The YP Forum 2025 will take place in Belgrade, Serbia, kindly hosted by AOFI, 12th -14th November 2025
This will be the fourth in-person meeting of the BU's growing network of young and developing professionals in export credit insurance!
Registration is now open!
Registration closes 31st October 2025
The Young Professionals Forum is a unique opportunity for the future professionals of our industry to deepen their knowledge across a wide range of key topics in trade finance and credit insurance and develop career skills and explore new ways of thinking while building their network of like-minded individuals from around the globe.
Attending this meeting is FREE for Berne Union YP Members
We encourage all BU Members to involve their young and junior colleagues in the YP Initiative and to consider sending a rising star as a delegate/s to this in-person meeting so that they can help contribute to building not only the export credit insurance industry of the future, but also the BU of the future!
The CEO of AOFI, Dejan Vokotić will give us a warm welcome and open the meeting
Dejan Vokotić
CEO
AOFI
Exhibition Hall, Ground Floor
09:15-09:45
Ice Breaker
The YP Core Group will facilitate a fun team building activity
09:45-10:30
Presentation: Critical Minerals and Mining, Case Studies
As global demand for critical raw materials rises, competition over access and control of these resources has become a key issue in international relations, trade policy, and even national security. In this presentation, we will explore how critical raw materials influence geopolitical power dynamics and why securing them has become a priority for many nations. Additionally we will delve into a case to showcase how ECAs and insurers can play a key role in enabling financing for projects involving critical raw materials – especially in situations with high political, ESG and reputational risk
David Rosvall
Senior Underwriter
EKN
10:30-11:00
Break
11:00-11:45
IMF tracker – Review of ongoing arrangements
As the IMF has provided crucial financial support to defaulted countries or on the verge of default, this session will walk us through the steps to secure an “IMF package”, review the main ongoing IMF facilities and how they shape the future of beneficiary countries
Ghalia El Kerouani
Senior Analyst, Politcal Risk, Credit & Bond
AXA XL
11:45-12:30
Presentation: An economist’s reflection after a full year of tariffs, and the outlook for 2026
An economist from Euler Hermes will offer a presentation on Tariffs & Trade. An overview of the year of imposed tariffs and the affects on trade it's already had, as well as a forward looking perspective on the year to come.
12:30-13:30
LUNCH
13:30-14:30
BU Industry Specialists – Career Journeys
Our popular discussion session is back! We're inviting 4 industry specialists to come and share with us their career journeys, offer advice, lessons learned and answer any of your questions.
Johannes Schmidt
Risk Manager, Global Political Risk, Credit & Bond Insurance
AXA XL
Lucy Machel
Head of Claims & Recoveries
ATIDI
Katarzyna Kowalska
Deputy CEO
Company
Dejan Vokotic
CEO
AOFI
14:30-14:45
EGAP Exchange Programme
Mikulas Pycha will give an update on EGAPs expanding exchange programme!
Mikulas Pycha
Head of Strategic Planning Department
EGAP
14:45-15:15
Break
15:15-16:45
Personal Development Session: Insights workshop
Unveil your true potential to understand others better and optimise your workplace relationships with the Insights Discovery Workshop
Celene Reynolds
Talent Partner
VANTAGE
Charles Busch
Business Manager, Political Risk & Credit
VANTAGE
16:45-17:00
Closing remarks
18:30-22:30
Networking Dinner Hosted by AOFI
tbc
Friday 14th November
09:30-10:15
Presentation & Case Studies:
This presentation by Daniela from IA Group will cover the importance of vessel financing, the role of ECAs vs commercial banks in long-term risk management, political and commercial risk cover and strategic support. As well as ECA’s financing structures + guarantees, risk mitigation (risk appetite) + guarantees and red flags - is compliance being assessed?
Daniela Palacios
General Counsel
IA GROUP
Exhibition Hall, Ground Floor
10:15-11:45
Breakout Sessions
25 minutes each with 5 minutes to change rooms
Renewables
Tim Waldvogel will lead the discussions. This interactive session will explore how public and private insurers have scaled up support for renewable energy over the past decade, the challenges they face today, and the innovative paths being forged for a sustainable future—through discussion, insights, and peer exchange.
SAVA, Mezzanine Floor
Data Centres
Charles Busch will lead the discussions. This session will delve into the critical role of Export Credit Agencies, Development Finance Institutions, and Private Political Risk & Credit Insurers in facilitating data centre investments globally. We will explore key trends, challenges, and opportunities in financing and risk management, providing insights into how these entities can effectively support digital infrastructure growth. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the strategic importance of data centres in the digital economy and their impact on global trade and development
Drina, Mezzanine Floor
Transportation / Green Vessels
Antonia Gross will lead the discussion. This breakout session aims at exploring the current discussions on the definition of green shipping
Exhibition Hall, Ground Floor
11:45-12:00
Break
12:00-13:30
Breakout Sessions
25 minutes each with 5 minutes to change rooms
Geopolitical Mapping Globally
Ghalia will lead the discussion on Specific country defaults. This session will cover a few major geopolitical hotspots and discuss potential outcomes of ongoing conflicts.
SAVA, Mezzanine Floor
The influence of geopolitical risks on defence export policies
Antonia will lead the discussion. This breakout session explores the intricate interplay between geopolitical risks and defence export policies. A special focus will be on how ECAs, private or multilateral institutions navigate through these challenges within their coverage policies.
Drina, Mezzanine Floor
Claims & Recoveries
Daniela from IA Group will lead the discussion covering Geopolitical risk – Maritime: outlook for 2025.
Challenges in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Ukraine-Russia War, and the escalation of trade wars
Exhibition Hall, Ground Floor
13:30-14:30
Lunch
14:30-15:30
Panel: National Content
This panel discussion between 4 panellists will focus on Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) National content policies. The session will address current market challenges that ECAs encounter and adjustments required in their sourcing strategies. Furthermore, we will discuss how ECAs balance the interests of national industries with the need for sourcing flexibility of foreign customers.
15:30-15:50
YP Mentorship Program Feedback
YPs attending the forum who also took part in the Mentorship Program this summer will offer their feedback and insights into their experiences
15:50-16:00
2 day challenge - results
The 2 day challenge answer sheets will be submitted and a prize for the winner will be presented!
16:00-16:10
Closing remarks
17:30-22:30
Excursion
AOFI will take the YPs on a site seeing trip through Belgrade ending with a social evening out in the heart of Belgrade!
