC, she worked at Credit Lyonnais Investment Banking and the French Ministry of Finance.

A champion of gender equality, Nathalie launched the Women in Trade Network in 2024 to connect female trade finance leaders and improve access for women in emerging markets. She also served on IFC’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee and received the World Bank Group’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award. Nathalie holds a degree from the French School of Statistics and Economics and is a certified actuary from the Paris Institute of Actuarial Studies.

• George Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Asset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARM HoldCo)

George Wilson

Chief Executive OfficerAsset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARM HoldCo)

George is the CEO of the ARM Africa Trade Finance fund, a new alternative investment vehicle focused on the continent. His career began as a Common Law Barrister in London, followed by senior legal and compliance roles in investment banking with CSFB and BarCap. 

Transitioning to emerging markets banking, George managed regulatory aspects of Barclays’ Absa acquisition in South Africa before moving to Asia for credit trading, structuring, and special situations with UBS, Lehman Brothers, and Nomura, where he co-managed the largest Asian Collateralized Loan Obligation at the time. 

Returning to Africa, he led Institutional Trade Finance divisions at Barclays Africa (then Absa) and subsequently at Investec South Africa, where he initiated their Trade Finance offering. George specializes in developing innovative, short-term trade financing solutions for African Financial Institutions, specifically targeting the SME funding gap, hard currency liquidity constraints, and regulatory capital challenges through DFI partnerships and advanced credit risk mitigation techniques. 

• Gwen Mwaba, Managing Director Trade Finance & Correspondent Banking, Afreximbank

Gwen Mwaba

Managing Director Trade Finance & Correspondent BankingAfreximbank

Gwen Mwaba joined Afreximbank in May 2015 and currently serves as Managing Director, Trade Finance & Correspondent Banking. She leads the Bank’s Trade Finance operations across all member states in Africa.

With 26 years of banking experience, Gwen specializes in Receivables Financing, Pre-export and Pre-payment financing, Structured Trade and Commodity Finance, and lending to Financial Institutions and Sovereigns. Her sector expertise spans Oil & Gas, Telecoms, Hospitality, Mining, Health, Manufacturing, and Agri-business.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, she led the technical coordination team of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Trust, structured the financing, and co-led negotiations with vaccine manufacturers.

Gwen is also a member of the ITFA Multilaterals Advisory Panel. Prior to Afreximbank, she worked at Standard Bank Plc in London.

She holds a BSc in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, an MBA from Edinburgh Business School, and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), UK.

The short-listed Emerging Leaders present their project ideas.

• Aziz Kakhkharov, Efcom GmbH
• Sanjana Gulwaney, Allianz Trade
• Alena Malgina, Société Générale

Join leaders of innovation and transformation from banks, insurers and fintechs as they unpack how trade finance is evolving – through smarter products, automation, AI and data-led initiatives. From tackling financial crime to streamlining operations, this session spotlights the tech and strategies reshaping the future of trade.

• Neil Shonhard, Chief Executive Officer, MonetaGo

Neil Shonhard

Chief Executive OfficerMonetaGo

Neil Shonhard is CEO of MonetaGo, a global fintech delivering fraud prevention solutions for trade finance and beyond. With over two decades of capital markets experience in London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, Neil now leads MonetaGo’s global strategy from Singapore, driving its continued growth and international expansion.

 

 

• Savady Yem, Chief Executive Officer, Olea Global Market

Savady Yem

Chief Executive OfficerOlea Global Market

Savady Yem is Chief Executive Officer of Olea Global Markets, Olea’s Capital Market Licensed entity in Singapore. 

Prior to Olea, Savady had spent over 30 years in global markets with JPMorgan, Credit Suisse and Standard Chartered across Europe and Asia, with a specialization in FICC structuring and structured credit distribution to institutional investors. 

At Olea, Savady leads the development and execution of digital trade and supply chain finance solutions, building partnerships with banks, financial sponsors, asset managers, and platforms to drive global growth and impact. 

Savady received his MBA degree from the University of Ottawa and a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from ESLSCA Paris. 

• Pamela Mar, Managing Director, Digital Standards Initiative, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

Pamela Mar

Managing DirectorDigital Standards Initiative, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)Singapore

Pamela Mar is the Managing Director of the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), based in Singapore.

The DSI is a public private partnership backed by the ICC, the Singapore government, Asian Development Bank, World Trade Organization and World Customs Organization, that aims to digitalise global trade by harmonising and digitalising supply chain standards, and by building digital readiness across the global trade ecosystem.

She was previously the Executive Vice President – Knowledge and Applications at the Fung Group, a Hong Kong based multinational supply chain manager.  She brings over 20 years of experience working across global supply chains and industry on sustainability, technology, and global policy issues — having held roles based in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Geneva.

Ms Mar was named in the Eco-Business Sustainability A-List in 2019 and has published and spoken widely on corporate sustainability and supply-chain issues.

ITFA’s fintech initiatives, including the DNI and TFD, have driven major progress in trade finance digitalisation – but what gaps remain? This session explores where further innovation is needed, from interoperability to regulatory challenges, and how market participants can join ITFA’s efforts to accelerate adoption. Experts will discuss the next phase of fintech’s role in trade finance and how collaboration can drive real momentum.

• George Fong, Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance APAC, Bank of America

George Fong

Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance APACBank of America

George Fong is currently the Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance, Asia Pacific for Global Payments Solutions at Bank of America. He is responsible for end-to-end management of all trade and supply chain finance products in Asia Pacific.

He is also responsible for the Supply Chain Finance Program Management and trade distribution functions in the region. George joined Bank of America in 2024 and prior to joining the bank, he has over 30 years of banking experience in various global and regional trade finance roles.

He has worked in several financial institutions including JPMorgan, Citibank, GE Capital and Deutsche Bank spanning Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany.

• Mark Douglas, Managing Director, Funding, PrimeRevenue

Mark Douglas

Managing Director, FundingPrimeRevenue

A former professional rugby player, Mark Douglas brings a unique combination of leadership, commercial acumen, and relationship management to his role as Managing Director, Funding at PrimeRevenue. In this position, Mark leads the company’s funding strategy and execution across EMEA and beyond, working closely with global financial institutions to support PrimeRevenue’s scalable, multi-funder platform.

Mark previously served as Managing Director, Strategic Accounts, where he was responsible for driving customer growth and deepening relationships across key markets in Europe. His strong track record in both funding and client engagement makes him a key contributor to PrimeRevenue’s global expansion and innovation efforts.

Before joining PrimeRevenue, Mark was Head of Corporate Treasury Sales at Investec Bank PLC, where he built a leading treasury offering for the UK mid-market over an 8-year period. Earlier in his career, he held roles at Anglo Irish Bank and Ruesch International (now part of Travelex), developing his expertise in treasury and FX.

Mark holds a degree in International Relations from The Nottingham Trent University.

• Asif Dad, Senior Director, Distribution, Taulia

Asif Dad

Senior Director, DistributionTaulia

Asif is responsible for expanding Taulia’s distribution channels across banks and non-banks in EMEA. Asif has worked within working capital optimisation for over 10 years with experience gained at various organisations.

 

 

 

• Anthony Wadsworth-Hill, Co-founder, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Mercore

Anthony Wadsworth-Hill

Co-founder, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating OfficerMercore

Anthony is one of the co-founders at Mercore and holds the executive roles of Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer.

Mercore Group has 2 main business lines. As a non-bank/alternative lender, Mercore Capital specialises in the provision of trade and supply chain finance to SMEs and customers transacting in (or with) developing/emerging markets.

This financing activity runs alongside Mercore’s second business line, which is the provision of anti-financial crime and due diligence services. Through a combination of these business divisions, Mercore is delivering financing solutions to aspiring businesses that find themselves caught within the global trade finance gap.

Anthony’s main responsibility is to lead the build out of Mercore’s trade and supply chain finance capabilities. Delivering a strategy to leverage digital solutions, wherever possible, to provide a service that is faster and less costly, whilst also being more operationally resilient and sustainable.

Prior to Mercore, Anthony spent 18 years at Bank ABC in London working in various leadership roles, including Regional Director for MENA FI Trade Debt & Distribution, Co-Head of the European Syndicated Loans Desk, European Head of Wholesale Banking Business Management and European Head of Transformation & Specialised Services.

Navigating trade finance documentation can be complex, but ITFA’s standardised templates are streamlining the process. This session will provide an overview of key templates, including the Master Account Receivables Assignment Agreement (MARA), the Short-Term SWIFT FI Trade Loan, and the Unfunded MPA. Learn how these frameworks can enhance efficiency, reduce legal complexities and drive consistency in trade finance transactions. The session will be a chance to discuss ITFA’s future  involvement in other templates.

• Paul Coles, Director, Treasury, Orbian Management Ltd and Board Member - Head of Market Practice, ITFA

Paul Coles

Director, Treasury, Orbian Management Ltd and Board Member - Head of Market PracticeITFA

Paul Coles has a specific focus on managing, developing and adding to Orbian’s funding relationships for its supply chain finance programmes.

Prior to joining Orbian, Paul was responsible for overseeing the transactional distribution activity that supported HSBC’s Global Trade and Receivables Finance business. He has also been the global coordinator and EMEA head for trade risk distribution at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and previously the trade asset management regional head at RBS NV (part of the legacy ABN AMRO network, where he was in the London-based trade credit distribution team). He started his career in trade finance over 25 years ago at London Forfaiting Company, where he held a variety of roles.

Paul has a BSc in Management Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London and is a member of the Board of the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA), where he currently chairs the Market Practice Committee.

• Geoffrey Wynne, Partner, Sullivan & Worcester LLP

Geoffrey Wynne

PartnerSullivan & Worcester LLP

Geoffrey Wynne is a partner and head of Sullivan & Worcester’s London office and its Trade and Export Finance Group.

A leading trade finance lawyer, he specialises in trade, structured trade and commodity finance, advising major banks, non-bank financial institutions and multilaterals on transactions in emerging markets. His expertise includes warehouse financing, collateral management, ownership structures and receivables financing.

Geoff works with industry bodies including BAFT, ITFA, and the ICC, advising them on documentation and rules promulgated by them in trade finance. He recently worked with an ITFA working group to develop the short term SWIFT FI Trade Loan Template and led the Sullivan team documenting the revised BAFT MTLA (Master Trade Loan Agreement). He also co-chaired the ICC Drafting Committee for the Uniform Rules for Digital Trade Transactions (URDTT) and was involved in the Electronic Trade Documents Act (2023).

Recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award by RFIx in 2024, he is top ranked by Chambers UK, the UK Legal 500 and IFLR1000. The team he leads has won multiple awards, including recently ‘Legal Innovation in Trade’ (TFG, 2023) and Best Export Finance Law Firm (GTR, 2023).

He is the editor of ‘The Practitioner’s Guide to Trade and Commodity Finance’ and General Editor of ‘A Guide to Receivables Finance’.

Examine how financial institutions are increasingly originating trade finance deals for distribution to other investors or market participants. Experts will discuss the benefits, regulatory considerations and the role of fintechs in streamlining transactions – along with strategies to attract more institutional capital into the trade finance market.

• Jing Zhang, Executive Director, APAC Head of FIG Trade Sales Payments, J.P. Morgan

Jing Zhang

Executive Director, APAC Head of FIG Trade Sales PaymentsJ.P. Morgan

Ms. Jing Zhang is the Executive Director, APAC Head of FIG Trade Sales at JPMorgan, where she supports Financial Institution clients across the Asia Pacific region. She began her career at JPMorgan in 2008, entering through the headquarters’ MBA summer internship program, which was followed by the Management Associate Program. During her tenure, she completed rotations in relationship management, sales, and product functions before relocating to JPMorgan Singapore in 2011. Prior to her current role, Jing worked in Trade Corporate Sales, focusing on large multinational corporations and major corporates in the Asia Pacific.

Before joining JPMorgan, Jing was a Program Associate at the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Jing serves as the President of the PENN & Wharton Club of Singapore. She holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MPA from Indiana University.

• Jonathan Lonsdale, Global Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions, Private Debt Mobilization, Banco Santander

Jonathan Lonsdale

Global Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions, Private Debt MobilizationBanco Santander

Jonathan is Global Head of Trade & Working Capital Solutions Private Debt Mobilisation at Banco Santander.  In this role he leads a global team responsible for the underwriting, syndication and distribution of trade related assets globally.  This includes the whole trade spectrum including documentary trade, receivables, payables, inventory finance, prepayment financing and all structured trade assets.

Prior to Santander, Jonathan worked at Deutsche Bank as Head of Securitisation & Repackaging for trade finance assets, where among other activities was responsible for the structuring and placement of the bank’s Significant Risk Transfer transactions related to the trade finance book.  Prior to his experience at DB, Jonathan worked in a number of structured credit roles at UniCredit and Dresdner Kleinwort. He holds an MMath degree from Oxford University.

• Claudia Lopes, Head of Syndications and Distribution, Crown Agents Bank

Claudia Lopes

Head of Syndications and DistributionCrown Agents Bank

Claudia is a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of experience focused on trade finance & working capital as well as loans, from origination and structuring to syndications, distribution and insurance. Claudia has recently joined Crown Agents Bank in London as Head of Trade Syndications and Distribution. Prior to that, Claudia held various roles at ABN AMRO, RBS, Standard Chartered, DEG (German DFI), and more, recently, Barclays, working out of the UK, Germany and Brazil.

• Aarti Mohapatra, Director, Loan Syndication, Sales & Distribution, Mashreq

Aarti Mohapatra

Director, Loan Syndication, Sales & DistributionMashreq

Aarti has around 17 years of experience in FI trade Distribution and FI Trade Origination handling top managerial assignments with globally reputed organizations in the areas of FI trade, loans market, trade products solutions both in primary/secondary market in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

Proficient in establishing appropriate policies and procedures and achieving aggressive growth in volumes, revenues and profitability of bank-to-bank Loans, GTB products and FI Sales.

Aarti has worked with ABN AMRO and Royal Bank of Scotland on initial days of her carrier switching to, National Bank of Abu Dhabi prior to joining Mashreq in 2018.

Aarti has done bachelor’s degree from Sambalpur University in India with Executive MBA from IIM Indore.

• Sheleena Govind, Head - Financial Institutions, Trade Corridors and Distribution, Trade & Working Capital, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB)

Sheleena Govind

Head - Financial Institutions, Trade Corridors and Distribution, Trade & Working CapitalRand Merchant Bank (RMB)

Sheleena heads up the Financial Institutions Sector in RMB’s Trade and Working Capital Team. She is responsible for the origination and structuring of debt, liquidity and trade solutions for financial institutions, as well as trade finance distribution and management of trade corridors

Sheleena has extensive experience in corporate and investment banking in regional banks and is skilled on both the institutional and corporate sector across various industries. Main focus areas include lending, loan syndications and distribution, trade finance and working capital solutions across Africa and international jurisdictions.

Analysing the shifting dynamics in trade finance, from traditional letters of credit to trade loans and leveraged finance. Panellists will discuss how market trends, client demands and technology are driving new financing structures, reshaping risk profiles and creating opportunities for innovation in trade finance.

• Robbert Bozelie, Director Credit Specialties, Atradius

Robbert Bozelie

Director Credit SpecialtiesAtradius

Robbert Bozelie has been the Director of Credit Specialties at Atradius since 2024. He joined the company in 1998, initially serving as Group Controller for Human Resources and Facilities, before becoming Controller of Global and New Markets in 2000.

In 2008, Robbert moved to Baltimore as Deputy Regional Director for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region, now the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and was promoted to Regional Director in 2010.

Since 2013, he served as Regional Director for the Netherlands and Nordics, based in Amsterdam, where he has played a key role in driving Atradius’ regional growth and market presence.

• Laetitia Moiron, Managing Director, Head of Trade Finance Distribution EMEA, BNP Paribas

Laetitia Moiron

Managing Director, Head of Trade Finance Distribution EMEABNP Paribas

Laetitia  is Managing Director and Head of Trade Finance Distribution for Global Trade Solutions  at BNP Paribas CIB, covering EMEA. Her mandate is to develop the Originate To Distribute model for trade finance (traditional trade and supply management) and structure innovative solutions for Corporate clients. As a testimony to its achievements, the BNP Paribas EMEA Trade Distribution team received the ITFA award as Best Bank for Sureties in 2024.

Over her 20 year+ tenure at BNP Paribas, Laetitia has held several positions as manager, in various departments, such as digital transformation, commodity finance, syndication and credit.  As such, she has formed an extensive expertise in structuring, trade finance and syndication, focusing on corporates.

• Douglas Wood, Managing Director, Regional Head of Transaction Banking Product, APAC, MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Douglas Wood

Managing Director, Regional Head of Transaction Banking Product, APACMUFG Bank, Ltd.

Douglas is the Head of Transaction Banking Product for MUFG in APAC. In this role he is responsible for the product development and product management of all Cash Management and Trade & Supply Chain Finance solutions in APAC. He is a seasoned Transaction Banker with 20+ years of working experience in Cash & Trade, covering both Sales & Product.

He initially joined MUFG in Sydney in Jan 2017, as the Head of Sales for Trade & Supply Chain Finance business for Australia and New Zealand, before moving to Singapore to head up the Cash Product team for APAC, looking after Payments, Collections, Channels and Liquidity products.

Prior to MUFG, Doug held a number of roles at ANZ in Australia, including as the Head of Sales and Account Management for Cash Management, before turning his to focus to Trade and Supply Chain Finance, where he drove the Trade & Supply Chain business across the Food, Beverage, and Agri sectors.

Doug holds an MBA from Macquarie University (Sydney) and a double honours degree from the University of Portsmouth (UK) and the Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Bordeaux (France).

• Marc Schlatter, Global Managing Director for Trade and Regional Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance APAC, LBBW

Marc Schlatter

Global Managing Director for Trade and Regional Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance APACLBBW

Marc Schlatter is Global Managing Director for Trade and Regional Head of Trade & Supply Chain Finance Asia-Pacific at Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), based in Singapore. He joined LBBW in 2017 to establish its Export Finance business in APAC and since progressed into leadership roles within the bank.

In 2025, Marc assumed global responsibilities for Trade Finance, focusing on expanding Supply Chain Finance capabilities across Asia-Pacific, establishing the Bank’s regional Trade Asset Distribution function, and contributing to LBBW’s global Trade Finance strategy. Prior to LBBW, he held senior positions at Credit Suisse in Zurich and Singapore, where he led structured Trade and Export Finance initiatives.

With over 20 years of experience in international banking, Marc brings deep expertise in Trade Finance, team leadership, and business development across diverse markets.

 

• Eujinn Tan, Regional Head of Specialty Cred, APAC, Allianz Trade

Eujinn Tan

Regional Head of Specialty Cred, APACAllianz Trade

The networking session is one of the highlights of our Annual Conference, giving participants dedicated time to meet with partners.

This session will explore the evolving regulatory and accounting treatment of Trade Finance (TF) as an asset class, with a focus on recent developments such as the Maturity Floor Waiver (MFW), NSFR, LCR, Leverage Ratio, and the 20% Credit Conversion Factor (CCF) for performance guarantees. Drawing on data from the Trade Register and targeted data collection efforts, the discussion will highlight how these changes – already seen in regions like the EU, UK (PRA), and US – have led to enhanced capital efficiency and better TF returns for banks. The session will also examine the potential benefits for Asian banks, emphasizing the opportunity to influence regional regulatory frameworks, advocate for reduced CCFs, and standardize MFW adoption. Attendees will gain insights into how these developments can result in capital savings, lower expected credit loss provisions, and improved risk-adjusted returns.

As global trade evolves, seamless supply chain connectivity is essential for efficiency and transparency. Experts will explore how technology – from digital platforms to automated workflows – is enhancing interoperability between banks, corporates and financiers. The session will highlight solutions for improving data integration and unlocking new opportunities in supply chain financing.

• Tsvetana Georgieva, Business and Application Expert, Codix

Tsvetana Georgieva

Business and Application ExpertCodix

Tsvetana Georgieva is a factoring professional with over 17 years of experience in the commercial finance industry, serving consecutively as Risk Director for Unicredit Factoring in Bulgaria, CEO for Raiffeisen Factoring, and most recently CEO for UBB Factoring, part of KBC Group. Prior to joining the factoring industry in 2005, she has assumed the positions of Senior Risk Officer and Head of Corporate Clients Department at Societe Generale Expressbank in Sofia, alternating between commercial and risk domains throughout her career.

Currently Mrs. Georgieva works as a Business Expert for CODIX S.A., the software company which has developed iMX – a unique event-driven solution, supporting growth and efficiency and streamlining processes across several industries: Factoring, Supply Chain Finance (SCF), Trade and Corporate Finance, Leasing, Debt Collection, Credit Insurance, etc.

• Ofer Ein Bar, Vice President Financial Institutions, WaveBL

Ofer Ein Bar

Vice President Financial InstitutionsWaveBL

Ofer Ein Bar, is the Vice President Financial Institutions at WaveBL.

Ofer is an experienced banker; as a senior executive at the Corporate Banking division of HSBC, followed by senior roles at the payment and cash management buildout. Post HSBC Ofer held an executive position in the digital development and transformation for the corporate banking in one of the largest banks in Israel.

WaveBL is a blockchain-based digital platform that is used to digitize global trade, especially dealing with Bills of Lading, as well as any other document in use as part of the global trade.

In his role with WaveBL, Ofer owns the relationship with Financial Institutions, where his focus is to look at trade finance for the future and expand the participation of banks in the digitalization journey.

• Carlos Grassl, Director, Platform Solutions, FIS

Carlos Grassl

Director, Platform SolutionsFIS

Carlos has over 10 years of experience in delivering best-in-class technology and working capital finance solutions to banks and large corporates. He is a Director of Platform Solutions at FIS, a leading fintech that powers the supply chain finance programmes of the world’s top financial institutions and corporations. As a certified commercial banking and credit analyst with an MBA degree, Carlos has a strong background in finance, product management, and specialised sales. He is an expert in open account working capital financing solutions and is passionate about creating value and driving innovation in the trade finance industry.