2024 Conference Agenda​

​

SESSION 1
The opening session will consider some of the key trends that are shaping the direction of the sector: we will look at insights and observations from the Fintech M&A ecosystem, and the increasing role of AI and how it’s impacting business, regulation, market competition, and customers.  

​

09:15     Welcome from the Conference Chair
Mark Stephen, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC Scotland

​

09:20    Introduction to the 2024 Scotland Fintech Festival
Nicola Anderson, CEO, FinTech Scotland

​

---

​

09:25    What We’ve Learned this Year: Trends, Pain Points & Opportunities
Bruce Harvie, Partner: Corporate M&A + Investments, CMS

​

09:40    Generative AI in Fintech: Now and Next

Charlotte Kanagasabapathy, Director: Head of FinTech Scouting, Barclays

​

09:55    Pro-competitive AI Regulation: The CMA’s Perspective

Euan MacMillan, Sr Director: Digital Markets Unit, CMA

​

10:10     The Pseudo Singularity: How our Lack of Self-Control is Creating a Run-Away Train

Louis Blackburn, Lead Product Designer, Lloyds 

​

10:25     Combined Q&A

10:55     Networking & Refreshments

​

​

SESSION 2 

Session two will hone-in on a variety of key topics in longer individual slots. Presentations will be run across four parallel streams, providing delegates the opportunity to attend two of the breakout options.

​

11:30    First Breakout Option (A-D)

​

A. Open Banking and Smart Data: Sustaining Momentum and Shaping the Future

​

• 10 Million users milestone: what this means for the future of UK financial services

• Given the sustainable increase in users open banking, what does success look like? 

• Government announcement of the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill - how it will benefit the future of open banking and smart data

• With the recent funding and government announcements, will the UK remain a leader in open banking and smart data

• Next steps: Long Term Regulatory Framework and Future Entity - future growth and benefits

​

Henk Van Hulle, CEO, Open Banking
Andrew Black, Managing Director, ConnectID

​

B. Succeeding through Sharing: Using Fintech Innovation to Create Value for UK Businesses 

​

• We enabled NatWest group to access their accounting data, in real time, within their business banking app

• This provides customers with a simple way to prepare for Tax, manage their finances and ultimately get paid quicker. 

• This initial phase has been significant to technically deliver the current API integrations but to also lay the foundations for future expansion. 

• A successful example of how a traditional bank and an online accounting software provider collaborated to stay competitive by offering more advanced fintech services. 

​

Francesco Figari, Engineering Manager, FreeAgent
Kelly Grady, Sr Product Manager, FreeAgent

​

C. Applying Gen AI in the Finance Industry

​

• High level overview of GenAI adoption in the Finance Industry

• Types of GenAI applications

• Productivity tools: AveniAssist Use Case

• Industry aligned LLMs: FinLLM Use Case

• Challenges and best practice

​

Dr Alexandra Birch, Chief Scientist, Aveni 
Joseph Twigg, CEO, Aveni

​

D. Vulnerable customers: Can AI technology help firms meet their regulatory obligations? 

 

• How do we define vulnerability in financial services?

• How is the space for AI and vulnerable customers evolving and how are organisations using new tech to meet customer needs?

• What are the risks around using AI, and what part do humans play in protecting customers?

• The regulatory landscape and compliance considerations for financial services organisations.

 

Caroline Stevenson, Head of FS Regulatory, Burness Paull (Chair)

Rachel Curtis, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Inicio AI

Robbie Homer-Plews, Chief Client Officer, Aveni

Trish Quinn, Strategic Innovation Director, Fintech Scotland

Murray Cree, Partner, Burness Paull

​

12:05   Transition

12:15    Second Breakout Option (E-H)

​

E. The Critical Role of API Security in AI Applications

 

• AI applications are becoming vital to business operations, necessitating robust security for their supporting infrastructure.

• The Application Programming Interface (API) is crucial, acting as the main communication link between AI models, data sources, and application components.

• API security is critical for safeguarding AI applications against potential threats and breaches.

• The unique security challenges presented by AI-driven architectures and their dynamic interactions. 

Keiron Shepherd, Regional Solution Architect North & West Europe, F5

​

F. 5 Ways to Innovate

​

• Companies prioritise innovation but often lack the capacity to execute effectively.

• A major cause of failure is the inability to recognise and harness existing innovation potential within the company.

• Successful innovators focus on five key innovation tactics and invest strategically.

• This talk will explore the importance of innovation, the challenges it faces, and how to overcome them with the right tactics, applicable to both large companies and startups.

Nathan Fulwood, Strategy Director, CreateFuture

​

G. The Big Short in the age of GenAI

 

• AI in Risk Management: How Generative AI and LLMs are assessed for Financial Services risk assessment, prediction, and mitigation

• Generative AI Use Cases: Real-world examples of how these models can identify hidden risks, create synthetic data, aim to enhance fraud detection and optimize investment strategies.

• Black Swans and the Limits of Prediction: Can AI honestly foresee the unforeseeable? Understanding the inherent limitations of predictive models: Introduce Complexity, non-determinism and complex adaptive systems.

• Preparing for the Unthinkable: Emphasising the need to proactively build resilience and agility into financial systems, equipping them to weather Black Swan events and emerge stronger.

• Ethical AI and Responsible Tech: Ensuring AI is used transparently, fairly, and for the benefit of all stakeholders.

• The Human-AI Partnership: The importance of human judgment and oversight in AI-driven risk management.

​​

Dan Klein, Global Chief of Data & AI, Zühlke

​

H. Maximising Opportunities through Partnerships
 

• The benefits and challenges of expanding internationally

• The importance of choosing the right route to market 

• Selecting the right partner to work with 

• How to find opportunities to take your business global and 

• Maximising the free support from the Department of Business and Trades UK Export Academy

Mark Burkett, UK Export Academy Trade Adviser, Department for Business & Trade

​

Ian Stevenson, CEO, Cyacomb

 

12:45    Lunch & Networking

​

​

SESSION 3 
The afternoon session will look at how we can optimise customer outcomes and experiences, ensuring that change and advancement is rooted in genuine user-value, and that the implementation of new technology delivers for customers, colleagues, and the business.

​

13:35     Welcome back from the Conference Chair

Mark Stephen, Journalist & Broadcaster, BBC Scotland​

 

13:40    Optimising Customer Journeys
Linda Robertson, Head of Digital Customer Experience, Virgin Money

​

14:00    Going Global: Designing Experiences that Engage
Rosie Isbell, Group Design Lead, Wise  

​

14:20    Digital Identity: Reducing Risk & Creating Trusted Customer Experiences

Andrew Black, Managing Director, ConnectID 

​

​14:40   Combined Q&A

15:10    Closing Remarks

15:15    End of Session

*The conference agenda is provisional, and speakers and content are subject to change.