Michelle Knowles

Michelle Knowles is the Head of Trade Finance Product Management at Absa Group Limited. During her 23 years in the Banking industry, Michelle has spent the major part of her career in International Trade at Standard Bank, First National Bank and the ABSA Group. During this time, she has been involved in training, management of trade online channels and for the past 11 years, her focus has been on Product Management, with a particular focus on the development of a portfolio of new emerging products like Supplier Finance.

Michelle is also responsible for the delivery of the Trade Finance product strategy including Documentary Trade Finance, Open Account Finance and Structured Trade and Commodity Finance across the Group. Michelle has a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership with a focus on e- Business and has completed the SAFEX Registered Persons examination for Bond market, Equity market and Future markets.In addition she holds a certificate in Business Psychology and human behavior and completed numerous leadership and trade finance courses and is currently a member of the Institute of South African Financial Markets.