We are excited to open our Call for Speakers for the 2026 BAFT Global Annual Meeting taking place on May 3 – 6, 2026 in Orlando, FL. We are seeking thought-provoking, engaging speakers and subject matter experts. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to submit an application no later than Monday, December 8, 2025.
Proposal Guidelines
We encourage a diverse group of speakers, including diversity in expertise, gender, institution/company, and regional representation.
Submit one form per session theme with no more than three (3) speakers.
Speakers must be available to participate in-person – no exceptions.
Speakers are expected to contribute as thought leaders and experts in the specific topic, not to promote or sell a product or service.
BAFT does not pay speaker fees or cover travel-related expenses.
Conference Themes
We welcome speakers to submit their interest for one of the following session themes.
The Macro Reset: Geopolitics, Fragmentation & Global Trade Flows
Shifting economic blocs and supply-chain realignment
Trade fragmentation, sanctions, and regulatory divergence
Emerging markets as growth engines
The future of multilateralism and global standards
The Next Era of Transaction Banking
Where transaction banking is heading over the next decade
Operating model transformation and the role of data, digital platforms, and ecosystem partnerships
Consolidation vs. specialization trends among global banks
New competitive dynamics with fintechs, challenger FIs, and non-bank liquidity providers
The Future of Cross-Border Payments
Interoperability, ISO 20022 migration maturity, and global instant payment rails
Purpose-built CBDC and tokenized payment experiments
Progress on G20 cross-border payment targets
The evolving role of correspondent banking
Trade Finance in Transition
Digitization mandates, e-rulebooks, and legal reforms (MLA, MLETR, etc.)
Shifts in supply chain finance models and working capital demands
MDB/DFI involvement, derisking, and new forms of blended finance
Trade credit insurance and risk distribution innovations
AI as an Industry Inflection Point
Strategic impact of AI on transaction banking, payments, and trade
AI risk governance, model transparency, and regulatory expectations
AI in fraud, cybersecurity, and resilience
Workforce transformation and capability building
Tokenization, Digital Assets & the Programmable Future
Real-world asset tokenization and implications for liquidity, collateral, and settlement
Interplay between stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and CBDCs
Early lessons from pilots and market infrastructure modernization
Regulatory approaches across key markets (US/EU/Asia/LatAm)
Financial Crime, Threat Intelligence & Global Resilience
AI-enabled fraud and cybercrime escalation
Cross-border information-sharing challenges
Sanctions, AML, and KYC/KYCC risk management under intensifying scrutiny
Building industry–government coordination and response frameworks
Modernizing Global Supply Chains: Technology, Transparency & Resilience
Nearshoring and geopolitical shifts
Traceability and ESG data requirements
AI/IoT/logistics innovations
Impacts on financing and risk management
Client Expectations, Embedded Finance & the Platform Economy
Corporate client needs in a digitizing, 24/7 economy
Embedded trade/payments solutions within corporate platforms
Bank–fintech–platform partnerships
Real-time servicing, APIs, and the future client experience
Global Regulatory Outlook
Basel reforms, capital treatment for trade and payments
AI regulation, digital asset frameworks, operational resilience mandates
Divergence in global regulatory paths and impact on cross-border operations
How banks can influence global standards bodies
Liquidity, Capital, and the Cost of Cross-Border Banking
Macroeconomic and rate cycle implications
Liquidity management across jurisdictions
Increased capital requirements and their impact on product viability
New funding sources and risk distribution models
Leadership, Workforce & the Future of Talent
What senior leaders need to build next-gen transaction banking organizations
Skills gaps in AI, data, cybersecurity, and digital product
Diversity, global mobility, and workforce resilience
Culture, change management, and leadership in transition
The Economics of Transaction Banking: Fee Compression, Revenue Mix & Growth Models
Margin pressures in payments and trade
New revenue streams (data services, platform connectivity)
How banks are rethinking P&L composition and global footprint strategy
Banking Infrastructure Modernization & Cloud Strategy at Global Scale
Cloud migration and digital core modernization
Resilience, data governance, and cross-border data restrictions
Interoperability between legacy and next-gen systems
Partnerships, Ecosystems & the New Competitive Landscape
Bank–fintech orchestration models
Big tech and platform encroachment
Co-development with clients, industry utilities, and market infrastructures
Building and managing global networks in a fragmented environment
Insights on Trade Risk & Historical Defaults
Historical trade finance default data
Evolving trade models and cross-industry risk trends
Possible speaker – ICC
Proposals will be reviewed by the BAFT Program Planning Committee. Session themes will further be refined by the program planning committee to best align with the overall conference program.
Due to the expected volume of speaker applications, only accepted speakers will be contacted by no later than the end of February, 2026. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we carefully review all submissions and assess program fit.
