The Institute of Financial Studies and the Financial Supervisory Authority, in partnership with the “1 Decembrie 1918” University in Alba Iulia, invite you on May 9, 2025, at 10:00 to the SmartFIN@ISF Vocational Training Seminar and ASF Academic Laboratory. The seminar includes interactive presentations, case studies, and technical and practical aspects from the fields of financial education, non-banking financial markets, and the insurance market.
Special Guests at the May 9, 2025 Session:
- Valentin IONESCU – General Director of the General Insurance Directorate at ASF and President of the Institute of Financial Studies. He has worked for 18 years in various private companies in Romania and abroad in the field of capital market investments. Within ASF, he held the position of Director of the Strategy and Financial Stability Directorate. He also served as Director of the Integrated Supervision Directorate (2013–2014) and Director of the Insurance Regulation and Authorization Directorate (2017–2019). His professional experience includes roles such as General Director of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, Member of the Board of Directors at Sibex and SIF Moldova (2012–2013), and President of the Board of Directors at the Central Depository, as well as international experience at 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 Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Faculty of Commerce, holds an MBA from CNAM Paris, a Master’s in Enterprise Development from ASE, and a Diploma in Finance from Georgetown University, USA. He is an active member of various ESMA and EIOPA committees. He participates as a guest in CNSM meetings. He graduated from the Aspen Institute and attended the courses “Financial Sector Surveillance” and “External Vulnerabilities and Early Warning Exercise” at the Joint Vienna Institute. He has published articles and professional opinions in various domestic and international publications and has been interviewed by Bloomberg on several occasions.
- Ieronim ȘTEFAN – Holds a degree in Public Administration and Management and a master’s degree in Banking and Insurance, both obtained from the Bucharest University of Economic Studies. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at the University of Craiova. With a solid background in economics, he has gained professional experience at the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in the financial-accounting department and at the Insured Guarantee Fund (FGA). Since 2020, he has been part of the Institute of Financial Studies (ISF) team, where, since 2024, he has coordinated the Financial Education Department. He is certified as a Trainer and Project Manager.
- Cristina GAL – She is a topographic engineer and an ANEVAR evaluator specializing in Business Valuation, Real Estate, and Movable Assets. She holds two master’s degrees: Mineral Resources Valorization and Financial, Accounting, and Administrative Management. She has been working at Omniasig VIG since 1997, holding successive positions such as Insurance and Claims Inspector, Head of the Sebeș Agency, and Director of the Alba Branch since 2009 to the present. Over her 28 years of activity at one of the largest insurance companies, she has worked in key departments, handling retail and corporate underwriting, auto and non-auto claims processing, risk inspections, and the sale of retail, AMM, and corporate insurance products. Throughout 2023, she participated in the Start2Learn program organized by ASF in partnership with ISF, where she presented information about the insurance market to 11th-grade students from the following high schools: Mihai Viteazul National Military College, Horea Cloșca și Crișan National College, Dionisie Pop Martian Economic College, and Apulum College.
