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FinTech luminaries debate future of financial services at SWIFT Business Forum London

The line-up for this year’s SWIFT Business Forum London is taking shape, with a range of FinTech leading lights set to take to the stage to debate the future of the UK’s financial services.

Now in its sixth year, the forum, which is run by financial messaging service SWIFT, will focus on the topic of ‘Building the Future of the Financial Industry’. Speakers will debate topics including disruption, technology and regulation, in particular their impact on the UK’s financial services sector.

Speakers already confirmed for the event include:

• Eileen Burbidge, FinTech Envoy, HM Treasury
• Gerry Gaetz, CEO, Canadian Payments Association
• Andrew Hauser, Executive Director, Banking, Payments & Financial Resilience, Bank of England
• Gottfried Leibbrandt, Chief Executive Officer, SWIFT
• Blythe Masters, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Asset Holdings
• John Trundle, Chief Executive Officer, Euroclear UK & Ireland

A mixture of keynote speeches and panel debates will consider the impact of major technology shifts on the payments and securities landscape, as well as issues relating to regulation and financial crime compliance.

The UK’s FinTech sector is booming at the moment, having recently been proclaimed as the world’s FinTech capital, as technological innovations increasingly become part of the financial services mainstream.

Javier Pérez-Tasso, Chief Executive, Americas & UK Region, SWIFT, believes the forum is an ideal chance to take stock of all the disruptive technologies around at the moment.

Commenting on the announcement of the first set of speakers, he said: “A huge amount is happening in the UK industry right now – especially in payments where speed, cost, transparency, and compliance are all high on the agenda.

“The UK also has a thriving FinTech ecosystem, actively exploring the potential of technologies, such as blockchain which may influence payment and securities transactions for the future.

“This year’s Business Forum programme will provide the UK community with the opportunity to network and address current challenges and future opportunities for the industry.”

The event is due to take place on 20 April at Tobacco Dock in East London.