Lord Holmes of Richmond spoke at our recent Financial Services Club event, entitled “Why Do We Need Standards For Smart Ledgers & How Could The Government Help?”

Lord Holmes (Chris), chairs Parliamentary Groups on Assistive Technology, Fintech, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. He is a former Paralympic swimmer, Chair of the Global Disability Innovation Hub, and has been a member of the House of Lords Select Committees on Artificial Intelligence, Digital Skills, Social Mobility and Financial Exclusion.

Judging by his presentation and the drinks reception afterwards, Chris is also an incredibly engaging speaker and all-round nice chap!

Chris’s guide dog, a shiny black Labrador, ‘Lottie’, was a massive attraction the audience of fintech and FS executives, who queued in large numbers afterwards for questions and selfies. Chris’s introduction had the audience rolling in the aisles, when he said “…and you can’t beat a beautiful golden retriever can you?” Once the laughter subsided, Chris then asked, “what’s funny?” Cue more laughter and confirmation that this speaker knows how to get and hold an audience.

Aside from the historic, venue (Pewterers' Hall) drinks and canapes, Chris made the evening by exploring the need for professional qualifications, voluntary standards and technical standards, and described the role the government could play in terms of legal frameworks, digital signatures and timestamping for Smart Ledgers - touting the latter as a uniting technology for fair play in a globalised world.

For more information about the Financial Services Club now that it is under the auspices of Z/Yen, please contact James Pitcher on (020) 7562 9562 or james_pitcher@zyen.com