The Nassau Conference
The leading professional development conference for the international financial services sector in The Bahamas.
Wednesday – 14th September, 2022
8:45AM – 4:30PM
Baha Mar Convention Centre | Nassau, Bahamas
Financial Services Bootcamp
A half-day practical workshop providing a fundamental overview of key product and services developments in our market.
Tuesday – 13th September, 2022
2:00PM – 4:30PM
Baha Mar Convention Centre | Nassau, Bahamas
Speakers & Panelists
Scheduled to appear. Subject to change.
- Nassau Conference Speaker/Panelist
- Bootcamp Speaker/Panelist
Prime Minister of The Bahamas
Aliya Allen
GrahamThompson
Genesis Fund Services
OKX Bahamas
Quantfury Trading Limited
RAISE
Minister of Economic Affairs
Ministry of Tourism, Investment & Aviation
EC Holdings
Central Bank
Attorney General
Pictet Bank & Trust Limited
Central Bank
Hephzibah HR
MaxGwen Ltd.
McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes
Agenda
The agendas for both days’ events are shown below. Click the respective tab for full details. NB: Agenda and lineup are subject to change.
The Nassau Conference - September 14, 2022
Financial Services Bootcamp - September 13, 2022
The Nassau Conference - September 14, 2022
| 8:45 am | Welcome | Bruno Roberts, AIBT Chairman |
| 9:00 am | Opening Remarks | The Hon. Philip E. Davis QC, Prime Minister & Minister of Finance, Commonwealth of The Bahamas |
| 9:25 am | SESSION 1: The Financial and Macro-Economic Outlook for the Next 12 Months | The COVID19 pandemic has emphasized the need for action to be taken to mitigate its human and economic impact and create a foundation for a sustained recovery. For developing countries such as ours, the strengthening of public health systems and implementation of structural reforms that will support strong and sustainable growth once the health crisis declines are key priorities. What is the global outlook as we face the future? Speaker: David Ramírez, Head of Investments, Pictet Bank & Trust Limited Moderator: Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 10:00 am | SESSION 2: The State of the Bahamian Economy | The domestic economy contracted during the fourth quarter of 2020, adversely impacted by the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Tourism output reduced significantly, as internationally imposed travel restrictions dampened the high value-added air segment and the dominant sea component remained on pause. However, several varied-scale foreign investment projects, and to a lesser extent post-hurricane reconstruction works, provided positive impulses to the construction sector. In price developments, domestic inflationary pressures remained contained, despite a firming in the rate during the review quarter. Where are we now and what is the outlook for the next 12 months? Speaker: John A. Rolle, Governor, Central Bank of The Bahamas Moderator: Gowon Bowe, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 10:35 am | COFFEE BREAK | |
| 10:50 am | SESSION 3: Fireside Chat with the Attorney General | Sen. Hon. L. Ryan Pinder, Attorney General Themes to be covered: 1. Global Minimum Tax 2. Carbon Credits 3. FATF Updates 4. EU New AML framework 5. Other OECD Initiatives Moderator: Laverne Thompson, MMG Bank & Trust Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 11:30 am | SESSION 4: Impact of International Initiatives on Economic Development on The Bahamas & Caribbean | CARICOM Member States, in particular, The Bahamas and the OECS, have become are very dependent on the international financial services sector as an engine of economic growth. In the case of The Bahamas, that country has long been recognized as an international financial centre, which relied heavily on registration fees and customs revenue for its income since it did not impose corporate or income taxes. The various international initiatives threaten this economic foundation. What are the current initiatives that we should be paying attention to? What is on the horizon? Can we survive the onslaught? • Governance • Economic Governance • International & Financial Services • Mitigation of impact accelerated Digitalization Speaker: Therese Turner-Jones, Principal Consultant, MaxGwen Ltd. Moderator: Shawn Forbes, Pictet Bank & Trust Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 12:05 pm | SESSION 5: Living with Covid: “We Are Still in Business” | The COVID19 pandemic has accelerated digitalization transformation globally in order to ensure that continued development of The Bahamian economy and Financial Services Sectors in particular it is imperative that a robust national digital transformation strategy is implemented. This session will focus on: 1. Government National Digitalization Strategy 2. Efforts to enhance Regulatory Reporting 3. Digitalization in key public sector avenues: • Registrar General’s Department • Department of Immigration Speaker: Sen. Hon. Michael Halkitis, Minister of Economic Affairs Moderator: Bernard Sechaud, UBS Trustees (Bahamas) Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 12:45 pm | Networking Luncheon | |
| 2:15 pm | SESSION 6:Where Do We Grow from Here?PANEL DISCUSSION | Prior to the global pandemic stakeholders were assessing how the financial services sector might be repositioned for continued growth and sustainability due to the impact of various international initiatives. This is even more important today. While initial indications are that the Covid pandemic’s impacts on internationally active SFIs have so far proven manageable there are many emerging risks that need to be monitored and managed. Moreover, there has to be a strategic plan to grow the sector. What are the potential areas of growth that we ought to be considering? How to we realise these opportunities? Panelists: Aliya Allen, Partner, GrahamThompson Antoine Bastian, Executive Chairman, Genesis Fund Services Phylicia Hanna, Director of Investments, Min. of Tourism, Investment & Aviation Moderator: Todd Beneby, Sterling Bank & Trust Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 3:15 pm | SESSION 7: The Future of Citizenship and Residency by Investment Programs | Residence and citizenship by investment (CBI/RBI) programs enable persons to obtain citizenship or economic permanent residence rights through local investments or against a flat fee for perfectly legitimate reason. The OECD argues that such programs are also used to avoid transparency rules. What are the reasons that persons obtain CBI/RBI? What are the features of such programs? Can we enhance the current economic permanent residency program that we have here in The Bahamas? Speaker(s): Hon. Philippe May, EC Holdings John F. Wilson QC, Senior Partner, McKinney Bancroft & Hughes Moderator: Perry Rolle, First Caribbean International Trust Company (Bahamas) Limited (AIBT Director) |
| 4:15 pm | Closing Remarks | Niekia Horton, AIBT Deputy Chair |
Financial Services Bootcamp - September 13, 2022
| 1:30 pm | Registration | |
| 2:00 pm | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Dr. Tanya McCartney CEO & Executive Director, Bahamas Financial Services Board |
| 2:05 pm | SESSION 1The DARE Act and Digital Assets Business in The Bahamas | Presenters: Dr. P. Jillian Bethel, CEO, OKX Bahamas Dr. Iyandra Bryan, Chief Operating Officer, Quantfury Trading Limited Marvin Coleby, CEO, Raise Moderator: Kelli Ingraham, BFSB Director |
| 2:35 pm | SESSION 2The Sand Dollar Project Update | Presenter: Kimwood Mott, Project Manager, Digital Currency Implementation, Central Bank of The Bahamas Moderator: Kelli Ingraham, BFSB Director |
| 2:55 pm | SESSION 3SOTY | Student of The Year Presentation Moderator: Fania Joseph, Legal & Policy Officer Bahamas Financial Services Board |
| 3:15 pm | COFFEE BREAK | |
| 3:30 pm | SESSION 4Personal/Career Development | • Strategies for Career Development and Advancement/Risk Taking for Success • Navigating the workplace – Being Open to Feedback Presenter: Patrice Taylor Hephzibah HR Training and Development Moderator: Kelli Ingraham, BFSB Director |
Mentorship Forum | Interactive Coaching Sessions (20 minutes) for students with Executives/Senior Management of the AIBT and BFSB. | |
| 4:30 pm | Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks | Kevin A.C. Moree Chairman, Bahamas Financial Services Board |
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
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COVID19 Protocols
Attendees of both The Nassau Conference and Financial Services Bootcamp will be required to adhere to the COVID19 protocols and policiesas established by Baha Mar Resort, the venue for the events.
- Fully Vaccinated Attendees (completed two week immunization after 2nd dose) upon arrival at the hotel will have to show a record of the completed vaccination to gain entry into the hotel and conference facility.
- Non-Vaccinated Attendees will have to present a negative rapid antigen test no more than 5 days old upon arrival at the hotel. Baha Mar only accepts testing results from the following facilities:
- Doctors Hospital
- Family Medical Center
- Lyford Cay Hospital
- Upon entering the resort campus, in addition to presenting the proper documentation, persons are required to take a temperature check at the entrance.
- All persons while at the property MUST wear a mask and maintain social distancing of 6 feet apart.
- Hand Sanitizers are placed throughout the hotel and convention center and attendees are encouraged to sanitize regularly.
Marvin is a Bahamian entrepreneur, lawyer and academic. He is currently the CEO of Raise, a platform that helps companies build, sell and trade their equity. Raise is focused on the African technology market, and has onboarded the top startups in the ecosystem, and is backed by Binance, Carta, 500 Startups, CRE VC and other notable investors in the ecosystem.
Dr. P. Jillian Bethel is CEO of OKX Bahamas and a lifelong champion of the Bahamian crypto community. Jillian is an entrepreneur and former obstetrician gynecologist, who first became interested in blockchain and distributed ledger technologies while working with leading international health management and medical research teams. In 2018, Jillian returned to the Bahamas to apply blockchain initiatives to grow the Bahamian economy and culture.
Mrs. Phylicia Hanna currently serves as Director of Investments for the Bahamas Investment Authority (BIA) within the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. The Bahamas Investment Authority was established in 1994 to support a competitive foreign investment climate, designed to foster economic growth, job creation and investor confidence. Mrs. Hanna’s mandate is to harness the country’s wealth and resources for the benefit of all Bahamians. She is also looking at various ease of doing business reforms including improving our current standing on the index within the next five years.
On September 16th 2021, PHILIP EDWARD DAVIS lead the Progressive Liberal Party of The Bahamas to landslide election victory, overturning a 35-4 seat majority held by the former governing party, to win an historic 32 seats out of 39 in The Bahamian House Of Assembly. He currently serves as the Fifth Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Therese Turner-Jones, Bahamian national has been working in international finance for over 30 years. Her academic background includes the University of Toronto (1982) and University of East Anglia (1983) where she mastered economics, as well as numerous other short courses from the JF Kennedy School, at Harvard, Singularity University (CA) and Cambridge (UK).
Mr. Rolle was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas in January 2016. Prior to this, he served as the Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance; and before this, he served on the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a Senior Advisor to the Executive Director for Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean Constituency.
David joined Pictet Bank & Trust in 2007 and currently serves as Head of Investments within the Private Banking Department. David leads a team of financial market specialists who provide investment solutions, research and guidance to high net worth individuals and the Private Banking team. David’s key role involves implementing investment strategies across a range of asset classes, designing custom portfolio solutions and advising clients.
Senator the Honourable Ryan Pinder is the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas having been appointed on September 20, 2021 after the general elections were held in The Bahamas and the Progressive Liberal Party were voted in as the Government. Ryan Pinder was the Member of Parliament for the Elizabeth Constituency and the Minister of Financial Services and Trade in the former Progressive Liberal Party government.
The Honourable Philippe A. May is a Swiss-Singaporean and partner of Principal Global Advisors Pte. Ltd, a Singapore-incporporated financial advisory firm. He is a qualified Associate Financial Planner (AFP), an Associate Estate Planning Practitioner (AEPP) and a member of the Global Investor Immigration Council and the Financial Planner Association of Singapore. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA) and an Executive Diploma in International Diplomatic Law from UNITAR, Geneva, Switzerland, Philippe has extensive experience in Diplomacy, Private Banking, Insurance and Residence & Citizenship Planning.
Antoine W. Bastian currently serves as the Executive Chairman and CEO of Genesis Fund Services Limited, a licensed Investment Fund Administrator in the Bahamas and the CEO of GFS Financial Services Ltd., an affiliate fund administrator in Singapore. Antoine Bastian earned his B.Sc. in Accounting from Indiana University in 1989. After university, Antoine joined Deloitte and Touché, Nassau Bahamas and subsequently qualified as a Certified Public Accountant.
John Fritzgerald Wilson Q.C. is the senior partner at McKinney Bancroft & Hughes, and chairs the firms Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. He is an accomplished commercial litigator who is renowned for his problem-solving skills and ability to advocate effectively for his clients. He completed his LLB with honours at the University of Buckingham in England. John then attended BPP Law School, where he became one of the few Bahamians to ever receive honours on the Michalemus Bar exams. He was admitted to the English Bar in July of 1994 and called to Bahamas Bar in September 1994.
Dr. Iyandra Bryan, is the Chief Operating Officer of Quantfury Trading Limited (Nassau, The Bahamas), a fintech disruptive brokerage that guarantees its users execution of trades and/or investments free of maker or taker fees, leverage fees, and any other fees.
Mr. Mott has spent over 20 years in the banking and finance industry in both the retail and private banking sectors. He has an extensive background and experience in banking, information technology, and project management. As the project manager for digital currency implementation, Mr. Mott is tasked with improving the domestic digital payments space and driving the national adoption of the Sand Dollar digital currency.
Patrice G. Taylor is a senior HR leader, consultant and strategist, and an internationally certified leadership coach, trainer, and speaker. Patrice has tapped into her global assignment, which is to speak life to purpose, activate hidden potential and cultivate the principles of servant leadership, values-based leadership, and a growth mindset.