Where the UK and Europe’s Payments & RegTech Leaders Shape the Future of Finance
#financialinnovation
5th Annual
Financial Innovation Forum
Payments & RegTech
17 SEPTEMBER 2026
Sheraton Hotel - Mayfair - London, United Kingdom
JOIN INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS, COMPLIANCE & REGTECH EXPERTS
LET’S CONNECT
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
Isaac Newton
Welcome to the 5th Financial Innovation Forum – Payments & RegTech, returning to London for a premium, one-day gathering of senior decision-makers shaping the next chapter of financial services innovation.
Set in London, at the heart of one of the world’s most influential financial centres, the Forum brings together leaders from banks, payment institutions, fintechs, merchants, RegTech providers, consultancies and regulators to explore what is next across the UK and European payments landscape.
Across a full day of keynotes, high-level panel discussions and practical case studies, you will discover the new era of customer-focused payments: instant and account-to-account (A2A) rails, open banking and open finance, digital identity, embedded finance, Agentic AI and smarter cross-border money movement.
A dedicated RegTech and compliance lens will cut through the noise on the priorities that matter in the UK market - protecting consumers, strengthening safeguarding and governance, modernising payment oversight, and building resilient operating models in a world of rising fraud, scams and cyber risk.
AI and advanced analytics will be a central theme throughout: how intelligent tools can streamline onboarding, monitoring and reporting; sharpen fraud and AML controls; and enable faster, safer decision-making - while keeping explainability, accountability and human oversight at the core.
Whether you are driving product strategy, risk and compliance, fraud prevention, technology transformation or regulatory policy, the Forum is designed to deliver actionable insight, peer benchmarking and high-value partnerships.
Reserve your place today and be part of the conversations shaping the future of payments and RegTech in the UK and beyond.
PAST SPONSORS
PAST SPEAKERS
Our speaker line-up brings together leading voices from the global payments industry, the UK compliance sector, and top banking technology innovators. They will deliver high-value insights on driving innovation, meeting regulatory demands, and navigating the rapidly evolving payments landscape.
PAST CONTRIBUTORS
WHAT'S COMING UP
The Future of Payments & Money in the UK
-
Instant, A2A and the Next Payments Stack – What is changing across Faster Payments, CHAPS and the wider ecosystem, and how firms are designing customer journeys around real-time settlement and smarter routing.
-
Digital Money & Tokenised Payments – Where the digital pound exploration, stablecoin payments and tokenised settlement fit into UK roadmaps — and what it means for PSPs, banks and merchants.
Regulation, Compliance & Trust at Scale
-
Navigating the UK Rulebook – Turning regulatory expectations into operational reality across authorisation, safeguarding, governance, Consumer Duty and payment system oversight.
-
Compliance as a Competitive Advantage – Using RegTech to reduce friction in onboarding and monitoring, improve auditability, and scale confidently while keeping risk under control.
AI, Data & Agentic Automation in Payments and RegTech
-
From Analytics to Agentic Workflows – Moving beyond dashboards and rules to AI-enabled orchestration that can prioritise cases, recommend actions and support real-time decisioning.
-
Governance That Builds Confidence – Designing model risk management, explainability and human-in-the-loop controls so innovation strengthens trust rather than undermining it.
Fighting Fraud, Financial Crime & Building Operational Resilience
-
Stopping Scams and APP Fraud – Tackling mule networks, social engineering and impersonation scams through better data, collaboration, customer education and real-time controls.
-
Resilience by Design – Cyber security, operational resilience and third-party risk in modern payment stacks, including cloud, APIs and critical service providers.
PAST AGENDA
18 SEPTEMBER | LONDON | UNITED KINGDOM
The 4th Financial Innovation Forum – Payments & RegTech will bring together leading experts to explore the future of payments, RegTech, and compliance in the UK. The agenda highlights AI, digital assets, cross-border payments, instant payments, and financial inclusion, providing clear insights into the key challenges, solutions, and trends shaping 2025.
18 SEPTEMBER 2025
08:30-09:00
REGISTRATION & WELCOME COFFEE
Participants arrive, register, and enjoy welcome coffee
Sponsored by Vivox AI
09:00-09:05
WELCOME ADDRESS
Lilly Pavlou, Executive Director at QUBE Events
09:05-09:10
CHAIRMEN OPENING ADDRESS
Insights into the day's agenda and objectives
Andrew Doukanaris, Chief Executive Officer at Flotta Consulting Ltd
Suresh Vaghjiani, CEO at CLOWD9
09:10-09:35
KEYNOTE SESSION + Q&A
Rewriting the Payments Playbook: Exploring AI, Smart Data, Quantum Computing, and the Dawn of a New Payments Value Chain
A focus on emerging trends like embedded finance, real-time payments, and the evolving role of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)
Samantha Emery, Payments Executive and NED
09:35-10:05
PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A
Cryptocurrency and Payments: Navigating the Evolving Landscape
-
Regulatory Frameworks in Europe: Exploring the varying regulatory approaches across the UK regarding cryptocurrency usage, focusing on compliance, taxation, and consumer protection
-
Impact of CBDCs on Traditional Payments: Analysing how the introduction of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) is reshaping existing payment systems, potentially improving efficiency and security in transactions
-
Integration of Crypto Payments: Discussing the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies as payment methods and the challenges and opportunities this poses for merchants and financial institutions in adapting to consumer preferences
Moderator: Kene Ezeji-Oyoke, Chief Blockchain Officer at Ubyx
Alex Dunn, Director - Innovation & Strategic Growth Initiatives at Visa
Teresa Cascino, Digital Asset Risk Management Regulatory Lead at Citibank
Jovi Overo, CEO at ONE.io
Heather O’Gorman, Head of Digital Assets at fscom
Hana Rolles, Chief Commercial Officer at Bank of London
10:05-10:35
PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A
AI Innovation: Efficiency Gains vs. Compliance Challenges
-
AI's Impact on Compliance Processes: Explore how AI transforms compliance tasks like KYC, policy management, and employee training, resulting in efficiency gains and potential cost savings of 20-50%
-
Implementation Challenges: Assess the hurdles of AI integration, including issues of reliability, data privacy, and the necessity for human oversight in critical decision-making
-
Strategies for Balanced Integration: Learn to optimise the benefits of AI while mitigating risks, ensuring your organisation can leverage AI-driven efficiency while maintaining transparency and trust
Moderator: Zeina Arnous, Founder & Managing Director at ZExcella LTD
Matt Aspell, Head of Monitoring and KYC Product Compliance and Risk at Wise
Donatien Chedom Fotso, Director of Artificial Intelligence at EPAM Systems
Roman Zilber, Founder at Intrepid Fox
Anu Widyalankara, Director, Payments Strategy & Technology at Ernst & Young LLP
10:35-11:05
PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A
AI Agents in FinCrime: Trends, Challenges, and Real-Life Examples
-
Why do 95% of GenAI pilots fail (MIT research)?
-
When does AI actually decrease efficiency by 30% instead of improving it?
-
How are regulators shaping the conversation on Agentic AI and its role in compliance frameworks?
Moderator: Dan Cobley, Startup Founder, Angel Investor and Advisor; Former Managing Director at Google UK and Ireland
Tim Khamzin, CEO & Founder at Vivox AI
Jane Jee, Director at Jee Associates Limited
Boris Diakonov, Co-founder at ANNA Money
Sabine Dittrich, Head of EU Financial Regulation at Slaughter and May
11:05-11:35
NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK
Opportunity for attendees to connect and discuss insights from the morning sessions
Sponsored by Payall Payment Systems and ARKK
11:35-12:10
PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A
Innovations in Cross-Border Payments
-
Implementing real-time payment tracking and enhanced transparency across borders
-
Addressing compliance challenges with multi-jurisdictional regulations
Moderator: Emma Joyce, Chief Revenue Officer at Global Blockchain Business Council (GBBC)
Knox Mcilwain, Global Lead Regulatory, Compliance & Licensing Strategy at AIRWALLEX
Kamran Hedjri, Group CEO at PXP
Danas Oliškevičius, Sales Executive at Payall Payment Systems
Jun Cai, Country Head for UK, Germany, Switzerland, Central and Eastern Europe at Alipay+
Gaurav Sharma, Head of Payments at PagoNxt (a Santander company)
Jeremy McDougall, Strategic Solution Consulting Director at ACI Worldwide
12:10-12:35
KEYNOTE SESSION + Q&A
Latest Payments Trends
Sulabh Agarwal, Global Payments Lead at Accenture
12:35-13:00
KEYNOTE EXPERIENCE
Levels of Connection 4.0
Stephanos Papadopoulos, Founder & CEO at Spatzia.eu
13:00-14:00
NETWORKING LUNCH
Attendees network over lunch, fostering connections and discussions
Sponsored by Airia
14:00-14:30
PANEL SESSION + Q&A
The Future of Payments and Banking: Embracing Digital Transformation and Financial Inclusion
This panel discussion will explore the transformative trends shaping the payments and banking sector, focusing on the importance of digital innovation, customer-centric solutions, and efforts to promote financial inclusion.
Key areas of discussion will include:
The rise of digital currencies
-
The rise of digital currencies
-
The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing customer experiences
-
Regulatory evolution, and strategies to build a more inclusive financial ecosystem for underserved populations
Moderator: Sarah Ghosh, FCMA, CGMA, Senior Finance Professional at UK Civil Service
Susana Esteban, Managing Director at FTI Consulting
Nithya Sridharan, Director, Digital Assets at TPICAP
Jürg Baltensperger, Managing Director at JayBee Ltd
Briony Krikorian‑Slade, Principal-Payments at UK Finance
Chris Aruliah, Chief Commercial Officer at Agant
Chastity Murphy, Former U.S. Treasury, Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Manchester
14:30-14:55
KEYNOTE SESSION + Q&A
Evolution of Instant Payments: from Central Infrastructure to Open Banking Enabled Ecosystem
Róbert Kiszely, Director of Professional Services at Capsys
14:55-15:25
PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A
The Compliance Landscape for Fintechs in the United Kingdom
-
Identifying compliance challenges faced by fintechs in the UK
-
Sharing successful strategies for maintaining regulatory compliance while fostering innovation
Moderator: Robert Courtneidge, Payment Industry Expert
Louise Beaumont, Independent Expert
Willem Wellinghoff, UK Chair & Chief Compliance Officer at Ecommpay at Ecommpay
Steve Whiting, Director of Payments Technology at Soldo
John Gidla, Head of Global Regulatory Research & Analysis at Vixio Regulatory Intelligence
Mark Thynne, Senior Management Enforcement and Compliance at the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR)
15:25-15:55
NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK
Take a moment to connect with fellow attendees and discuss key insights
Sponsored by UMCA
15:55-16:25
KEYNOTE SESSION + Q&A
Could Crypto & AI Undermine Sovereign Payment Rails — or Will Regulation Save Them?
Philipp Kleine Jäger, Senior Partner at CORE
16:25-16:50
KEYNOTE SESSION + Q&A
Banking on AI:
Building Secure, Intelligent Agents for the Future of Finance
As financial services undergo a significant transformation towards AI-driven operations, institutions face the dual challenge of rapid innovation and maintaining strong security. This session introduces a practical framework for deploying AI agents that transform traditional banking processes while adhering to strict compliance standards. Drawing from real-world implementations, we'll examine how AI agents are revolutionising risk assessment and customer service. Whether you're starting your AI journey or expanding existing capabilities, you'll gain actionable insights for turning AI's potential into tangible business results in the highly regulated financial sector.
Richard Wham, VP of EMEA at Airia
16:50-17:15
KEYNOTE EXPERIENCE
Putting your Best People Forward
Peter-Jan Grech, Founder and CEO at BRND WGN
17:15-17:50
PANEL DISCUSSION + Q&A
The Next Wave of the Consumer Payment Experience
-
Focusing on purpose-driven and predictive customer experiences in payments
-
Analysing changes in consumer expectations and behaviour within the UK context
-
Modernising the consumer payment
-
Exploring the future of digital wallets: integration with loyalty programs and banking services
-
Real-world examples
Moderator: Eva Taleva-Borislavova, CEO at Remitly Europe Limited
Rich Wagner, CEO at Zempler Bank
Manish Kumar, Head of Payment Acceptance at Starling Bank
Anton Globus, Group Director: Finance and Innovation at Paysend
Grant Evans, VP Sales & Partnerships at Worldpay for Platforms UK
Pablo Villegas, EMEA Payments Industry Lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Geraldine Kraev, Global Innovation Leader at Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
17:50-18:00
CHAIRMAN CLOSING COMMENTS
Summarising the key takeaways from the conference and addressing final questions from attendees
Andrew Doukanaris, Chief Executive Officer at Flotta Consulting Ltd
Suresh Vaghjiani, CEO at CLOWD9
18:00-19:30
NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION
A closing networking reception to foster connections among attendees and speakers
Sponsored by Bank of London
MEDIA PARTNERS
KEY BENEFITS FOR PARTICIPATING
Interactive Platform
Our Expos enable you to come face-to-face with decision-makers, attend qualified meetings and provide
exceptional formal and informal networking opportunities
Build Thought Leadership
Showcase expertise and establish yourself as an industry thought leader
Generate Leads
It is the most cost-effective way to generate qualified leads of key B2B decision makers
Targeted Audience
Meet & engage with your target group
Global Reach
International locations and access to global networks enable you to connect with your target clients both locally and globally
New Prospects
Engage with new prospects and support existing relationships thus helping to drive leads into your sales funnel
Competitive Benchmarking
Gain insights into the competitive landscape and gain knowledge of new trends and players in the
market
BECOME A SPONSOR
Sponsoring the 5th Financial Innovation Forum - Payments & RegTech provides you with the perfect opportunity to showcase your solutions and interact with your target audience in a purposeful way.
You can expect to secure new direct connections with key decision-makers and industry influencers.
Our Sponsorship packages take on a holistic approach and are tailored to accommodate your specific business objectives.
Packages can include:
-
20-30 minute keynote presentation or inclusion on an industry-expert panel discussion
-
Access to The Meeting Point which includes 5 pre-qualified meetings
-
An integrated international marketing & branding campaign strategy
-
International social media campaigns
-
Dedicated booths and promotional areas
-
Prestigious PR opportunities & interviews with international media
REGISTER NOW
