November is a month of celebration for Z/Yen as we reach the milestone of our 30th anniversary and celebrate the end of our Founding Director, Michael Mainelli's successful term as Lord Mayor - read about what he got up to here. We are looking forward to connecting and prospering with him as he returns to the Z/Yen fold. We also look forward to welcoming a delegation from Hong Kong for a Breakfast Roundtable on Tuesday, 19 November. Why not join us for an afternoon seminar and drinks to celebrate a visit from Busan Financial Centre on Wednesday 27 November. We look forward to celebrating and connecting with you this month and into the future.
Charlotte Dawber-Ashley (Manager, FS Club) & The Team at Z/Yen

Knowledge Miles: The 695th Lord Mayor's Lectures

Z/Yen Group are delighted to celebrate our Chairman, Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, for his tenure as the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London for the year 2023/2024. As part of Michael’s working theme, we launched Knowledge Miles: The 695th Lord Mayor's Lecture Series, an engaging webinar series that explored the Square Mile’s vital connections and its role as 'The World’s Coffeehouse' in addressing global challenges. With over 100 episodes, the series attracted more than 5,500 unique viewers and registrants, reflecting its impact in sparking thought-provoking conversations across diverse topics. Visit the Knowledge Miles website to find all lectures and recordings.

Sean Lee , Jonathan Gill & Simon Mills:
An Enabling Regulatory Framework For Innovation: Web3 & FinTech
Sarah Philips & Victoria Rose:
Humanitarian Surgery In Gaza – 14 Years In War & “Peace”

Find our entire library of lectures and webinars on YouTube

Events & Webinars

• Events

Breakfast Round Table With The Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Busan International Finance Center: The Digital Finance Innovation Hub - Mixer/Conference Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Christmas Themed Walk & Drinks Tuesday, 03 December 2024

• Webinars

The Great Reversal: Britain, China And The 400-Year Contest For Power Tuesday, 12 November 2024Digital Empires: The Global Battle To Regulate Technology Friday, 15 November 2024Launch Of Smart Centres Index 10 Tuesday, 26 November 2024

• Past Events & Webinars

FS Club Autumn Mixer - From Emissions To Profits (speech available here) Wednesday, 23 October 2024

The Esop Centre’s newspad, is a monthly publication providing in-depth coverage of the main international news in the field of employee share ownership. Read this month’s newspad in full.

The Employee Voice Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Busan Finance Center: Busan Metropolitan City is offering designated office space, known as 'D-space', to financial institutions on the top floor of the Busan International Finance Center (BIFC) complex - a notable skyscraper in South Korea. Eligible institutions include foreign financial institutions, fintech companies, venture capital firms, and international organizations planning to establish a presence in the BIFC with at least one resident official. The office space is located at 40 Munhyeongeumyeong-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, on the 63rd floor of the BIFC. Limited space is currently available, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Following a review process, selected institutions will be awarded exclusive office space. The initial rent-free period is three years, with the option to extend up to 20 years. Applications can be submitted through the Busan Finance Center's website, and inquiries can be directed to info@kbfc.or.kr. By offering this space, Busan aims to strengthen its position as a specialized hub for marine and derivatives finance while fostering innovation in digital finance through fintech development. By attracting foreign institutions, the city seeks to expand its financial ecosystem and elevate its status as a global financial hub.

Financial Services Commission Mauritius: Mauritius at the forefront of the digital banking era: The banking sector in Mauritius has firmly embraced digitalisation, providing wide-ranging financial services through digital banking to domestic as well as cross-border customers. The enabling and evolving ecosystem in the country – including both technology and regulation – fosters innovation by operators. Several ongoing initiatives will further enhance the digital banking experience. The recent roll out by the central bank of a comprehensive cyber security strategy along with stringent prudential requirements have strengthened the resilience of the banking system against cyber risks. The establishment of a fintech innovation hub, a centralised digital Know Your Customer system and the Central Bank Digital Currency are some of the projects in the pipeline.

Fintech Lab Seoul: Seoul Fintech Week 2024: The Seoul Metropolitan Government successfully hosted the annual event, Seoul Fintech Week 2024, on Oct. 7, 8, and 10 in Yeouido, Seoul. The global fintech festiveal this year, under the theme of “The Future of Fintech for Smart Life,” is comprised of ten programs: international conferences, Demoday including fintech investor relations (IR) pitch sessions, promotional booths for fintech startups, etc. The global event has provided the opportunities for sharing the global trends in the fintech industry, introducing the innovative technology developed by promising startups in Korea, setting up the platform for the investors both at national and international levels, etc.

Bridgeworks: How to Keep Data Safe Beyond Cyber-Security Month: Securing data is about many things, and a bit like securing an organisation’s Crown Jewels in their own Tower of London. For example, in September 2024, Global Tech Solution revealed in a blog post, ‘The Five Largest Data Breaches of 2024 (So Far)’, that “a hacking group claimed they have stolen 2.7 billion personal records. This includes virtually every person in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The data includes American social security numbers.” Ticketmaster also suffered a data breach, which exposed millions of customers’ personal and financial data. The hack occurred in April and May 2024, and involved the cybercriminals gaining unauthorised access to Ticketmaster’s database. The miscreants who were responsible for the attack stole personal customer data, such as names, phone numbers and payment information – subsequently highlighting the company’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities[...] Read the full article here.

GFT Financial Ltd: GFT twice shortlisted for Banking Tech Awards alongside Salt Bank and Engine by Starling with Salt Bank also shortlisted for best ‘Newcomer Banking and Finance Brand’: GFT has been shortlisted twice at this year's Banking Tech Awards! The 25th Banking Tech Awards are presented by FinTech Futures to recognise excellence and innovation in the use of IT in financial services. We have been shortlisted alongside Salt Bank and Engine by Starling in the following two categories, with Salt Bank also shortlisted for best ‘Newcomer Banking and Finance Brand’, as we set a new benchmark for digital banking: - Best Bank & FinTech Partnership - Best Use of Tech in Retail Banking The results will be announced on 4 December in London and we look forward to the revelation. Discover more here. Google Cloud Summit London 2024 - GFT recognised as Highly Commended for UKI Services Partner of the Year: GFT was recognised as Highly Commended for UKI Services Partner of the Year at the Google Cloud Summit London 2024! This acknowledges key projects within several GFT FSI customers in capital markets, retail banking and insurance while also recognising GFT as an extremely competent services partner for Google Cloud as we continue to deliver fantastic results for our clients. Discover more here. GFT among first to sign EU AI Pact: GFT is among the first round of signatories to the European Union’s AI Pact. This step underlines GFT’s dedication to the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as related efforts to upholding relevant legal and ethical standards in order to foster trust in the digital transformation. The EU AI Pact highlights the importance of AI governance, the development of safe and trustworthy AI solutions, and of compliance with the AI Act which entered into force last month. Read our press release here. Our latest blogs and external articles: The future of insurance – the hopes and fears of AI by Ashish Srivastav - LINK. Scaling Up: How Challenger Banks Are Adapting to Stay in the Game featuring Shilpa Doreswamy (FinTech Times) - LINK. Google Cloud Summit London 2024 - GFT recognised as Highly Commended for UKI Services Partner of the Year by Scott Holman - LINK

i2 Group: i2 Group is a world leader in intelligence analysis software. For more than 30 years we have empowered intelligence analysts and investigators to discover, create, and exploit actionable intelligence to identify the perpetrators of criminal activity. This blog demonstrates how i2’s iBase product was used to manage supplier risk for a Billion-Euro Construction Project. iBase was used to prevent and identify potential issues with subcontractors, ensuring timely project completion, high quality standards, and cost savings. The tool is used regularly in risk assessments to help prevent money laundering activities and to classify risks for ongoing projects. Read the article in full here.

NayaOne: How NayaOne Helps Enterprises Adopt Generative AI: NayaOne simplifies Generative AI (Gen AI) adoption for enterprises by offering a platform that delivers comprehensive support at every stage—from experimentation to full-scale implementation. What sets NayaOne apart is its secure sandbox and pre-vetted AI tools that allow enterprises to test, validate, and deploy Gen AI solutions swiftly and safely. By leveraging synthetic data and hands-on learning, NayaOne helps organisations reduce the risk of AI hallucination, bias, and compliance issues, all while fostering innovation. Enterprises can unlock new levels of efficiency, from automating tasks to enhancing decision-making with data-driven insights. With faster time-to-market, NayaOne enables businesses to reduce costs, boost productivity, and deliver personalised customer experiences. Don’t Let Your Competition Leave You Behind. Visit NayaOne today or schedule a consultation to explore how the platform can accelerate your Gen AI adoption and deliver transformative results.

Astana International Financial Centre: Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) presented the Islamic Finance Country Report prepared under the technical assistance of Islamic Development Bank by CSQ law. Some key findings of the report: Kazakhstan’s strengths include a favorable legal environment supported by AIFC initiatives, a growing economy, infrastructure development plans, and a significant Muslim population. Challenges remain in enhancing awareness of Islamic finance and clarifying some aspects of Islamic financial practice, such as tax procedures and dispute resolution. For more details please see the report.

Compass Plus: Mutual Trust Bank PLC taps Compass Plus Technologies to enhance e-commerce payment experiences: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 29th October 2024 – Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB), one of the top-performing banks in Bangladesh, has successfully migrated its e-commerce acquiring services to a state-of-the-art payment gateway from Compass Plus Technologies. Driven by a commitment to enhance customer and merchant experiences, MTB embarked on a strategic journey to adopt a mobile-first payment gateway with the flexibility to quickly adapt to consumer preferences. The migration not only upgrades the bank’s service capabilities, but has also enabled it to achieve 3DS 2.2 certification, ensuring secure, seamless transactions. The project, a collaboration between MTB, Compass Plus Technologies, and ITC Consultants PLC, was completed in just six months. MTB is a valued customer of ITC Consultants, the largest third-party payment processor in Bangladesh. ITC Consultants are a long-standing customer of Compass Plus Technologies and utilise its software to manage their switch, card management, personalisation, and e-commerce services.

C2Zero: C2Zero’s Carbon Cancellation Service (C4S) is a platform giving customers the power to prevent - not remove, not offset - CO2 (carbon) emissions from some of the world’s largest polluters. C4S helps businesses neutralise their unavoidable carbon footprints, or it can be seamlessly added as an “ingredient” to products, services, activities, events and more. Part of the Lord Mayor’s Connect to Prosper program, C4S enables businesses to make a positive environmental impact while fostering engagement with customers, employees, and other stakeholders. For a deeper understanding of how carbon cancellation works, follow this link or email the team. You can also purchase your first carbon cancellation certificate online at https://carbon.uk.c2zero.net/. Carbon cancellation with C4S adds value to your business and to the environment.

The Z/Yen App is now available on iOS and AndroidOur new Z/Yen App is the place for FS Club Members to stay informed and engaged with the latest insights from the world of finance, technology, and beyond. With our intuitive app, you can register for upcoming events, dive into our reports, watch recordings of past sessions, and even listen to podcasts on the go.
The app is free for Sponsors and Paid Members of the FS Club - $60 per year. If you have any questions please contact Sasha Davis. Join a community of forward-thinking professionals who are shaping the future of finance and technology. Stay informed, stay connected, and stay inspired with Z/Yen.Scan the code below with your smartphone to download the app:

Z/Yen Launches Ethical AI Course with CISI Register Here
The Chartered Institute For Securities & Investment, in collaboration with Z/Yen Group and The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor Professor Michael Mainelli, have launched a Certificate in Ethical Artificial Intelligence. The short online course deals with the core definitions and global developments in the field of AI, associated ethical dilemmas, and the implications for financial services.Find Out More

The Chartered Institute For ITBCS Foundation Certificate in the Ethical Build of AI This course introduces the key issues in ethical AI and equips you to design and build AI ethically, navigating risks from security to human rights.

Pamphleteers Blog

The Pamphleteers Blog features considered thoughts – somewhere between a knee-jerk editorial and a full-blown piece of research. "Write for today and not for tomorrow."

Made Me Think
Bob McDowall:

The Taxation Of AI: If, Why, When And How?

Of Great Interest
Gill Ringland & Patricia Lustig:

Resilience Of Services – Reducing IT Failures
Read More

FS Club Bulletins - Keep Track Of Your Commercial Interests

FS Club provides up to 1,000 weekly bulletins on a variety of topics from Inflation, to Inter-Bank Lending, to the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Register here.
Industrial Bank

COP26

Best Of The Finanser

Stirred My Thoughts:

What has Genghis Khan ever done for us?

Grabbed My Attention:

Banks make millions from the most vulnerable
Read More

Membership & Sponsorship

FS Club is the premier global executive knowledge network for technology and finance professionals. Great events, research, and social functions build a buzz for Members and a valuable partnership for Sponsors. Membership of the FS Club is a great way to enhance your professional development, grow your network and profile, and get backing for your ideas, contact: Charlotte_Dawber-Ashley@zyen.com