The 2026 BAFT Asia Forum, an exclusive gathering for leaders in transaction banking, will be held on September 9, 2026, in Singapore, in conjunction with GTR Asia.
This complimentary forum offers a unique opportunity to engage with industry peers and thought leaders on the forces reshaping the future of transaction banking, trade and payments, with a spotlight on the Asian market. Discussions will cover geopolitics, cross-border payments and currency shifts, digital assets, and the opportunities and challenges facing transaction banking leaders in an evolving global market.
All Times are in Singapore Time (SGT)
13:00 – 14:00
BAFT Asia Forum attendees are welcome to join the GTR networking lunch.
14:00 – 14:30
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT
14:30 – 15:00
As trade fragmentation, tariffs, and geopolitical tensions continue to reshape the global economy, Asia is adapting to a new era defined by resilience, strategic autonomy, and shifting trade corridors. This session will examine how businesses, financial institutions, and policymakers are responding to a world where protectionist measures have become a structural feature rather than a temporary disruption. Panelists will explore the evolution of regional supply chains, the rise of connector economies such as Vietnam and Singapore, the impact of persistent trade barriers on inflation and growth, and the role of technology, semiconductors, and AI as drivers of competitiveness. The discussion will also assess which sectors and markets are emerging as winners and losers in this new environment and what adaptive leadership will be required to navigate uncertainty while sustaining long-term growth across the region.
Speakers
Deborah Elms
Head of Trade Policy
Hinrich Foundation
Sriram Muthukrishnan
Group Head of Product Management, Global Transaction Services
DBS
15:00 – 15:40
15:40 – 16:00
16:00 – 16:40
Asia Pacific is becoming a key testing ground for digital assets in transaction banking. As institutions move beyond experimentation, important questions remain around viable use cases, the role of tokenized deposits versus stablecoins, regulatory divergence across the Asian markets, and the path to commercial scale. This session will explore where digital assets are delivering tangible value today and what developments are needed to accelerate broader adoption across the region.
Panelists
Warren Soo
Head of Digital Cash and Innovation, APAC
BNY
16:40 – 17:20
As the global economy continues to evolve, transaction banking leaders are reassessing priorities, opportunities, and risks across their businesses. This executive-level discussion will bring together global heads of transaction banking to examine the forces shaping the industry and share their perspectives on growth, innovation, client needs, and the future direction of transaction banking in a changing world.
Moderator
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT
Panelists
Winnie Chen
Head of Global Payments Solutions, Asia Pacific
Bank of America
Ashutosh Kumar
Managing Director & Head of Global Transaction Banking, Asia Pacific
Mizuho
17:20 – 17:30
Tod Burwell
President & CEO
BAFT
17:30 – 18:30
Registration for the BAFT Asia Forum is complimentary but you must still register to reserve your seat.
Register for the BAFT Asia Forum
As a bonus, receive a special rate to attend GTR Asia 2026 Singapore as follows:
Registration to GTR Asia is optional and separate from the BAFT Asia Forum.
Please complete the GTR special rate form and choose ‘BAFT’ in the “Please indicate your referrer” field to avail of the special rate.
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.
Ashutosh Kumar is the Managing Director and Head of Transaction Banking for Asia Pacific at Mizuho Bank responsible for driving strategy, execution and franchise expansion of the Transaction Banking business in Asia. A distinguished leader with over 25 years of international experience, he is the driving force behind the bank's transaction banking strategy and expansion across the region. Renowned for his visionary leadership, deep understanding of the Asia Pacific region and his expertise in leveraging digital ecosystems for growth, Ashutosh has a strong track record of transforming businesses. Under his guidance, Mizuho has emerged as a leading institution in Transaction Banking, reinforced by his recognition as the 2024 Transaction Finance Leader of the Year by The Asian Banker. Prior to Mizuho in 2021, he held several senior leadership positions at Standard Chartered Bank and ABN AMRO Bank.”
Sriram joined DBS in 2018 as Managing Director, Global Transaction Services. His current remit as Group Head of Product Management covers cash and liquidity management, enterprise-wide payments, 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. Since joining DBS, Sriram has led the transformation of its cash management, payments, and trade and supply chain finance businesses into ones that are fast growing, digital, innovative and market leading. He has also led the launch of several innovative payments solutions including DBS Globesend. Sriram is passionate about driving diversity and inclusion in the workplace, besides developing innovative solutions to serve corporates, large and small.
Join us for BAFT’s exclusive regional banking forum for senior-level transactions bankers and financial services professionals in Asia.
The 2026 Asia Forum is a gathering of 300+ 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 Asian market.
The 2026 Asia Forum, held in conjunction with GTR Asia 2026 Singapore, 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.
Platinum Sponsor: $12,000 (USD)
1 Available (Swift, Visa)
Gold Sponsor: $8,000 (USD)
2 available (Societe Generale)
Networking Lunch and Evening Reception Sponsor: $7,000 (USD)
Networking Break Sponsor: $4,500 (USD)
Supporting Sponsor: $3,000 (USD)
4 Available
For additional information, please contact:
Matt Kaitz, BAFT | (703) 200-9071 | [email protected] | www.baft.org
The 2026 BAFT Asia Forum is held in conjunction with GTR Asia 2026 Singapore, and immediately follows the networking lunch on September 9 (day 2 of GTR Asia 2026).
Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
10 Bay Front Avenue, Singapore 018956 | +65 6688 8888
Interested in sponsoring the 2026 Asia Forum? We can tailor your sponsorship package to meet your goals.
To discuss your sponsorship options, please contact:
Matthew Kaitz
Senior Director, Business Development
[email protected]
+1 (703) 200-9071