Agenda

13.00-14.00 Registration and networking

14.00-14.15 Welcome remarks

Shannon Manders, Editorial Director, Global Trade Review (GTR)

14.15-14.45 GTR trade finance gender diversity survey: Findings and reflections

Despite signs of improvement, it is clear that more needs to be done to attract and retain women within the trade finance market, as well as to provide greater tools for measuring progress in this objective. In 2024 GTR conducted the first industry-wide survey on gender diversity and women’s leadership in the trade finance industry, which seeks to understand gender equality dynamics on a global scale across all types of organisations.

This session will provide a first-hand opportunity to hear specific details and discuss the findings of the survey, exploring strategies for recruiting, retaining and supporting women in the trade finance sector and considering how such data can be used by organisations to benchmark themselves, as well as collectively track the wider industry’s progress year on year.

Rebecca Harding, Founder, Rebeccanomics in conversation with Shannon Manders, Editorial Director, Global Trade Review (GTR)

14.45-15.30 Learning from the best: The importance of mentorship

Mentorship programmes have a key role to play in helping junior members of the trade finance industry learn about the sector and potentially advance in their roles through developing their skills, market understanding and network. This conversation will consider the current options available to those seeking to enter the industry and how to benefit from the many years of experience and expertise found in its upper echelons.

Points for consideration will include details of some the various programmes and forums already in place (including reverse-mentoring programmes), the range of specialisations available (front/middle/back office, credit, legal, compliance) within the industry and potential opportunities this breadth and depth provides, whilst also highlighting the importance of providing access to suitable expertise on HR-related matters.

Moderator: Catherine Lang-Anderson, Partner, A&O Shearman
Lisa Ardley-Price, Managing Legal Counsel, Transaction Banking, NatWest Group
Rita King, Head of Institutional Trade Sales, Client Solutions Group, Lloyds Bank

15.30-16.00 Networking break

16.00-16.45 Passing through the generations: The trade finance “brain drain”

Innovation and technology have a potentially transformative role to play in the future of trade finance. As the market seeks to leverage technological solutions and utilise a range of tools to help build a more resilient and dynamic industry ecosystem, developments in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming the back-office through the automating of tasks and analysis of data, improving decision-making and transforming the way businesses work. But at what cost?

This discussion will consider the potential consequences of such developments, addressing fears that decades of expertise could be lost as “the old guard” are replaced by machines, to the detriment of future generations (the trade finance “brain drain”). The conversation will also consider the extent to which such developments help ‘level the playing field’ when it comes to the infrastructure required for organisations to support and fund trade, providing greater opportunities for newer market entrants.

Moderator: Jeff Ando, Director, Content & Production, Global Trade Review (GTR)
Alex Gray, Head of Trade & Transaction Banking, The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF)
Jukka Kuusala, Managing Director, Head of Trade Finance, Danske Bank
Chris Ash, Head of Trade Finance, Shard Credit Partners
Sarah Green, Head of Digital Assets & Trade Finance, D2 Legal Technology

16.45 Closing remarks, followed by evening networking reception