Mădălina is a senior banker with 18 years of experience in banking industry on corporate lending area. She is acting now as Head of Corporate Lending Product Management Department in BCR, covering Plain Vanilla Lending Products, Supply Chain Financing as well as Financing Programs.
Her experience covers multiple areas like: corporate lending process redesign, implementation of Workflows System, multiple projects for product and process optimization which allowed her to promote internally, via trainings and presentations the business outcome.
She holds an EMBA from Vienna University (WU).
Dana is Executive Director acting as Head of Special Exposure Management Network Units Department within Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI), headquartered in Vienna since 2016. She is leading a team of international workout specialists that manage large non-retail restructuring cases and portfolio strategies, steering the underlying processes within RBI.
After spending nearly 20 years working in loan workout, Dana knows what truly drives non-performing loan (NPL) reduction within Central and Eastern Europe and current challenges of the financial institutions within a highly volatile and business environment. She has been recently selected within experts of the European Commission NPL Advisory Group having as main mission support the implementation of the European action plan to tackle NPLs’ post pandemic.
In addition to her extensive practical experience, Dana is also specialist in turnaround and insolvency, being member of INSOL Europe, Turnaround Management Romania and UNPIR. Dana holds an EMBA in General Management from the University of Sheffield and graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest. She is passionate learner and effectively engaged into digital transformation. Public professional speaker and a strong ambassador of diversity & inclusion.
Laurențiu is a senior expert with relevant international experience in market risk management, treasury and Assets and Liabilities Mangement. He holds a PhD in Risk Management as well as a multiple specialized diplomas in the field.
Laurențiu have over 10-year experience as a Head of ALM and Market Risk with ING Bank where he helped implementing risk management for balance sheet in Romania for new universal banking concept and over 15 years experience in risk management (market, liquidity, operational and counterparty risk).
Previously, he has been in charge in managing Market, Operational and Counterparty Risk Departments in several banks. Relevant for his experience are also the decisions positions held in many relevant managing committes (ALCO, Strategic Balance Sheet Management, Liquidity Coordinator etc). Currently, he is Senior Expert Treasury and ALM at EY Romania.
Cristina has over 18 years of experience in the EU funded projects, having held various positions in companies and public authorities, being responsible with the development and implementation of the EU projects.
Currently, she is expert in an EU technical assistance project for the Romanian Authority for Digitalization, RAD (ADR – Autoritatea pentru Digitalizarea Romaniei), having the role to support public institutions in defining project ideas, drafting the funding and implementation applications for Operational Competitiveness Program 2014 – 2020, Axis 2 – Information Technology and Communication.
Throughout her career, Cristina has been giving presentations and seminars for various national and international organizations.
George has over 15 years of experience in the field of EU funding programs – within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development or within its various subordinating institutions -, in managerial positions: head of dept., general manager, State Secretary etc., being responsible with the implementation of the EU funds in agriculture, rural development, fishery and maritime affairs.
Currently, he is the Director of the Dept. for Financing Rural SMEs for Non-Agriculture Investments in the National Program for Rural Development at The Agency for Rural Investments Financing, ARIF (AFIR – Agentia pentru Finantarea Investitiilor Rurale).
George is often invited as speaker at relevant conferences and events on accessing, implementing and monitoring EU funding programs and he is also giving lecturers and seminars on these topics.
Mihaela-Corina Bouleanu is currently Compliance Executive Director at OTP Bank Romania SA, having over 16 years expertise in financial-banking area both public and private domain, participating in the implementation of several essential projects regarding the national legal and regulatory framework, facilitating improved operational processes with high level of ethics, optimized “customer centricity” approach, enhanced by a proper risk management.
She represents and sustains the Romanian banking system as President of the Compliance Commission – Romanian Banking Association in the process of transposition within state’s authorities’ decision making process – consultations meetings and assemblies in the Romanian Senate and Parliament Chambers’ Commissions.
Mihaela is an authorized trainer and she has been lecturing the compliance related responsibilities and tasks, providing seminars for learning and development towards professionals, experts, top and middle management, covering KYC & AML/CFT & International Sanctions, Anti-Bribery & Corruption and Personal Data Protection areas or giving presentations in high profile conferences at the national level.
Chris Ansell, CFA has many years’ experience of Equity Markets in London and New York from his time as Investor Relations Manager in BT, the UK telecommunications company, and as senior Equity Analyst at Nomura.
He is now Course Director of MSC Global Finance at Coventry University London, a Visiting Fellow at Cranfield University, consults to companies on equity markets, and is a CFA instructor to clients in Asia, Europe and North America.
Chris holds an MA in Natural and Electrical Sciences from Cambridge University, MSc in Telecommunication and Information Systems from Essex University, MBA from Cranfield University, is a CFA Institute Charterholder, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Mihaela has over 20 years of experience in the financial markets; currently she is Compliance Director at S.I.F. Transilvania S.A., is an Alternative Investment Fund Manager. Previously, she has held various management positions in important banking and capital market institutions.
Within the financial market, she has experience in the field of capital market governance and in investment services such as: portfolio management, investment advisory, depository, custody, trading, listing on the BSE quota, financing of companies by issuing shares or bonds.
Mihaela is a business consultant and an authorized trainer for banking and capital markets. She has a degree in mathematics, a master in International Financial and Monetary Systems – ATTF Luxembourg and holds relevant international professional certifications such as: International Diploma in Compliance (ICA) and ACI Dealing Certificate.
Alice has worked for two decades in the banking industry in one of the most dynamic areas of banking, namely, in the treasury department. Prior to BRD – Groupe Société Générale, where she currently holds the position of Senior Derivatives Sales Dealer, Alice worked for Citibank Bucharest as a Foreign Exchange Derivatives sponsor.
Throughout the years, she worked extensively with clients from different sectors of the economy, focusing lately on growing and developing the business relationship with financial institutions.
Alice graduated from ICMA Centre, Henley Business School – University of Reading, with a Masters degree in International Securities, Investment and Banking (2011). She also holds professional certifications related to her area of expertize.
Alice is a member of ACI Romania and ATR – The Association of Treasurers of Romania.
Anca is a member of ACI Romania since 2008. She is a senior banker with 16 years of experience in banking industry, out of which 13 in Treasury and Financial Markets, currently acting as Senior Private Banker at First Bank Romania.
Her expertise started as a Trader where she handled price negotiation for FX and Money Market products for Corporate and Retail clients. After only one year she became a Senior Trader and helped creating and developing the Institutional Client base, highly important companies in terms of volumes, assets under management and products traded. Main goal was to offer quality services and competitive prices for all Treasury products.
Since 2014, she took over High Net Worth Individuals of the bank for which she offered active trading of financial products (Treasury, Capital Markets, Insurance, Real Estate) based on client’s investment objectives. Throughout this time, she actively participated in numerous presentations for enhancing the importance of portfolio diversification along with characteristics, risks and returns of financial products.
Vlad is a fixed income trader with 12 years of experience in capital markets in Raiffeisen Bank Romania.
He started in 2008 as a banknote’s trader, becoming in late 2009 a money market trader, position held until the end of 2012. Since 2013 he is a fixed income trader covering the local market. His responsibilities include all the activities related to proprietary trading and market making for the Romanian bonds (from inter-banking trades to a wide range of customers: private individuals, financial institutions, corporate clients).
He holds a PhD from The Faculty of Management – ASE Bucharest and professional certifications such as: CFA, ACI Certificate & Diploma.
Ionuț is the Head of the Cybercrime Academy within the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL), being responsible for developing the necessary knowledge and expertise on cybercrime in law enforcement authorities across Europe.
Previously, he was involved in capacity building programs aiming at strengthening legislation and institutional capacities on cybercrime as Senior Project Officer within Cybercrime Programme Office of the Council of Europe and also acted as a cybercrime investigator and the Head of the Dept for Combatting Online Frauds and Electronic Payment Frauds, within the Romanian Police, Central Cybercrime Unit having more than 14 years’ experience in the cybercrime field.
He is a certified trainer and he has provided seminars for financial sector professionals in Romania and abroad covering Online Money Laundering, Payment Card Fraud, Blockchain and Crypto Currencies and Measures for Combating Financial Criminality. Ionut holds a Bachelor degree in Law from the Police Academy, a Bachelor degree in Communication and Public Relations, from the National School of Political Studies and Administration and a Master’s degree in International Cooperation.
Daniel is an accredited trainer in various fields, an evaluator of competencies and, an evaluator of the Council of Europe (CoE) - MONEYVAL Committee in assessing the compliance of Member States' AML/CFT systems with international standards and recommendations for the 5th Round of evaluations.
He is also a Council of Europe Expert, providing training in AML/CFT for the Eastern Partnership. He was head of Romanian FIU for almost three years, a position from which he was involved in coordinating risk, operational and strategic analysis, enforcing the law in the field of AML / CFT and international sanctions and coordinating the transposition of European laws into national legislation.
This position followed more than 20 years of experience in the structures of the frauds investigation police, where he held various management positions. Starting November 2021, is the Head of Compliance Victoriabank – Group Banca Transilvania.
Steve is passionate about helping business, banking and finance professionals learn new skills and advance in their careers. Over the past 15 years, Steve has delivered thousands of days of consulting and training for global organizations such as the Big 4 accountancy firms, multinational companies, shared services centers, USAID, World Bank, ACCA, and many others, and had delivered training courses in over 30 countries across the globe.
Steve specializes in technical training in finance and accounting and in a range of human and people skills, such as change management, performance management, communication, and presentation skills. He holds a FCCA certificate from ACCA.
Anca is an actress, theater director, play writer, musician and drama professor. She holds a PhD in Performing Arts, a Master Degree in Theater Directing and a Bachelor in Arts from the National University of Theater and Film I.L. Caragiale Bucharest. She studied classical piano and canto at George Enescu Music Academy Bucharest. As an actress, Anca won various awards, such as: Best actress –Young actors Gala; Best comedy actress (for Puck/A midsummer night’s dream) – Critic’s Awards; Best performance – Augusta, Georgia, United States (for The Forces of Light); Best performance – I want to be an actress at Undercloud Independent Theater Festival; Composition Jury Award – Mamaia Music Festival. She also has an extensive experience as a professor of Drama and Theater Arts at universities in USA and Romania.
Gilda is a member on the Advisory Board of the Global Flourishing Study led by HARVARD University in collaboration with Baylor University and the founder and CEO of the Mental Toughness Institute (MTI) & Positive Ed. MTI uses cutting-edge insights from psychology, behavioural science, neuroscience, and world champions to help organizations develop a mental toughness attitude. Gilda is a positive psychologist and mental toughness expert with a Master in Education and a Doctorate in the conceptualization and application of mental toughness in organisations and education.
Gilda has completed numerous research studies, invited in international keynote presentations and strategic positive change programs for governments, private organisations etc, and she published many conference papers. She consults around the world Fortune 500 companies on best practices for integrating wellbeing, mental toughness and positive psychology domains into training and product design. Her vision is to empower individuals to fulfil their potential through human-centred, whole-person leadership, promoting sustainable flourishing across micro, mid, and macro levels.
Gilda is a member on the Advisory Board of the Global Flourishing Study led by HARVARD University in collaboration with Baylor University and the founder and CEO of the Mental Toughness Institute (MTI) & Positive Ed. MTI uses cutting-edge insights from psychology, behavioural science, neuroscience, and world champions to help organizations develop a mental toughness attitude. Gilda is a positive psychologist and mental toughness expert with a Master in Education and a Doctorate in the conceptualization and application of mental toughness in organisations and education.
Gilda has completed numerous research studies, invited in international keynote presentations and strategic positive change programs for governments, private organisations etc, and she published many conference papers. She consults around the world Fortune 500 companies on best practices for integrating wellbeing, mental toughness and positive psychology domains into training and product design. Her vision is to empower individuals to fulfil their potential through human-centred, whole-person leadership, promoting sustainable flourishing across micro, mid, and macro levels.
Narcisa Oprea has over 20 years of experience in corporate governance and capital markets. Currently, Narcisa is a partner (Bucharest) of Schoenherr law firm.
Prior to joining Schoenherr, Narcisa was head of the capital markets practice at a Romanian law firm, and until 2002 she was Head of Legal at the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Narcisa advised not only companies on corporate governance matters, but also investors seeking to protect their shareholders’ rights in listed companies.
Narcisa served as a non-executive board member of the Bucharest Stock Exchange and of the Corporate Governance Institute.
She is a regular speaker in conferences focusing on corporate governance, being also a trainer certified by the Financial Supervisory Authority.
Narcisa is a very active commentator in public debates on proposed regulations addressing corporate governance matters.
In 2004, Narcisa co-authored the OECD Report on the Romanian implementation of the OECD Corporate Governance Principles.
Adrian is a former superior officer within the Ministry of Interior and he holds a PhD in military science – Bioterrorism and Law Enforcement. He graduated FBI Academy, specialized in combating organized crime and terrorism.
He taught crisis management courses for the Business and Administration Faculty and led for 4 years the International Bioterrorism Prevention Programme for Interpol, teaching international classes on bioterrorism prevention and response, being a point of contact for cooperation with WHO, WCO, UN.
He was also a trainer for the International Atomic Energy Agency and lecturer for International and National Economy University in Sofia. Currently he is Country Corporate Security Officer and Country BCP Coordinator for Vienna Insurance Group companies in Romania.
Adrian is a senior banker with 20 years of experience in banking and financial markets.
He is a CFA charter holdersince 2006 and holds a PhD in International Finance. Adrian has 5-year experience as a Senior Options Dealer with ING Bank where he helped started the bank derivatives business in Romania and over 8 years’ experience in risk management (market, liquidity, operational, reputational and credit risk). Previously, he has been a Senior Economist in the Research Dept. of the National Bank of Romania for about 6 years. Adrian is also an Associate Professor with DOFIN – Doctoral School of Finance, ASE. Between 2011 - 2013, Adrian was the President of the Association of Financial-Banking Analysts in Romania and for the last 13 years Adrian has been a member of the CFA Romania Board of Directors, as well as the association’s President for seven years.
Carmen holds a PhD in Finance from ASE Bucharest and has been a lecturer in the Finance Department of the university since 2002, delivering courses and seminars on corporate finance, capital markets and business valuation.
Also, she is a senior financial markets professional with more than 15 years of experience in business valuation and financial markets analysis. Between 2017 and 2021, she was manager within the Valuation, Modelling and Economics sub service line of a Big4 consultancy company, while during 2010-2017 she was Head of Financial Markets Research of BRD-GSG Financial Markets Division.
Carmen gives lectures for CEFA qualification offered by EFFAS & AAFBR, being a member of AAFBR – The Association of the Financial and Banking Analysts in Romania.
Daniela is the President of AAFBR – The Romanian Association of Financial and Banking Analysts. She is a Senior Associate within the Valuation, Modeling and Economics subservice line of PwC Romania, being involved in business valuation, state-aid assistance, independent business review, impact studies and assistance in mergers and acquisitions.
She has 16 years of experience in capital market and advisory, out of which more than 12 years in analysis of private and public companies including market-based approach and the income approach in various sectors of activity. Also, starting 2019 she is a lecturer for the CEFA qualification offered by EFFAS & AAFBR.
She is the holder of the Certified International Investment Analyst (CIIA) – EFFAS and a member of ANEVAR (Romanian Association of Certified Valuators), being a certified valuator specialized in business valuation.
Mihai is currently senior analyst in the Corporate Finance Division of BRD-GSG, with his main responsibilities of exploring and analyzing companies that are eligible candidates for capital market and M&A transactions. Before joining corporate finance team of BRD-GSG in 2018, he gained a valuable experience as head of the Equity Research Dept. of BCR for a period of over ten years.
His main activities from this position were conducting in depth analysis and valuation of the most important companies listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BSE), with reports and investment recommendations released under Erste Group Research brand. Mihai has 20 years of experience in capital market and company valuation and graduated from ASE Bucharest, Faculty of Cibernetics, Statistics and Economic Informatics. Mihai holds an Investment Analyst certification granted by the Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) and he is member of AAFBR.
Mihai is currently a Board Member of CN Romarm SA. He has more than 20 years of professional experience in the banking, finance-accounting, and management consulting areas, out of which more than 12 years banking experience with Unicredit, BCR/Erste Group and World Bank, while the rest of experience consisting in auditing, financial analysis reporting & due diligence, valuation, M&A and other management consulting assignments performed with PwC, Rompetrol, as well as an independent consultant for other companies.
Mihai holds both international and national professional certifications: ACCA, CECCAR, CAFR. He is a lecturer for: CEFA qualification offered by EFFAS & AAFBR, ACCA exams and other various topics. Mihai is a member of AAFBR – The Association of the Financial and Banking Analysts in Romania.
Mihai has a broad experience in capital markets and financial investments, being involved for the past 15 years in managing some of the largest investment funds in Romania. He is a CFA charter holder since 2011 and holds a MBA in Financial Management with City University of Seattle (CityU).
He is currently the CEO of BRD Asset Management, a company that manages funds of over 1 billion EUR. Mihai was previously Chief Investment Officer at Erste Asset Management where he was in charge with implementing the strategy of investing over 1.5 billion EUR in assets: shares, bonds and derivatives. He is a Board Member of the CFA Society Romania, a Member in the Board of Directors of AAF and an Aspen Institute Fellow.
Top consultant, Mirela holds an impressive portfolio of international and national professional qualifications such as: FCCA, CIA, CAFR, CCF and CECCAR along with a solid academic background: a PhD in Accounting from ASE Bucharest and an MBA from Bentley University USA (graduated with High Distinction). She is a highly experienced practitioner, being a partner in a consulting firm. Her main fields of expertise covers: IFRS, Audit, Taxation, Budgeting, Business Planning, etc. Mirela is also an accredited trainer with applied teaching experience both in classroom and on-line courses delivered to professionals looking to acquire additional practical skills, enhanced understanding and solutions in the fields of the trainings.
Laurel Herman is founder and CEO of Positive Presence, a consultancy for smart business leaders that helps them become exceptional through optimising their Executive Presence.
She is recognised as a leading authority, innovator and thought-leader and is a regular commentator on working practices and cultures. With lifelong experience across the globe, she is renowned as an expert in all aspects of personal effectiveness, confidence & presence. A sought-after speaker, moderator and panellist, Laurel is also the author of numerous articles and a definitive book commission by the UK Chartered Institute of Management that sold worldwide.
Laurel is a trusted personal advisor for many high-profile men and women as well as a mentor for several up-and-coming stars. She also leads a private client practice, is the Founder and Chief Ambassador of a charity to gain better employment opportunities for autistic individuals and is the Founder and Chair of an exclusive network for international board-level women.
James is an environmental economist who works with global clients to ensure that investment decisions are sustainable and efficient. His clients include financial institutions, donors, municipalities, governments, multinationals, and organizations in the public sector.
James has served as a principal management consultant, leading integrated multidisciplinary teams to support investments in the global energy transition. Currently, he supports clients navigating the context of ESG, TCFD, TNFD, and Net Zero reporting.
He holds a PhD in economics from the University of Gothenburg and is a fellow at Exeter Business School.
Andrew is Professor of Governance and Strategic Leadership at the UK’s Henley Business School, and also an Emeritus Professor of International Management Development at Cranfield University’s School of Management.
He is currently embarked on a major million global study of boardroom effectiveness and governance practice, with the participation of a number of governments including British Ministers of State. His top team database covers 43 nations and many thousands of private and public-sector organizations.
He holds a number of international Visiting Professorships and Fellowships and has published 45 books, over 230 articles and 18 monographs. Andrew has been made one of ten lifelong members of Thinkers50, the listing of the world’s top 50 business and policy thinkers.
Patrick Dunne, renowned for his award-winning book "Boards" and author of three other successful books on the subject, is an experienced Chair with a wealth of experience working with boards across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America.
Currently, he serves as the Chair of the board consultancy Boardelta and the charities The EY Foundation and ESSA- Education Sub Saharan Africa. Patrick brings extensive executive experience having spent over 26 years at Air Products and 3i Group plc, as Communications Director, member of the Operating Committee and Chairman of Operational Risk forum.
Patrick's commitment to education is ongoing, as shown by his past involvement as a member of the General Council of the University of Warwick, along with his current roles as a Visiting Professor at Cranfield School of Management and an Associate Fellow at Warwick Business School.
Recognized for his contributions, Patrick was awarded an OBE in the Kings Honours list in 2023 for his services to charity and philanthropy in Africa and the UK.