Speakers

NFEF23

Paulina Dejmek Hack

Director for General Affairs, DG FISMA, European Commission

Paulina Dejmek Hack is Director for General Affairs at the European Commission’s DG FISMA. Paulina has worked on financial services matters in the European Commission in different positions since she joined in 2004, including in the private office of then Commissioner Michel Barnier, subsequently Vice-President of the European Commission, between 2010 and 2014 and as Financial Adviser in the private office of the then European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, between 2014 and 2019. In 2019/20, Paulina was Director of the Commission’s Task Force for relations with the United Kingdom and was directly involved in the negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Sirpa Pietikäinen

MEP, Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament

Sirpa Pietikäinen is a member of the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament. She is a former Minister of the Environment in Finland (1991-1995), and a Member of the Finnish parliament from 1983 to 2003.

At the European Parliament, Ms Pietikäinen is a member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and of the Women’s Right and Gender Equality Committee, as well as a substitute member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee. Within her work, she seeks to combine her two specialties, that of environment and economics. Ms Pietikäinen is a strong advocate of a transition to a circular economy and sustainable finance, and served as the lead negotiator on behalf of European Parliament and the EPP group on the first Sustainable Finances legislative initiatives. She is active in several organizations, her positions of trust including Chairmanship of the Globe EU.

Tanya Panova

Head of CMU Unit, European Commission

Tatyana Panova is the Head of the Capital Markets Union Unit in DG FISMA. Prior to this, Tatyana headed another unit in DG FISMA and served in the private office of Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis where she was responsible for Capital Markets Union, securities markets, asset management, insurance, free movement of capital and competition. Before joining the Cabinet, Tatyana was a Deputy Head of the Securities Unit in DG FISMA. In her previous jobs, Tatyana coordinated the preparation of ECOFIN, COREPER II and Economic and Financial Committee in DG MARKT and managed aviation anti-trust cases in DG COMP. Tatyana is a trained economist with specialisation in financial services.

Isabel Benjumea

MEP Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, European Parliament

Since July 2019, Isabel Benjumea has been MEP after having been included as a candidate in number 10 of the PP list for the elections in the European Parliament of May 2019 in Spain. Currently, she is Vice Chair of the Committee on Regional Development, Member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Member of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly.

Isabel Benjumea graduated in Law and International Relations at Universidad Comillas. She spent her first year of professional career in Washington DC, where she worked at the World Bank implementing transparency and accountability programs for local governments in Latin America. After, she worked in the international relations department of the FAES Foundation. It was in 2011 when she decided to undertake her first business project in the tourism sector, Greatness, which she directed until 2017. In 2018 she joined as a partner of the strategic consulting firm IANUS Group. Currently, she teaches in the Entrepreneurship degree at Francisco Marroquín University in Madrid. Benjumea, member of the Popular Party, became part of the cabinet of President Pablo Casado as deputy head in 2019.

Isabel Benjumea is co-founder of the Red Floridablanca, a liberal-conservative think-tank from which she published numerous articles in the press.

Annemie Rombouts

Deputy Chairman, Financial Services and Markets Authority

Annemie Rombouts is currently Deputy Chair of the FSMA and member of its Management Committee. She joined the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission, the supervisory authority for the banking sector and for financial markets and predecessor of the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) in 1999. Her operational responsibilities cover the supervision of financial markets, listed companies and issuers on the one hand, and of asset management companies, portfolio management and investment advice companies, collective investment schemes and marketing for bank, savings and investment products on the other. She is also responsible for HR at the FSMA that counts over 300 employees.
She holds a master’s degree in Law from Leuven University.

Brita Hammar

Head of Securities Markets Division, Swedish Ministry of Finance

Brita Hammar is head of Securities Markets Division at the Swedish Ministry of Finance. Since joining the Ministry of Finance in 2007, she has worked in the area of securities markets, Swedish Public Pension Funds and Solvency II. Before that, Brita worked as a consultant in risk management at PwC, as a risk analyst at the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finansinspektionen) and the Swedish National Debt Office. Brita holds a master in economics from Uppsala University and a Financial Analyst exam.

Jakub Michalik

International and Institutional Affairs Team Leader, ESMA

Jakub Michalik joined the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) in 2014 an he is currently International and Institutional Affairs Team Leader.

Previously he was Team Leader – International and Institutional Affairs, where Mr. Michalik provided strategic counsel on ESMA’s relations with Brussels-based EU Institutions and with non-EU securities regulators as well as in relation to ESMA’s activities within IOSCO.

From 2011 to 2014, Mr. Michalik served as a parliamentary assistant to MEP Wolf Klinz on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) of the European Parliament. Prior to joining the European Parliament, Mr. Michalik worked extensively on compliance and implementation matters, including both wholesale and retail business areas, within private sector.

Mr. Michalik earned his PhD in Law from University of Vienna and his Magister in Law from University of Graz. Mr. Michalik holds the professional qualification as a solicitor and is an author and a contributor to a number of articles in the area of banking and capital markets regulation.

Nikolaj Kosakewitsch

Senior Vice President, Head of EMS Sales, European Equities & Derivatives, and President of Nasdaq Copenhagen

Nikolaj Kosakewitsch is Senior Vice President and Head of European Equities & Derivatives and President of the Nasdaq Copenhagen Exchange. Nikolaj joined Nasdaq in May 2017 and brings years of extensive knowledge, experience, and insight from sell-side working with buy-side institutions in the Nordics, Europe and the U.K.

He holds a Global Executive MBA from INSEAD.

Alexander Opstad

Group Executive Vice President, Head of DNB Markets & Vice-Chair, Norwegian Securities Dealers Association

Alexander Opstad is Executive Vice President of DNB Markets since 2019.

Currently, he is also Chairman of the board of DNB Markets Inc, and board member of the Norwegian Securities Dealers Association (VPFF).

He joined Den Norske Bank in 2005 where he quickly became head of the equities desk in London and then, Global Head of the Equities division and member of the management team in DNB Markets.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from BI Norwegian Business School.

Peter F. Andersen

Senior Director, Head of Jyske Markets & Chair Of The Nordic Securities Association

Peter Andersen is currently Senior Director and Head of Markets at Jyske Bank. He is also Chair of the Nordic Securities Association and Member of the Board of Representatives at Norlys.

With a career spanning over 40 years Peter Andersen has carved an exceptional career path in the financial world. Commencing as a Board Member at Værdipapircentralen, he rapidly ascended the ranks. For 26 years, he served as a Board Member at Capital Market Denmark, championing industry standards and advocacy. His expertise in interest rates, fixed income trading, and risk management was refined during his tenure as Head of Department.

Edward Knight

Executive Vice Chairman, Nasdaq

As Executive Vice Chairman, Edward Knight manages global government relations and serves as a senior advisor on public policy and litigation.

During his time as Nasdaq’s General Counsel (2001-2019), he advocated for initiatives benefiting investors and public companies, including proxy reform, corporate governance modernization, and regulatory and immigration reforms. He played a pivotal role in maintaining Nasdaq’s status as a premier global capital market.

Beyond Nasdaq, Knight serves on Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs Advisory Board, holds memberships in legal bars, and is part of the Council on Foreign Relations. He chairs the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S.-India Business Council, and leads TechNet’s Executive Council. Knight’s extensive involvement spans Nasdaq Dubai Board, World Federation of Exchanges Board, and the Obama Transition Team at the U.S. Treasury Department.

Before these roles, he served as the General Counsel of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (1994-1999), receiving high honors for his contributions. Knight also worked at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld law firm. He holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas School of Law.

Sindre Støer

Chief Executive Officer, Norwegian Securities Dealers Association

Sindre Støer is currently the managing director of the Norwegian Securities Dealers Association. He is also an Executive in Residence at the BI Norwegian Business School since February 2021.

Prior to that, he worked at Swedbank where he was Global Head of Investment Banking for 4 years, and before that he was head of Equities at DnB NOR Asset Management.

At his early career, he held various posts as financial analyst mainly covering industrials.

Mr. Støer also guest lectures at the University of Utah in Financial Markets & Institutions, Portfolio Management and Financial Research since 2014.

Arno Ahosniemi

Chief Executive Officer, Finance Finland

Arno Ahosniemi is Chief Executive Officer of Finance Finland (FFI).

He was previously executive editor-in-chief of Kauppalehti and director responsible for editorial work at Alma Talent, also working as the Brussels correspondent for Kauppalehti.

Ahosniemi has master’s degrees in social sciences and business administration.

Håvard Gulbrandsen

Managing Director, KLP Asset Management

Håvard Gulbrandsen is the Managing Director of KLP Asset Management since September 1, 2009. He joined KLP from the position of Head of Asset Strategies Equities/Head of Core Corporate Governance in Bank of Norway Investment Management, and has before that e.g. been a portfolio manager/fixed income in Storebrand Asset Management and Director of Investments in DNB Investor AS.

Håvard Gulbrandsen has a MSc in Management Sciences from the University of Warwick (1988) and a Master in Finance & Investments (1989) and is also an authorized financial analyst since 1992.

Mette Kornvig

Director, Head of Sustainability, Jyske Bank

Mette Kornvig is Head of Sustainability at Jyske Bank which involves implementation of EU sustainable finance regulation. Since joining Jyske Bank 16 years ago, she has worked in the area of asset management and securities markets. Former Areas of responsibility have included Head of Regulation. Before joining Jyske Bank, Mette worked at the Danish Central Bank. Mette holds a master in economics from University of Aarhus.

Henrik Johansson

Chief Executive Officer, Unga Aktiesparare

Henrik Johansson is Chief Executive Officer of Unga Aktiesparare (the Swedish association for young investors), an association founded in 1990 that has 10 000 members.

Henrik Johansson has a background from working with non-profit organizations concerning topics as retail investors and financial literacy. Henrik also has experience from investor relations and capital raising within the crowdfunding community.

Henrik Johansson has a Master’s Degree in management from Linnaeus University, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Linnaeus University.

Florence Bindelle

Secretary General, European Issuers

Florence leads EuropeanIssuers Brussels team to position the views of Issuers towards the Institutions and represents the association externally. She drives the mission with strategic and operational know-how from her work at the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA), where she was responsible for the management of relations with the European Commission, other European institutions and organisations, and her background in media communication.

Previously, she worked in the Brussels office of Mapfre Re as underwriter and manager of the liability coinsurance portfolio and reinsurance treaty portfolio analysis.

She holds a master’s degree in law, an International Executive MBA from Louvain School of Management and a post-graduate degree in law and economics from ULB, a certificate in risk management and is a Certified Director from Guberna.

She is also past president of ESAE (European Society of Association Executives), Vice president of the FAIB (Federation of International Associations in Belgium) and speaks fluent French, Spanish and English and good Dutch.

Anders Schou

Chief Executive Officer, Capital Market Denmark

As Chief Executive Officer of Capital Market Denmark, Anders is responsible for championing knowledge in and developing Danish bank views on markets. Meanwhile, Anders Schou also represent the Danish banking sector across prudential regulation and accounting.

In the past, Anders was a leader in capital management in Nordea, and spent three years as executive adviser to the CRO. Anders has experience from policy development and negotiation of EU banking legislation on behalf of Danish government.

Anders has a Master of Finance and Strategy from Copenhagen Business School.

Adam Kostyál

Head of Listings, EMEA, Nasdaq

Adam Kostyál is Senior Vice President of Listing Services, Europe. In addition to Nasdaq Nordic Exchanges, where there are more than 800 companies listed, Adam is also responsible for the more than 120 European companies that are either primarily listed or dual listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market in the U.S.

He started his career at OMX as a Sales Director, and then became Head of the Strategic Initiative Groups in 2006. Most recently, as Vice President of Market Technology Sales, he was responsible for sales, account management, and business development for the Eastern and Western Europe.

Adam has held various positions with Enron, Cell Network and Bloomberg. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Marketing from Vrije Universiteit de Bruxelles and speaks four languages — English, Swedish, Italian and French.

Karel Lannoo

Chief Executive Officer, CEPS

Karel Lannoo has been Chief Executive of CEPS since 2000, Europe’s leading independent European think tank, ranked among the top ten think tanks in the world. He manages a staff of 70 people.

Karel was an Independent Director of BME (Bolsas y Mercados Españolas), the listed company that manages the Spanish securities markets (2006-18) and is a member of foundation boards and advisory councils.

He has published several books on capital markets, MiFID, and the financial crisis, the most recent of which is The Great Financial Plumbing, From Northern Rock to Banking Union, 2015. He is also the author of many op-eds and articles published by CEPS or in international newspapers and reviews. Karel is a regular speaker in hearings for national and international institutions (the European Commission, European Parliament, etc.) and at international conferences and executive learning courses.

Karel Lannoo holds a baccalaureate in Philosophy (1984) and an MA in Modern History (1985) from the University of Leuven, Belgium, and obtained a postgraduate diploma in European studies (Centre d’Etudes européennes, CEE) from the University of Nancy, France (1986).

Before joining CEPS, he worked for STUC (Students’ Cultural Centre in Leuven), did an internship at the European Commission (spokesperson’s service in Jacques Delors’ time); was employed by an Italian agro-food company (Ferruzzi of Raul Gardini) and a professional association, and was also active as a freelance journalist (among others for the Financial Times’ Financial Regulation Report, for many years).

Urban Funered

Chief Executive Officer, Swedish Securities Markets Association

Urban Funered is Chief Executive Officer of the Swedish Securities Markets Association, an association founded in 1908 and representing 24 banks, investment banks and brokers active in Swedish securities markets.

Urban Funered has 30 years of experience from the financial services and legal sector and has during his career held senior positions in law firms, investment banks and asset managers in Stockholm, New York, London, and Vienna. He has also held senior positions in the Swedish Ministry of Finance in Stockholm and the Swedish Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels.

Urban Funered has an academic background in law as well as business administration, with Post-Graduate and Master’s Degrees in Civil, Banking and Financial law from the University of Lund and Queen Mary & Westfield College of London University, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Economics from the School of Economics and Management at Lund University.