A global network for the next generation of export finance professionals
For those at an early stage in export finance, the Berne Union Young Professionals Forum offers a rare opportunity to build networks, exchange insights, and shape the future of the industry.
This June, EKN hosted the Berne Union Young Professionals Forum, with some sixty participants from across the world gathering in Stockholm for the event. Over two days, they discussed issues ranging from defence and development finance to digitalisation, claims, and political risk. Perhaps more importantly, they built and fostered the relationships that will sustain an industry where cooperation across borders remains central to getting things done.
As export finance becomes increasingly technically demanding and shaped by geopolitics, the value of professional networks extends well beyond career development. The industry’s future depends on a new generation of professionals able to work confidently across institutions, jurisdictions, and disciplines.
A global network under one roof
How often do you get the chance, early in your career, to sit in a room with peers from Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East – and even help set the agenda? At the Berne Union Young Professionals Forum, that is precisely the point.
For Ruth Philip, policy analyst at the US EXIM Bank in Washington, DC, it is the sense of community that sets the forum apart. ‘Very few people outside our industry actually understand what we do. That’s why it’s incredibly rewarding to exchange experiences and make new connections globally. We’re like one big export family,’ she says.
For Ruth Philip, policy analyst at the US EXIM Bank in Washington, DC, it is the sense of community that sets the forum apart. ‘Very few people outside our industry actually understand what we do. That’s why it’s incredibly rewarding to exchange experiences and make new connections globally. We’re like one big export family,’ she says.
The Young Professionals Initiative was launched in 2019 with a simple idea: the profession is coming of age, and the association wanted to create a platform for the next generation. Today, it brings together professionals working in Export Credit Agencies (ECA), credit insurers, and investment guarantee providers. Despite operating in different national settings and market environments, with varying mandates and legal frameworks, these institutions face many common technical and commercial challenges.
‘The most amazing thing about the Berne Union is the global perspective. Here you meet participants from all over the world in an open and collaborative environment,’ says Viktoria Piirainen, country analyst at EKN and one of the project leaders for this year’s conference.
‘You’ll be meeting many of the people here throughout your career. I believe in the idea that the more you share your knowledge, the more you get back,’ adds Ruth Philip.
Hiroko Suzuki from Japan’s NEXI recognises this as well. ‘When questions arise about projects, I can easily reach out to people I’ve met through the Berne Union Young Professionals Forum, and that’s incredibly valuable.’
Representation was also on this year’s agenda. ‘They talked about how to balance personal life and career,’ says Suzuki. ‘It was truly inspiring, especially since we still have very few women in leadership positions in Japan.’
The next generation’s perspective
Over two days in June, the programme in Stockholm combined discussions on current global issues with sessions led by participants themselves, representing 19 countries. The agenda, like the forum itself, was shaped by and for young professionals. Alongside external speakers, participants lead workshops, presentations, and panel discussions, giving the event a strong sense of co-creation. That approach distinguishes it from many professional conferences. Rather than simply listening to senior practitioners, participants craft the agenda and contribute their own expertise.
Participants also brought a wide range of expertise, as the forum assembled lawyers, country analysts, and underwriters alongside project managers, communications specialists, and business developers. That diversity reflects the increasingly multidisciplinary nature of export finance. Today’s transactions often require highly specialised expertise spanning legal documentation, structured finance, country and political risk, environmental and social due diligence, engineering, and sector-specific commercial knowledge. In that light, cooperation across disciplines is almost as important as across borders.
A recurring theme during the conference was what the younger generation brings to an industry long shaped by seniority and established structures. Tim Waldvogel, project manager at Atradius DSB in Amsterdam, highlights the importance of that perspective.
‘Our industry is undergoing many changes right now, and things that have long looked the same are changing rapidly. That’s why it’s important for us young people to be involved—we’re more agile and aren’t stuck in old structures in the same way. I believe that the mix of junior and senior mindsets is important for achieving good results.’
As institutions respond to evolving geopolitical risks, technological change, the energy transition, and new expectations from exporters and governments, they also need new skills and fresh perspectives.
Beyond the technical sessions, the forum created an environment where participants could share experiences openly, learn from one another, and reflect on what the future of the profession should look like. For EKN, hosting the event was also an opportunity to highlight the organisation’s international reach. According to Viktoria Piirainen, employees are given the chance to engage in global contexts early in their careers – something that is far from a given.
‘I hope the participants go home with new perspectives, new contacts, and a network they can benefit from for the rest of their careers,’ she says.
