Faster Forward

Kim Evans, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion & Social Impact at Northern Trust, joins Faster Forward for a deep dive into the importance of sustainability, and its connection to diversity, equity, and inclusion and social impact in any corporation. In this episode, Kim touches on the risks and opportunities that have emerged within the financial services industry recently, how the space has evolved, and some of the exciting initiatives where Northern Trust is engaged and committed to drive long-term value for its stakeholders. Key insights from this conversation include: The critical role of sustainability, DE&I, and social impact in Northern Trust’s business strategy Insights into how emerging regulations have impacted how the financial services industry has evolved in this space The influence of clients and regional differences on sustainability efforts Practical advice on embedding sustainability from a people, profit, and planet perspective into daily business operations And more! Connect with Kim Evans: LinkedIn: Kimberly Evans About Kim Evans: Northern Trust: Kimberly Evans

As a space that is expected to take off in coming years, the road to utilizing decentralized finance (DeFi) for regulated financial activities is under construction. Dan Sleep of Northern Trust and Boon-Hiong Chan of Deutsche Bank examine key driving forces in the DeFi domain and assess what lies ahead for the institutional investment industry on the road to institutional DeFi. Key Highlights: Understand the current state of DeFi and how it is being used in financial services today Learn about the benefits of DeFi in institutional investing and how it can change the industry Hear about DeFi in action through current projects and use cases Learn about the regulatory and cybersecurity risks and what institutions can do to build robust frameworks that ensure trust and security Discover why collaboration between financial institutions, regulators, and tech companies is crucial to developing standards and ensuring seamless integration of decentralized and traditional systems And much more! Connect with Dan Sleep: LinkedIn: Dan Sleep Connect with Boon-Hiong Chan: LinkedIn: Boon-Hiong Chan

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From streamlining customer service to redefining how data drives decisions, generative AI is pushing boundaries and unlocking new levels of innovation in the banking industry. But with these breakthroughs come complex challenges. In this episode, Alvin Chia, Head of Digital Assets Innovation, APAC at Northern Trust, and Manish Kogundi, Head of Digital Assets Technology, APAC at Northern Trust, examine the transformative capabilities of generative artificial intelligence in banking, its various use cases, barriers to adoption, and what the future holds for the industry. Key Highlights: Learn how AI tools are redefining content creation and customer interaction, setting new standards for innovation in the industry Discover current use cases in banking and how they are boosting customer satisfaction and operational efficiency Examine the potential benefits and challenges of leveraging AI for researching and selecting stocks Understand how AI can streamline regulatory and compliance workflows Learn about the obstacles banks face, from outdated infrastructure to data privacy concerns, and the steps needed to reskill employees for an AI-driven future And much more! Connect with Alvin Chia: LinkedIn: Alvin Chia Connect with Manish M Kogundi: LinkedIn: Manish M Kogundi

Join Stephanie Farrell, Head of Integrated Trading Solutions, Americas, Northern Trust, and Ryan Forberg, Senior Fixed Income Trader, Integrated Trading Solutions, as they explore the rise of outsourced trading in the fixed income sector. Stephanie and Ryan will discuss the growth of outsourced trading, the misconceptions, and specifically why outsourced fixed income trading is gaining traction in the asset management industry. Key Highlights: Discover why outsourced trading is exploding in the asset management industry and how it helps to meaningfully lower costs, reduce risks, enhance transparency and add resiliency and scale. Learn how outsourced trading is transforming the fixed-income sector by providing asset managers with access to specialized expertise. Debunk the myths of outsourcing and find out how it complements in-house efforts. offering additional support and expertise. Gain insights into the evolving investment landscape and how Northern Trust’s Integrated Trading Solutions can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of asset managers, from active to passive strategies. And much more! Connect with Stephanie Farrell: LinkedIn: Stephanie Farrell About Stephanie Farrell: Northern Trust: Stephanie Farrell Connect with Ryan Forberg: LinkedIn: Ryan Forberg

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Amid rising costs and a shifting priorities, how are asset managers rethinking their strategies to enhance the investor experience? Caroline Higgins, Head of Global Fund Services for Asia Pacific at Northern Trust, unpacks the key trends and challenges reshaping the asset management landscape in APAC and beyond. She explains the strategies that asset managers are implementing to navigate and meet their complex clients’ needs, including outsourcing and enhanced data solutions. Caroline also shares her journey in the industry, offering candid reflections on the progress and ongoing challenges in diversity, along with actionable advice for women aspiring to lead. Key Highlights: Explore how the industry is shifting focus on enhancing product quality and improving investor experience Discover the rise of outsourcing non-core functions and how data tools are driving better decision-making and growth Learn about the unique challenges in APAC’s varied markets, where tailored strategies are crucial due to differing regulations and levels of technology adoption Hear Caroline’s insights into the progress and challenges in diversity, especially at leadership levels Gain actionable advice from Caroline on advocating for yourself, building a strong support network, and exploring lateral career moves for growth And much more! Connect with Caroline Higgins: LinkedIn: Caroline Higgins About Caroline Higgins: Northern Trust: Caroline Higgins

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Join Mike Srdanovic, Chief AI Architect at Northern Trust, and Charles Morris, Chief Data Scientist for Financial Services at Microsoft as they explore the rapid advancements in AI technology and its impact on the financial services industry. Mike and Charles share a comprehensive overview of AI co-pilots and agents, regulatory challenges, and the evolving landscape of AI models, highlighting both current applications and future potential. Key Highlights: The ongoing adoption of AI in financial services and how it compares to other industries The role of co-pilot and agents and how they are enhancing productivity and revolutionizing workflows in the financial services arena The model ecosystem and the open source versus proprietary debate The challenges of regulation and safety The future of AI capabilities And much more! Connect with Charles Morris: LinkedIn: Charles Morris Connect with Mike Srdanovic: LinkedIn: Mike Srdanovic

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How do two leaders of a global banking institution work together to navigate the challenges of today’s financial landscape while providing the best possible client experience? Pete Cherecwich, President of Asset Servicing at Northern Trust, and Daniel Gamba, President of Asset Management at Northern Trust join this “special edition” Faster Forward episode to share their unique perspectives on the asset servicing and asset management industries and discuss how they are collaborating across business lines to help our clients stay competitive in an increasingly complex environment. This episode will cover: Pete and Daniel’s career journeys and the many responsibilities of their current roles at Northern Trust The relationship between investment operations and investment strategy Emerging trends and potential untapped sources of value in the current environment How Pete and Daniel work together to best serve Northern Trust’s clients What they’ve learned and admire about one another And more! Connect with Pete Cherecwich: Northern Trust: Pete Cherecwich LinkedIn: Pete Cherecwich Connect with Daniel Gamba: Northern Trust: Daniel Gamba LinkedIn: Daniel Gamba

How do two leaders of a global banking institution work together to navigate the challenges of today’s financial landscape while providing the best possible client experience? Pete Cherecwich, President of Asset Servicing at Northern Trust, and Daniel Gamba, President of Asset Management at Northern Trust join this “special edition” Faster Forward episode to share their unique perspectives on the asset servicing and asset management industries and discuss how they are collaborating across business lines to help our clients stay competitive in an increasingly complex environment. This episode will cover: Pete and Daniel’s career journeys and the many responsibilities of their current roles at Northern Trust The relationship between investment operations and investment strategy Emerging trends and potential untapped sources of value in the current environment How Pete and Daniel work together to best serve Northern Trust’s clients What they’ve learned and admire about one another And more! Connect with Pete Cherecwich: Northern Trust: Pete Cherecwich LinkedIn: Pete Cherecwich Connect with Daniel Gamba: Northern Trust: Daniel Gamba LinkedIn: Daniel Gamba

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Join Gary Paulin, Head of Enterprise Client Solutions at Northern Trust, in conversation with David Tait, CEO of the World Gold Council. They discuss David’s vision for gold’s digital future, his work to develop a database of responsibly-sourced gold and ambition to create positive impact across the ecosystem, including a digital token, backed by gold. Key highlights include David’s views on: Digital Gold and his ambitions for the digitalisation and tokenisation of gold Gold Prices and what’s driving the recent surge in demand for gold Gold’s evolution as an asset class including his perspective on its role in portfolios Providing provenance to buyers and improving gold governance Providing legitimacy to artisanal producers and removing bad actors from the ecosystem His Personal Journey: Hear about David Tait’s inspirational journey, his 5 Everest climbs, charity work for the NSPCC, the challenge he was set by the Queen and the story behind the film “Sulphur and White” And much more! Resources: David with the Queen’s 60yr flag on the summit in 2013: Photo 1 and Photo 2 Connect with Gary Paulin: LinkedIn: Gary Paulin About Gary Paulin: Northern Trust: Gary Paulin Connect with David SJ Tait: LinkedIn: David SJ Tait Website: David Tait Website: Gold.org Sulphur and White Sulphur and White | Official Movie Website | Watch Now Watch Sulphur and White | Prime Video (amazon.co.uk) Sulphur and White – Apple TV (UK) About David SJ Tait: David Tait was appointed CEO of the World Gold Council in November 2018. During his 35 years in the financial services industry, David has worked for a variety of highly regarded firms, most recently as Global Head of Fixed Income Macro Products at Credit Suisse. Prior to that he held senior trading roles at both Credit Suisse and UBS Investment Bank. David began his career trading at Goldman Sachs, and then moved to Credit Suisse before building considerable asset management experience as a Partner at Bluecrest Capital. He is a member of the Financial Markets Standards Board (FMSB) Advisory Council and chairs FMSB’s Precious Metals Working Group. David is also a major supporter of the NSPCC and has raised over £1.5 million by summiting Mount Everest on five occasions. He was the first person to traverse Everest from the North to South in 2007. He is an ex-trustee, Chair of the Rebuilding Childhoods Board and was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his services to the charity. His life story has been made into the Julian Jarrold directed motion picture “Sulphur and White” starring Anna Friel, Dougray Scott, Mark Stanley and Emily Beecham. The Royal Premier was February 2020 and the proceeds will benefit the NSPCC.

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Join Mike Srdanovic, Director of Enterprise Architecture at Northern Trust, and Phillip Mortimer, Chief Scientist at Accelex for an overview of large language models, generative AI and its potential applications in the financial services industry. The two delve into how generative AI has the potential to disrupt and shape the alternative asset space, and Phillip shares different ways Accelex is harnessing this technology to deliver innovative solutions to its clients. Key Highlights: Learn about Accelex’s unique platform that skillfully transforms unstructured data into valuable structured insights How Accelex’s AI-driven approach to document ingestion and data extraction goes beyond traditional methods for enhanced accuracy and efficiency Understand how cutting-edge AI models are refining Accelex’s data processing, making complex tasks more straightforward and precise Hear about the ongoing challenges within AI, as well as the exciting future of AI in financial services and the alternative investments space And much more! Connect with Phillip Mortimer: LinkedIn: Phillip Mortimer Accelex Tech Connect with Mike Srdanovic: LinkedIn: Mike Srdanovic

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Carl Tannenbaum, Northern Trust’s Chief Economist joins Faster Forward for an engaging discussion on the current economic landscape. Carl offers expert insights on the factors that are driving recent trends, potential headwinds to be aware of, and expectations for the remainder of 2024. Key Highlights: The U.S. economy’s robust performance against the backdrop of higher interest rates and evolving inflation trends The Federal Reserve’s recent guidance for inflation control and Carl’s predictions for potential rate reductions in 2024 Carl’s thoughts on evaluating how the upcoming presidential election will affect the economy and markets Examining economic trends across continents, from Carl’s recent visit to Europe to Asia’s mixed fortunes in Japan and China The notion that geopolitical risk should be a major consideration for investors and how Northern Trust is attempting to address this at the bank And much more! Connect with Carl Tannenbaum: LinkedIn: Carl Tannenbaum About Carl Tannenbaum: Northern Trust: Carl R. Tannenbaum

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Explore the intersection of finance, data, and artificial intelligence in this episode of Faster Forward, featuring Carl Boneri, Head of Engineering and Data Science, Front Office Analytics at Northern Trust. Listen as Carl discusses his career path, the increasingly critical role that data, AI, and Machine Learning play in today’s world, the value derived from unlocking and organizing data to create actionable insights, the future of technology, and more. Key Highlights: Carl’s career journey began in finance and led him to become a technical founder of a cognitive computing startup Why Carl joined the Front Office Analytics team at Northern Trust The view of data as a potential, untapped source of intelligence Why organized data is crucial for AI success How AI is transforming client service at Northern Trust What excites Carl about the future of data and AI in finance And much more! Connect with Carl Boneri: LinkedIn: Carl Boneri

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Faster Forward welcomes Gary Paulin, Head of Global Strategic Solutions at Northern Trust. Gary’s journey has taken him from his family’s fruit farm in New Zealand to his current role in which he works to ensure Northern Trust’s solutions remain closely aligned with the fast-evolving requirements of clients around the world. He recounts his early days, fueled by a passion for rugby, and his career journey through to the present day. As well as insights from his career, Gary also shares perspectives on the transformational changes impacting Northern Trust’s asset owner and asset manager clients, and the key factors driving and changing their decision-making. Key Highlights: Transition from rural beginnings in New Zealand to founding a brokerage house in London and current role as Head of Global Strategic Solutions for Northern Trust Asset Servicing Views on the operating models, new investment tools, and ideas required for asset owners to navigate today’s very different market conditions from those of the recent past Opportunities for business model optimization and improved margin resiliency for asset managers in response to today’s asset volatility and broken industry economics Thoughts on AI’s potential role in augmenting decision-making processes across the investment industry The value of leveraging unique, internal data to secure competitive advantage And much more! Connect with Gary Paulin: LinkedIn: Gary Paulin About Gary Paulin: Northern Trust: Gary Paulin

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Faster Forward welcomes Natalie Berkecz, Global Head of Regulatory Solutions at Northern Trust, to explore the industry’s pivotal shift to a T+1 settlement cycle. In this episode, Natalie discusses the impact the change will have, the steps that regulatory bodies and market participants are taking to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible, and the opportunities this change will unlock for the industry. Key Discussion Points: Market developments in recent years that have supported a transition to T+1 The benefits of this transition on various market participants Challenges the industry may face with the change to a shorter settlement cycle Addressing the impact to the EMEA and APAC markets, given that the transition is for US and Canadian settlement cycles Preparing operationally for a shorted settlement cycle Steps that organizations such as Northern Trust are taking to make the transition as seamless as possible for clients And much more! Connect with Natalie Berkecz: LinkedIn: Natalie Berkecz About Natalie Berkecz: Northern Trust: Natalie Berkecz

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The digital workplace is the future of work. Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President, Business Applications & Platforms at Microsoft, and Pete Cherecwich, President of Asset Servicing at Northern Trust, join Faster Forward to explore the nuances of digital workplace transformation, share insights about the future landscape of work, and offer an exclusive peak into the strategic collaboration between Northern Trust and Microsoft. Episode Highlights: How technology is reshaping traditional work paradigms and the future of work The role of AI, automation, and remote collaboration in a digital workplace What sets Microsoft’s software solutions apart and how their technology continues to evolve to better service customers Why Northern Trust chose Microsoft Dynamics 365 and how its capabilities help strengthen Northern Trust’s client servicing The concept of citizen developers and low-code/no-code technology And much more! Connect with Charles Lamanna: LinkedIn: Charles Lamanna Connect with Pete Cherecwich: Northern Trust: Pete Cherecwich LinkedIn: Pete Cherecwich

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With asset owners increasingly looking to align private market investments with ESG considerations, consistent reporting and data standards are paramount. This episode of Faster Forward, featuring Marc Mallett, Head of Platform Strategy and Marketing at Northern Trust, and Scott Kennedy, President and Co-Founder of Novata, navigates the intricacies of ESG considerations within private markets. Listen as they discuss the growing need for data standardization in the space and the innovative solutions that Novata has for a company’s ESG journey. In this episode, Marc and Scott touch on: Scott’s career and what pushed him to become a founder of Novata The current state of ESG data, transparency, and reporting Asset owners’ increased focus on ESG considerations The lack of ESG data collection and reporting in private markets How Novata helps companies on their ESG journey through benchmarking and data solutions to support more informed, ESG-related decision-making And much more! Learn more about Scott Kennedy: Novata: Scott Kennedy Connect with Scott Kennedy: LinkedIn: Scott Kennedy  

In this episode, Ant Stevens, Head of Innovation, Digital Assets and Financial Markets, at Northern Trust discusses the new digital carbon ecosystem platform that connects project developers working to remove greenhouse gasses with institutional buyers. He explains the concept of digitizing carbon assets and the importance of understanding and reducing carbon footprints. Ant also gives insights into voluntary carbon credits and highlights the Northern Trust carbon ecosystem’s platform, which provides transparency and information to buyers. He mentions specific project developers the team is working with and explains that the platform is currently in the final stages of production. Ant discusses: The digital initiative connecting project developers and institutional buyers in the carbon market Carbon digitalization and the focus on carbon avoidance and removal projects due to climate change impacts The importance of understanding, calculating, and reducing carbon footprints Voluntary carbon credits and their value determination An overview of the Northern Trust carbon ecosystem’s digital platform for institutional buyers And more! Connect with Ant Stevens: LinkedIn: Ant Stevens About Ant Stevens: Northern Trust: Anthony Stevens

In this relaunch of the Faster Forward podcast, we are joined by Mike Srdanovic, Director of Enterprise Architecture at Northern Trust. Mike dives into the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is a transformative technology that is revolutionizing our world and reshaping the future. Mike will discuss how AI has evolved over recent years, talk about current use cases across industries, and address both the opportunities and challenges of the technology in the future. Listen as this episode covers: The history of AI and how it has evolved over the years The difference between AI and generative AI Use cases for AI across industries Potential limitations, challenges and opportunities associated with AI Mike’s thoughts on how AI will transform our world Connect with Mike Srdanvoic: LinkedIn: Mike Srdanovic

In this episode, Julian Sawyer, CEO of Zodia Custody, discusses how his business satisfies institutional investors’ need for a digital asset custodian that understands traditional custody while also meeting investors’ high expectations. Julian also explains how Zodia Custody keeps up with the ever-changing crypto asset market. Julian discusses: What differentiates Zodia Custody in the market How institutional investors are leveraging cryptocurrencies in their investment strategy How Zodia Custody stays agile and responds to changing client needs without compromising security or reliability And more Connect with Julian Sawyer: LinkedIn: Julian Sawyer Zodia Custody

This episode of Faster Forward features Dan Sleep, Digital Assets and Financial Markets Specialist at Northern Trust, and Zhu Kuang Lee, Managing Director and Chief Digital, Data & Innovation Officer at HSBC. The pair will discuss the power of tokenization as a true disruptor and how tokenization and the broader growth of the digital world are challenging how asset servicers operate. Dan and Zhu Kuang discuss: Significant changes and innovations in the industry due to the rise of digital assets Regulatory challenges in the digital assets space The need for asset servicers to adapt to stay ahead of investor expectations Servicing a blended ecosystem of traditional and digital assets And more Connect with Dan Sleep LinkedIn: Dan Sleep Northern Trust: Dan Sleep Connect with Zhu Kuang Lee: LinkedIn: Zhu Kuang Lee

Clive Bellows, Head of Global Fund Services, EMEA, at Northern Trust joins the Faster Forward podcast to discuss the digitization of the private equity market and the opportunities that lie ahead as technology continues to evolve. Clive discusses: The current private equity market and the digitization of the asset class Technological advancements in the PE space The importance of choosing a provider with the ability to service you in the present day and into the future And more Connect with Clive Bellows: LinkedIn: Clive Bellows About Clive Bellows: Northern Trust: Clive Bellows  

In this episode, we are joined by Chris Carrano, Vice President of Strategic Research at Venn by Two Sigma, to discuss the work that Venn is doing in the digital assets space, the Venn platform, and how returns-based analytics can help investors better understand their risk. Listen in as Chris discusses: Venn by Two Sigma’s holistic investment analysis platform How Northern Trust and Venn by Two Sigma’s partnership brings unique quantitative insights to institutional investors How institutional investor interest in cryptocurrencies has changed the investment landscape The impressive capabilities of Venn’s platform and risk analytics engine And more! Connect with Chris Carrano: LinkedIn: Chris Carrano  

As technology continues to evolve, investors are seeking seamless and interactive user experiences to help them access and analyze their investment performance. In this episode, Todd Frank, Co-Chief Operating Officer at Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services, North America, discusses how advancements in digitalization through cloud-based platforms are enabling investors greater insight into their performance and providing enhanced transparency, offering investors a more sophisticated user experience. Topics explored: Technology capabilities in the hedge fund space How investor expectations around technology are shifting The capabilities of cloud-based platforms in regard to providing greater insights and performance metrics The importance of embracing the shift in digital platforms How Northern Trust is working to offer “white glove customer service” to hedge fund investors And more Connect with Todd Frank: LinkedIn: Todd Frank

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, the banking industry is no exception. In this episode, Peter Sanchez, Global Head of Banking and Treasury Services at Northern Trust, dives into the current environment for banking, trends in cash usage and demand for liquidity amongst investors, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the pursuit of instantaneous, real-time payments. Peter discusses: The current environment for banking and trends in cash usage and demand for liquidity The push for real-time reporting on balances and settlements The implications of instantaneous cash delivery What Central Bank Digital Currencies are and how they differ from cryptocurrencies The impact that Distributed Ledger Technology has on advancements in digitized baking And more Connect with Peter Sanchez: LinkedIn: Peter Sanchez About Peter Sanchez: Northern Trust: Peter Sanchez