Howard Palmer

Course Director at IFF

Trainer

Howard Palmer brings over 40 years of distinguished experience in international banking and trade finance to this programme. Having held senior positions including Assistant General Manager and Head of Trade and Lending at RZB (Raiffeisen) Bank London, and Advisor to the Board for the Medici/Creditanstalt Group, Howard has built an exceptional career at the forefront of global trade finance. Today, he operates as an active Trade Finance Mentor for several international banks and trading groups whilst running a specialist consultancy that establishes and monitors Structured Trade Finance Departments. His continuous engagement with the current market ensures his teaching remains both relevant and highly practical.

A prolific author, Howard has written six essential texts including 'Oil, Gas and Energy Financing', 'International Trade Finance – A Practitioner's Guide', and 'International Documentary Fraud and Money Laundering' (Euromoney Publications). As a recognised Expert Witness, he has appeared in every major fraud and trade-related case over the past decade in the High Courts of England and the Supreme Courts of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, and the USA. This unique combination of practical market experience, legal expertise, and academic rigour makes Howard one of the most sought-after speakers and trainers in the field.

Howard has trained over 5,500 bankers and traders across 50 countries for leading institutions including Deutsche Bank, Santander, EBRD, BP, Standard Bank, and the governments of the Russian Federation, Singapore, Poland, and Malaysia. He currently serves as Head of Learning at Canterbury Business School's MBA programme, teaching International Trade Finance, Bank Risk Analysis in Emerging Markets, and Financial Crime in Trade Finance.