The Innovate Finance Global Summit (IFGS) – the flagship event of UK FinTech Week – returned to the historic Guildhall in the City of London as an in-person event after two years, welcoming the best and brightest from the FinTech ecosystem to discuss and debate the crucial issues facing the sector and beyond.
Over the course of two days, the event saw 1,500 attendees, with an additional 500 delegates tuning in virtually. The agenda touched on the themes of the global FinTech ecosystem, with an increased focus on the key areas that are enhancing, empowering and ensuring that FinTech and Financial Services are sustainable and inclusive to all.
The Summit kicked off with an opening address from Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance, who reflected on the increasingly important role FinTech plays in our economy and society. Day one highlights included sessions with Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-founder & CEO of Klarna, who discussed the opportunities presented to the UK by post-Brexit regulation, and Jessica Rusu, Chief Data, Information & Intelligence Officer at the FCA, who highlighted the key role regulation has played in imposing industry sanctions on Russia, the evolving landscape of emerging technologies such as crypto assets and NFTs.
The media headlines from the event were dominated by key updates from Government – John Glen MP, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, announced new legislation on stablecoins and introduced The Chancellor’s request to the Royal Mint to create official UK non-fungible tokens, NFTs. Day two also saw Philippa Rouse, Director, Future Border and Immigration System Directorate at the Home Office, provide an update on Home Office’s work to launch the Scale-Up Visa – a key recommendation from the Kalifa Review in 2021 to boost the growth of FinTech in the UK.
Journalists from the FT, City AM, The Telegraph, Bloomberg, CNBC and many more attended and covered the updates of the event across the two days. Bloomberg also conducted a number of TV interviews – including a curtain raiser conversation with Janine Hirt, and a conversation with Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-founder & CEO of Klarna.
IFGS 2022 convened industry leaders from across the FinTech ecosystem, including founders, innovators, institutions, regulators, policy-makers, startups and investors. Seven Hills proudly supported the Innovate Finance team in the delivery of the event, ensuring news and announcements from the Summit where shared with press far and wide – shining a light on the progress the sector has made and outlining the work for the future.