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An Exclusive Event for Senior-Level Transaction Banking, Trade and Payments Professionals
Join us for our inaugural event in Africa, the BAFT Africa Bank to Bank Forum in Nairobi on Thursday, May 22. This exclusive event, held in conjunction with GTR East Africa, will bring together senior-level transaction banking and industry professionals from across the region to discuss the latest trends and challenges in transaction banking, trade, and payments, with a special emphasis on the African market.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and network with your peers at this invite-only forum. Find out more about the agenda today.
How to Attend
The BAFT Africa Bank to Bank Forum is a free, invitation-only. Seats are limited, so RSVP as soon as possible using the link you received in your invitation email.
If you did not receive an invitation but would like to attend, please contact [email protected] and we will get back to you shortly.
Through our partnership with GTR, you receive a special rate to attend GTR East Africa as follows:
Registration for GTR East Africa is optional and separate from the BAFT Africa Bank to Bank Forum. Check the Register tab for additional details.
All Times are in East Africa Time (EAT)
13:00 - 14:00
14:00 - 14:30
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT
14:30 - 15:00
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to boost intra-African trade, enhance economic integration, and drive industrialization by reducing trade barriers and harmonizing regulations. Afreximbank’s Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) accelerates these objectives through digital solutions like PAPSS, MANSA, and ATEX, which streamline trade, reduce transaction costs, and enhance market access. By enabling seamless local currency payments through PAPSS, strengthening compliance via MANSA, and expanding market opportunities with ATEX, ATG provides the digital infrastructure necessary to improve financial access, reduce trade barriers, and optimize supply chains, ultimately unlocking AfCFTA’s full potential. This session will highlight how businesses, financial institutions, and policymakers can leverage AfCFTA and ATG to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation and create new trade opportunities.
Speaker
Emeka Onyia
Ag. Director Digital Business, Global Trade Bank
Afreximbank
15:00 - 15:35
We will explore the complex relationship between African trade finance and its importance in achieving the UN SDGs, the availability of USD liquidity on the Continent, and the impact of evolving global regulations. The conversation will highlight the ongoing challenges African banks face, the importance of sustainable economic growth in Africa, and the opportunities for international collaboration to promote sustainable trade finance on the continent. Join us for a thought-provoking dialogue on the intersection of the above, what various industry bodies are doing in this space, and what solutions they are proposing to tackle the root causes of the trade gap in Africa.
Moderator
Derryn Faure
International Trade Finance
Investec Bank Limited
Panelists
Arnaud Levasseur
EVP, Global Transaction Banking – Global Trade Solutions
MCB Group
Duarte Pedreira
Global Head of Trade & Working Capital Finance
Crown Agents Bank
Denise Sahali Pinheiro
Deputy Director, Sustainability Office Manager
Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA)
15:35 - 15:50
15:50 - 16:20
Technology can be disruptive in transforming trade finance in Africa. Digital platforms can offer open access to trade finance for corporates and SMEs, while blockchain technology plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of fraud in trade. These technological advancements are vital in tackling the challenges posed by multiple currency and legal regimes, as well as in simplifying cross-border transactions. This is an essential component that will bridge the existing financing gap, enabling economic growth and regional integration on the continent. We aim to discuss how African banks are driving these efforts and the main barriers.
Moderator
Alice Azevedo
Deputy Director, Head of International Division, Financial and International Department
Banco Fomento Angola
Panelists
Kevin Holmes
Product Development Portfolio Head
Rand Merchant Bank
Ian Milne
Executive Director of Sales
Monetago
Niron Rampersad
Divisional Executive – Trade
Nedbank
16:20 - 17:00
China’s growing economic presence in Africa has sparked debate over whether it serves as a counterbalance to U.S. and EU dominance. Through large-scale infrastructure projects, trade partnerships, and investments under the Belt and Road Initiative, China provides African nations with alternatives to Western financial institutions, often criticized for imposing stringent conditions. Unlike the U.S. and EU, which tie aid to governance and human rights standards while wielding soft military and diplomatic power, China follows a non-interference policy and therefore seen as appealing to many African governments. There are concerns however over China debt sustainability, resource exploitation, and lack of local job creation, bringing to question the narrative of China as a purely beneficial partner.
Roundtable Facilitators
Evens BLE
Senior Relationship Manager for Financial Institutions, Africa, Cash-Clearing Services
Societe Generale
John Kinyagi
Head, Supply Chain Finance & Working Capital
Standard Bank Group
Amish Shunker
Head of Trade, Africa
Standard Bank Group
17:00 - 17:30
Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the evolving landscape of payments. Join us for an engaging session on the future of payments, where we will explore how new technologies are revolutionizing the way we conduct transactions. We will delve into comprehensive approaches and innovative digital solutions that cater to evolving customer needs. Discover the digitalization strategies that are shaping new routes and building seamless experiences for our customers. The session will provide insights into how banks can harness digital advancements to create efficient, customer-centric payment systems for the future.
Moderator
Ebele Ogbue
Corporate and Energy Banking
UBA
Panelist
Charles Kiarie
Head of Visa Direct, Eastern Africa
Visa
17:30
Speaker
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT
17:30 - 18:30
The 2025 BAFT Africa Bank to Bank Forum is an invite-only event with limited seating.
Registration is complimentary but invited guests and GTR East Africa attendees must RSVP to reserve a seat.
How to RSVP for the Event
Registration for GTR East Africa is optional and separate from the BAFT Africa Forum. However, through our partnership, BAFT Africa Forum attendees receive a special rate to attend GTR East Africa
Evens started his career in banking in 2006, at Société Générale Securities Services, as an accountant in the Institutional Clients’ Middle-office. In 2010, he joined the General Inspection of the bank as a Controller, where he took part on several audit and advisory assignments, abroad and in France. He spent 2 years from 2014, in the Tax department on a project aiming to map the tax burden of the group. In 2016, he integrated the Global Transaction Banking department, where he supported the Relationship Management in Asia & Pacific, UK & Nordics and with Middle East banks. Since 2018, he covers sub-Saharan African banks as a Relationship Manager for Cash Clearing Services. He holds a Bachelor in International Business and Corporate Development from CNAM Paris, a Masters' degree in Marketing and Sales from Paris Sorbonne Business School, and an Executive Certificate in Strategy from HEC Paris.
Tod Burwell is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BAFT. Prior to being promoted to CEO, he served as the Senior Vice President of Trade Products with oversight of all trade-related initiatives including the Global Trade Industry Council, Trade Committees, and other strategic initiatives of the organization. Mr. Burwell has over 25 years of trade, supply chain and cash management experience as a banking practitioner, as well as serving as a consultant to global corporations and suppliers of strategically integrated trade solutions. Prior to joining BAFT, Mr. Burwell was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase and held senior global management roles responsible for trade operations, launching the logistics business and managing global product sales for trade finance and logistics management.
Derryn is a dual qualified English and South African lawyer, having extensive experience as a banking / trade lawyer both in private practice law firms, as well as financial institutions in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Trade finance transactions in emerging markets are Derryn’s key area of expertise. With her in-depth legal knowledge and acute understanding of the nuances of emerging market trade finance, she is skilled at structuring and executing complex trade transactions as well as distributing trade risk.
Charles is a Director of Sales, Visa Direct, Sub-Saharan Africa. He is specifically responsible for B2B Connect, which is an innovative solution offering Correspondent Banking as a Service, enabling cross border business purpose payments supporting over 120 currencies globally, via a private blockchain owned by Visa. A seasoned Transaction Banker and Payments Specialist, Charles has over 25 years’ experience spanning Technology and Operations, Transaction Banking Sales and Product Management, Payments and Correspondent Banking. He has developed and commercialized digital first innovative solutions that have been scaled across client value chains and countries while working for various banks in several countries including Standard Chartered, Citibank NA, Standard Bank Kenya and Standard Bank Group. Charles is a graduate from the University of Nairobi, with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. In the course of his career, he is has also completed many professional courses and is a Certified Design Thinking Practitioner By SolveNext!, SAFe® 4 Certified Practitioner by Scaled Agile, Inc. and a holder of CertICM by Association of Corporate Treasurers.
John is the Head of Supply Chain Finance and Working Capital Management at Standard Bank Group. He is a seasoned corporate banking professional, with years of experience in Transaction Banking spanning several Financial Institutions; across some of the world's leading centres. In his role, John works with Corporations across Africa and internationally to tackle Africa's Trade Finance gap. Among others, he is the Co-Chair of the BAFT Africa Council, is an enthusiast for technology and is passionate about how digitisation is changing lives, particularly in Africa.
Ian is a structured trade and commodity finance banking veteran, having worked for many of the largest banks in the world including Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC where he had global responsibilities for the transaction risk management in their commodity finance businesses. Bringing a unique expertise in structuring and restructuring deals across multiple jurisdictions and multiple product lines including insurance backed facilities, Ian is regularly engaged to speak at industry events, and his skills have been in demand as an advisor and expert witness in many dispute cases. In addition to his global responsibilities at MonetaGo, he also co-chairs the ITFA Fraud Working Group.
Niron Rampersad holds an Executive MBA cum laude from the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and is currently the Divisional Executive of Trade at Nedbank CIB. Niron has held key roles in the financial services industry, with over 15 years of experience in Corporate Asset Finance, Coverage and Trade and Working Capital. He has a proven track record of providing clients trade and supply chain finance solutions to SMMEs, Medium, Large and Global Corporate clients. He is passionate about growing in inter-Africa Trade as well as expanding trade with our key international trading partners and trade corridors.
Join us for BAFT’s exclusive regional banking forum for senior-level transactions bankers and financial services professionals in East Africa.
The 2025 Africa Bank to Bank Forum is an invite only gathering of 150+ senior-level executives and heads of transaction banking, trade, payments, compliance, innovation and sustainability, and additional thought leaders in the industry who are located in or have responsibilities for the East African market.
The 2025 Africa Bank to Bank Forum, held in conjunction with GTR East Africa 2025 Nairobi, will bring together industry leaders and decision-makers from across the region to discuss the latest trends and challenges in transaction banking, trade, payments, compliance, innovation, and sustainability.
For additional information, please contact:
Matthew Kaitz
Director, Business Development
[email protected]
+1 (703) 200-9071
The 2025 BAFT Africa Bank to Bank Forum is held in conjunction with GTR East Africa 2025 Nairobi. The BAFT Africa Forum immediately follows the networking lunch on May 22 (day 2 of GTR East Africa).
JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi (Grand Ballroom)
JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi (Grand Ballroom)
PRH5+VMC, Chiromo Ln
Nairobi, Kenya
+254 719-010 888
Interested in sponsoring the 2025 Africa Bank to Bank Forum? We can tailor your sponsorship package to meet your goals.
To discuss your sponsorship options, please contact:
Matthew Kaitz
Director, Business Development
[email protected]
+1 (703) 200-9071
© 2025 BAFT (Bankers Association for Finance and Trade)
