The Women's Bond Club (WBC) and The Bank of New York Mellon co-hosted their fourth annual panel discussion, "Back to Basics," on February, 12, 2009. More than 100 people attended, including Bank of New York Mellon employees and WBC members from other financial institutions. The discussion centered on the future of investment allocation, operational risk management and due diligence in the current financial environment.



More than 100 people attended the "Back to Basics" panel discussion.

Debra Baker, Managing Director, The Bank of New York Mellon and WBC Events Committee Co-Chair & Board Member, kicked off the evening by welcoming guests and highlighting the WBC Charter which looks to bring together women from the financial services industry to educate, empower and network. Our key note speaker for the evening was Karen Peetz, CEO of Financial Markets and Treasury Services at The Bank of New York Mellon and former Merit Award Honoree, who stressed the importance of the "back to basics" concept in the financial world as well as personal and professional relationships. Karen described how she reached out to the WBC four years ago and used the organization as a catalyst in forming the Women's Initiatives Network (WIN) affinity group at The Bank of New York Mellon, which she chairs.



Attending the event were: WBC Board Members, Lisa Dallmer, NYSE, Susan Green, Bank of America and guest

The panel discussion was moderated by Debra Baker. Debra asked questions focusing on investment management consolidation, money market investments as "safe havens," and opportunities in the industry for hedge funds, prime brokers and third-party servicers.



Panelists included Marina Lewin, Managing Director of Alternative Investment Services at The Bank of New York Mellon; Kevin Quirk, founding partner of Casey, Quirk & Associates; Jeremy Todd, Director of Pershing Prime Services, a subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon; and Colleen Meehan, Senior Vice President and Director of BNY Mellon Cash Investment Strategies, a division of The Dreyfus Corporation. Colleen is also a member of the Municipal Bond Women's Club.

"Where is the silver lining in all of this?" Debra asked in her final question to the panel. "Volatility breeds opportunity," Colleen said, and the rest of the panelists agreed as they focused on opportunity, responsibility and transparency going forward. Although these are unprecedented times, said the panel, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel by reverting "back to basics" and focusing on the fundamentals of investing.

In closing the event, Mayra Sacco, Managing Director of The Bank of New York Mellon and WBC Events Committee Member, noted that "back to basics" can apply to more than just investing. "Even in our professional careers, we should continuing doing what works during these times of change and volatility, while never losing sight of discovering new opportunities and maintaining forward momentum," she said.