Authors Page - Trade Finance Global

Tanya Epshteyn has over 20 years of work experience in various financial positions. Tanya is currently the Head of Structured and Trade Finance at CZ since August 2023. Before that, they worked as the Head of Structured Finance at CZ from January 2020 to July 2023. Prior to joining CZ, Tanya was the Director of Trade Commodity Finance at Société Générale from September 2014 to December 2019. Tanya also served as the Head of Commodity Finance at Bank Leumi UK plc from September 2009 to August 2014, and as a Senior Relationship Manager at Fortis bank from October 2008 to September 2009. Earlier in their career, Tanya held various roles in credit and risk analysis at Natixis, Morgan Stanley, Natixis Commodity Markets Ltd, Standard Bank Group, and J.P. Morgan. Tanya started their career as an Assistant Project Finance Manager at VELUX in 1999. Tanya Epshteyn earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Orel State Institute of Economy and Commerce (former Orel Institute of Commerce) between 1991 and 1996. Tanya later pursued an MSc in Business and International Relations at Oxford Brookes University from 1996 to 1998.

Neha Saxena is a banking professional with over 10 years of experience in the Indian financial services industry. Her core expertise lies in credit appraisal, managing large business relationships and transaction banking. She has served in diverse roles within Commercial/Corporate Banking and Trade Finance with eminent corporates including ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and CTBC Bank. She currently holds the position of Regional Head – Product and Sales (Supply Chain Finance) with Indusind Bank. Her interests include reading, music and travel. She is passionate about promoting international trade and providing credit solutions backed by technology

Osama Ibrahem graduated from the Faculty of Commerce, Cairo University, Egypt and has four years of experience with the National Bank of Egypt as a trade finance officer dealing specifically with letter of credits and documentary collections, he is a CDCS holder and had several courses with coastline solutions in Trade Finance and also, currently applying for CTFP from ICC Academy. He is passionate about trade finance and always trying to keep updated with the latest news and events.

Poppie is currently part of the Corporate & Institutional Trade Sales team at Lloyds Bank, specifically focused on a portfolio of Financial Institutions clients. Building on strong relationships with other global banks, she works to support businesses of all sizes in achieving their international trade ambitions through tailored risk management and working capital solutions. Prior to joining the world of finance, she earned a degree in Computer Science and is therefore naturally passionate about the intersection of technology and trade, utilising her unique experience to bring the best of both worlds together.

Peter Mulroy is Secretary General of FCI, the world’s largest network of factoring companies, with its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Peter was previously Senior Vice President, International Regional Manager and Managing Director with CIT. Peter is a past Chairman of FCI, and has served on the FCI Executive Committee for over a decade. Peter has an MBA from Thunderbird, School of Global Management in Arizona. As Secretary General, Mr. Mulroy assists banks, regulators and governments in educating the role and introducing the concept of factoring. He addresses audiences around the world on the subject of factoring and international trade and is generally regarded as an “ambassador for the factoring industry”.

Kofi Asumadu Addo is a seasoned professional with over 25 years experience in banking, development finance, export credit  and guarantee business.  He is the Head of Guarantees and Specialised Finance at Afreximbank and leads the Bank’s export credit business, including management of relationships with global ECAs, DFIs and Multilaterals as well as capital market investors.  He is also responsible for the Bank’s Guarantee Programme, Specialized Finance Programme and Country Export Programme.  He has structured several ECA/DFI and Guaranteed transactions across the African continent (both public and private sector) in different industries including  aviation, telecom , energy, transport, oil & gas, mining, among others. He is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate from Henley Business School, University of Reading UK (MSc Business & Management Research), University of Sorbonne, Paris-France (MSc Corporate Management and Finance) and University of Cape Coast, Ghana (B.Comm and  Dip. Education). He is currently a doctoral research associate at the Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK

Edgar is passionate about trade finance, a certified trade finance professional with a career spanning over 13 years in the banking industry. Edgar has worked with Standard Chartered Bank Uganda and now with the Central Bank of Uganda in treasury, reserves management and trade finance operations, presently as a Principal Banking Officer. He is a writer and trainer seeking to grow thought leadership in the trade finance space. Edgar is equally keen on supporting the translation of technology into solutioning trade. Edgar is from Uganda where he works and lives with his family.  

Mohamed is a trade finance passionate with experience for about 15 years in the banking industry, he is looking forward to expanding his knowledge by getting exposed to new challenges, providing new trade finance solutions, and spreading the knowledge to the new trade finance practitioners.

Tinashe Chiwanza is based in Zimbabwe from Chirundu One Stop Border Post between Zambia and Zimbabwe in Chirundu town. He is FIATA certified Logistician of 2017 (Young International Freight Forwarder competition (YIFFY)). He is the Shipping & Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) advisor on capacity building and a lecturer with SFAAZ (FIATA programs) on imports and exports procedures.

Gadi Benmoshe is the Managing Director of Marinnovators, offering consulting services focusing on Digital transformation, Innovation and Cybersecurity to Port Authorities, Port Operators and Maritime-Tech Start-Ups. He is a former Chief Information Officer of Israel Ports Company, in which he led the Israeli nation-wide Port Community System. Benmoshe is vice chair of the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) Data Collaboration Committee in which he led the development of the whitepaper “The mindset shift to innovation in ports”. He also participated in a number of international organisations activities: IMO, IPCSA, UN/CEFACT, WEF, ISO. He holds B.A. in computer science as well as M.B.A.

Chidochashe Nicolette Ncube is a Zimbabwean lawyer. She graduated with an LLB Honours degree from Herbert Chitepo School of Law-Great Zimbabwe University. She is currently pursuing an LLM in International Trade, Investment and Business Law at University of the Western Cape in South Africa. Chidochashe has a keen interest in trade finance and Africa’s trade performance. She is passionate about sustainable development and the financial inclusion of the marginalized groups. Chidochashe endeavors to work towards an Africa that is united and self-reliant economically.

Tom is a recent graduate from the University of Bristol with a passion for the energy markets. Being raised in Zambia and South Africa he has seen first-hand the obstacles, but more importantly the opportunities present within the energy sector. He is eager to further develop his knowledge in this field and plans to complete a master’s programme from Cass Business School in Energy, Trade & Finance.

Mathieu is the founder and Managing Partner of Fitracor, a Paris-based advising boutique dedicated to the African trade finance space. Prior to establishing Fitracor, he was notably responsible of the Correspondent Banking relationships of East-Africa and Middle-East in Société Générale – Paris serving the commodity traders portfolio of the bank. Mathieu holds 15 years of experience in banking, mainly in the commercial bank, trade finance and emerging markets. Mathieu graduated from University of Paris-X in Bank, Finance and Insurance.

Ramesh is a corporate finance and corporate law professional and has more than 3 decades of experience of working with both Indian and multinational enterprises. He quit full time employment in 2008 and set up his own independent consulting services under the name of QuadCore Consulting Services. He has a keen interest in the trade finance domain and has successfully closed several structured trade finance assignments for export oriented entities, by leveraging his understanding of appropriate structures that complied with the exchange control law. Presently, he is working on similar structured finance opportunities in West Africa.

Biji Kurian John (Biji) has 18 years of overall experience in managing and delivering client engagements through product management, functional consulting, solution designing, business process modelling, and banking operations. Currently, he is working with Finastra, responsible for driving the product strategy, vision, and the roadmap for a market-leading trade finance product as a Principal Product Manager.

Matthew Gamser is CEO of the SME Finance Forum. He has over 35 years’ experience in private enterprise and financial sector development. He has worked for IFC for 10 years in various positions, including heading the advisory services for the financial sector in East Asia-Pacific (from Hong Kong). Prior to IFC he worked for 25 years in the private sector in management consulting and technology/small scale industry development. He holds A.B. and A.M. degrees from Harvard University, and M.Sc. and D.Phil degrees from Sussex University (UK), where his work focused on the management of technological change.

Fragkoulis Kakaris have been employed in financial services sector for 8 years, he has been engaged in various departments including Investments, Corporate Actions, Commercial & Corporate Banking and Asset Finance. Over the years, Fragkoulis have gathered knowledge and experience in serving large corporates that gave me a descent understanding of banking sector and the regulatory framework around it. He is passionate about solving financial problems, delivering excellent customer service and treat them with honor and respect. He understands the industry challenges and determined to address any professional development related to the role and thrive within your organisation. Fragkoulis always demonstrate consistent and accurate service quality which leads to his successful performance to protect customers’ interests. Moreover, he measures his progress towards organisation’s goals by proactively using knowledge to create opportunities aligned to company’s strategy and contribute to an effective risk culture. Fragkoulis Kakaris is a dynamic communicator and being able to bring together diverse departments to develop a consistent service., a well-rounded and respectful individual who is highly motivated and committed to seeing through any task to a high standard.

Chris Bryant is a partner in Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s London and Brussels office.  He heads the firm’s Brexit taskforce and is a member of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition and International Trade teams.