FTW 2026 Conference Agenda on 6th November at We the Curious
09:00–10:00 Networking and arrivals
10:00–10:05 Welcome
10:05–10:20 Opening keynote
10:20–10:50 AI Panel - Sponsor: S&W
From AI ambition to accountable adoption
Financial services firms are moving from AI experimentation to accountable adoption. Through a client story, this panel explores what it takes to use AI safely in regulated environments, from governance and data foundations to culture, risk and customer outcomes, and where consultancy support adds value without replacing board-level responsibility or oversight.
Panel speakers to be confirmed
10:50–11:20 Smart Data Panel - Sponsor: PEXA UK
From Open Banking to Open Property: how smart data and ecosystem collaboration can fix the UK’s most broken financial journey
As smart data expands beyond banking, property is becoming a major test case for what trusted, interoperable data can unlock. This panel explores how smarter data sharing could cut friction, reduce failed transactions and improve customer outcomes, while highlighting what fintech, regulators and infrastructure players can learn from the opportunity.
Speakers:
Chair: Julian Wells, Head of Communications, PEXA UK
Samantha Seaton, CEO, CAPAdata and Co-Chair, Smart Data Council
Liz Brandt, Co-Founder and CEO, Ctrl-Shift
Angela Hesketh, Head of Government and Public Affairs, PEXA UK
11:20–11:35 Speaker session tbc
11:35–11:50 Speaker session tbc
11:50–12:20
Panel 3: Cyber resilience in the boardroom: preparing for impact
Cyber resilience is now a boardroom responsibility, not an IT work stream. With operational resilience deadlines live and cyber risk carrying financial, regulatory and reputational consequences, this panel explores how firms prepare for disruption, test accountability, work with insurers and recover confidence when prevention alone is no longer enough.
Panel speakers to be confirmed
12:20–13:00 Lunch and networking
13:00–13:15 Afternoon keynote - Putting the South West on the UK FinTech map
Speaker: Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate Finance
Synopsis:
The South West can be under-represented in national FinTech conversations, despite its scale, talent and financial services base. This keynote brings national perspective to the region’s contribution, exploring where the evidence is strongest, why it matters to UK growth, and how Bristol and the West of England can build wider recognition.
13:15–13:45 Panel 4: funding and scaling
Title: Built to scale: funding, governance and growth beyond London
Synopsis:
Raising capital is only one part of scaling a fintech business. This panel explores what investors, legal advisers and founders look for when growth becomes more complex: governance, evidence, regulatory readiness, commercial traction and trust. It asks what South West companies need to compete for capital on national terms.
Panel speakers to be confirmed
13:45–14:00 The future of UK payments: sovereignty, tokens and new rails
Synopsis:
The UK payments landscape is entering a major infrastructure shift. From account-to-account payments and commercial VRPs to tokenised deposits, stablecoins and payment sovereignty, this session explores how new rails could reshape competition, resilience and customer experience, and what banks, fintechs and global payment networks need to prepare for next.
Speaker to be confirmed
14:00–14:40 Fintech pitch showcase
A curated showcase of 8 FinTech founders and their firms who are building from within the region. Expect to see innovation, talent and unique ideas at play!
Any FinTechs wishing to participate must upload their profile to Finbridge (it’s free) here and of course email us to register your interest.
14:40–14:55 Closing keynote
Speaker to be confirmed
14:55–15:00 Close