Events

2023 Global Councils Forum

Overview
Register
Program
Speakers
Sponsorship
Venue

Overview

Bringing Global Transaction Bankers Together


The 2023 BAFT Global Councils Forum is the premier international platform uniting the transaction banking community, its partners, and providers together.

This influential forum serves as a catalyst for collaboration, enabling participants to shape market practices, influence regulatory policies, and drive the development of cutting-edge industry capabilities.

This exclusive invite-only forum is held on the Sunday morning before SIBOS starts and sets the tone for discussions during the week.


Complimentary Registration  ●  Limited Seating  ●  RSVP Required


Why Attend?

The Global Councils Forum is an excellent way to kick-start your SIBOS week! The forum features a half-day program including short thought leadership sessions and dedicated networking activities so you can meet with your colleagues, clients and prospects in an exclusive, smaller group setting in the morning prior to the start of SIBOS 2023.

Who Attends?

This is an invite-only event with limited seating. The forum is a gathering of 100 senior bank executives, heads of transaction banking, trade, compliance, payments, and innovation, plus other key industry decision makers and featured speakers.


New This Year

Join and celebrate awardees of the Trade, Treasury & Payments Awards during the Global Councils Forum. Trade Finance Global, in cooperation with BAFT, is pleased to honor individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the trade, treasury, and payments sectors.

The awards ceremony will be held immediately after the Global Councils Forum general sessions.


Program

September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023 - All Times are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

08:30 – 09:30

Check-in & Networking Breakfast

09:30

Welcome Remarks

Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT

09:50

So What? What Now?

Interest rate hikes, stubborn inflationary pressures, slow or no growth, what does this mean for the future? Within the macro-economic context of changing reference points and shifting economic centers of power, which geographies and/or industries can opportunistically stand out and thrive? How are bankers and corporate treasurers adapting, and leveraging new tools (AI, data, and others) to be more resilient with new strategies to successfully navigate within the current context?

Speaker
Samantha Azzarello
Executive Director & Head of Content Strategy, Global Research
J.P. Morgan

10:20

ESG: Purpose or Profit?

ESG is gaining momentum in both breadth with support, so too are the challenges they face. The viability of their purpose and skepticism to remain profitable impact all industries.

1) Can both be done successfully (purpose and profit)?

2) Can both initiatives have a positive impact for our industry and society?

3) How do banks and corporates navigate the ever-changing landscape of reference points, market jolts, and the new normal consistency?

Learn as leading experts discuss and debate how to best achieve value for shareholders while doing what is right for society.

Moderator
Deepesh Patel
Editorial Director
Trade Finance Global

Panelists
Matt Ayearst
Director of Sustainability and Capital Markets Consulting
CGI

Kalyani Bhatia
Global Head of Payments Go to Market, Business Development
SWIFT

Ted Sheen
Executive Director & Head of Clean Technology, Americas
Standard Chartered Bank

11:00 – 11:20

Networking Break

11:20

DEI in Financial Services: Turning the Financial Exclusion Tanker Around!

Much of the focus in correspondent banking (and rightly so) is centered on de-risking, mitigation of high-risk country corridors, settlement, and AML. In this trend, however, there may be a risk that we fail to normalize the new growing trade corridors, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the MENA region. Key perspectives in this session will focus on:

  • Diversity in skills and experience arising from new corridors, bringing new entrants – from public/ private infrastructures in MENA, multi-laterals, and sovereign wealth funds
  • Wholesale increased FDI & ECA infrastructure – finding your role beyond participation and distribution
  • Corporate and fintech inclusion – the evolution from ISO to true interoperability

Transition and export financing offers us all collectively the opportunity to redefine the concept of high-risk trade corridors, redefining flows and collaboration with new funding sources.

Moderator
Dyanne Carenza
Vice President & Head Trade and Supply Chain Finance
Scotiabank

Panelists
Amr Elsolamy
Global Head of Transaction Banking
Arab Bank

Sriram Muthukrishnan
Managing Director & Group Head of Global Transaction Services Product Management
DBS Bank

Enno-Burghard Weitzel
Senior Vice President, Strategy, Digitization and Business Development
Surecomp

11:50

Basel IV: Global Regulators - Driving a Wedge Between Level Playing Field & Corporate Growth Agenda

Attendance at this panel will leave participants with perspectives on:

  • Reality from the global banks’ regulatory divergence
  • Model changes and the impact on client return expectations
  • Impact on underlying real economy (“corporate”) growth and pricing sustainability
  • Corporate perspective: project & documentary trade pricing challenges, what are NSFR-friendly liabilities and what are they worth from a corporate; less spend on client interoperability vs more on regulatory change

Moderator
Vanessa Manning
Managing Director & Head of Transaction Banking, EMEA
MUFG Bank

Panelists
Achraf Abourida
Global Head of Trade
ING

Scott Stevenson
Senior Vice President, Trade
BAFT

12:30 – 14:00

Networking Lunch with Trade Finance Global 2023 Trade, Treasury & Payments Awards

Stay for lunch and join us as we celebrate and honor individuals and organizations who made outstanding contributions to the trade, treasury, and payments sectors during the TFG Trade, Treasury & Payments Awards, in cooperation with BAFT.

Register

RSVP Required for Limited Seating


This is a free, invite-only event, held in conjunction with SIBOS at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC). Invited guests and award winners will receive an email invitation with a link to RSVP their attendance.

Interested to attend or didn’t receive your email invite? Please email [email protected]. Due to limited seating, we will revert to you on the status of your request based on space availability.

Speakers

September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023 - Bringing Global Transaction Bankers Together
Achraf Abourida
Achraf Abourida
Global Head of Trade
ING

Achraf Abourida joined ING in 2001. He holds the position of Global Head of Trade responsible for the full trade spectrum from L/C’s and Doctrade products to Working capital solutions (Receivables Finance and Supply Chain Finance). Achraf has a strong innovation mindset that reflects the position ING has in the Trade industry. During his 22 years with ING, Achraf has specialized in the receivables finance business where he has been responsible for setting up different business Units across Europe before moving into his current role.

Matt Ayearst
Matt Ayearst
Director of Sustainability and Capital Markets Consulting
CGI

Matthew is a Sustainability subject market expert. In his role as Director, Sustainability Management Consulting, he supports and advises clients across different industries on developing and implementing purpose-driven sustainability programs and strategic solutions to meet their specific challenges. Matthew has more than 20 years of experience in capital markets, focused on structured trading, debt origination and syndication and enterprise risk and regulatory programs. Most recently, he was responsible for initiating and leading the LIBOR Transition Program at a global bank based in Canada.

Samantha Azzarello
Samantha Azzarello
Executive Director & Head of Content Strategy, Global Research
J.P. Morgan

Samantha Azzarello is an Executive Director and Head of Content Strategy based in New York. She publishes research that synthesizes and curates views related to economics and financial markets from thought leaders across Global Research. Previously Sam was a cross-asset strategist at J.P Morgan Asset Management, and prior to joining J.P. Morgan worked in the Chief Investment Office of Bank of America and as an economist at CME group. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Toronto and a MA in Economics from New York University.

Kalyani Bhatia
Kalyani Bhatia
Global Head of Payments PMI Go To Market
SWIFT

Kalyani Bhatia is the Global Head of Payments & PMI Go To Market in Business Development at SWIFT. Her team of payment and payment market infrastructure experts execute the SWIFT Strategy through data driven prioritization, standardized programmes and global expertise. She is responsible for supporting global business product programmes including gpi, ISO20022, transaction management, SWIFT GO and Instant payments. Kalyani is on the US Advisory Board for Women In Payments and is the Co-Sponsor of the Race & Ethnicity Chapter at SWIFT. Prior to joining SWIFT in 2020, Kalyani spent 18 years at Deutsche Bank, holding senior positions in technology, product and client implementations & service. Her expertise lies in running large global change initiatives supporting global transaction banking. She also has experience in the oil & gas, automotive and retail industries delivering systems as a technical consultant with Price Waterhouse LLP.

Tod Burwell
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT

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.

Dyanne Carenza
Dyanne Carenza
Vice President & Head Trade and Supply Chain Finance
Scotiabank

Dyanne is a world-wise executive with experience in the banking sector including transaction banking, lending, product management and strategy creation. She is a multi-lingual, high energy, enterprise solutions leader with a proven track record for building relationships and leading high-performance teams. Dyanne re-joined Scotiabank and as Vice-President, Head Trade Finance & Supply Chain, she has global responsibility to build and promote the traditional trade and supply chain finance businesses. Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Dyanne graduated from McGill University with a major in Economics and successfully completed programs at Queen's University and the Richard Ivey School of Business. She is passionate about cross-border flows and in helping businesses realize their success in international markets. Dyanne is sought after as advisor and board member for numerous public, private and government entities. In addition, she is often called on to present at conferences and industry association meetings.

Amr Elsolamy
Amr Elsolamy
Global Head of Transaction Banking
Arab Bank

Amr Elsolamy is the Global Head of Transaction Banking Group for Arab Bank Plc. Amr comes with 28 years of experience in Wholesale Banking across Corporate Credit, Relationship Coverage, Transactional Banking, and Working Capital Digital Products & solutions within reputable international and regional institutions. Amr started his career at Commercial International Bank Egypt and later held several leadership positions across extended geographies at Citigroup, whereby he was the Head of Global Relationship Banking in Egypt, the Global Head of Transaction Services for North & Francophone West Africa Cluster, followed by Head of GTB for MENA Region out of Dubai, UAE, respectively. Amr had an extensive leadership role with Samba Financial Group in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he held the position of Global Head of Transaction Services & FI Trade for 13 successful years since 2009. Amr holds a number of global achievements and awards such as but not limited to The Citigroup Chairman’s Club Award, EMEA Best Performance Commendation, The Five Stars Trade & Supply Chain Finance Awards . He also holds a Master Degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Vanessa Manning
Vanessa Manning
Managing Director & Head of Transaction Banking, EMEA
MUFG

Vanessa Manning will be responsible for driving further profitable growth across MUFG's Transaction Banking business in EMEA, as well as overseeing the strategic development of the Trade and Working Capital and Cash and Liquidity Management functions. With over 22 years' leadership experience in Global Cash & Trade Management gained from ABN AMRO, RBS, Standard Chartered and Deutsche Bank, Ms Manning is also an active member of institutional Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, including UK and European Women in Payments, and is a motivated mentor and mentee within the European Techstar Rise community.

Sriram Muthukrishnan
Sriram Muthukrishnan
Group Head of Product Management, Global Transaction Services
DBS Bank

Sriram joined DBS in 2018 as Managing Director, Global Transaction Services. His current remit as Group Head of Product Management covers cash management, liquidity, trade finance and supply chain finance solutions offered by the Bank. With more than 20 years of banking experience spanning across several key international financial hubs, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and India, Sriram spearheads DBS’ digital product initiatives across the region and is responsible for leading overall business performance, strategy and product innovation across the bank’s suite of transaction banking solutions. Prior to joining DBS, Sriram held several senior leadership roles in global banks such as HSBC and Standard Chartered covering areas such as corporate banking, transaction banking and trade finance.

Deepesh Patel
Deepesh Patel
Editor-in-Chief
Trade Finance Global (TFG)

Deepesh Patel is Editor-in-Chief at Trade Finance Global (TFG). In this role, Deepesh leads efforts in developing TFG’s editorial and research strategy in key markets, including the UK, US, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Deepesh regularly chairs and speaks at industry events covering trade, treasury and payments, including The Economist, Reuters, UN, WEF and WTO, as well as industry associations including BAFT, FCI, ICC, ICISA and ITFA. Deepesh hosts the popular ‘Trade Finance Talks’ podcast and TV station, with a combined 300+ episodes and 50k+ followers. He is co-author of ‘Blockchain for Trade: A Reality Check’ and ‘Accelerating Trade Digitalization to Support MSME Financing’ with the ICC and the WTO, alongside other industry research. Deepesh is an advocate for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the industry, founding the Women in Trade, Treasury and Payments initiative in 2019. In addition to his work at TFG, Deepesh is a Strategic Advisor for WOA, and is a Member of the ITFA ESG Committee. He also sits on the Fintech Working Group of the Standardised Trust. Prior to TFG, Deepesh worked at Travelex where he was responsible for the cards business and the Travelex Money app in Brazil, Europe, US and UK. Deepesh is Chair of Governors and co-opted LA Governor of the Wyvern Federation, which has responsibility for 5 primary schools in South London.

Ted Sheen
Ted Sheen
Executive Director & Head of Clean Technology, Americas
Standard Chartered Bank

Ted Sheen is Standard Chartered Bank’s Head of Clean Tech Americas and joined the bank in 2022. In this role, Ted’s coverage includes renewables, energy storage, electrification, hydrogen, waste/recycling and other decarbonization technologies. Prior to SCB, Ted was at BNP Paribas for 14 years in the Power, Utilities & Renewables coverage team. He has an MBA from Columbia Business School and BBA from University of Tennessee.

Scott Stevenson
Scott Stevenson
Senior Vice President, Trade
BAFT

Scott Stevenson is the Senior Vice President of Trade at BAFT. Stevenson leads the association’s trade-focused policy, practices, and education initiatives, and supports its trade-related councils and committees. Prior to joining BAFT, Stevenson was a senior advisor for AF Capital Partners, which provided expertise in emerging market structured and project finance for development banking institutions. For two years, he consulted development banks and export credit agencies following a 17-year career at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank Group in various trade and investment project leadership roles. Before joining the IFC, Stevenson was the regional head of financial institutions at Standard Chartered Bank in Singapore. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, and his MBA from York University.

Enno-Burghard Weitzel
Enno-Burghard Weitzel
Senior Vice President, Strategy, Digitization and Business Development
Surecomp

Enno’s primary role is to help Surecomp fulfill its mission to enable seamless, sustainable trade for everyone by removing barriers and fostering collaboration. He is responsible for driving Surecomp’s strategic direction to ensure product development is completely aligned with customer needs. A seasoned expert in the field of corporate banking with a focus on cash and trade, Enno joined Surecomp in March 2021. Prior to that he spent five years at leading global management consultancy firm McKinsey. He has also held senior positions at Commerzbank, one of the world’s top 20 trade finance banks. Enno’s command of the trade finance industry and his strong customer orientation are key to enabling customers drive growth through enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, fostering collaboration and improving customer service.

FAQ's

Sponsorship

BAFT at SIBOS 2023


The BAFT Global Councils Forum is an invitation-only event bringing together senior bankers and industry leaders in the international transaction banking space. Held each year on the Sunday morning prior to SIBOS, this is where influential leaders gather to discuss significant developments affecting the industry.

Each year, BAFT hosts approximately 150 key industry leaders during this half-day event. The forum will be take place in Toronto, Canada on Sunday, September 17 from 08:00 AM – 02:00 PM EDT, with lunch included in the event.

Sponsors participate as planning members that help drive the focus and content of the forum, as speakers in selected sessions, and as hosts of networking events held throughout the day.

Options


Exclusive Platinum Sponsor One (1) Available

  • Network with top international transaction banking leaders in a smaller setting
  • Opportunity to participate on the program planning and drive Forum content
  • Keynote Speaking opportunity in the conference program
  • Seven (7) invitations to this invitation-only Forum
  • Logo on conference website, conference marketing, and sponsor thank you slide o
  • One-page flyer for the registration table
  • Pre- and post-conference attendee list (name, title, company, email)

Gold SponsorThree (3) More Available + (SWIFT)

  • Network with top international transaction banking leaders in a smaller setting
  • Opportunity to participate on the program planning and drive Forum content
  • Speaking opportunity in the conference program
  • Five (5) invitations to this invitation-only Forum
  • Logo on conference website, conference marketing, and sponsor thank you slide
  • One-page flyer for the registration table
  • Pre- and post-conference attendee list (name, title, company, email)

Networking Lunch SponsorOne (1) Available

  • Recognition as Networking Lunch sponsor
  • Network with top international transaction banking leaders in a smaller setting
  • Five (5) invitations to this invitation-only Forum
  • Logo on conference website, conference marketing, and sponsor thank you slide
  • One-page flyer for the registration table
  • Pre- and post-conference attendee list (name, title, company, email)

Networking Break SponsorOne (1) Available

  • Recognition as Networking Break sponsor
  • Network with top international transaction banking leaders in a smaller setting
  • Three (3) invitations to this invitation-only Forum
  • Logo on conference website, conference marketing, and sponsor thank you slide o One-page flyer for the registration table
  • Pre- and post-conference attendee list (name, title, email)

Supporting SponsorThree (3) Available

  • Network with top international transaction banking leaders in a smaller setting
  • Three (3) invitations to this invitation-only Forum
  • Logo on conference website, conference marketing, and sponsor thank you slide
  • One-page flyer for the registration table
  • Pre- and post-conference attendee list (name, title, company, email)

For additional information, please contact:

Matthew Kaitz
Director, Business Development
[email protected]
+1 (703) 200-9071

Venue

Venue and Forum Location


The 2023 BAFT Global Councils Forum is held in conjunction with SIBOS in Toronto, Canada. The forum is held on Sunday, September 17, the day before SIBOS week starts.

Metro Toronto Convention Center


Room 206CDEF, Level 200
255 Front St. West
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2W6

Note: This is a non-SIBOS badge room. You do not need your SIBOS badge for entry to the meeting room.

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) is recognized as one of North America’s leading convention centers. The MTCC sits within the city’s vibrant business and entertainment district making it highly accessible for Sibos participants and within walking distance of countless hotels. For international participants traveling into Toronto, the Center can be reached in just over 30 minutes by rail from Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Testimonials

“Excellent sessions with a good variety of topics covered, and a good audience, which enabled efficient networking.”

Forum Attendee

Sydney, Australia

“A well structured event with a good gathering of a cross section of BAFT's membership that made attending fruitful.”

Forum Attendee

Pretoria, South Africa

“Excellent program and very well presented.”

Forum Attendee

Boston, Massachusetts

“Good event for networking with peers and getting an early insight on the topics that will be prevalent at SIBOS.”

Forum Attendee

London, United Kingdom

“The setting, format and timely information that was discussed were great.”

Forum Attendee

Washington, DC


Sponsors


Interested in sponsoring the 2023 Global Councils 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