ABSL Latvia Summit 2025

November 26 | Riga, Latvia

The ABSL Latvia Summit 2025: "Next Wave GBS: Driving Business Strategy Forward" will bring together key stakeholders, industry leaders, and visionaries to explore what’s next for Global Business Services in Latvia, the Baltics, and beyond.

From insightful keynotes to sharp discussions and real-world examples, the Summit will provide a platform to challenge current assumptions, share actionable perspectives, and spotlight the region’s growing relevance in the global services landscape.

Join us in Riga — where ideas, talent, and strategy converge to shape the future of GBS.


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ABSL Latvia Summit 2025 Programme

Explore sessions and keynotes for this year’s Summit: 

“Next Wave GBS: Driving Business Strategy Forward”


9:20 - 10:00 REGISTRATION AND MORNING COFFEE


10:00 - 10:10 OPENING REMARKS

10:10 - 10:25 KEYNOTE "BEYOND THE STEREOTYPE: THE TRUE FACE OF GBS IN LATVIA & THE REGION"

Aļesja Kirčenko, Deputy Head of SEB Global Services, Chairperson of the Board of ABSL Latvia

10:30 - 10:45 KEYNOTE "OUR JOURNEY TRANSFORMING THE BACKOFFICE OF UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT"

Nathan Moores, Director of Shared Services for Government, Cabinet Office, UK

10:50 - 11:30 PANEL DISCUSSION "PUBLIC SECTOR 2.0: UNLOCKING EFFICIENCY THROUGH STATE GBS" 

Nathan Moores, Director of Shared Services for Government, Cabinet Office, UK
Anita Kalniņa, Deputy Treasury of the State Treasury of Latvia and Head of Digital Transformation
Urmo Merila, Deputy Director General, State Shared Service Centre, Estonia
Ilona Valdmane, Head of Shared Finance Operations, Tietoevry Latvia

Moderator: Evija Celma, Head of Roche Services and Solutions Riga, Member of the Board of ABSL Latvia

11:30 - 11:55 COFFEE BREAK

11:55 - 12:10 KEYNOTE "LOST IN TRANSLATION: NAVIGATING CULTURE IN GLOBAL TEAMS" 

Sanda Reiharde, Psychologist & Organisational Consultant

12:15 - 12:30 KEYNOTE "BEYOND BORDERS: OPERATING A TRULY CONNECTED GBS" 

Ahmed Badr, Chief Operating Officer, GoCardless
Pēteris Daliņš, VP Operations and Riga Office Lead, GoCardless and Member of the Board, ABSL Latvia

12:35 - 13:15 PANEL DISCUSSION "VALUE OVER VOLUME: BUILDING THE GBS OF TOMORROW IN THE BALTICS" 

Ahmed Badr, Chief Operating Officer, GoCardless
Robert Giori, Chief Financial Officer, Atea ASA
Dorthe Harding Keilberg, Partner, Technology & Transformation, Deloitte Netherlands

Moderator: Linda Helmane, Head of Investment, Riga Investment and Tourism Agency

13:15 - 14:05 LUNCH BREAK

14:10 - 14:25 KEYNOTE "AI FOR CASE HANDLING: FROM HYPE TO DISILLUSION TO VALUE" 

Juris Tērauds, Co-Founder & AI Lead, Ideaport Riga
Kim Leandersson, Consultant

14:30 - 14:45 KEYNOTE "IS LEARNING TO USE AI THE SAME AS LEARNING ANY OTHER TECHNOLOGY?

Edvīns Elferts, Guest Lecturer ar SSE Riga, Co-Founder of Mitigate AI Services

14:50 - 15:30 PANEL DISCUSSION "FUNDING THE FUTURE: INVESTING IN SKILLS, LIFELONG LEARNING & WORKFORCE TRANSFORMATION"

Svetlana Kocerova, Head of International Office, DNB Riga Branch and Lecturer at University of Latvia
Evelīna Lesiņa, HR Manager Baltics, MSC Shared Service Center Riga
Edvīns Elferts, Guest Lecturer at SSE Riga, Co-Founder of Mitigate AI Services

Moderator: Aļesja Kirčenko, Deputy Head of SEB Global Services, Chairperson of ABSL Latvia

15:30 - 15:55 COFFEE BREAK

15:55 - 16:10 KEYNOTE "THE MISSING PIECE: WHAT REALLY MAKES EMPLOYEES STAY, GROW & SHINE" 

Zane Čulkstēna, Director of ERDA

16:15 - 16:55 PANEL DISCUSSION "FROM REGULATION TO RESILIENCE: HOW EU LAWS ARE RESHAPING THE GBS LANDSCAPE"

Juta Kaktiniece, Head of Baltic Legal, SEB
Laura Ērkšķe, Senior Associate, TEGOS
Ieva Skore, Legal Counsel, Tietoevr

Moderator: Maija Opmane, Legal Manager for Technology and Digital, If P&C Insurance and Member of the Board, ABSL Latvia

16:55 - 17:10 CLOSING REMARKS

17:15 - 18:30 CLOSING RECEPTION & NETWORKING

Partners

Gold Partners

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silver partners



Bronze Partners


SUPPORTERS

https://www.abavas.lv/en/pages/vindaritava


contact us


Sabine Stala

[email protected]

Marika Pumpure

[email protected]