April 24, 2019

Keynote Speaker

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Keynote Speakers

Cyndee Todgham Cherniak

Cyndee Todgham Cherniak is the founder of LexSage, a boutique international trade and sales tax law firm in Canada’s historic Flatiron Building. Cyndee Todgham Cherniak is a lawyer for lawyers, in-house counsel and governments.  She is a problem solver.  Cyndee’s practice includes: i) international law, including import and export controls and economic and trade sanctions; Magnitsky sanctions, customs duties, NAFTA verifications, value for duty, tariff classification, NEXUS confiscations; anti-dumping and countervailing duties, safeguard actions; WTO and RTA analysis, interpretations, opinions, government relations, strategies and dispute settlement; government procurement; the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act; and compliance programs/codes of conduct; and (ii) commodity tax (goods and services tax, harmonized sales tax, Ontario retail sales tax, eco taxes). In February, 2018, Cyndee was appointed by Canada’s Privy Council Office to Canada’s NAFTA Chapter 19 Roster for a period of ten years.  Cyndee was appointed by Canada’s Minister of Justice for two appointments to the Judicial Advisory Committee for the Tax Court of Canada. Cyndee is a past chair of the American Bar Association, Section of International Law, Customs Law Committee and Women’s Inter... Read More
Cyndee Todgham Cherniak is the founder of LexSage, a boutique international trade and sales tax law firm in Canada’s historic Flatiron Building. Cyndee Todgham Cherniak is a lawyer for lawyers, in-house counsel and governments.  She is a problem solver.  Cyndee’s practice includes: i) international law, including import and export controls and economic and trade sanctions; Magnitsky sanctions, customs duties, NAFTA verifications, value for duty, tariff classification, NEXUS confiscations; anti-dumping and countervailing duties, safeguard actions; WTO and RTA analysis, interpretations, opinions, government relations, strategies and dispute settlement; government procurement; the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act; and compliance programs/codes of conduct; and (ii) commodity tax (goods and services tax, harmonized sales tax, Ontario retail sales tax, eco taxes). In February, 2018, Cyndee was appointed by Canada’s Privy Council Office to Canada’s NAFTA Chapter 19 Roster for a period of ten years.  Cyndee was appointed by Canada’s Minister of Justice for two appointments to the Judicial Advisory Committee for the Tax Court of Canada. Cyndee is a past chair of the American Bar Association, Section of International Law, Customs Law Committee and Women’s Interest Network.  Cyndee is the ABA Section of International Law’s liaison with the Canadian Bar Association, Vice chair of the International Trade Committee and Member of the Louis B. Sohn Award for Public International Law Committee.  Cyndee is the first female Chair of the Canadian Bar Association, National Commodity Tax, Customs, and Trade Section.  She is also a representative of the Canada Bar Association Council and Budget Committee.  Cyndee is a director of the Canada China Business Council. She is a sessional Professor at the University of Windsor School of Law, and guest lecturer at Tsinghua University and China University of Political Science and Law.  Cyndee has written reports for the Asian Development Bank and has prepared a guide and workshops in Asia.  She has reviewed over 100 RTA’s and is knowledgeable about negotiation and interpretation of RTA’s. Cyndee is recognized in The International Who’s Who of Trade & Customs Lawyers (2010-present), The Legal Media Group Guide to the World’s Leading International Trade Lawyers (2007 to present), The Legal Media Group Guide to the World’s Leading Women in Business (2010-2013), as well as The Legal Media Group Guild to World’s Leading China – International Trade Lawyers (2007 to present).  Cyndee is listed as an up-and-coming international trade and WTO practitioner in Canada in Chambers Global:  The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2006 – present).  She is also listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as an up-and-coming international trade practitioner (2004-2007) and commodity tax practitioner (2004-2005).  Cyndee regularly appears in the media. Cyndee is a co-founder of www.tradelawyersblog.com and www.canada-usblog.com. Cyndee is an advisor to a local not-for-profit organization, Aangen.  Cyndee is a freedom driver and rescues animals in her spare time. Cyndee received an LLM from York University (Osgoode Hall Law School) in 1998, a JD from University of Detroit in 1992 and an LLB from University of Windsor in 1992. Cyndee was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1994. Show Less

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Here are what a few of our previous
attendees have said about our events:

Phil was an amazing speaker and extremely knowledgeable and engaging. I really enjoyed this class and I am looking forward to participating in many more in the future.  

- Christina Hebert, Babson Capital Management (Understanding the Securities Industry Attendee)

I thought it was well run and the speakers/panel members were very knowledgeable and informative.  

- SecOps Attendee

It was a very positive experience with good networking opportunities. The venue was excellent.  

- SecOps Attendee

Great venue to share ideas and insights.  

- SecOps Attendee

Enjoyed hearing about latest trends in the industry, as well as how people are dealing with difficult issues.  

- SecOps Attendee

Fruitful interaction with clients and prospects.  

- SecOps Attendee

It was good to hear peers sharing their experiences openly.  

- SecOps Attendee

It was my first FTF event and I enjoyed it.  

- SecOps Attendee

Excellent conference - topics are relevant and speakers are well informed.  

- SecOps Attendee

The conference provide good content through lively discussions. The venue was excellent.  

- SecOps Attendee

Speakers were numerous and great. All highly qualified to speak and provided excellent insight into our industry.  

- SecOps Attendee

The SecOps conference is a valuable forum for peers to network and discuss the real issues operations professionals face in their business. Our session discussing the reality vs. ideal world scenarios was well received and sparked ongoing discussions beyond the session itself.  

- Bob Leaper, PanoVista.Co LLC (SecOps Attendee)

The conference was very informative and relevant for the current state of derivative regulations.  

- Michael Daley, Director of Fixed Income Operations, Loomis Sayles (DerivOps Attendee)

You always have insightful subject matter experts on your panels.  

- David Gallagher, VP, Collateral Management, Lombard Risk (DerivOps Attendee)

The conference provides relevant industry insights from practitioners for practitioners.  

- Björn Schumburg, Senior Business Consultant, Derivatives Implementation, SimCorp Canada (DerivOps Attendee)

The event is essential for anyone who has a portfolio of derivatives or supports clients who have exposure to derivatives.  

- Frank Lupica, Director, DTCC (DerivOps Attendee)

Excellent.  

- Robert Boese, Director, Debt and Derivative Operations, Freddie Mac (DerivOps Attendee)

I thought the conference was very useful and provided its participants with ideas for how to address some of the challenges that Dodd-Frank regulations present.  

- Shannon Pacheco, Head of Operations, MEAG New York Corporation (DerivOps Attendee)

The speakers and topics covered were timely and very relevant to the current market environment.  

- Robert Ferryman, Director of Operations, Mizuho Capital Markets (DerivOps Attendee)

The conference gave a very informative overview of the challenges faced by the industry currently.  It targeted at specific initiatives and regulations which are critical to derivative operations.  

- Jessica Lua, Senior Vice President, Head, Trade Operations, GIC (DerivOps Attendee)

This was one of the best DerivOps conferences that has been put together.  

- Kathryn Landuyt, Securities Analyst, OTC Derivatives, PPM America (DerivOps Attendee)

The mix of presentations and panel discussions was great. Thank you!  

- Sandy MacLean, Senior Operations Analyst, Reconciliation, CPP Investment Board (ReCon Attendee)

Great experience. Thank you!  

- Beth Vogel, Director, Investment Management Operations, Federated Investors (ReCon Attendee)

The speakers were great and the program was organized.  

- Liliana Ferreira, Director, CSA Negotiations, Portfolio Reconciliation and Collateral Controls, Societe Generale (ReCon Attendee)

The content was very relevant and engaging, and the attendees were fully engaged in the lively panel discussions.  

- Paul Clapis, Director, Professional Services, SunGard (ReCon Attendee)

It’s a great opportunity to network with both vendors and peers while identifying the latest trends in the industry.  

- Rodney Hulslander, AVP Asset Control, Reconciliation, MFS Investment Management (ReCon Attendee)

Great forum. Knowledgeable and well-versed speakers. Would love to attend future events.  

- Ken Helmrich, AVP, BSA Supervisor, Hudson City Savings Bank (Financial Crime & AML Forum Attendee)

Very impressive conference.  The format provides unique access to industry thought leaders. The knowledge and ideas I gained will help me better adapt to changing trends.  

- Matthew Lyberg, Vice President, Acadian Asset Management (Performance Measurement Attendee)

Great Job. The FTF staff were great!  

- Bert Melchner, Program Manager, Enterprise Solutions, General Electric Asset Management (ReCon Attendee)

Excellent overall event. Thank you!

- Robert Perdock, COO, Macquarie Group

Excellent event with the right level of participants to add the most value to firms trading products requiring collateralization.  

- Joseph Streeter, VP, Collateral Product Manager, State Street (Collateral Management Forum Attendee)

The Forum format provides a great networking opportunity since there is a very focused topic and group of delegates.  

- Deborah Bonfield, VP, Senior Sales, Lombard Risk (Collateral Management Forum Attendee)

A good opportunity for networking with peers in the industry.  

- Joyce Lim, Vice President, Credit Agricole CIB (Collateral Management Forum Attendee)

One of the most informative conferences I've attended. Great progression from basic content to practical significance. Quite enjoyable.  

- Bill Elwell, AVP/Senior Tax Counsel, Hartford Financial Services (FATCA Breakfast Attendee)

FTF continually proves its commitment to organizing and delivering content rich, educational events. The events cover specific topics relevant to mission critical workflow and operations within the financial industry. I strongly recommend attending FTF's events.  

- Marc Caccavale, Client Relations, SS&C Technologies (Performance Measurement Attendee)

FTF always provides content rich conferences, with leading industry experts, with great networking.  The conference administration and amenities are always flawless.    

- Andrew Clipper, Principal, Knickerbocker Advisory Services (Performance Measurement Attendee)

FTF has provided a very thoughtful and relevant discussion of the changes currently impacting the industry.  

- Matt Kuznacic, Sr. Project Manager, William Blair (DerivOps Attendee)

I would highly recommend FTF’s Derivatives Operations conference. I come to the annual Chicago Conference and they also have a New York conference that’s great. It’s a great time to hear from both buy side peers in my case, vendors that offer solutions to some derivatives challenges that you may be facing and also meet with clearing house representatives and FCMs and it’s just a great place to network with peers and to hear what’s going on in derivatives operations.  

- Kevin Walker, Vice President, Manager of Derivatives Administration, Nuveen Investments (DerivOps Attendee)

Very helpful and insightful conference. Thank you.  

- Lenny Bambina, Vice President, Derivatives, AQR Capital Management (DerivOps Attendee)

Well organized and put-together. Impressive speakers and panelists.  

- Tatyana Yegorova, Audit Director, MetLife (HedgeOps Attendee)

I liked the varied areas that were represented on each panel.  

- Karla McKenna, Director, Citi (CAPCon Attendee)

Am always glad to participate in an FTF event.  

- Sue Mayham, Corporate Actions Expert (CAPCon Attendee)

Excellent forum. Very much enjoyed the more informal talks as it engaged the audience more.  

- Katie O’Connor, Senior Product Specialist, Information Mosaic (CAPCon Attendee)