





















The Financial Centres Summit
Presented by Finance Dublin and Financial Services Ireland
Summit Programme
Was held on: Tuesday October 17th 2017, Dublin Castle, Ireland
The Financial Centres Summit addressed key issues facing growth-oriented financial services businesses, offering delegates a comprehensive choice of sector and topic driven panels. See photos of the Summit here.
For details of the 2018 Summit click here
Every one of the sessions of the Summit offered cutting edge analysis, with an emphasis on innovations, fintech, and developments in the context of the major world forces at play in finance in 2017-2018, such as Brexit, new regulatory developments in the US, the EU and globally, and the continued rise in importance of Asia and the Middle East in the world financial services trade picture.
The Summit focused on: International Banking; Investment Funds & Asset Management; Market-Based Finance, Reinsurance, Specialty Insurance, International Life Assurance and Aircraft Leasing.
Innovations in financing, and business organisation were at the forefront of financial services in 2017, and Fintech consequently formed a theme in many of the Summit discussions. So did innovations in financing, such as in market based finance, and in areas such as aircraft leasing, and asset management and insurance.
The Summit is produced and directed by Finance Dublin and presented in collaboration with Financial Services Ireland, the Ibec constituent body for the financial services industry. It was be held in the Printworks Conference centre in Dublin Castle and the magnificent surroundings of Georges' Hall in the Castle complex.
Agenda:
The Summit Streams enabled delegates to participate in (a) sessions addressing global issues, and (b) day-long streams enabling delegates to attend sessions in accordance with their particular areas of interest in the following areas:
- BANKING, CLEARING, MARKETS & SECURITIES
- ASSET MANAGEMENT & INVESTMENT FUNDS
- INSURANCE
- FINTECH/BLOCKCHAIN
- AIRCRAFT LEASING & AVIATION FINANCE
- FINANCIAL CENTRES
Speakers:
Jonathan Hill
Baron Hill of Oareford, UK House of Lords
Jonathan Hill, a member of the UK House of Lords, was European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union from 2014 to 2016. He stood down immediately on the announcement of the results of the Brexit Referendum in June 2016. As Commissioner, he championed the EU's project for Capital Markets Union, speaking and visiting member states in the course of his Commissionership.
Clive Bellows
Executive Vice President Corporate & Institutional Services, Northern Trust - Dublin
As a member of the Northern Trust European Management Committee and Head of GFS EMEA, Clive also has overall responsibility for leading the company's Irish operations in Dublin and Limerick. He joined Northern Trust in May 2011. As part of managing Northern Trust's expanding and evolving servicing offering, he played a key role in ensuring the smooth integration of Northern Trust Securities Services (Ireland) Ltd following the acquisition of Bank of Ireland Securities Services, June 1st 2011. Prior to joining Northern Trust Clive was Managing Director at JP Morgan and responsible for EMEA asset managers and hedge funds. During his career spanning over 30 years, Clive has worked for Chase Manhattan Bank, Deutsche Bank and Barclays International. He also spent six years at Northern Trust in London, between 1997 and 2003, as Head of Relationship Management for the Global Fund Services and Investment Manager Liaison Group. Clive is an ex-President of the Irish Chamber of Commerce and is also a serving Board member of the Irish U.S. Council, Basis.point charity and Chambers Ireland.
William Slattery
Chief Executive Officer - International DST Financial Services, DST International Holdings Ltd
As both a regulator and industry leader William Slattery has been one of the most influential figures in both the creation and growth of Ireland's IFS industry. During his 23 year tenure at the Central Bank of Ireland he was instrumental in developing the Irish funds regulatory regime and the subsequent development of Ireland's world-class funds sector. Highly regarded in both the public and private sectors, the former head of State Street's Irish and Luxembourg businesses was a long-standing member of the Irish Government's IFSC Clearing House Group, is a former Chairman of Financial Services Ireland and was a member of the Public Expenditure Review Group, established by the Irish Government in 2009, as part of its response to the Irish economic crisis.
Winfried Bischoff
Chairman, Financial Reporting Council
Sir Win Bischoff is Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council in the United Kingdom and Chairman of JP Morgan Securities plc. He is a Director of S&P Global Inc, and is a member of the International Advisory Board of Akbank TAS, Turkey. He was previously Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group plc (2009-2014). Sir Win has substantial experience of leading complex international committees and boards. His background spans a range of sectors, including banking and capital markets, finance and government regulation and public policy. He was CEO and then Chairman of Schroders plc (1984-2000), Chairman of Citigroup Europe (2000-2009) and interim CEO and then Chairman of Citigroup Inc (2007-2009). Since 1983 he has served on the boards of 10 major public companies (5 in the UK, 3 in the US, 2 in Europe).
Kieran Donoghue
Head of International Financial Services, Corporate Strategy and Public Policy, IDA Ireland
Kieran Donoghue is Head of International Financial Services, Corporate Strategy and Public Policy at IDA Ireland. Since before the global financial crisis he has led the marketing of Ireland as a location for international financial services.
Catherine McGuinness
Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee of the City of London Corporation, City of London Corporation
As chair of the Policy and Resources Committee of the City of London Corporation she is responsible for taking a lead on policy issues affecting the UK financial and related professional services sector. She replaced outgoing policy chairman Mark Boleat in May 2017 with the aim of "ensuring the City remains a global financial centre after Brexit and will maintain "strong ties with political representatives both in the UK, EU and internationally". Outgoing policy chairman Mark Boleat said on her appointment: 'Handling the referendum and now Brexit has been a challenge for the City. There is much to do if London is to retain its pre-eminence in a post-Brexit world. I have complete confidence that Catherine will do a great job in representing the City and ultimately helping to secure a Brexit deal and domestic policy outcomes that will see the City continue to thrive.'
Ed Sibley
Deputy Governor, Prudential Regulation, Central Bank of Ireland
Ed Sibley was appointed Deputy Governor, Prudential Regulation on 1 September 2017. He is an ex-officio Member of the Central Bank Commission and is also a member of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank - Single Supervisory Mechanism. As Deputy Governor, Prudential Regulation, Ed is responsible for leading the supervision of credit institutions, insurance firms and the asset management industry. Prior to this appointment, he was Director of Credit Institutions Supervision, responsible for overseeing the Central Bank's supervisory work for all banks and credit unions operating in Ireland. He joined the Central Bank in 2012 in the Banking Supervision area. Ed has more than 20 years' experience working in the financial services sector. His previous experience includes working for the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) leading the supervision of European banks operating in the UK; and a variety of risk management roles in Bank of Ireland and PwC. Ed has an MBA from Smurfit Business School, and a degree in Economics.
Sean Flannery
EVP AMG & Technical Services, GECAS
Sean Flannery is the EVP AMG & Technical Services for GECAS. In this role, Sean holds responsibility for GECAS' global commercial engine leasing activity and technical services in support of both the aircraft and engine lease portfolio. In addition to P&L responsibility for an engine lease portfolio of $2.5Bn he has responsibility for global technical operations including developing and implementing technical policy related to the GECAS owned and managed aircraft and engine portfolios.
Ian Headon
Senior Vice President. Product Development Alternatives, Northern Trust Ireland
Ian Headon is responsible for technical development of, and regulatory deployment within, Northern Trust's depositary business across EMEA. He joined Northern Trust in May 2005. He has been Chairman of Irish Funds Task Force on AIFMD and is currently on the Industry's Alternatives Steering Group.
Kevin Wall
Chief Executive Officer, Barclays Bank Ireland PLC
Kevin joined Barclays in Dublin in May 2017 as Chief Executive Officer, Barclays Europe. Kevin previously served as Chairman of Corporate Banking and Vice Chairman, Investment Banking for Barclays based in London. Kevin joined Barclays as a graduate and has held client and product leadership roles in corporate and investment banking as well as in strategic planning and human resources. He has worked in the U.S., Australia, Asia and the U.K. Barclays Europe consists of the Barclays group European branches and businesses, with Dublin housing the European head office functions. Kevin graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Accounting and Financial Analysis from Warwick University. He is a shareholder non-executive director of the Business Growth Fund in the U.K.
Brian Hayes
Chief Executive, Banking & Payments Federation Ireland
Brian served as a member of both houses of the Irish Parliament from 1996 to 2014. In 2011, he was appointed as Minister of State at the Department of Finance. During his time as Minister of State, Brian attended Eurogroup, ECOFIN and Budgetary Council meetings on behalf of the Irish Government. Following his election to the European Parliament in May 2014, Brian was appointed to the European Parliament's Economic & Monetary Affairs Committee, Development Committee and Budgetary Control Committee. Brian was the European Parliament's rapporteur for the IORPS II Directive and shadow rapporteur for the Money Market Funds regulation and Pan European Pension Proposal (PEPP). He has also worked on the European Parliament's report on Fintech and on Third County Equivalence. He is the EPP Vice Coordinator on the ECON Committee. In September 2018 Brian was elected as Vice President of the ECON Committee. He was appointed as the new CEO of Banking & Payments Federation Ireland in April 2019.
Ken O'Brien
Summit Director, and Publisher, Fintel Publications
Ken O'Brien, FCSDublin, 2019 Director is the founder of Fintel Publications Ltd. He was formerly a Special Correspondent of the Wall Street Journal, and of AP Dow Jones and was Economics Correspondent and Deputy Business Editor of the Irish Times. He has economics degrees from Trinity College, Dublin University, and Waterloo University, Ontario.
Neil Ryan
Chief Operating Officer, Quaternion Risk Management
Neil joined Quaternion Risk Management, an Irish fintech company specialising in complex analytics, as COO in May 2016. In July 2011, he was appointed Assistant Secretary General at the Irish Department of Finance where he worked on the Troika programme and financial stability, initiated the IFS2020 strategy and represented Ireland on regional FSB committees. He was previously head of Fixed Income and Solutions for Ireland at UBS Investment Bank in London, CEO of Wells Fargo Bank International and the MD of Rhinebridge plc, a London-based SIV. He studied law at Trinity College Dublin and the London School of Economics and holds a MBA from London Business School.
Prof Sir John McCanny, BSc PhD DSc
GRI Director, Queen's University Belfast
Sir John is head of the UK's Innovation and Knowledge Centre for Cybersecurity, CSIT, at Queens University, Belfast, and its academic Principal Investigator. A driving force behind the creation of the Northern Ireland Science Park, a former board member of the Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork he has also founded, and sold, two technology companies based on his research activities. With cybersecurity identified as the top technology area of concern by Ireland's FS industry in the recent Finance Dublin/Deloitte Research Report , Professor McCanny, will address cybersecurity and financial services themes. He was the only Northern Irish person knighted in the 2017 honours list.
Chirag V Patel
Head of Research & Advisory EMEA, State Street Global Exchange
Chirag Patel is head of Innovation & Advisory Solutions in EMEA, a division of State Street Global Exchange. Chirag is responsible for clients in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with regional responsibility for a suite of products comprising Advisory, Information Solutions, and Investable Indices. In addition he serves as the EMEA head for State Street Associates, State Street's partnership with leading academics from the Harvard Business School and MIT's Sloan School of Management, conducting customized portfolio construction, risk management and investment strategy research for institutional investors.
Patrick Hannigan
President & Chief Commercial Officer, CDB Aviation
Pat Hannigan is President and Chief Commercial Officer of China Development Bank-owned CDB Aviation, the wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank, the world's largest development finance institution. He was a founding shareholder of Avolon in 2010 and served as CEO of Avolon's leasing joint venture with Wells Fargo. Previously, Hannigan served as Senior Vice President, Marketing, for RBS Aviation Capital (now SMBC). He also held the role of Vice President Marketing at GE Capital Aviation Services, where he managed the pricing and marketing support function, as well as led the development of the company's operations in the Middle East and Africa.
Richard Owen Walker
Head of Leasing & Investor Marketing, Airbus
Richard Walker is Head of Investor Marketing for Airbus, based in Toulouse, a post he has held since March 2013. He is also currently a Board member of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT). Since joining Airbus in 1997 he has held several positions within the Asset Management and Marketing divisions at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse and China, including Head of Customer Marketing for Airbus China. Prior to joining Airbus Richard worked for Airclaims (now Flight Ascend) as an Analyst, appraising and valuing aircraft. During this time he became an ISTAT Certified Appraiser. Richard's professional career began in 1988 at the UK Department of Transport Civil Aviation Policy Directorate, following his graduation from the University of Manchester.
Robert Watt
Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, Department of Finance, Ireland
Robert Watt is Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Department of Finance, Ireland. He is an economist and has broad experience in both the public and private sector. He has worked in a range of roles within the Department as well as previously working with Indecon Economic Consultants and London Economics.
Joe Gill
Contributing Editor, Aviation Finance
Joe is Contributing Editor, Aviation Finance, at: aviationfinance.aero the world-leading fortnightly publication on the financing and economics of air transport, and Director of Corporate Broking in Goodbody Stockbrokers.
Keith Boyfield
Managing Director, Keith Boyfield Associates
Keith Boyfield is an internationally recognised economist and the author of over ninety publications on public policy and planning issues, economic development and regulatory policy. He chairs the FCSDublin, 2018 Session on Developing Professional Services (12.00 hrs Oct 3rd), and has just spoken at the Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, (attended by over 10,000 delegates) coinciding with the visit of UK Prime Minister Theresa May, there in September in Abuja (See: his interview on CNBC Africa here ) , and, more recently, on Al Jazeera (at 6:50) , commenting on the implications of the Saudi journalist Kashoggi affair, including its impact on the Saudi investment conference in Riyadh this month.
Keith has been an adviser to the European Commission and he has also acted as a consultant to some of the world's largest companies , trade bodies and organisations, including Aon, the BBC, the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA), the Commonwealth Business Council, The Crown Estate, KPMG, Mott MacDonald Ltd., the Swiss Bankers' Association and Thomson Reuters plc. His consultancy work focuses on the agri-business, energy, financial services, media, property and transport sectors.
Keith has built up a strong relationship with several leading think tanks, notably the Centre for Policy Studies, founded by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Sir Keith Joseph. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and a Senior Fellow of the Adam Smith Institute. In addition, he is a Research Fellow of the European Policy Forum, chaired by Lord Tugendhat; the Kosciuszko Institute in Poland; and the Euro Gulf Information Centre, a recently established international relations institute located in Rome.
He has contributed to The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, The Daily Telegraph, City AM, The Yorkshire Post and La Razon in Madrid. He is also a frequent commentator on a range of international broadcast channels including Al Jazeera, the BBC and Radio France Internationale (RFI).
Michael Cullen
Chief Executive Officer, Investec Ireland
Michael Cullen serves as Chief Executive Officer of Investec Ireland a Specialist banking and Wealth Management business employing 230 in Dublin. Mr. Cullen has over 30 years experience in the financial markets having held senior roles within ICC and Citibank. Mr. Cullen was Chief Executive Officer of Gandon Securities since 1990. Mr. Cullen serves as a Non-Executive Director at The Irish Stock Exchange Plc. Mr. Cullen served as a Director of ISEQ Exchange Traded Fund plc - ISEQ 20 UCITS ETF since May 19, 2014. He graduated with a Masters degree in Business Studies from University College Dublin and is also a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Liam Lacey
Director, Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO)
Liam Lacey is Director of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) and formerly worked with Irish Continental Group as Managing Director of its Container and Terminal Division. He has extensive experience in shipping, chartering and port development. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland and holds a Masters Degree in management from Trinity College, Dublin. Before joining the IMDO, Liam lectured in the area of strategic management and innovation in NUI Maynooth. Liam was a member of IBEC's Transport Council, which represents the views of industry in the area of transport and logistics.
David Dalton
Partner, Global FS Blockchain Co-Lead, Deloitte
David Dalton is a Consulting Partner and is Deloitte's financial services industry leader in Ireland. He focuses on Asset Management and Asset Servicing and is the IM global consulting lead. David co-leads the EMEA Grid Blockchain Lab.
Colm Lyon
CEO and Founder - fire.com,
One of Ireland's leading fintech entrepreneurs, Colm Lyon is the founder and CEO of Fire Financial Services and also the founder and former CEO of Realex Payments. Colm led Realex Payments to a position as one of Europe's largest and most successful online payments businesses, processing in excess of €28 Billion per annum for 12,500 online retailers. In March 2015 Realex Payments was acquired by Global Payments in a deal valued at €115m, a transaction recognised as 'Financial Technology Deal of the Year' in 2015 in the Finance Dublin Deals of the Year Awards.
Pieter Burger
Partner, Financial Services Taxation, Deloitte
Pieter is a Partner in the Financial Services Tax department of Deloitte Ireland and currently leads the Irish firm's Aircraft Leasing & Finance Tax Group. Pieter has more than 15 years' experience advising on international corporation tax and Irish domestic tax matters, including aviation finance, banking, corporate treasury and structured finance. During his professional career, Pieter has acted as tax adviser to a number of multinationals, public bodies, large indigenous corporates, and other clients in the Aviation, Financial Services, Shipping, Energy & Resources, and Food & Beverage industries. He is a qualified lawyer and Associate of the Irish Taxation Institute. He also currently serves on the committee of the Irish Association of Corporate Treasurers and represents Deloitte Ireland at the Irish Debt Securities Association. Throughout his career, Pieter has contributed widely to a number of publications and has presented extensively on corporation tax matters both in Ireland and abroad. Pieter was also a lecturer on the Irish Taxation Institute's Certificate in Leasing Taxation programme.
Derek Andrews
International Investment Manager, Invest Northern Ireland
Derek is an Invest Northern Ireland, International Investment Manager. He manages the relationships with new Foreign Direct Investment opportunities to Northern Ireland. Derek's focus is in the Financial, Professional & Business Services and ICT sectors from initial scoping meetings throughout the world through to the inward visits, negotiations and delivery of a range of assistance packages at various Government levels. Derek has negotiated new investments with customers such as Firstsource Solutions, Axa Ireland, EY LLP, Deloitte, Convergys, Eishtec and more recently with Baker & McKenzie, Herbert Smith Freehills, Allen & Overy LLP, Axiom Inc, Tullett Prebon and Pearsons. These and other investments have generated over £300m in investment and have led to the creation of nearly 8,000 new jobs in Northern Ireland. Derek is a past, Chairperson of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Northern Ireland and Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. He has also been involved with Young Enterprise NI in order to raise interest and awareness of the world and entrepreneurship.
Shay Lydon
Partner, Matheson
Shay Lydon is a partner in the Asset Management and Investment Funds Group at Matheson. He practices corporate and financial services law and advises many of the world's leading financial institutions, investment banks, asset management companies and service providers carrying on business in Ireland or through Irish vehicles. Shay has advised a wide range of domestic, continental, UK and US investment banks and financial institutions in relation to the legal and regulatory issues relating to the structuring, establishment and operation of mutual and alternative investment funds in Ireland, their listing on the Irish Stock Exchange, and the restructuring and amalgamation of such funds. He has advised on the Irish interpretation and implementation of European financial services directives, and has liaised with foreign counsel in many EU member states and other countries with respect to the marketing of Irish investment funds in those jurisdictions. He has also advised in relation to the structuring, offer and sale of investment instruments, the public issuance of equity and debt securities, the provision of investment advice and other financial services. Shay was a member of the editorial committee of the inaugural edition of the Hibernian Law Journal. He has presented papers to client seminars and meetings on various topics relating to financial services regulation.
Paud O'Keeffe
Global Head of Client Digital Experience, BNP Paribas Securities Services
Paud O'Keeffe is the Global Head of Digital Client Experience at BNP Paribas Securities Services where he and his team recognise the critical role innovation must play in driving growth at BNP Paribas Securities Services amid accelerating disruptive forces and heightened customer expectations. A career Innovator, Paud and his team partner with BNP Paribas Securities Services' businesses to shepherd creativity and implement breakthrough solutions for clients. His experience prior to BNP Paribas spans multiple industries; financial services, public sector, advertising, education and information technology. Previous roles include Head of R&D at Citi Innovation Lab, Directory of Technology, Innovation and New Ventures at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Technical Director at Agency.com. Paud is Chairman of the Irish Funds Fintech working group and holds a degree in Applied Physics.
Ruth Kelly
Chief Executive Officer, Goshawk
In the space of just five years CEO Ruth Kelly has taken Goshawk Aviation from startup to a 'top 10' best-in-class, full-service aircraft leasing platform. Demonstrating innovation in its approach to both sides of the balance sheet, under Kelly's leadership Goshawk has emerged as one of the most creative and dynamic platforms in the aircraft leasing business today.
Marc Murphy
Founder & CEO, Fenergo
Founder and CEO, Marc is responsible for Fenergo's business operational strategy and corporate direction. Marc was recently named a Fintech 100 Most Influential Leader in recognition of the impact that Fenergo's technology is having on the way financial institutions manage their compliance obligations and operational requirements.
Jan Melgaard
Executive Chairman, FPG Amentum Limited
FPG Amentum is a 3rd party servicer to aircraft equity investors. Its Executive Chair Jan Melgaard has more than 25 years experience in the field of aviation leasing and finance and has held a number of senior aviation roles including as CEO of NAC, Nordic Aviation Capital, and Volito Aviation. He has a strong track-record in developing aircraft leasing businesses into established industry players and building up a complete aircraft lease management platform. He has expertise in setting up innovative aviation financing structures and wide client network in the aviation industry. He received his MBA from Columbia University in New York.
Anne Heraty
Chief Executive, Cpl Resources plc
Anne established Cpl Resources plc. in 1989 and as Chief Executive, Anne has played a key role in developing it to become Ireland's leading employment services company. Cpl finished the year with 8,223 people working on behalf of Cpl on client projects. They have a network of 32 offices in nine countries. Anne holds a BA degree in Mathematics and Economics from University College Dublin.
Chirag V Patel
Head of Research & Advisory EMEA, State Street Global Exchange
Chirag Patel is head of Innovation & Advisory Solutions in EMEA, a division of State Street Global Exchange. Chirag is responsible for clients in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with regional responsibility for a suite of products comprising Advisory, Information Solutions, and Investable Indices. In addition he serves as the EMEA head for State Street Associates, State Street's partnership with leading academics from the Harvard Business School and MIT's Sloan School of Management, conducting customized portfolio construction, risk management and investment strategy research for institutional investors.
Cecilia Ronan
Chief Administrative Officer, Citi Services Centre Head, Managing Director, Citigroup
Cecilia Ronan is the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Executive Director for Citibank Europe Plc, which employs 9,000 people across 21 countries with a balance sheet of €50 billion. In her role as CAO for Europe, Cecilia has responsibility for all of Operations and Technology, overseeing strategic priorities, business performance and optimisation. Her role as Executive Director for Citibank Europe Plc gives her responsibility for legal entity management, strategy, governance, product review and controls. In addition, Cecilia oversees the Citi Service Centres in Ireland, Poland and Hungary, leading a team of 6,000 Operations and Technology professionals providing services to 20 countries. Cecilia joined Citi in 2000 as a Senior HR Business Partner, before becoming Head of HR for the Irish Franchise and Citibank Europe Plc. Prior to that, Cecilia worked in Microsoft Ireland and across a range of roles in Government and NGOs in Africa where she grew up. Cecilia has a Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) from University College Dublin and a Masters (MSc) in HR from Leicester University. Cecilia is a member of the Board of the National College of Ireland, a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers and a member of the FSI Executive Board.
Dick Forsberg
Head of Strategy, Avolon
Dick Forsberg has over 45 years' aviation industry experience, working in a variety of roles with airlines, operating lessors, arrangers and capital providers in the disciplines of business strategy, industry analysis and forecasting, asset valuation, portfolio risk management and airline credit assessment. As a founding executive and Head of Strategy at Avolon, his responsibilities include defining the trading cycle of the business, primary interface with the aircraft appraisal and valuation community, industry analysis and forecasting, driving thought leadership initiatives, setting portfolio risk management criteria and determining capital allocation targets. Prior to Avolon, Dick was a founding executive at RBS (now SMBC) Aviation Capital and previously worked with IAMG, GECAS and GPA following a 20-year career in the UK airline industry. Dick has a Diploma in Business Studies and in Marketing from the UK Institute of Marketing is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and also a Board Director of ISTAT (The International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading).
Rory O'Connor
Managing Director, BlackRock Renewable Power (Head of Europe), BlackRock
Rory is a Managing Director in BlackRock, and is responsible for BlackRock's activities, products and investments in the renewable power sector in Europe. Rory was a founding member of BlackRock's renewable power group in 2011, and BlackRock now has $4.9 billion of equity assets under management in the renewable power sector. Rory has managed the investment by BlackRock in over 100 wind and solar projects in Europe since 2012, and is the CIO of BlackRock's Renewable Income platform in the UK and Europe. Rory sits on all BlackRock's renewable power investment committees and has 20 years of investment experience, including 14 years in the renewable power and infrastructure sectors. Rory holds a degree in International Commerce from University College Dublin, a Masters of Business Administration from INSEAD, and is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Regina O'Connor
SVP & Head of Government Affairs and Regulatory Policy, XL Group Ltd
Regina O'Connor joined XL Group in Dublin in October 2013 from Brussels where she held senior positions in the European Parliament as political and legal advisor. Over the course of eleven years in Brussels, she also held positions with the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU (Council) and in the European Commission. Regina was Special Advisor to Pat Cox during the Ireland for Europe, Lisbon II campaign.
Dermot Hardy
Former Head of Treasury, Aareal Bank AG Dublin Branch
Dermot has been a business unit leader in IFSC based financial institutions for almost 20 years. He was previously a Head of Treasury at Aareal Bank AG, Dublin Branch with responsibility for managing the assets and liabilities of the Branch. Prior to this, he was Head of Banking at Bankgesellschaft Berlin (Ireland) plc. Dermot has specialised in structured finance but also has considerable experience in other forms of lending, both secured and unsecured.
Gulru Atak
Global Head of Innovation and Head of the Citi Ireland Innovation Lab for Treasury and Trade Solutions, Citi
Gulru Atak Gundem is the Global Head of Innovation and Head of the Citi Ireland Innovation Lab for Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS). Her primary responsibilities are defining and delivering the TTS Global Innovation and Digital Strategy, as well as leading Citi Ireland's Innovation Lab and the innovation agenda for EMEA.
John Lyons
Former CEO of Darta Saving Life a subsidiary of Allianz; Finance Dublin Insurance Correspondent,
John Lyons is an actuary, a non-executive director and former CEO of Darta Savings Life, a subsidiary of Allianz, and Finance Dublin's Insurance Correspondent. He previously served as CEO of Darta and has also served as CEO of Canada Life Europe (part of the Great West Life Group) from 2000 to 2009.
Yvonne Thompson
Tax Partner, PwC
Yvonne Thompson is a tax partner with PwC and heads up the firm’s global aviation leasing tax network.
Darren Maher
Partner and Head of Financial Institutions Group, Matheson
Darren Maher is a partner and Head of Financial Institutions Group at Matheson. He has advised a wide range of leading domestic and international financial institutions on all aspects of financial services law and regulation including establishment and authorisation, development and distribution of products, compliance, corporate governance and re-organisations including cross-border mergers, schemes of arrangement, portfolio transfers and mergers and acquisitions.
Eamon O'Brien
CEO, SkelligBlue Consulting
Eamon O'Brien is an FCA and has almost 30 years' experience in insurance, financial services and outsourcing services, including 14 years' experience as the CEO of a large shared services centre in Dublin for a leading global broker. Eamon is the CEO of SkelligBlue.
Jonathon Lowey
Country Manager, Citadel Securities, President, Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, Citadel Securities (Europe) Limited
Jonathon Lowey has over 20 years' experience in financial services in Ireland and in Europe. He is Country Manager of Citadel Securities in Ireland and President of Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). Citadel Securities is one of the largest financial trading companies in the world accounting for over 20 p.c. of the United States equity and listed equity options markets' trading volumes. The Irish entity forms a strategic part of the group's international expansion with trading having commenced from its Dublin office in January 2017. Jonathon was appointed President of Banking & Payments Federation Ireland in January 2017 and is on the Board of the European Banking Federation.
Richard Owen Walker
Head of Leasing & Investor Marketing, Airbus
Richard Walker is Head of Investor Marketing for Airbus, based in Toulouse, a post he has held since March 2013. He is also currently a Board member of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT). Since joining Airbus in 1997 he has held several positions within the Asset Management and Marketing divisions at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse and China, including Head of Customer Marketing for Airbus China. Prior to joining Airbus Richard worked for Airclaims (now Flight Ascend) as an Analyst, appraising and valuing aircraft. During this time he became an ISTAT Certified Appraiser. Richard's professional career began in 1988 at the UK Department of Transport Civil Aviation Policy Directorate, following his graduation from the University of Manchester.
Stephen Moran
Head of Research & Development, Bank of Ireland Open Enterprise & Innovation, Bank of Ireland
Stephen leads Bank of Ireland's research and development programme in new and emerging technologies. With over 20 years' experience with leading organisations, he is particularly focused on the potential of Blockchain technology to radically alter international trade; improving the customer experience, increasing organisational efficiency, and reducing costs. Stephen currently serves on the European Banking Federation (EBF) and Euro Banking Association (EBA) blockchain taskforces.
Ruairi Quinn
Former Minister for Finance, Ireland,
RuairàQuinn was appointed Chairperson of the Institute of International and European Affairs, effective from January 2017. As Minister for Finance of Ireland, he served as President of the Ecofin Council of the European Union in 1996, and worked to accelerate the launch of the European Single Currency. When leaving office in 1997 he handed over a surplus, the first in about 50 years, to qualify Ireland for the single currency. In 1997, he was elected to lead the Labour Party. As Leader, he developed a strong policy platform, in which he promoted closer European integration.
David Swan
COO, SMBC Aviation Capital
David Swan is Chief Operating Officer of SMBC Aviation Capital, a role he has held since 2004, having joined the company in 2002. His responsibilities include overseeing the Operating Platform along with Risk and Asset Management of the company's $15bn aircraft leasing business. He has over 25 years aviation industry experience and has held various international banking roles. He served as director on the Board of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (www.ISTAT.org) from 2011 to 2017 and is currently on the Board of Trustees of the ISTAT Foundation. David has also represented SMBC Aviation Capital at the Aviation Working Group (www.AWG.aero) since 2004.
Jon Rickert
Investment Director and a member of GAM's Real Estate Finance Team, GAM International Management Ltd
Jon Rickert is an Investment Director and a member of GAM's Real Estate Finance Team. He is responsible for managing the investment team and developing and executing real estate debt strategies. Prior to joining GAM in October 2015 he was head of real estate finance and a managing partner at Renshaw Bay, an alternative asset management and advisory firm. Prior to that he worked at J.P. Morgan, which he joined in 1997. Jon Rickert was one of the original members of J.P. Morgan's direct loan origination team within its U.S. CMBS business and was head of J.P. Morgan's real estate structured finance business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. He was also responsible for J.P. Morgan's European real estate distressed debt business and its commercial and residential mortgage servicing businesses in the UK and Germany. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, he worked for various property companies originating, executing and managing real estate developments and investments focusing primarily on the office, retail and lodging sectors.
John Bruton
Former Taoiseach and Former Minister for Finance, Ireland,
John Bruton served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 1994 to 1997. He held a number of the top posts in Irish government, including Minister for Finance (1981 to1982 and 1986 to 1987), and Minister for Industry, Trade, Commerce and Tourism (1983 to 1986). He became leader of Fine Gael in 1990 and served as Taoiseach from 1994 until 1997. He served as the first Ambassador of the European Union to the United States from 2004 to 2009, and is a former Vice-President of the European People's Party (EPP).
Victoria Hartley
Senior Director, Customer Finance (Europe), Boeing Capital Corporation
Vicky Hartley has worked in commercial aircraft financing for more than 25 years, covering all angles of finance: lending, borrowing, export credit support, aircraft operating leasing and arranging third party financing for the aircraft deliveries of the aircraft manufacturer she now works for.
Danny McCoy
Chief Executive Officer, Ibec
Danny McCoy is Chief Executive Officer of Ibec, a post he assumed in July 2009. Prior to joining Ibec he was a senior economist at both the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Central Bank of Ireland. He has held lecturing posts at Dublin City University, University College London, University of Oxford and Trinity College Dublin. He has been a consultant for the European Commission and the OECD. He is a member of the Irish National Competitiveness Council, the National Economic and Social Council and the Export Trade Council.
Robert Richardson
CEO & Country Head, Amundi Asset Management
Robert Richardson is CEO and Country Head for Amundi Asset Management in Ireland. He is American and based in Dublin, Ireland. He has been working in the investments industry since 1986 and with the Group since 1994. He is responsible for Amundi AM's Irish entities and their foreign presences. Robert oversees governance, regulatory relationships and business activities centred out of Ireland. Before joining Pioneer / Amundi AM, he was a Vice President of The Boston Company where was responsible for international operations management, systems development and business strategy for the Fund Administration Division. He has a Bachelor of Art's degree in Economics from Middlebury College in Vermont, USA and a General Course Certificate from the London School of Economics. Robert is on the Board / governing bodies of a number of industry associations across Europe.
Vincent Power
Partner, A&L Goodbody
Dr Vincent Power is a Partner specialising in EU law, EU and Irish competition/antitrust law, regulatory law and transport law. He is Head of the Firm's EU, Competition & Procurement Group which is consistently ranked at the forefront of Irish law firms. In 2017, he won the ILO Client Choice Award for the category of 'EU Competition and Antitrust' across the entire 28 Member State European Union which is awarded by The International Law Office in recognition of a partner who excels across the full spectrum of client service. Vincent has advised on most of the leading competition, merger control, EU, cartel, State aid and related litigation cases as well as cartel immunity applications in Ireland for over 20 years including the major takeovers, (EU and Irish Phase I and II cases), investigations, court cases and studies. He has been involved in over 400 merger filings in Ireland and the EU. Examples include the sale by Telefonica of 02 Ireland to Hutchison Whampoa, the purchase of Beamish & Crawford by Heineken, the sale of businesses by UDG to McKesson, the State aid decisions relating to Bank of Ireland, EBS, Permanent Tsb, Ryanair and Irish Steel as well as a range of sensitive competition cases. He advises both national and multinational clients as well as public and private clients in almost every economic sector. He is the author or editor of seven books including 'Competition Law and Practice', 'Irish Competition Law' and the award-winning 'EC Shipping Law'.
Fiona van Echelpoel
Head of the Oversight Division, Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments, European Central Bank
Fiona van Echelpoel has been Head of Oversight Division in the Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments (DG-MIP) of the ECB since September 2015. She has a broad background in central banking, having worked in a number of functions in the market infrastructure and market operations areas of the ECB since its establishment in 1998 and previously for its forerunner the European Monetary Institute (EMI). Prior to that she worked at the Central Bank of Ireland. She has represented the ECB in various European and international fora over the years and currently chairs the ESCB Payments and Securities Oversight Working Group. She holds a degree in Economics and Politics from University College Dublin.
Declan Bolger
Managing Director, Canada Life Europe
Declan is Managing Director of Canada Life Europe, a subsidiary of The Great-West Life Assurance Company, one of the World's leading life assurance companies.
Furio Pietribiasi
CEO, Mediolanum International Funds
Furio Pietribiasi is responsible for Mediolanum's business operations in Ireland and Luxembourg. He is Managing Director of Mediolanum Asset Management and Mediolanum International Funds, a Member of the Board of Mediolanum International Life and Chairman of Gamax Management AG.
Leslie Kurshan
Leader, Innovative Client Solutions, Marsh
Leslie Kurshan is the Leader, Innovative Client Solutions for the Specialty Practice at Marsh in the United Kingdom. Prior to taking on her current role, Leslie was Head of Product Development for Marsh's Financial and Professional Practice in the UK. In recent years, she has been responsible for the development of a number of proprietary products including the Marsh AFIC Aircraft Finance Non-Payment policy, Marsh Bridge (Business Insurance Innovation Award winner 2017), enhanced versions of Marsh Alpha directors and officers liability policy and the March Echo product suite (awarded the European Risk Management Award for Broker Innovation of the Year 2016). Leslie is a California attorney with experience representing London Market insurers in insurance coverage disputes in the United States. She is also a solicitor of England & Wales. Leslie is a regular speaker at insurance and legal conferences and has authored and co-authored a number of articles on emerging insurance coverage and risk issues.
Mark Yeandle
Associate Director, Z/Yen Group Limited
Mark Yeandle is the lead author and co-creator of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI). The GFCI has been published every six months since March 2007 and has become a leading indicator of the attractiveness of different financial centres, an increasingly important metric in light of Brexit. Mark has an MBA from Cass Business School where he specialised in Corporate Finance, Economics and International Marketing.
Enda Murphy
Independent Director and former Executive Vice President of Reinsurance Group of America,
Enda Murphy is a Chartered Accountant and non executive director and business consultant specialising mainly in financial services and is a recently retired Executive Vice President of Reinsurance Group of America. Enda has a special interest in company strategy, restructuring and recovery and also in growing the recognition of insurance products as a financial necessity in the modern world.
Seamus Cushley
Director, EMEA Blockchain, FinTech & Digital, PwC
Seamus is primarily focused on helping clients understand and shape how blockchain can be applied to solve real-world problems as Director, EMEA Blockchain, FinTech & Digital at PwC, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has over 15 years experience in Fintech, working in several Financial and Payments institutions, implementing bitcoin, blockchain, payments security and other applications in organisations that include HBOS, CyberSource, and Bitnet Technologies.
Prof Tom Butler
Centre's Principal Investigator & Academic Director and Professor in Business Information Systems at UCC, GRC Technology Centre
The growth of the Regtech domain and its dynamic relationship with Fintech
Cedric Edmonds
Partner, Portfolio Management, Solidum Partners
Cedric Edmonds is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute (ACII) and holds a BA (Hons) in accounting and finance. His professional background is in reinsurance where he began his career in Lloyds of London later moving to Zurich, Switzerland. For the last 10 years he has been working at Solidum Partners AG, a Zurich-based fund manager managing Insurance Linked Securities. Whilst at Solidum he has been instrumental in the securitisation of reinsurance policies, setting up Solidum Re (Guernsey) ICC Limited in 2009, creating the first cell and doing the first transaction in early 2010. This first transaction was the first pioneer transaction in a private structure that has now been generically coined 'Cat Bond Lite'. Later transactions have also involved multiple external investors in the ILS space. Until earlier this year all the securities issued by the Solidum platform have been issued and settled over Euroclear. With a change in the collateral structure access to Euroclear became challenging therefore Mr. Edmonds developed a replacement of a standard settlements system using a private blockchain, coined the ILSBlockchain. The first $14.8m issue, settled delivery-vs-payment on the ILSBlockchain, was purchased by 6 investors in early August. Other investors are joining the chain for future issues and secondary trading and the GFSC is currently reviewing the system with a view to allow for listing of these securities on the TISE.
Amy Erixon
Principal and Managing Director - Investments, Avison Young
An industry expert in real estate technology, greening strategies and smart cities, Amy Erixon has advised public agencies, pensions and federal, state and local governments on issues ranging from affordable housing to ecological urbanism. She leads Avison Young's Global Investment Management practice, which is active across all major and select specialty property types.
Bepi Pezzulli
Secretary General & Editor-in-Chief,, Italia Atlantica
Bepi Pezzulli is a foreign affairs strategist and senior policy adviser, with a focus on Israel, UK and USA. Currently, Editor-in-Chief and Secretary General of Italia Atlantica, a think tank dedicated to foster strong trans-Atlantic relations.
Luca Bertalot
Secretary General, European Mortgage Federation and European Covered Bond Council
Luca Bertalot is secretary general of the European Mortgage Federation - European Covered Bond Council (EMF-ECBC), representing the interests of EU mortgage lenders and the covered bond community in discussions with the European institutions and stakeholders in general on all issues relating to the retail and funding sides of the mortgage business. Established in 1967, the EMF is the voice of the European mortgage industry, providing data and information on European mortgage markets, which were worth over €7 trillion at the end of 2015.





















