The BAFT Trade Finance Workshop is planned as an interactive virtual format, allowing you to attend the engaging sessions from wherever you are. Taking place over 3 days, 4 hours each day – it give everyone a chance to check in at work while still focusing on this important and fun information.
Speakers will be presenting virtually from around the globe. We’ve planned an fun, immersive experience, seamlessly integrating online participants and speakers, regardless of location. This approach ensures that no matter where you are located, you will be able to join the workshop discussions.
CDCS
CSDG
CITR
CSCF
The workshop is approved for 12 continuing professional development (CPD) units towards your CDCS, CSDG, CITR, and CSCF recertification. Grab the opportunity to learn and network while also advancing your professional standing in the trade finance industry.
This workshop is designed for a diverse audience within the trade finance ecosystem:
| Registration Type | Early Bird Price (until August 25)Virtual |
Regular Price (until September 8)Virtual |
Late Price (after September 8)Virtual |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | $995 USD | $1,095 USD | $1,250 USD | |
| Non-Member | $1,150 USD | $1,250 USD | $1,350 USD | |
| Team Rate* | *** $75 off *** | |||
*The team rate applies to institutions sending five (5) or more attendees at the full-priced registration rate. Complimentary and discounted rates do not count toward the group minimum. To register your team, please contact [email protected].
All times are in EST
10:30 AM - 10:40
AM
Speaker
Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Vice President
JPMorgan
10:40 AM - 11:15 AM
How have tariffs impacted global trade (geographical, Industry)
Speaker
Mark Garfield
Head, Global Financial Institutions
Zions Bancorporation
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Speaker
Michael Avidon
Senior Counsel
Moses & Singer LLP
Frank Fortes
Director, Global Trade Finance Operations
TD Securities
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Speaker
Normand Girard
Director Global Trade Operations
BMO Financial Group
Subha Srinivas
Operations Group Manager – Vice President
U.S. Bank
12:15 PM - 12:25 PM
12:25 PM - 1:25 PM
Return of the Mock Court, a fan favorite!
Judge
Michael Evan Avidon, Esq
Senior Counsel
Partner and Co-Chair, Banking and Finance Group
Moses & Singer LLP
Case: Standby’s
Melissa Luster
Trade Services, Sales & Support
Sam Hodges
Analyst, Trade Service Operations
MUFG
Case: Guarantees
Pearl Fortugno
Senior Analyst
TD Securities, Global Trade Finance
Ukamaka Okpara
Team Lead – Standby Letters of Credit and Guarantee
Global Trade Operations – BMO Financial Group,
Case: Standby’s
Kris Siebel
Former: Chair, BAFT Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee Committee
1:25 PM - 2:25 PM
Speakers
Agnes Martinez
Senior Vice President – Group Manager Trade Finance Operations
City National Bank
Michael Roldan
Supervisory Special Agent (SSA)
FBI
Joe Scidurlo
Training Specialist and People Leader
City National Bank
2:25 PM
Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Vice President
JP Morgan
All times are in EST
10:30 AM - 10:35 AM
Speaker
Normand Girard
Director Global Trade Operations
BMO Financial Group
10:35 AM - 11:15 AM
Game Host
Ellen Muench
VP – Trade Capital Markets Back Office Team Lead, Operations & Technology
Associated Bank
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Ever Popular and Interactive - this session will challenge your understanding of Standby LC's.
Speakers
Agnes Martinez
Senior Vice President – Group Manager Trade Finance Operations
City National Bank
Ukamaka Okpara
Team Lead, Standby Letters of Credit and Guarantee
Global Trade Operations – BMO Financial Group
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Speakers
Lisa Chin
Global AML Head of Trade Finance Advisory
MUFG
Renata Hazelman
Americas AML Advisory
MUFG
Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Vice President, J.P. Morgan
Chair, BAFT Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee Committee
Joseph Phillips
Senior Manager, Financial Crime Risk Business Oversite (US), Trade Finance AML
TD Bank
12:30 PM - 12:40 PM
12:40 PM - 1:25 PM
Speaker
Danielle Austin
SVP, International Trade Finance Sales Manager
Columbia Bank
1:25 PM - 1:50 PM
Glenn Ransier
Principal Product Manager
Wells Fargo Bank
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM
Speakers
Gerardo Gutierrez-Olvera Cabrales
Executive Director Head Trade Finance & International Business
Banorte
Dyanne Carenza
Vice President & Global Head of Trade and Supply Chain Finance
Scotiabank
David Cooperman
Head of Business Development Americas and Global Head of Partnerships
Complidata
2:30 PM
Speaker
Normand Girard
Director Global Trade Operations
BMO Financial Group
All times are in EST
10:30 AM - 10:35 AM
Speaker
Agnes Martinez
Senior Vice President – Group Manager Trade Finance Operations
City National Bank
10:35 AM - 11:15 AM
Speaker
David Tannenbaum
Director
Blackstone Compliance
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
Speaker
Lorna K Strong
Associate Programme Director, MSc Law and Finance
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Speaker
Fiore Petrassi
Vice President
JPMorgan
Kris Siebel
Former: Chair, BAFT Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee Committee
12:30 PM - 12:40 PM
12:40 PM - 1:20 PM
Speakers
David David
Senior Logistics Sales Executive
ARC Air Logistics, Inc.
Melissa Luster
Trade Services, Sales & Support
1:20 PM - 2:25 PM
Moderator
Kris Siebel
Former: Chair, BAFT Standby Letter of Credit/Guarantee Committee
Speakers
Frank Fortes
Director, Global Trade Finance Operations
TD Securities
Normand Girard
Director Global Trade Operations
BMO Financial Group
Fiore (Frank) Petrassi
Vice President
JPMorgan
2:25 PM
Speaker
Agnes Martinez
Senior Vice President – Group Manager Trade Finance Operations
City National Bank
Sorry, no event speakers were found.
The 2026 Virtual Trade Finance Workshop is being hosted online via Zoom.
The virtual workshop will be hosted via Zoom Webinar. For a seamless experience, you need to download Zoom to your device, if you don’t have it installed. On the day of the virtual workshop, you simply need to click the Zoom link provided to you.
To join the virtual event, simply click the link provided to you. Zoom works on computers, tablets, and mobile phones. There is also an option to dial-in if you are unable to join online. Dialing in will allow you to hear the discussion but you will not be able to view the speakers or any presentations. Please check the dial-in numbers, meeting ID and passcode provided to you with the online link.
Yes, BAFT will send each registrant an email about 1 week before the workshop start date. The email will include the link to the workshop and dial-in information, including the meeting ID and passcode in case you cannot join online. The dial-in option offers local/toll-free numbers for several countries. You can always contact [email protected] if you have issues logging in to the virtual workshop. There will be a different Zoom link for each day of the workshop.
The workshop will be recorded and sessions approved by speakers to be posted will be available on-demand to all registered attendees post-workshop. An email will be sent to all attendees once the recording is available. Please note it will take at least 2 weeks (possibly longer) for the video to become available.
Please test ahead of time to ensure you can join the workshop via Zoom. Zoom works on different devices – computers/laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. If you cannot access Zoom due to firewall or company restrictions, please check with your IT team if they will give you a one-time exception. Alternatively, try joining via a non-company-issued device or dial into the workshop instead.
Yes, you can certainly ask questions via the Q&A feature during each session. Polling is available in certain sessions and attendees are encouraged to utilize the chat feature as well to dialogue with each other.
For more information, please contact:
Matthew Kaitz
Director, Business Development
[email protected]
+1 (202) 663-5556