ISF2021 International Conference - 7th edition "Quality in financial services. How can we have more informed consumers?"

Mr Leonardo Badea is the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Romania since October 2019. From June 2017 to October 2019, Mr Badea was the President of the Financial Supervisory Authority in Romania. With an experience of more than 20 years in economic higher education, Mr Leonardo Badea was vice-rector of the University of Valahia in Târgovişte and Dean of the Faculty of Economics within the same university. Mr Badea was consecutively appointed as senator and deputy in the Romanian Parliament, holding the positions of Secretary of the Committee on Budget - Finance, Banking and Capital Market in the Senate of Romania and of Chairman of the Committee on Budget - Finance in the Chamber of Deputies. Mr Leonardo Badea holds a PhD in Accounting from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest and has been a PhD supervisor in Finance at the West University of Timisoara since 2017. Mr Leonardo Badea has a vast research activity as author and co-author of an important series of publications with international visibility. Mr Badea is also a member of the Editorial Council of the Theoretical and Applied Economics journal and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Review of Financial Studies (edited by the Institute of Financial Studies).

Valentin Ionescu General Director of General Insurance Directorate ASF and President of Institute of Financial Studies. He has been active for 18 years in various private companies in the country and abroad, in the field of investments in the capital market. In the ASF he held the position of Director of the Directorate for Strategy and Financial Stability. He also held the position of Director of the Integrated Supervision Directorate (2013 - 2014) and Director of the Insurance Regulatory Authorization Directorate (2017-2019). The professional activity also includes positions such as General Manager of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, Member in CA at Sibex, SIF Moldova (2012 - 2013) and Chairman of the Central Depository CA, but also international experience - Euro Invest Bank Gmbh Austria (Head of Sales, 2009 - 2010) and Wood & Co Czech Republic (Senior Sales Trader, 2007-2009). Mr. Valentin Ionescu graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Commerce, has an MBA from CNAM Paris and a Certificate in Finance from George Town University US. He is an active member of various committees of ESMA and EIOPA. Attends as a guest at the CNSM meeting

Horia Braun-Erdei is the Executive President (CEO) of Erste Asset Management Romania. An experienced professional in investment management, with a career of 19 years in the financial sector, of which 5 in the National Bank of Romania (macroeconomic modeling and forecasting), 6 in the field of private pension fund management, he managed the assets of the largest private pensions in Romania), 3 in the banking field (he held the position of chief economist of the Romanian Commercial Bank) and 6 in the fund management segment.

Gerke Witteveen has extensive experience in Finance and Risk Management roles within the insurance industry. He joined NN Romania in 2016 as Chief Financial Officer and next to his position at NN, Mr. Witteveen is curently the vice-president of the UNSAR, the Romanian insurance association.

Paula Hodson is the Director of Education and Development at The Insurance Institute of Ireland. Paula began her insurance career in 1985 as a Trainee Underwriter in Allianz and was promoted to manage the not-for-profit business for the organisation, including education, medical and religious order business. Paula achieved her ACII in 1991 and then studied marketing for four years with the Marketing Institute of Ireland. In 1996 she joined American Company St. Paul when they set up in Ireland, managing Healthcare Business. In 1998 Paula obtained a Higher Diploma in Medico-Legal Risk Management from UCD. In 2001 St. Paul was acquired by Travelers Insurance, and Paula took on the role as Deputy General Manager with responsibility for marketing, sales, broker management and compliance. In 2007 Paula became President of The Insurance Institute of Dublin and was only the third female President to hold this distinguished role. Paula completed her Fellowship of the Chartered Insurance Institute (FCII) in 2012 before joining The Insurance Institute of Ireland team, where she has responsibility for relationship management, business development and education. She is also on the Board of The Insurance Institute of Ireland and the European Financial Insurance Certification Organisation. Paula is a Certified Insurance Director graduating in 204 and is a member of the programme Alumni. In 2019 Paula completed a Masters in Education and Training from Griffith College, Dublin. In November 2021, Paula was appointed Chairperson of The European Financial Certification Organisation (eficert) which was founded in November 2002. The members of eficert are associations and institutes that actively represent the insurance industry’s educational interests and ideals in the respective countries.  Eficert is the largest professional and educational organisation for insurance intermediaries, claims handlers and underwriters in Europe.

Mr. Adrian MARIN joined the Generali team in 1996 as an underwriter and subsequently held numerous management positions within the company, from underwriting to damages, thus gaining in-depth experience of the key processes of an insurance company.
In 2008 he was appointed to the Board of Directors, as Executive Director, and in 2011 he took over the position of CEO of Generali Romania. Starting with 2014, Adrian Marin also became President of the Supervisory Board of Generali Pensii.
Due to an active and long-term involvement in the National Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies in Romania, in 2016 he was elected its President.

Radu Hanga was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of BVB in 2020. Previously, between 2017 and 2020, he was a member of this board. Since 2020, he is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Romanian Fund Managers (AAF). Before, between 2015 and 2020, Mr. Hanga was President of AAF. He has extensive experience in the financial markets and attended the Strategy Execution Program (INSEAD), the MBA Program (IDE), postgraduate studies in Business Administration (European Institute for Business Administration UBB), specialization courses International Financial System (IBR in partnership with Chartered Institute of Bankers Scotland), Erasmus Program (University of East London). Mister. Hanga began his career in the financial markets in 1997, as an analyst at the brokerage firm SSIF Broker (BRK), and in 1999 he joined the team of Banca Transilvania (TLV), as a capital market officer (1999 - 2002). He has held several positions within the companies in the Banca Transilvania Financial Group, including vice president of the Board of Directors of BT Securities (2001-2005), head of the Capital Market Department at Banca Transilvania (2002-2013), CEO of BT Asset Management (2005-2013), Executive Director of Group Strategy-Coordination at Banca Transilvania (2013-2017) and Senior Advisor of the Board of Directors of Banca Transilvania (2017-2020). Mr. Hanga was also a member of the Board of Directors of other listed companies such as Boromir Prod (2013 - 2017), SIF Moldova (2013 - 2017) and SIF Oltenia (2017 - 2020).

Prof. Marian SIMINICĂ PhD. activates at the University of Craiova, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, teaching courses on Economic-Financial Analysis and Financial Diagnosis of the company . He is a PhD supervisor in Accounting. He has a rich experience in university management, holding the position of Vice Dean of the Faculty (2008 - 2012), responsible for scientific research and quality assurance of education, as well as Dean, in 2012 - 2016. He was Vice President of the Board of the Association Romanian Faculties of Economics (2012-2016). He is a member of several professional associations in the economic field, respectively: expert evaluator ANEVAR, being General Secretary of the association in the period 2016-2017; expert accountant, CECCAR member; tax consultant, CCFR member. Since 2014 he is Vice President of the Romanian Society of Economic - Financial Analysis (SRAEF). Since 2017 he is a member of the CNATDCU Commission "Economic Sciences and Business Administration", and since 2018 a member of the Commission of permanent experts ARACIS, contributing to the external evaluation of numerous undergraduate and master's degree programs in economics. He has extensive experience in scientific research materialized in the publication of 7 books and university textbooks, over 60 articles in specialized journals, including 12 articles in Web of Science indexed journals, participation in national and international conferences, participation in scientific research contracts as a grant director or member of the research team. He is a reviewer for several Web of Science indexed journals and a member of the editorial board for several indexed journals in International Databases. The main research directions are: financial performance and business risks; sectoral economic-financial analyzes; business behavior research models.

Alexandra Smedoiu is a Fiscal Services Partner, responsible for the area of ​​practice related to the profit tax; she specializes in providing advice to multinational companies and local entrepreneurs both on local taxes and on international tax structures. She is also the leader in real estate consulting services and coordinates the Deloitte SheXO Club program. She has a degree in economics and international business and a master's degree in international project management. Alexandra is a qualified financial analyst according to Chartered Financial Analyst and president of CFA Society Romania, a non-profit organization that brings together top professionals in the financial services industry. She is also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT UK) and the Chamber of Tax Consultants.

Assoc. Prof. Georgiana-Raluca LĂDARU PhD.- Associate Professor PhD. at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, Faculty of Agri-Food and Environmental Economics. She has a rich experience in university management, holding the position of Vice Dean of the Faculty (April 2016 - March 2021), responsible for students and the relationship with the economic and social environment, respectively with teaching. Since March 2021 he is the Director of the Doctoral School of Economics II. She has extensive experience in scientific research materialized in the publication of 9 books and university textbooks, over 45 articles in specialized journals, of which 10 articles in indexed journals Web of Science with AIS nenul, participation in national and international conferences, participation in scientific research contracts as a grant director or member of the research team.

Alexandru CIUNCAN has over 18 years of experience in the field of insurance and private pensions in Central and Eastern Europe, with expertise especially in the area of ​​business conduct, regulation, consumer protection, media and financial journalism. Starting with September 2018, Alexandru holds the position of General Director of UNSAR - National Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies in Romania, and since August 2019 he is a Member of the Board of Directors of ISF-Institute of Financial Studies.
Between 2013 and 2018, Alexandru was a member of IRSG and OPSG, the two groups of Stakeholders within EIOPA - the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisory Authority, participating in the elaboration and debate of legislation with a long-term impact on the insurance industries. and private pensions. At the same time, he held the positions of Secretary General of APPA - Association for Insurance Promotion - the NGO that developed the first national consumer information and education campaigns - and Managing Partner of XPRIMM, a Romanian media company specialized in the insurance industry. EEC and EEA insurance. Alexandru CIUNCAN attended the courses of the Faculty of Management within the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, holds a Professional Certificate in Management (OPEN University Business School, UK) and is licensed PMP-Project Management Professional and ACP-Agile Certified Professional (Project Management Institute, USA).

Cătălin CÂMPEANU- Bachelor of Laws with a master's degree in Organizational Psychology and Human Resource Management and graduate of the public management program - Young Professional Scheme. A specialist in human resources, with over 20 years of experience in personal development and adult training, benefiting from the experience gained within EIPA European Institute of Public Administration, he has held various management positions in the field, including Director of Development National Institute of Administration, being in the ISF team for more than four years.

Viorica Păcurar has over 20 years of experience in sales, in the insurance industry. Throughout her career, she has built and coordinated national sales teams, both in the retail and corporate segments, with proven performance and results in continuous consolidation. From the position of sales director at NN, Viorica Păcurar ensures the development and implementation of the sales strategy for the insurance and voluntary pensions segments.

Professional journalist with almost 30 years of experience. Currently, the director of the Communication and Financial Education Department of ASF. Editorial director of the magazine of economic opinions, studies and analyzes "Economistul", he was editorial director of the daily "Jurnalul". He made the series of economic-financial education programs "Jurnalul de Economie" on Antena 3. He was the first editor-in-chief and then development director, executive director and general manager of The Money Channel television station (2006-2012) . He made the series of ProfitLive shows and the “Back in Business with Daniel Apostol” debates broadcast by Profit NEWS. He worked as External Affairs Director of FPPG (since January 2019), after being Secretary General of ROPEPCA (2015-2018). He is vice-president of the Association for Economic-Social Studies and Forecasts (ASPES), member of the Romanian Association for Energy and Economy and honorary member of the Romanian Red Cross Society. He holds the certification of trainer and is a trainer in communication, journalism and media relations with 20 years of experience. He holds an MBA degree obtained in 2006, within the Romanian-Canadian program ASE Bucharest.

Mihnea BĂRBULESCU has over 20 years of experience in the Romanian capital market, with expertise in the field of sales of treasury products, financial investment services as well as collective and individual portfolio management services. The knowledge was accumulated within prestigious (financial) institutions in Romania, such as Raiffesisen Bank, Raiffeisen Capital & Investment S.A., BT Securities, Erste Asset Management Romania. He currently holds the position of Executive Director in the management of Erste Asset Management Romania and coordinates the activities of sales, marketing and product management.

Dorel Duță is President of UNSICAR, since December 2017, and is the representative of the non-banking financial market in the Coordination Board of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Entity (SAL-FIN). He has a rich experience in the insurance industry of more than 25 years. He has a Bachelor degree in Law, holds a management certificate obtained at The Open University Business School and has a series of specialization courses in insurance. Since 2000, he has become an associate and director of Hobbit Insurance Broker, the company specializing in the corporate area.