IFTA's 38th Annual Conference Speakers — 26-28 September 2025 —
The Deceit of Technical Analysis
Keynote: Tom Hougaard
Since 2015, I’ve earned over €60 million trading my own account. By mid-2025 alone, I’m up 800%—most of it live-streamed on YouTube. But here’s the part most people don’t see before that success: I spent 14 years failing at intraday trading. I mastered every form of technical analysis yet kept losing. Why? Because the problem wasn’t the market—it was me.
Everything changed when I stopped obsessing over charts and started analyzing my own behavior, emotions, and mindset. Here’s the harsh truth: technical analysis alone is the great deception.
Even today, 75% of retail traders still lose money—despite having unlimited access to tools, courses, and information.
About - Tom Hougaard
High-Stakes Trader | Author of Best Loser Wins
Tom Hougaard is a private high-stakes index and forex trader from Denmark and the best-selling author of Best Loser Wins. Renowned for his uncompromising focus on mindset and discipline, Tom is primarily a pure price-action trader, relying solely on the naked chart without indicators.
His popular YouTube channel has gained a wide following for its core message: “mind before chart.” Every trading day, Tom trades live for the world to watch via his free Telegram channel, offering an unfiltered look at the realities of high-stakes trading.
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Reusing Basic Technical Analysis — Envelope Fitting Strategies and Trend Turning Points
Presenter: Shinji Okada, CMTA, CFTe, MFTA
The strong performance of the stock market attracts both institutional and individual investors. Even without advanced technical analysis, investors can identify trends and turning points by refining basic tools. In this session, the speaker will demonstrate an innovative approach to using envelopes—adapting them to recent price movements—to better capture trends and key turning points, offering a practical strategy for effective market analysis.
About - Shinji Okada, CMTA, CFTe, MFTA
Shinji Okada, MFTA, works for a financial information vendor in Tokyo, where he provides technical analysis training to service development teams and users, including brokers, traders, bank analysts, and securities firms. His career began at a brokerage firm following the completion of his master’s degree in political science.
He is a councilor and the General Manager of the Research Department at the Nippon Technical Analysts Association (NTAA), where he introduces both classic and contemporary technical analysis theories to members. Additionally, Shinji is a regular lecturer in NTAA’s extension courses at a Tokyo university, offering technical analysis education to the general public.
In 2020, he received the John Brooks Memorial Award for his MFTA thesis titled “Observation of Yield Points of Trends.” He also presented at the 2021 Online Conference on the topic: “Regression Analysis to Determine Best Use of Technical Analysis Tools.”
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Technical Analysis for Wealth Creation - Identifying and Riding Mega Trends Using Traditional Technical Tools with Today’s New-Age Techniques
Presenter: Gautam Shah, CFTe, MSTA, CMT
Technical Analysis for long-term investing and wealth creation has been a point of debate among market participants for a long time now. There is a consensus belief that technical analysis is best used for trading and short-term trends. In this presentation, a completely different side of technical analysis will be presented where a case will be built as to how one can use charts to identify and ride mega trends over many months and even years. This will be done using some of the time-tested age-old concepts and some newer techniques that would act as a filtering mechanism. Mr. Gautam Shah will use his 25 years of experience of seeing multiple bull and bear markets to present a strong case for using technical analysis for wealth creation. He has successfully done the same for large institutional clients/family offices/HNI’s at his firm, Goldilocks Global Research.
Concepts like market breadth that can help identify market tops and bottoms will be explained along with case studies. Also, how one can use the moving average crossover system to ride mega trends without getting thrown out during short corrective phases. The beauty of ratio charts will also be explained using examples that can help capture outperformance and generate alpha. There will also be a brief mention of the concept of "volume at price" that helps an investor stay in the trend and ride along with smart money.
Overall, one can expect a session where every member of the audience will be enthralled and made to think of technical analysis in a way that is contrary to popular opinion.
About - Gautam Shah, CFTe, MSTA, CMT
Mr. Gautam Shah is the Founder of Goldilocks Global Research. He is a well-known financial market veteran with over two decades of experience. He is renowned for his sharp market insights and precise forecasts.
Starting as a trainee at JM Financial Services in 2003, he rose to become Director & Chief Technical Analyst at the firm and also represented the organisation in the media for many years. A Chartered Market Technician (CMT), Certified Financial Technician (CFTe), and Member Society of Technical Analysts, London (with Distinction), he is among the first Indians to earn all three prestigious global certifications in the field of technical research.
Mr. Shah’s expertise is sought after by Ultra HNIs, Hedge funds, Institutional Investors, Family Offices, Celebrity Investors, etc. With over 700 media interactions, he has been featured on CNBC Arabia, CNBC International, CNBC TV18, Bloomberg, NDTV Profit, etc, and was the only Indian speaker at the Asia Trader & Investor Convention, Singapore. He was also invited to speak at the CMT Annual Summit in New York (2023) and Dubai (2024).
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Presentation Title: MACD-v: The 7 Core Patterns of a Twice Awarded Momentum Indicator
Presenter: Alex Spiroglou, CFTe, DipTA, Award-Winning Trading Innovator
Have you ever relied on RSI, only to watch it remain overbought or oversold for far too long? Or used MACD, only to see it churn out one false signal after another? Then felt completely overwhelmed by the hundreds of indicators available?
Traditional momentum tools like RSI and MACD have their limits. They struggle to adapt in volatile markets, can’t handle extreme price swings, and often deliver misleading signals.
But there is a better solution.
What is MACD-v? In 2015, Alex Spiroglou developed MACD-v, a hybrid momentum indicator
that combines the strengths of range-bound oscillators (like RSI) and unbound indicators (like MACD).
What You'll Learn:
Explore this Innovative Tool and its Applications
- Understanding the Two Main Categories of momentum Indicators.
- Explore the difference between bounded and unbound indicators and how each can impact your trading.
Limitations of Range-Bound Tools
- Learn why traditional tools like RSI and Stochastics may fail in certain market conditions.
Weaknesses of Unbound Indicators
- Understand the challenges of using tools like MACD and Rate of Change for accurate momentum analysis.
MACD-v vs Traditional Indicators
- See how the MACD-v overcomes the weaknesses of both range-bound and unbound indicators, delivering more reliable insights.
Bonus for Attendees: Don’t miss out on this exclusive opportunity to enhance your trading tools. As a special bonus for this session attendees, you’ll receive the powerful MACD-v indicator for Metastock, TradingView, MT4, and Stock charts, along with custom scans and explorations to supercharge your market analysis. This is your chance to take your trading to the next level with cutting-edge tools straight from an industry expert!
About - Alex Spiroglou, CFTe, DipTA, Award-Winning Trading Innovator

Alex is the creator of the Multiple Timeframe / Multiple Factor (MTMF) methodology—a systematic 12-step trading roadmap that blends macro insights on higher timeframes with quantified technical analysis on the daily chart.
As the Founder & CEO of S.M.A.R.T. Trader Systems Ltd., Alex helps both private and professional traders build the discipline and confidence they need to succeed, supported by a thriving, like-minded community.
Innovation & Awards
Alex is the inventor of MACD-v and MACD-v Histogram, volatility-normalized momentum indicators that have earned global recognition. His award-winning research has received:
- 2022 NAAIM Founders Award – For innovation in active investment management
- 2022 CMT Association Charles H. Dow Award – For outstanding research in technical analysis
Credentials
- BSc, Banking & International Finance – City University, London
- DipTA – Australian Technical Analysts Association
- CFTe – Certified Financial Technician, IFTA
- Investment Management Certificate – UK SIP
- Licensed Market Maker – Athens Derivatives Exchange
- Certified Investment Consultant – Hellenic Capital Markets Commission
Industry Leadership
- Former Chairman, CMT Association – London Chapter
- Founding Co-Chair, CMT Association – Hellenic Chapter
- Advisory Board Member, CMT Educational Foundation
Speaking & Media
- Alex regularly speaks at international trading expos and conferences, including the London Money Show and Traders Expo, and delivers guest lectures at leading universities across Europe.
- He is also a featured expert in financial media, including TV interviews, podcasts, and trading publications.
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Turning Data into Edge — Success Factors for Options Trades
Presenter: Marcus Ruhnau, MBA
In today’s options markets, high-resolution open interest heat maps reveal where institutional footprints cluster and where gamma magnets can pin price action around key strikes. Layered on that liquidity lens is a sector outperformance readout, the Ruhnau-Berger Model to spot industries moving from “lagging” to “outperforming” and to track how their implied volatility skews diverge across the curve. Against this backdrop, Marcus unpacks entry playbooks for three flagship tactics—directional longs, premium selling shorts, and risk-defined credit spreads—showing how timing windows tighten when open interest geometry aligns with technical triggers surfaced by objective screeners such as Trades Scanner.
He then codifies the non-negotiables that separate marginal setups from high probability trades: deep underlying liquidity, controllable borrow costs, disciplined position sizing, and a rules-based exit ladder—principles echoed in high wire options frameworks. Attendees leave with a repeatable checklist for locating asymmetric reward-to-risk opportunities across equities, indices, and ETFs.
About - Marcus Ruhanu, MBA
Marcus has applied AI-powered algorithms to multidimensional problems since 2004 and now channels that expertise into rule-based trading systems rooted in the weekly Commitments of Traders (COT) report published by the CFTC. By combining COT extremes with options open interest heatmaps and gamma distribution dashboards, he isolates sentiment pivots and liquidity “magnets” that often precede major price inflections. Each concept is stress tested through Monte Carlo simulations and reinforced with Lean / Six Sigma methodologies he once used to optimize chemical plant or automotive processes and now employs for portfolio risk modeling.
The resulting tactics feed directly into his German language Rendite Brief options newsletter, whose live trade log has reported a win rate above 98 % across more than 280 closed positions. To democratize the workflow, Marcus launched Trades Scanner, a cloud-based engine that streams open interest layers, volatility skews, trade signals to retail and professional investors alike.
A frequent conference speaker across Europe, Marcus is dedicated to translating institutional flow metrics into risk-defined option plays—an approach that resonates with IFTA’s commitment to rigorous, data-centric technical analysis.
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Predicting the Price — An Old Idea Reimagined VIDEO
Presenter: David Linton, MFTA
Bringing Point and Figure Price Targets into the 21st century and placing them on time-based charts. This session looks at various projection methods for arriving at likely future dates that Price Targets might be met.
About - David Linton, MFTA
David is one of the UK’s leading technical analysts and a well-known market commentator. He is the founder and CEO of Updata, based in London. He is the author of Cloud Charts—Trading Success with the Ichimoku Technique.
He teaches the Ichimoku module for the UK Society of Technical Analysts Diploma Course, and he is a member of the American Association of Professional Technical Analysts. He is a partner at Betagroup, leaders in technical analysis training.
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The Stochastic Oscillator Second Signal: A Significant Signal Justified and Enhanced by Time Cycles VIDEO
Presenter: Mohamed Ashraf, MFTA, CFTe, CETA
In his session, Mohamed will introduce a special signal– one that works efficiently across different time frames and in various locations within different types of trends, which is the Slow Stochastic Oscillator Second Signal. Using this signal alongside with time analysis will enhance and confirm it. Even if time cycle analysis is not actively used as a parallel tool, the signal itself serves as a reflection of time-cycle market behavior and is generated by a specific situation within the time cycles, “the Ripples effect”.
About - Mohamed Ashraf, MFTA, CFTe, CETA
Mohamed Ashraf is the Technical Analysis Director for CI-Capital, the premier investment bank in Egypt.
Mohamed is a former IFTA board member and Vice President for the Middle East and Africa region, and he was responsible for translating the CFTe bank of questions into the Arabic language. He was also a former ESTA board member and has been a key member of the ESTA education committee since 2007.
Mohamed has taught Technical Analysis at many financial institutions, authorities, and universities for more than 18 years.
Mohamed graduated from the Faculty of Economics & Political Sciences, Cairo University. He is a Certified ESTA Technical Analyst CETA, a Certified Financial Technician CFTe, and holds a Master’s Financial Technical Analysis (MFTA) from the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA).
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Exploring New Horizons in Technical Analysis
Presenter: Rolf Wetzer, Ph.D., MFTA, CFTe
Technical analysis is a general term for any type of financial analysis based on market data and statistics. Over the years, countless different methods have been introduced and applied. Exploring new horizons in technical analysis means that we either use different methods or strategies to enrich our analysis or trading. This presentation discusses the AI framework and briefly introduces a variety of approaches that have appeared over the years at IFTA conferences, in our journal, or in MFTA papers. They are outlined for the user. No textbook knowledge is provided.
About - Rolf Wetzer, Ph.D., MFTA, CFTe
Rolf Wetzer is a seasoned institutional asset manager with over 30 years of experience and a recognized expert in technical analysis. He is CEO and co-founder of Ghiribizzo, a firm specializing in proprietary algorithmic trading.
Active in the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA) since 2006, Rolf is a past president, editor of the IFTA Journal, head of the MFTA program, and was instrumental in redesigning the CFTe syllabus.
Named Best German Technical Analyst in 2006 and runner-up in 2007, he is also a sought-after speaker on finance and management topics at global conferences.
Rolf holds a PhD in Econometrics and graduate degrees in Business Administration and Management from the Technical University of Berlin and Toulouse Business School. He is a member of the Swiss Association of Market Technicians (SAMT) and the German Statistical Society (DStatG).
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On the Pulse of the Market: Momentum for Traders and Investors
Presenter: Jörg Scherer, CFTe
The only person you can trust in your life is your mom. And the first three letters of momentum are M-O-M!“ This quote by Ralph Acampora – the godfather of technical analysis – shows the value of momentum strategies which Joerg Scherer also found within his own studies over the last 25 years. “Exploring new horizons in technical analysis – exploring new horizons in momentum”! In his presentation, Joerg Scherer, will discuss different momentum strategies, how to use them in different time frames over different markets … as trader as well as an investor. At the end of his lecture you will hopefully agree with Ralph Acampora.
About - Jörg Scherer, CFTe
Jörg Scherer has more than 25 years of market experience. He holds a master’s degree in economics and has been working for HSBC in Germany since 2005. As Head of Technical Analysis, he is responsible for the "HSBC Daily Trading", one of the most widely read trading newsletters in Germany. His well-founded market opinions and accurate forecasts make him a popular interview partner on (German) television, in the press, and increasingly on social media
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The History and Practical Application of Bollinger Bands
Keynote: John Bollinger, CFA, CMT
John Bollinger will discuss the history and construction of Bollinger Bands. He will present the two most important Bollinger Band Indicators, discuss the two most important dimensions of trading success, and will present examples of the practical application of Bollinger Bands that help you take advantage of those dimensions.
About - John Bollinger, CFA, CMT
John Bollinger is the founder and president of Bollinger Capital Management, and is internationally known as the developer of Bollinger Bands.
His book, “Bollinger on Bollinger Bands” has been translated into twelve languages and his website www.BollingerBands.com is the hub for everything related to Bollinger Bands. www.BollingerBands.us provides charts, signals, screening and tools to analyze the market and make trading decisions based on Bollinger Bands.
Bollinger is the recipient of the TSAASF Lifetime Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Analysis, the MTA (now the CMT) Annual Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Technical Analysis, and the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award.
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The Art of Staying Centered – Personal Growth Reflected in the Markets
Presenter: Patrick Nill
In his talk, Patrick Nill takes the audience on a personal journey through nearly 30 years of entrepreneurship and eight years as a full-time trader. This is not about setups or strategies – but about the deeper learning processes that unfold when one confronts the markets with honesty over time. In an industry often dominated by numbers and short-term performance, Nill speaks about discipline, self-responsibility, internal conflict – and how trading becomes a mirror of personal maturity. An honest and inspiring keynote about decisions, setbacks, and the quiet strength that arises when we learn to stay centered in the face of uncertainty.
About - Patrick Nill
Patrick Nill has been an entrepreneur for nearly 30 years and a full-time trader for the past eight years. He focuses on market-neutral trading using a structured, discretionary approach. In addition to working with various asset management firms, he runs his own trading academy where he shares his extensive market experience. His strategies are applied both in institutional settings and in the training of future traders. Since 2020, he has consistently ranked among the top four traders worldwide In the world Trading Championship - Including two overall victories.
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How I Won the World Cup Trading Championship Using Dark Pools & Order Flow: Trading the Unseen with AI
Presenter: Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan (a.k.a. DDNK), MSTA, CFTe
In today’s fragmented, algorithm-driven markets, dark pools have emerged as crucial execution venues for institutional flows, yet remain largely invisible to most traders. These off-exchange platforms, designed for anonymity and large order sizes, now account for a significant portion of global equity volume, disrupting traditional price discovery and concealing critical trade intentions.
This session, led by Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan (DDNK)—a globally recognized market strategist and Robin Cup winner at the World Cup Trading Championship—explores how advanced AI and data intelligence are unveiling insights into these opaque liquidity pools.
With a remarkable track record of over 1,000% cumulative returns across four consecutive quarters in 2024, DDNK will reveal how he leverages real-time dark pool data, order flow analysis, machine learning models, and alternative sentiment signals to detect institutional footprints before they impact public markets. From pinpointing hidden accumulation zones to forecasting volatility spikes, his AI-driven strategy combines quantitative rigor with tactical market timing.
Attendees will gain actionable insights into the tools and methodologies needed to decode non-lit order flow, optimize execution, and enhance alpha generation in an increasingly automated and concealed trading environment.
Designed for professional traders, fund managers, and quantitative strategists, this presentation provides a tactical roadmap for transforming dark liquidity into a powerful informational advantage, where mastering the unseen is the new edge in global markets.
About - Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan (a.k.a. DDNK), MSTA, CFTe
Dato’ Dr. Nazri Khan, widely known as DDNK, is a Certified and Licensed Fund Manager and currently serves as the Chief Investment Officer of Berjaya Mutual Berhad. With over 20 years of experience in financial markets, he is recognized for his expertise in technical analysis, portfolio strategy, and investor education. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Manchester and a PhD from Multimedia University. Additionally, he is a Certified Financial Technician (CFTe) from the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA) and a Certified Member of the UK Society of Technical Analysts (STA).
DDNK has held senior positions at Affin Hwang Investment Bank, MIMB Investment Bank, Phillip Capital Management, and Widuri Capital. He is the Founder and Fellow of the Malaysian Association of Technical Analysts (MATA) and has conducted over 1,000 investment seminars across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Sudan, and Egypt.
As the reigning World Trading Champion, DDNK gained global recognition at the World Cup Trading Championship by the Robbins Cup. His exceptional back-to-back quarterly returns in 2024—302.5% in Q1, 179.6% in Q2, 357.2% in Q3, and 223.4% in Q4—earned him the Malaysia Book of Records title for “Most World Cup Trading Championships Won in the Year 2024.” His consistent, data-driven approach to trading and investment has inspired many to improve their financial well-being.
A frequent market commentator on Astro Awani, Bloomberg TV, and CNBC, DDNK was named Bursa Malaysia’s Top Stock Market Opinion Leader in 2015 and 2016. He has also received international honors, including Best New Asset Management CEO and Fastest Growing Investment Management Company by International Finance Magazine in 2020.
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Quant-Driven Big Picture Thinking for Fine-Tuned Trading
Presenter: Andrea Unger
In today’s complex markets, effective trading requires more than just precise tools — it demands a deep understanding of the bigger picture. Quant-driven big picture analysis helps identify market regimes, structural shifts, and hidden correlations. By aligning these high-level insights with fine-tuned trading strategies, traders can enhance their decision-making, adapt to shifting environments, and optimize the use of technical indicators and execution tools. This session explores how a quant-informed macro view can become the foundation for smarter, more precise trading.
About - Andrea Unger
Founder, Unger Academy
Andrea Unger, born in Tuttlingen, Germany, on December 2, 1966, is a globally recognized independent trader and trading systems developer. He graduated cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious Politecnico di Milano in 1990 and is a member of MENSA.
Andrea began his trading career in 2001, specializing in systematic trading strategies. In 2004, he trained with Larry Williams to refine his skills, and soon after began earning international acclaim. In 2005, he won the TopTraderCup futures division with a 60% gain in three months, as well as the TCup monthly race with a 50% return in a single month. His outstanding results earned him honorary membership in the National Investment Consultant Organization and an honorary degree in Portfolio Management and Asset Allocation.
In 2006, Andrea published the first Italian-language book dedicated to money management, reflecting his mathematically driven approach.
He made history in the trading world by winning the prestigious World Cup Trading Championships® (futures division) four times:
- 2008: First Italian winner, with a remarkable 672% return.
- 2009: First back-to-back winner in nearly 20 years, with 115%.
- 2010: First trader ever to win three consecutive years, with 240%.
- 2012: Winner of the Q4 contest with an 82% return.
Andrea has served on the scientific committee of SIAT (the Italian Technical Analysts Society, IFTA member) and is now an honorary member. He is a frequent speaker at major financial events in Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, New York, and at IFTA annual conferences in Sydney (2016), Milan (2017), and Kuala Lumpur (2018).
In 2015, Andrea founded Unger Academy, where he shares his expertise and helps traders worldwide develop disciplined, systematic approaches to the markets.
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How to Think Like a Pro Trader: Risk, Rules, and Real Results
Presenter: Max Schulz
What separates amateur traders from true professionals isn’t luck or talent — it’s structure, discipline, and data. In this talk, I’ll share the four core principles that transformed my own trading: building a solid daily routine to avoid emotional decisions and FOMO, creating clear risk management rules that protect capital, learning to cut losses early by identifying the 20% of trades that do the most damage, and tracking performance with hard numbers instead of gut feelings. If you want to trade with clarity, confidence, and real results, this session will show you how to think like a pro.
About - Max Schulz
What makes Max different from other successful traders is that he has been willing to publish his trading strategy and all his trades in real-time over the years - the good, bad, and ugly. Why? Because Max wants his followers to understand how trading really works. Losses and drawdowns are part of the game, and every trader has to deal with that aspect of trading.
In this way, traders get a true picture of what being a trader means, so you can decide if it’s really something you feel good doing. Max learned the hard way. In the beginning, he thought trading was an easy way to get wealthy. But it’s not. Like many other ways of success, it takes patience, discipline, and persistence.
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The Secret to 10X Your Profit Target Accuracy with Time Trading VIDEO
Presenter: Asst. Prof. Dr. Gema Goeyardi, MM, MH, CAT, CFTe, MFTA, CWM, CSA, CTAD Founder & CEO Astronacci International
Master how to ride the market wave Get the 10x profit target with time trading.
- Discover the hidden timing to forecast accurate future tops and bottoms using Fibonacci and Astro Cycles.
- Learn precise chart pattern targets.
- Master wave targets combined with Fibonacci ratios.
- Apply valuation fundamentals aligned with Fibonacci timing.
- Utilize MA Envelope for dynamic support and resistance.
- Identify extreme reversal points for the most profitable entries and exits.
About - Asst. Prof. Dr. Gema Goeyardi

As the Founder and CEO of Astronacci International, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gema Goeyardi has more than 15 years of experience in the financial markets. Through the highly accurate ASTRONACCI Method (Astrology and Fibonacci), which has been proven to deliver exceptional results, he managed to grow an initial capital of only US$2,000 into a total of US$6.3 million. He is also a holder of the MFTA (Master of Financial Technical Analysis) awarded by the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA).
Over the past 15 years, Gema has been developing an innovative trading technique called the EYE OF FUTURE, designed to forecast price movements and vibrational dates with remarkable precision.
Beyond his achievements, Gema is actively featured on international TV and media channels as a financial market expert, and he also contributes to Bloomberg Terminal through Astronacci Research. For those who wish to learn the ASTRONACCI Method in depth, the Astronaccishop provides structured trading education in the form of comprehensive e-learning programs. To enjoy even greater benefits, the Astronacci A-CLUB SuperApp is available for download, offering trading signals, e-learning, and live trading webinars in one platform.
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Structured Trading, Proven Results – Inside the System of the 2025 World Champion
Presenter: Robin Kömel
Success in trading is never random – it follows a clear and disciplined system. In this 45-minute presentation, Robin Kömel shares how he won the 2025 Trading World Championship and achieved an outstanding 183% return through a structured approach and rigorous risk management.
You will discover how he analyzes markets, identifies setups, and executes trades with precision. Robin explains how having a defined plan eliminates emotional decision-making and enables consistent profitability. Using real-world examples, he highlights the rules that truly matter – and shows how you can apply them to your own trading.
The presentation goes beyond theory: it provides you with a proven, battle-tested system that has been delivering strong returns for many years.
About - Robin Kömel

Robin Kömel is a trader, computer scientist, and CEO of Suricate Trading GmbH. Together with his team, he has been achieving consistently strong returns in commodity trading for many years. With a rules-based trading approach that combines COT data, forward curves, and volume profile, Suricate Trading has secured multiple top rankings at the Trading World Championship – and crowned this success by winning the 2025 World Championship with a 183% return..
Suricate Trading GmbH is a specialized trading team led by Robin Kömel. The trading system, originally developed by founder Adrian Kömel and continuously refined, combines COT data (Commitment of Traders Report), forward curves, volume profile, and seasonal patterns into a clear and structured approach.
The strategy focuses on a small number of carefully selected mid-term trades with disciplined risk management. This makes it suitable for part-time traders and offers an attractive alternative or complement to traditional stock trading.
In addition to managing its own trades, Suricate Trading shares this expertise through seminars, providing practical follow-up support and proprietary charting software that helps traders apply the system effectively.
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Constructing Investment Systems with Technical Analysis
Presenter: Zoë Bollinger, CFP®
Technical analysis provides powerful tools for portfolio construction. In this presentation Zoë Bollinger will look at how to use technical analysis as a building block for system construction, taking a deep dive into the process of strategy development through the example of both a high growth and a defensive strategy. On the offensive side Zoë will explore the different parameters and components needed to construct a successful relative strength portfolio and take a look at how RS portfolios can be adapted to meet different goals and risk tolerance levels. Turning to defense, Zoë will showcase how to use technical indicators to construct portfolios with a focus on capital preservation, allowing investors to meet long term goals with reduced volatility.
About - Zoë Bollinger, CFP®
Zoë Bollinger is Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Bollinger Capital Management, where she develops and implements innovative investment offerings for clients. As a Certified Financial Planner™, Zoë assists clients in achieving their long-term financial goals. Zoë serves on the board of the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA) and is an international speaker on technical analysis and investment management strategies.
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Your Edge Over Institutional Traders–And How to Exploit It
Presenter: Trevor Neil, MCSI, MSTA
About - Trevor Neil, MCSI, MSTA
Trevor Neil is Director of RRG Research BV and one of Europe’s leading experts in Quantitative and Technical Analysis, with over 40 years in the financial industry.
He began his career in 1974 as a soft commodity floor trader for Merrill Lynch, later becoming a futures fund manager and professional technical analyst. His career includes roles as a Hedge Fund Manager at T-Capital, manager of a successful futures quoted fund at Union CAL Limited, and technical analysis support on the LIFFE floor for Bund arbitrageurs. He also served four years as Bloomberg’s global head of technical analysis, overseeing training and software development for the Bloomberg Terminal.
In 2004, Trevor founded the BETA Group (Behavioural Economics and Technical Analysis), providing consultancy to global banks and funds, and delivering professional seminars. A founding board member of the UK’s Society of Technical Analysts, he helped establish the IFTA CFTe professional qualification.
Trevor is a published author on trading techniques, a sought-after educator in market timing, and a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg, IG TV, and Core TV. He also hosts the long-running Technical Analysis Surgery webinar, sponsored by Thomson Reuters.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, he was educated at Gloucester House and Portora Royal School, Enniskillen.
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Artificial Intelligence for Volatility Forecasting: Turning Market Uncertainty into Strategic Advantage
Presenter: Giovanni Trombetta, Electronic Engineer, CFTA, and Michael Trequattrini, CSTA
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we understand and manage financial markets—streamlining microstructure operations and redefining how volatility is forecasted. In an increasingly complex, data-rich environment, the ability to anticipate market fluctuations is vital for traders, portfolio managers, and risk professionals.
In this session, Giovanni Trombetta and Michael Trequattrini will explore the machine learning techniques at the forefront of volatility prediction, a cornerstone of effective risk management and strategic planning. From classical statistical models to advanced deep learning frameworks, the speakers will demonstrate how AI can deliver more accurate and timely volatility forecasts.
Given volatility’s cyclical behavior, it presents an ideal use case for high-precision predictive models. However, the effectiveness of these models hinges on the quality, structure, and availability of data. The discussion will cover best practices in feature engineering, the role of alternative data sources, and the practical challenges of deploying AI in live trading environments.
By combining theory with real-world applications, this session offers a clear and actionable perspective on how AI is reshaping volatility forecasting and risk management in modern finance.
About - Giovanni Trombetta, Electronic Engineer, CFTA
Giovanni Trombetta is an entrepreneur and electronic engineer specializing in artificial intelligence algorithms for quantitative finance. His core expertise includes evolutionary algorithms and machine learning models, which he applies to the development of automated trading systems, asset allocation strategies, and financial modeling.
He is the Founder and Head of R&D at Gandalf Project, a fintech company focused on AI-driven solutions and education in quantitative finance. He is also Co-Founder of Rocket Capital Investment, a Singapore-based fintech firm pioneering decentralized asset management through AI and blockchain technologies.
Since 2016, Giovanni has been a Certified SIAT Technical Analyst (CSTA) and an Associate Professional at SIAT, the Italian branch of IFTA. He is currently in his second term as Chairman of SIAT’s Scientific Committee and serves on the IFTA Board of Directors as Quant Director (since 2019).
He lectures on data science in finance, teaching in SIAT’s “Master in Technical Analysis of Financial Markets” and the “Data Science for Asset Management” program. A frequent speaker at major financial events, Giovanni has presented at key international conferences, including:
- 2017 – IFTA Conference, Milan: "Sailing to the Future"
- 2022 – IFTA Conference, Melbourne: "Maximizing Opportunity in an Uncertain World"
- 2023 – IFTA Conference, Jakarta: "Unify the Diversity Towards Alpha"
His insights have been featured in Milano Finanza, Traders Magazine, and Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities. In 2020, he published a book on Python and quantitative analysis with Hoepli.
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About - Michael Trequattrini, CSTA
Michael Trequattrini is a research fellow at the University of Perugia, where he develops discrete and continuous latent variable models for applications in quantitative finance. His work focuses on alpha generation, leveraging artificial intelligence to design innovative trading and asset allocation strategies.
He graduated with honors in Banking, Finance, and Financial Markets from the University of Pisa and holds a Master’s in Finance from the Nova School of Business and Economics. He is currently enrolled in the Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management (ARPM) program—an intensive master-level course in data science and quantitative finance.
Michael is a Certified Technical Analyst (CSTA) accredited by SIAT and was the winner of the SIAT Technical Analyst Award (Open Category) in 2022. He has authored articles in both national and international journals, and during his time in Portugal, he worked as a co-portfolio manager at a local bank, playing a key role in its outperformance.
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The Science of Charting: Inside Golden Gate University’s Technical Analysis Program
Presenter: Brett Villaume, CMT, CAIA
This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of the Golden Gate University (GGU) Technical Analysis Program, beginning with its history, curriculum structure, and key partnerships, including the Hank Pruden Scholarship Fund and the TSAA-SF. It outlines the program’s three-course sequence—FI 352, FI 358, and FI 360—which guides students through learning technical analysis (TA) tools, testing strategies, and justifying their effectiveness.
The presentation delves into the foundational principles of scientific testing in TA, including the distinction between subjective and objective approaches, the role of falsifiable claims, and the application of the scientific method. Attendees will learn how to develop and evaluate trading rules, conduct backtesting, and apply hypothesis testing to assess statistical significance.
Finally, the presentation addresses the risks of data mining and how to address the inherent bias, emphasizing a disciplined, evidence-based approach to technical analysis.
About - Brett Villaume
Brett Villaume has served as an adjunct professor at GGU, teaching both online and on-campus since 2013. During his career, he was the Director of Investor Relations at a publicly traded financial institution headquartered in Southern California, and served as Research Analyst at a boutique investment banking and research firm based in San Francisco, California, covering publicly traded small- to mid-cap banks in the western region.
He has authored formal company coverage reports, including earnings estimates, price targets, and ratings, and authored daily stock market commentary. He has also appeared as a guest commentator on public media channels, such as Bloomberg TV and Fox Business News.
From 2021 to 2023, Brett served as President of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) Association, a global non-profit professional association that offers the CMT designation and promotes the study and application of Technical Analysis worldwide. He received the Graduate Certificate in Technical Market Analysis from Golden Gate University in 2016.
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Options – The Champions League of Investing
Presenter: Andrei Anissimov, Stock Market Professional and Bestselling Author
Stock market trading offers enormous opportunities - but also risks. What does it take to be a successful stock market investor on the long run? What do successful investors differently from those who lose their money? Book author and options trading expert Andrei Anissimov will answer these questions and show how anyone can generate regular income on the stock market using a simple system.
In the training you will learn:
- How to systematically build up income with options
- How to buy shares up to 30% cheaper
- How to hedge your portfolio against market risks
- How to double your returns with just a few hours a week
In the training you will learn:
Speaker Andrei Anissimov has trained fund and asset managers as well as several thousand private investors how to increase chances and lower risks with option trading. As a book author and experienced trainer, he says: “Success on the stock market can be learned - just like driving a car”.
About - Andrei Anissimov
Today, I am joined by financial expert and author Andrei Anissimov. He says, “Success on the stock market can be learned—just like driving a car.” Andrei Anissimov knows exactly what it takes to achieve the highest returns with low risk on the stock market.
Since founding his investor academy over 10 years ago, he has trained fund managers, asset managers, and several thousand private investors. His mission is to show people how easy and effective it can be to make money on the stock market.
The results speak for themselves: 8 out of 10 participants in his training courses double their stock market returns within three months.
QUOTE: Risk arises when you don't know what you're doing.
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Adaptive Trading Framework: Generating Returns in Constantly Changing Markets
Presenter: Gaz Paz
In technical analysis, the only constant is change. Markets are driven by supply and demand, and these forces evolve continuously.
When I began trading independently, I developed a fixed rule strategy, based primarily on technical analysis and position management. While initially effective, its success rate diminished year after year until it eventually stopped working. This challenge led me to design a trading framework with adaptability at its core—flexible enough to adjust to shifting market conditions.
About - Gil Paz
Gil Paz has been investing since the nineties and has been trading actively for almost two decade. After having developed a successful trading strategy, he decided in 2012 to start trading full-time. Since then, he trades for institutional clients as well as his own capital. Additionally, he is a well-known Educator in the field of trading in the English and German speaking world.
He is swing trader with a process driven trading strategy. He loves and lives the markets, and there is a high possibility that at this very moment he is thinking about the next big move and the risks involved in it.
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