About this learning event

In this webinar, experts from Latvijas Banka will explain how Latvia builds operational resilience to ensure continuous availability of critical financial services. We will get an inside look at the national framework for critical financial services, cash and non-cash payments, how it is anchored in the national security law and specific regulation, and how Latvijas Banka coordinates efforts to keep services running even under severe stress or threats to national security.

Building on practical developments, the session will walk through concrete solutions such as offline payments for basic goods, the nationwide network of critical ATMs with enhanced back-up arrangements, and alternative channels for credit transfers when regular systems are disrupted. Participants will hear how these arrangements ensure that critical financial services remain reliably available to the public in crisis situations.

Who should attend

This webinar is designed for employees of central banks, financial supervisory authorities, and ministries of finance. Employees from other competent authorities will also be considered for participation.

Faculty

The webinar will be delivered by:

• Ilze Posuma, Council member of Latvijas Banka

Ilze Posuma is a member of the Council of Latvijas Banka from July 2022. She is Latvia’s representative on the Single Resolution Board, as well as a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia. She has been working at Latvijas Banka since 2005. Until 2022, she was the Head of the Legal Department and represented Latvijas Banka in the Legal Committee of the European System of Central Banks. From 2007 until 2014 she was a member of the Board of Latvijas Banka, and from 2014 to 2021, she served as Deputy Chairperson of the Board. Before joining the Bank of Latvia, from 2001 to 2005, she held positions related to jurisprudence at Latvian credit institutions. From 2001 to 2004, she was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia.

She has a diverse academic background: a Master’s degree in social sciences in law from the University of Latvia; a professional Master’s degree in business management, and a qualification as a manager of companies and organisations from Rīga Stradiņš University (Latvia); and a Master’s degree in cybersecurity management from the BA School of Business and Finance (Latvia). In the 2000/2001 academic year, Ilze studied in the European and Comparative Law programme at the University of Oxford (the UK).

• Igors Fleitmanis, Head of Operational Risk Management Department, Latvijas Banka

Igors Fleitmanis started his career at the Security Department of Latvijas Banka in 1994. As of 2005, he is responsible for the business continuity risk management process at Latvijas Banka and, as of 2019, heads the Operational Risk Management Department. Igors represents Latvijas Banka on the Eurosystem/ESCB Organisational Development Committee. He acquired professional higher education in Business Administration from Turiba University and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Latvia as well as international certificates in the areas of operational risk management and business continuity management.

• Harijs Ozols, Head of Information Technology Department, Latvijas Banka

From 1992 to 1994, Harijs Ozols worked at Latvijas Banka as a Senior Programmer and the Head of the Programming and System Implementation Group. From 1994 to 1997, he was the Deputy Head of the Information Systems Department of Latvijas Banka, and since 1997 he has been the Head of the Information Systems Department. Harijs represents Latvijas Banka on the Information Technology Committee of the European System of Central Banks. He has a Master's degree in software engineering and programming from Riga Technical University.

Practical information

The webinar will start at 09:30 CET.

Partners

This learning initiative was supported by: