CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE – Sean Edwards, ITFA Chairman, October 2025

Dear Members and Friends,

Welcome to the October edition of the ITFA Newsletter!  We are thrilled to share the latest updates, news, and insights from ITFA.

We haven’t stood still since our return from last month’s annual conference in Singapore!

In this month’s newsletter, get ready to dive into a lineup of timely, thought-provoking, and highly engaging articles! Highlights include ‘Distributing Trade Finance – A Vital Contribution’ by Clarissa Dann, ‘ITFA Creates Social Return on Investment (SROI) Model to Assess Impact of Trade Transactions’ and ‘Interview with Sanjana Gulwaney, this year’s Emerging Leaders Winner’, both by Rebecca Spong, and ‘Navigating Uncertainty: ITFA’s 2025 Conference in Singapore Signals a New Phase for Trade Finance’ contributed by Shahid Mahmook, all of which emerged from the Annual Conference. Plus, don’t miss ‘ITFA 10 Questions for Trade Compliance Vendors on Collaboration Models in Financial Crime Compliance Technology Integration’ by ITFA Board Member Andre Casterman, based on the insightful ITFA FCC Initiative Webinar held on 14th October. Jump in now and stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve in the fast-moving world of trade finance!

Looking ahead to November, the momentum doesn’t stop—our calendar is packed with exciting events across the globe! Be sure to check out the full events calendar and stay connected, because there’s something happening for everyone in the world of trade finance.

Additionally, our Emerging Leaders Committee (ELC) has officially opened applications for several new committee members—you can read more about this here. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Pouya Jafari for his invaluable contributions as Chair of the ITFA Emerging Leaders. Having now stepped down, his leadership and dedication have left a lasting impact on the committee and the wider trade finance community.

As the festive season approaches, the excitement is building—and we have plenty to celebrate! ITFA Christmas events are in the works across London, Manhattan, and Zurich, promising an unforgettable mix of networking, cheer, and holiday spirit. Don’t miss out—find all the details about these three fabulous events on our website and start planning your celebrations with us!

Finally, we are excited to announce and welcome the following institutions to our ever-growing association – Axendo – Igniting Trade, Freeman Financial.

Our message continues to resonate, and we eagerly anticipate your feedback. Feel free to reach out to me directly, any of the Board Members, or our general email at info@itfa.org.

Thank you for your continued support and we hope you enjoy reading this edition of the ITFA newsletter. 

Best wishes,

Sean Edwards