Financial Literacy Symposium:
Growing a Retail Investor Culture in Europe

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Supporting partners

Financial Literacy Symposium:
Growing a Retail Investor Culture in Europe

  • 5 Wednesday, November 5, 2025
  • 16:00 - 19:00, Registration starts at 15:30
  • Skyline Conference Space,
    Brussels, Belgium
Register here

Suporting partners

Agenda

16:00 - 16:10

Opening Remarks

Michael Tae, Group President of Funds, Issuer, and Data-Driven Solutions, Broadridge

16:10 - 16:30

Keynote Conversation

Jean-Paul Servais, Chair at International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) - Chairman of the Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA)

in conversation with
Michael Pedroni, CEO, Highland Global Advisors

16:30 - 17:15

Panel 1:

Financial Literacy – Driving Better Retail Investor Outcomes

Exploring the link between improved awareness, data insights, and disclosure practices to build trust and participation in European capital markets.

Micaela Forelli, CEO Europe, M&G Investements

Sebastian Külps, Head of Germany & Northern Europe, Vanguard Asset Management Ltd.

Marianna Tothova, Partner, K&L Gates LLP

Serge Weyland, Chief Executive Officer, ALFI

Moderated by

Jane Kirkland, Head of Asset Manager Regulatory Communications, Broadridge

17:15 - 18:00

Panel 2:

Deepening the Retail Investor Culture in Europe – Regulatory Initiatives

An expert discussion on the European Commission Strategy, Member State measures, and international coordination designed to increase retail market access

Andrea Beltramello, Head of Unit, European Commission

Oliver Gilvarry, Assistant Secretary General, Irish Department of Finance

Evert van Walsum, Head of Investor Protection and Sustainable Finance Department, ESMA

Pat Lardner, Chief Executive, Irish Funds

Moderated by

Eoghan Marnell, VP Product Development, Broadridge Ireland

18:00 - 18:05

Closing Remarks

Michael Tae, Group President of Funds, Issuer, and Data-Driven Solutions, Broadridge

18:05 - 19:00

Networking Reception

Networking Reception & Informal Discussions with policymakers, regulators, clients, and thought leaders

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Supporting partner

Speakers

Andrea Beltramello
Head of Unit, DG FISMA, European Commission

Andrea Beltramello has been the Head of the Capital Markets Union unit in the Directorate General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA) of the European Commission since January 1, 2025. Prior to this role, he headed the Resolution and Deposit Insurance unit within DG FISMA. Between 2018 and 2023, Andrea was a Member of Cabinet for European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, where he had responsibilities for financial services policy and regulation and trade policy during two Commission mandates. His earlier roles in DG FISMA include Deputy Head of the Communication Unit, and policy officer in the Capital Markets Union unit and the Free Movement of Capital and Application of EU law unit. Prior to joining the European Commission, he was an Economist/Policy Analyst at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, working across the Directorates for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, and Science, Technology, and Industry from 2007 to 2012. He also has experience in international trade and European affairs with a major European technology company. Andrea holds degrees from the University of Trieste in Italy and the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.

Micaela Forelli
CEO Europe, M&G Investments

With over 20 years of experience in financial markets, Micaela Forelli has been a key player in M&G Investments’ international expansion. Micaela joined M&G in 2001 and was appointed Distribution Director of M&G International Investments in 2018 and CEO, Europe of Asset Management operations in 2023.

In her role, Micaela oversees a regional team of more than 200 professionals across Distribution, Investments, Operations and Corporate functions responsible for over €135bn of Assets under Management.

Micaela is CSSF Authorised Conducting Officer and Senior Executive Director of the Luxembourg Investment Management company and Alternative Fund Boards. Micaela is also FINMA approved Chairman of M&G International Investments Switzerland AG.

In her previous roles, Micaela led European Distribution and built M&G’s Global Financial Institutions practice working with clients in the UK, Europe, Asia and the Americas, since 2010 and building strategic, long-term partnerships with major international distributors of mutual funds, long-term savings, wealth management, investment and life wrapped products. Micaela also acted as Managing Director of Switzerland, a key market for M&G, and M&G’s Sales Director for Italy. In previous roles, Micaela also worked as Italian Sales Director for Fidelity Investments.

A respected voice in the industry, Micaela has recently been appointed Vice-President of the European Asset Management Association (EFAMA) and actively contributes to the development of the financial services sector, as an active member of several industry associations and a contributor to high profile industry events.

Micaela holds a degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bocconi University in Milan & is an INSEAD certified International Director.

Oliver Gilvarry
Assistant Secretary General, Irish Department of Finance

Oliver Gilvarry is the Assistant Secretary for Banking & Financial Stability in the Department of Finance. Prior to this role he was Chief Economist in the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and was also Head of Secretariat for the National Competitiveness & Productivity Council. Oliver has had a number of roles in the area of capital markets including in Lloyds Banking Group, KBC and Cantor Fitzgerald and has previously worked in the Central Bank of Ireland. He is a graduate from NUI Maynooth and Dublin City University and holds post graduate degrees in both Economics and Finance. Oliver is also a Fellow of the Chartered Management Accountants

Jane Kirkland
Head of Asset Manager Regulatory Communications, Broadridge

Jane Kirkland is Head of the Asset Manager Regulatory Communications (AMRC) business at Broadridge Financial Solutions. AMRC consists of four businesss – US fund regulatory communications composition and distribution, European regulatory reporting, US fund proxy solutions and global digital asset solutions In her business leadership role, Jane is responsible for client relationships, product development, service delivery and engagement with securities regulators. Prior to joining Broadridge, Jane was a Senior Vice President at State Street Corporation, where she held both strategy and business leadership roles. Jane spent 11 years at McKinsey & Company where she was a Partner in the Cleveland/Pittsburgh office as well as a leader in the Strategy and Financial Institutions Practices. Jane earned her MBA with Highest Distinction from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She has an MS in computer science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and a BA with Honors from Smith College.

Sebastian Külps
Head of Germany & Northern Europe, Vanguard Asset Management Ltd

Sebastian Külps is Head of Germany & Northern Europe and is therefore responsible for Vanguard’s business development in these regions, as well as Managing Director of Vanguard Group Europe GmbH. Previously, he served as Head of Securities at an international bank. He has twenty-five years of experience in the financial services sector, including leadership roles in Markets and Securities. Sebastian Külps holds a BA in Economics from Bates College, Maine, and an MA in Management from the EAP/ESCP European School of Management.

Pat Lardner
Chief Executive, Irish Funds

Pat Lardner joined Irish Funds as Chief Executive in April 2012. He has over thirty years’ experience in the global asset management industry and has held executive and board roles in Ireland and overseas with firms managing a full range of traditional and alternative investment strategies. Pat holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from University College Dublin and a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors. As well as participating on all significant Government sponsored groups relating to funds and asset management in Ireland, Pat is a member of the Board of the European Fund and Asset Management Association and of basis.point. During his career he has served on the Board of the International Investment Funds Association, the Council of the Irish Association of Pension Funds and the Board of the Irish Association of Investment Managers.

Eoghan Marnell
VP, Product and Strategy, Broadridge

Eoghan Marnell is Vice President of Product and Strategy at Broadridge’s European Regulatory division, where he leads teams across regulatory, data, and platform workstreams. With two decades of experience spanning trading, asset management, and financial technology, he has held senior roles at firms including Morgan Stanley, GFI Group, and Susquehanna International. In his current role, he focuses on aligning product strategy with evolving regulatory requirements and industry standards, helping clients meet obligations while driving innovation.

Michael Pedroni
CEO, Highland Global Advisors

Michael Pedroni brings three decades of experience in financial policy leadership, regulation, and geopolitical strategy. He served four U.S. Treasury Secretaries under Presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump; prepared market analysis for the President’s Daily Briefing; led inter-agency economic coordination at the White House; and was posted to Brussels as the U.S. Financial Attaché to the EU. Michael also brings deep private-sector expertise focused on asset management, havingled ICI Global and previously the international and research teams at Managed Funds Association.

Jean-Paul Servais
Chair, IOSCO & Chairman, FSMA

Jean-Paul Servais is the Chairman of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). He was elected in October 2022 and re-elected in May 2024 for another term of 2 years. IOSCO is the membership organization composed of the world’s financial markets regulators involved in the supervision of 95 % of the financial sector at international level. He is also the Chairman of the IOSCO European Regional Committee.

Jean-Paul Servais is the first Belgian to be elected Chairman of IOSCO. His election was partly in recognition of his efforts and the quality of his work during the six years in which he was already vice-chairman of IOSCO. Under his leadership as IOSCO Chairman, IOSCO reached several important milestones in recent years that contributed to enhancing investor protection, market integrity and financial stability. He contributed to active communication, strong visibility of the organization’s work and activities, and the smooth functioning of the Board.

Between 2017 and 2023, Mr. Servais chaired the IFRS Foundation Monitoring Board, which consists of global financial regulators and provides oversight to the IFRS Foundation. In parallel, he was the co-chair of the Monitoring Group (2021-2023), a group of international financial institutions and regulatory bodies committed to advancing the public interest in areas related to international audit standard setting and audit quality. Within IOSCO, Jean-Paul also led the SPAC network, which successfully delivered a final report in May 2023.

He has also been elected in 2024 as Chair of the OECD Corporate Governance Committee.

Besides his international responsibilities, Mr Servais is the Chairman of the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA). In this capacity, he is a board member of other international supervisory bodies for the financial sector such as the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB). Besides, he sits on a number of supervisory colleges that coordinate the (cross-border) supervision of financial institutions and infrastructures.

Through these experiences Jean-Paul has accrued a unique blend of supervisory expertise and regulatory acumen in the field of international financial services. Jean-Paul is known for his commitment towards investor protection. Beyond his thorough understanding on the functioning of traditional financial services and markets, Jean-Paul is an engaged and influential figure on sustainable finance and digital regulatory agendas.

Also based on his experiences as a supervisor and from his passion for education, Jean-Paul Servais had become imbued with the importance of financial education. He therefore requested and obtained from the Belgian legislator the power for the FSMA to contribute to the financial education of the population. Under his impetus, the FSMA launched in 2013 the now very successful Wikifin financial education programme. And in 2020, the Wikifin Lab opened in Brussels. This unique centre for financial education has since welcomed thousands of Belgian students and has become a reference at international level.

Jean-Paul teaches at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB, University of Brussels), where he is part-time professor in International Business Law and in the specialised Master in Tax Law.

He is author or co-author of more than 500 contributions, mostly engaging on European and international systems of financial supervision and regulation issues

Michael Tae
Group President of Funds, Issuer and Data-Driven Solutions, Broadridge

Mike serves as Group President of Funds, Issuer, and Data-Driven Solutions, ICS since July 2025, following his role as Co-President of ICS. He directly oversees our Mutual Fund Regulatory, Retirement and Workplace, Corporate Issuer, and Data & Analytics businesses, as well as ICS Governance and Risk. Throughout his career at Broadridge, Mike has served in several leadership positions, including as the Head of Strategy and M&A, and Chief Transformation Officer, ICS. Before joining Broadridge, he was the Director of Investments for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) at the U.S. Department of Treasury and held positions at Merrill Lynch and McKinsey & Company.

Marianna Tothova
Partner, K&L Gates LLP

Marianna Tothova  is a partner and a member of the Asset Management and Investment Funds practice group. For almost two decades, Marianna has been focusing her practice on European fund formation and related regulatory issues. Marianna is a private assets expert and advises managers on private debt, real estate and private equity fund formation and related regulatory compliance, with a specific focus on direct lending, AIFMD II, loan origination and securitisation. Marianna advises on both closed-ended and open-ended structures, including evergreen and semi-open ended funds, destined to both professional and retail investors (including UCITS and ELTIF).

Evert van Walsum
Head of Investor Protection and Sustainable Finance Department, ESMA

Evert van Walsum started his career in banking in the Netherlands. After that period, he continued his career in supervision and regulation at the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), where he worked in various roles as a policy officer and as supervisor, in the markets area and in the field of consumer protection. His last position at the AFM was head of the Capital Markets Division.

At ESMA, Evert is Head of the Investor Protection and Sustainable Finance Department, responsible for the areas of sustainability, investor protection, asset management, corporate finance and corporate reporting.

Evert has studied at the University of Amsterdam and at INSEAD Fontainebleau.

Serge Weyland
Chief Executive Officer, ALFI

Serge Weyland is the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI), a role he has held since December 2023.

He brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services, spanning asset management, private wealth management, fund administration and custody, institutional banking, and management consulting.

From 2010 to 2014, Serge served as Head of Regional Coverage North America & UK at CACEIS Group, followed by his role as Head of Financial Institutions at Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) from 2014 to 2017. Before joining ALFI, he was CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management (Luxembourg).

Serge also contributes to the wider financial ecosystem as a member of the Board of the Luxembourg Supervisory Authority (CSSF), the High-Level Committee of the Financial Centre established by the Ministry of Finance, and the Luxembourg Financial Industry Federation (PROFIL S.A.). At the international level, he sits on the boards of the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) and the International Investment Funds Association (IIFA).

He holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the Solvay Business School in Brussels, Belgium. A native Luxembourgish speaker, Serge is fluent in German, French, and English.