2026 Speakers

Naresh is a member of the Policy and Technical team at the Association of Corporate Treasurers. One of his areas of focus is payments and he regularly meets with the payments team at the Bank of England and has been a member of FCA and pay.uk panels (including one on Confirmation of Payee). Prior to joining the ACT, Naresh was a treasury consultant with PwC and led cash management and payments for the firm. Additionally he brings 20 years of operational treasury experience and has advised a FinTech on their regulatory payment authorisation.

Ioannis Kympritis is Head of Growth at Hercle, a leading institutional infrastructure platform for cross-border payments & liquidity. He has led the company’s commercial expansion from the ground up, scaling Hercle’s client base to over 200 institutions through strategic partnerships and go-to-market execution. Ioannis brings a hands-on approach to growth in the digital assets space, with deep expertise in driving institutional adoption at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets.

Evelien Witlox is the program director in charge of the Digital Euro project of the ECB. She has extensive managerial experience in the payments industry, amongst others as Global Head of Payments within ING and General Director Products and Innovation within equensWorldline. She has been board member of both European Payment Council and European Automated Clearing House Association. She has driven the roll out and implementation of EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa), Instant Payments and PSD2 on an European level in her respective companies. She has a master degree from the Technical University of Eindhoven and from Tilburg University.

Bruno Lawaree has been Group Treasurer of Ferrero since January 2023. Prior to joining Ferrero, Mr. Lawaree held various positions within treasury management and consulting at Natura &Co, Eaton Corp, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LeviStrauss, and Accenture.

Michelle Saifullina is Group Head of Tax and Transfer Pricing at a pan‑European private bank, where she oversees transfer pricing, VAT, and corporate tax across multiple jurisdictions. She works closely with senior leadership and the Board to translate complex tax and regulatory requirements into clear, pragmatic, and risk‑aware business decisions. Her focus is on positioning transfer pricing not only as a compliance obligation, but as a strategic tool to align value creation, operating models, and governance. She has led the end‑to‑end design and implementation of the bank’s transfer pricing framework, including policy setting, documentation, and operational embedding.

Prior to moving in‑house, Michelle built her experience in Big Four advisory roles, covering the full transfer pricing lifecycle from structuring and design to documentation and audit defence.

She is a founding member of the Luxembourg Transfer Pricing Association and a regular speaker within the tax and transfer pricing community.

Georgia Kalpakli  is a graduate of the Higher School of Economic Sciences and holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Banking Management. She is a Credit & Risk Manager with over 32 years of experience in industries across various sectors (Automotive – Flour Industry), including the last 17 years in the food industry, specializing in meat processing and meat products at ELVIDA FOODS SA.

She has developed credit policy models based on risk analysis and thorough evaluation of transactional behaviors.

A key characteristic of her work is the alignment and adaptation of credit policies to the evolving needs of businesses, ensuring full integration with financial goals, improvement of cash flows, and the safeguarding of corporate assets.

She is an active member of the Hellenic Association of Treasures H.A.T. and an active member of the Hellenic Association of Credit Managers HA.RI.MA of the organization Fenderation of European Credit Management Associations FECMA.

Nagam Al-Kadhi Deputy Treasurer at Canary Wharf Group, where she leads the Treasury team with responsibility for funding, liquidity, treasury operations, and transformation.

She has supported a range of refinancing and capital markets activity, including secured and unsecured financing, and her team manges the day-to-day obligations across these arrangements.

She has also been involved in treasury transformation programmes spanning cash management, systems, and operating model design.

With experience across multinational and highly regulated organisations, she works closely with banks, investors, shareholders, and credit rating agencies, and contributes to treasury reporting for investors relations.

She also serves as Chair and member of ACT Policy & Technical Advisory Team, contributing to industry guidance and best practice.

Karen Van den Driessche is a Global Treasury Executive with extensive experience across multinational and Private Equity–backed organizations. She specialises in driving financial discipline, enhancing cash performance, and strengthening financial resilience through strategic liquidity management, capital structure optimization, and risk governance.

Karen currently serves as VP Group Treasurer & Head of Tax at Lipton Teas and Infusions. She is also President of the Association of Treasury Experts in Belgium (ATEB) and Deputy Chair of the European Association of Corporate Treasurers (EACT), where she actively contributes to shaping the future of the treasury profession.

Hannes began his career as a Junior Project Finance Manager at Raiffeisenbank International and as an Assistant Professor at the Vienna University of Business and Economics before joining Siemens in October 2000. Over the past 25 years with the company, he has held a wide range of expert and leadership roles across Finance and Treasury, spanning Project and Export Finance, Structured Finance, Trade Finance, Pension Management, and Insurance.

For the past six years, Hannes has focused on Treasury with a regional remit across North and Eastern Europe and the Middle East, specializing in Cash and Liquidity Management as well as Payments. He combines deep expertise in navigating treasury complexities within highly regulated economies with a strong track record in driving innovative cash management and payment solutions. Hannes is also an experienced speaker, having contributed to multiple international industry conferences.

Isabelle Badoux leads Global Treasury Operations, Systems, and Treasury Transformation at Sanofi, where she especially drives the modernization and optimization of the company’s Treasury infrastructure and processes. She was instrumental in executing Sanofi’s multi-year Treasury Core Model transformation, including the global deployment of SAP S/4HANA treasury capabilities across the enterprise. Her extensive background in senior treasury roles at major American multinationals brings deep expertise in cash and risk management, liquidity optimization, and operational excellence to her leadership.

Chiara advises the European Association of Corporate Treasurers on its advocacy strategy in relation to payments. Chiara works as an EU public affairs consultant at FleishmanHillard Brussels and specialises in payments and crypto legislation. Prior to this, she worked at the   European Commission and with Confindustria.  She holds a BA in International Relations from University of Essex, and Masters in Policy Analysis from Bocconi University.

Florence Ségurel is the President of the Payment Commission of the Association of French Treasurers (AFTE), Vice-President of the French National Committee on Payments (CNMP) and a member of the European Retail Payments Board (ERPB). After 20 years in various finance, accounting and auditing roles, she has served as Head of Payments for SNCF Voyageurs between 2021 and 2025. Florence Ségurel holds a Master’s degree in management and is also a chartered accountant.

Ms Santos is a Policy Officer in the Retail Financial Services and Payments Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA).

She joined DG FISMA as a Bluebook Trainee in October 2022 and became a Policy Assistant in March 2023.

Prior to joining DG FISMA, she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels (2019-2022).

Kevin is a Director in PwC’s Treasury Consulting practice and has spent the past years guiding international corporates through their end‑to‑end Treasury transformation journeys. He brings hands‑on experience in designing Treasury operating models and selecting and implementing  Treasury systems and banking infrastructures.

Elie Lewi started his central banker career in 2002 when he joined the Banque de France investment division. He managed, during 5 years, foreign exchange reserves for Banque de France, the ECB and another Eurozone national central bank.

After working a few years for the French Market Authority (AMF) as an inspector dealing with market abuse investigations, he developed and promoted investment services for foreign central banks and institutions.

Starting from 2013, he supervised the department in charge of financial market analysis as well as the implementation of Asset Purchase Programs.

In February 2020, he became Head of Banque de France’s Markets Directorate, which oversees 3 dealing rooms and covers foreign exchange reserve management, FX operations and the provision of investment services to foreign central banks, as well as back-office and custody activities.

Elie Lewi is a graduate of ESSEC Business School and Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris. Born in 1976, he’s a French citizen.

Kirsty Craig leads the EMEA & APAC Treasury Operations for General Mills, Inc. (GMI), a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The GMI portfolio includes Cheerios, Betty Crocker & Häagen-Dazs. A Fortune 500 company, GMI is headquartered in Minneapolis, USA and is listed on the NYSE.

Craig’s scope covers Cash & liquidity, In-House Banking, Foreign Exchange hedging & Bank Account management topics. She is also involved in M&A & Treasury optimisation initiatives.

Craig is based in Nyon, Switzerland. Prior to this role, she worked on Foreign Exchange Hedging topics at EATON, in Switzerland and in India.

Markus Schiffers – Managing Director & Deputy CEO, Head of Clients: Corporates & Funders Markus has over 25 years of experience in financial services. He started his career at Deutsche Bundesbank, before holding various management positions for 15 years at Siemens Financial Services in Germany and the US from 2000. As Head of Supply Chain Finance@Siemens, Markus worked in Siemens Treasury where he led global teams that developed and implemented the Siemens-wide supply chain finance program with Orbian. Prior to joining Orbian in 2018, Markus led the Business Development at an Asset Management and a Fintech Company in Switzerland.

Since joining Ant Group in 2016, Kelvin took a number of leadership roles in our Global Funds & Treasury team where he led the team in building the world’s leading next-generation global liquidity and treasury system leveraging cutting-edge in-house developed DLT and AI technology to support the growing needs of our corporate clients in a more scalable and sustainable manner. Under Kelvin’s leadership, together with our major partner banks including JP Morgan, Citibank, SCB, HSBC and Barclays, we were able to propel transformation of FX and liquidity management framework connecting five global treasury hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, New York and London, covering more than 100 currencies. Ant Group was awarded the Adam Smith Awards Asia in 2021 as the winner in the best liquidity management solution.Prior to joining Ant Group, Kelvin was the Head of Corporate Solutions Group for the Citigroup China from 2010-2016. He was also the Head of FX of JP Morgan China from 2009 to 2010. Kelvin is an alumni of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Bénédicte Frère is Virtual Account Solutions Product Manager as well as Product Marketing Manager for Payment and Receivables at BNP Paribas, where she specializes in driving product strategies and marketing initiatives. With 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, she focuses on developing customer-centric solutions and improving product positioning to meet market demands. At BNP Paribas, Bénédicte plays a key role in aligning product offerings with customer needs, leveraging her expertise in virtual account solutions and marketing. She is actively engaged in industry events, in particular to share her expertise on the strategic benefits of virtual accounts for corporate treasurers.

Bruno Mellado is the Global Head Payments and Receivables at BNP Paribas. Since arriving at BNPP he has been building the Cash Management product offer in Europe. Prior to that, Bruno served as advisor for the U.S. and Canadian Federal Government on technology and project management. He holds an MBA in Finance from Solvay Business School, Belgium and a BCOMM in Business Administration and Marketing from Queen’s University, Canada.

Clare Rowley is the Head of Business Operations at the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (GLEIF) where she plays a pivotal role in steering global strategy, fostering international partnerships, and advancing the worldwide adoption of the Global Legal Entity Identifier System. In this capacity, she leads GLEIF’s global business development initiatives and oversees strategic partner relationship management programs. Collaborating closely with the GLEIF CEO and key stakeholders worldwide, Ms. Rowley is instrumental in shaping the future of legal entity identification and enhancing transparency across global financial ecosystems.

Bringing a wealth of experience from the public sector, Ms. Rowley previously served at the United States Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), where she led technology initiatives aimed at strengthening bank resolution frameworks. Ms. Rowley is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Master of Science in Predictive Analytics from Northwestern University. With a strong track record in data-driven decision-making and financial system modernization, she is a recognized leader in the intersection of regulatory technology, financial stability, and global standard-setting.

Veronica Iommi was appointed Secretary General of IMMFA in August 2019.
Veronica joined IMMFA from BNY Mellon where she was European Bank General Counsel and EMEA
Head of Public Policy.
Prior to that, Veronica was General Counsel for LCH.Clearnet SA in Paris and for many years at Credit
Suisse, where she performed several roles, including Head of Legal and Compliance for France and
Monaco.
She also spent five years at Goldman Sachs as a lawyer in their Investment Banking Division and
commenced her career at Clifford Chance where she qualified as a solicitor into their International
Capital Markets Department.
Veronica has legal and regulatory expertise in investment banking, asset management, private
banking, custody and clearing house activities.
Veronica has worked and lived across Europe and speaks several European languages, including
French, Spanish and Italian. She is on the Roll of Solicitors for England and Wales and for the Republic
of Ireland.

Jacques is Air Liquide Deputy Chief Financial Officer. He joined the world leader in Gases, Technologies and Services for Industry and Health in 2011 as Group Treasurer, reporting to the Executive VP & Group CFO.

He now covers more particularly Group Financing & Treasury, Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Finance mobilities and Finance Transformation for the company since mid-2019.

Before Air Liquide, he has held several positions in the Treasury and Financing area since 1996, first within the Alcatel-Alsthom Group (in France and abroad), then as Publicis Groupe International Treasurer from 2003. Between 2008 and 2011, he was in charge of structuring and executing risk hedging solutions at Société Générale bank.

Jacques holds a Masters’ degree in Financial Engineering from Panthéon-Sorbonne University, and is a graduate of the French Society of Financial Analysts (SFAF). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the French Association of Corporate Treasurers (AFTE).

Tariq Kazi is President of the Association of Corporate Treasurers UK and Group Treasurer of Peabody Trust, a not-for-profit provider of social housing in London. He is a former corporate banker and auditor, and brings non-executive board member experience across public sector and impact-led organisations.

Hélène Baudchon joined BNP Paribas’ Economic Research Department in October 2011 as a Senior Economist. In March 2023, she was appointed Deputy Chief Economist and has been responsible for Macroeconomic Research in the Department since January 2025. From 2021 to early 2025, she headed the OECD Economics and Statistics team, covering the euro area economy as well as the United States, after having followed the French economy scope for ten years. In her current position, Hélène ensures global coverage of the economy for the department’s activities. She supervises and provides forecasts and analyses on economic policy, the economic situation as well as short- and longer-term economic prospects and issues. She writes articles on a wide range of economic topics and is a regular contributor to the French media.

Before joining BNP Paribas, Hélène had worked for six years at Crédit Agricole S.A., in the economists’ team as an economist covering the United States area. She started her career in 1995 at the Paris-based Observatoire Français des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE) being in charge of the US economy. Hélène holds a master’s degree in International Economics and Finance from Université Montesquieu in Bordeaux.

Pierre Fersztand is global head of BNP Paribas Cash Management, Trade Solutions, Payments and Factoring.

From 1989 until 1993, Pierre held several positions in the French Civil Service. He was subsequently appointed Prefect Adviser in the Ile de France Region, followed by Deputy Director at the cabinet of the Minister of Sports of France.

In 1998, Pierre joined BNP Paribas where he was responsible for the creation of innovative products, services and solutions. He was subsequently appointed General Manager of Interbank society, SEME (then BMS) to launch the electronic purse “Moneo” in 1999.

Since July 2005 Pierre has been global head of Cash Management for the BNP Paribas Group.

In 2017 Pierre was appointed global head of Trade Solutions and in 2021 global head of Factoring for the BNP Paribas Group, in addition to his existing responsibilities.

Pierre is a graduate of the prestigious École Polytechnique and has an MBA from Collège des Ingénieurs, France.

Steven Lenaerts, Global Head Channels and Digital Transformation, Cash Management Competence Center, BNP Paribas Cash Management

Based in Brussels, Steven is heading BNP Paribas Cash Management’s corporate connectivity solutions, its associated payments, reporting and treasury services, and the digital enablement of its corporate clients. Before joining cash management over a decade ago, Steven held various positions covering internal audit, commercial banking and business development. He holds a master degree in Applied Computer Science from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and an MBA from the Vlerick Business School in Belgium.

Joseph Gesnouin is BNPP’s Chief of Staff to Head of AI & Innovation for IT and  Head of AI for Transaction Banking, overseeing Group AI strategy and its implementation with an operational management on Transaction banking AI applications.

Prior to join BNP Paribas, Joseph was Senior Data Scientist at the General Directorate for Public Finances (DGFiP) from the French Ministry of the Economy and Finances. His service oversaw advising French Ministry of Finances on LLM application to streamline Budget preparation, fraud fighting and other strategic activities. Joseph also has experience as AI visiting Lecturer at the renowned French Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines from Paris before joining BNP Paribas. Joseph has an Engineering PhD dedicated to AI applied for automotive from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines from Paris, in France. His research works were awarded by various recognized research prizes including the best young researcher in Robotics from the French National Centre for Scientific Research.