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

Speaker: Marty Reid, Director of Innovation, University of Bristol

10:20–10:50 Panel 1: AI - Sponsor: S&W 

From AI ambition to accountable adoption
Financial services firms are moving from AI experimentation to accountable adoption. 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.

Speakers:

  • Chair: Mark Bowden, Head of Data and AI, S&W

  • Sonam Belbase, Data & AI Governance Adviser, AI West

  • Vijay Mitra, Director AI Risk & Governance, Nationwide

  • Sue Turner OBE, Founder of AI Governance and Professor in Practice, AI and Digital Technologies, University of Bristol

10:50–11:20 Panel 2: 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 Fireside chat: Fintech's next frontier: can the South West turn potential into advantage?

The South West has talent, capital, financial institutions, technology companies and increasingly influential networks. But how does geography still shape opportunity and influence. What will it take to turn the potential into successful businesses, careers and stronger fintech ecosystem beyond London?

  • Anita Kimber, Non Executive Director, FCA

  • Carmen Peacock, Chair, CBI South West

11:35–12:05 Panel 3: Beyond the Algorithm: Can technology help finance make better decisions?

Money is a means to an end, but as finance gets faster and more automated, it’s easy to lose sight of who it serves. A product can work exactly as designed and still leave people out. Talking Money, Triodos Bank UK and Bristol City Council ask whether we’re using technology and data to make decisions faster, or better. You don’t have to be purpose-led to have a purpose, or work in consumer finance to have an end user.

  • Chair: Liz Richards, COO, FinTech West and AI West

  • Tamra Mannin, CEO, Talking Money

  • Graham Snow, Head of Change, Triodos Bank UK

  • Catie Mahoney, Economic Development Team, Bristol City Council

12:05–12:35 Panel 4: Cyber resilience - Sponsor: Howden

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.

Speakers:

  • Chair: Greg Lickiss, Senior Commercial Manager, Howden

  • Senior Representative, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC part of GCHQ)

  • Giles Taylor, Head of Cyber and Data Security, Lloyds Commercial Banking

  • Tristan Hall, Partner, CMS

  • Simon Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer, Cowbell Cyber

12:35–13:15 Lunch and networking

13:15–13:30 Afternoon keynote - The South West’s Place in a National FinTech Success Story

Speaker: Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate Finance

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 as part of a broader UK FinTech ecosystem.

13:30–13:45 Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council

13:45–14:15 Panel 5: Funding and scaling

Built to scale: funding, governance and growth beyond London

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.

Speakers:

  • Chair: Ed Tellwright, Director - South West - British Business Bank (Local Growth Team)

  • Will Orde, Partner, Passion Capital

  • Charlie Mercer, Deputy Executive Director, Startup Coalition

  • Sophia Jarvis, CFA, Co-founder and CEO, Mia Wealth

  • Adam Turner, Legal Director, Birketts

14:15–14:55 Fintech pitch showcase - powered by Finbridge

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!

14:55–15:10 Closing keynote - How to navigate growth from regional startup to national scale-up

As the conference closes, this keynote will take you through the successes and lessons learned from growing a financial tech business in the South West. David will discuss why he left a FTSE 50 board to take the leap of starting his own company, why Bristol was the right place to build, challenges along the way, and how the region has contributed to the company’s success.

David Davies, CEO, Navos

15:10–15:15 Close