EmTech Global 2025: Innovate to Elevate

Discover the cutting-edge innovations and transformative technologies that are redefining investment management at #EmTechGlobal2025. 

Now celebrating its 7th year, join the Investment Association’s Engine to hear from tech and industry thought leaders as we explore the latest advancements in AI, tokenisation, quantum computing and more. 

Insightful keynotes, interactive panels, and a fast-paced agenda ensures it will be the most informative FinTech event of 2025. 

Network with senior professionals, tech pioneers, entrepreneurs and solution providers who are driving the next wave of innovation in investment management. #EmTechGlobal2025 is your gateway to the future. 

Register now and be part of the conversation that will shape tomorrow. 

Please visit the dedicated event website for all the event details here.

INNOVATE STREAM AGENDA

08:00 - 09:00 Registration

Arrive & kick off the day with some breakfast and pre-event networking, generously sponsored by Allfunds. 

• Julia Streets, MC & Host

Our MC and Host for the day will open proceedings and set the standard for a day of engaging and exciting discussion.

• Chris Cummings, Chief Executive, The Investment Association

Chris will set the tone for the conference by highlighting the pivotal role of innovation and technology in shaping the future of investment management.

• Max McKechnie, Global Market Strategist, J.P Morgan Asset Management

Max will explore:

• The evolving FinTech landscape and its critical role in shaping the future of investment management and the UK economy.
• The economic impact of innovation in supporting the UK’s growth agenda
• Why investment in emerging technologies is more important than ever
• How access to global markets is fuelling capital markets. 

• Jack Knight, Deputy Chief Executive, The Investment Association
• Sagar Shah, Independent Innovation Advisor
• Charlotte Wood, Head of Innovation, Fintech and AI Strategy, Schroders 
• Xiaoming Wang, Business Development Director, Alibaba Cloud Europe

This panel will discuss how global collaboration is driving innovation in investment, where opportunities can be found and why FinTech enhances regional and international competitiveness. We will hear insights from global industry participants – China’s Alibaba Cloud, a FinTech advisor to the Middle East and global asset manager, Schroders.

• Lauren Dixon, CDO, Financial Conduct Authority 

In this keynote, Lauren will discuss how regulatory frameworks are evolving to support technological advancements, ensure stability, and create a secure environment for growth. 

• Simon Swords, Founder and Managing Director, Fundipedia

Simon will cover the reality of building a successful FinTech within the asset management space – and perhaps most crucially – how to make change happen. 

A chance to enjoy refreshments, connect with fellow attendees and speak with our fantastic sponsors and exhibitors

• Moderator: John Allan, Head of Innovation and Operations Unit, The Investment Association
• Jason Webb, Director of Web3, SS&C
• Ruben Nieto, Managing Director, Allfunds Blockchain S.L.U
• Liz Lawson, Lead Digital Assets Analyst, T. Rowe Price UK

John will explore with innovators how:

• Tokenisation is changing asset management and wider financial markets.

• What do recent developments tell us about the direction of travel?

• What remaining challenges and barriers to adoption need to be addressed?

Attendees will gain insights into the latest developments, regulatory considerations, and practical applications of tokenisation and DLT, with a focus on how these innovations can drive efficiency and accessibility in financial markets.

• Moderator:  Shruti Deb, Policy Adviser, Innovation and Operations Unit, The Investment Association
• Lawrence King, Strategic Business Development Lead EMEA, Dell Technologies
• Karan Jain, CEO, NayaOne

Shruti will lead the discussion as we delve into the practical applications of emerging technologies, such as AI, blockchain, and quantum computing, and discuss how these innovations are transforming financial services.

** Take a look at our paper State of Fintech 2025**

• Symon Garfield, Director Capital Markets Advisory & Digital Strategy, Worldwide Financial Services, Microsoft

Symon will examine how these advanced technologies are revolutionizing investment strategies, enhancing decision-making processes, and facilitating unprecedented efficiencies.

• Moderator: Chris Cummings, CEO, The Investment Association

• Jon Cleborne, Head of Europe, Vanguard
• Cassie Waller, CEO, Santander AM UK
• Dario Crispini, Founder & CEO, Kaizen Reporting
• Ouajnat Karim, CEO, AXA IM UK

The CEO panel will provide a view from the top on what steps are required to establish the UK as the world’s leading digital centre for investment management, how can innovation be harnessed to achieve business ambitions, and the top priorities for the industry in 2025.

• Speakers to be confirmed

The launch of the 2025 Engine Innovators. Power pitches, from FinTech solutions revolutionising investment management

Enjoy a delicious lunch while you connect with speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors. Take time to discuss insights from part 1 and get ready for an even busier part 2!

• Moderator:  Carol Thomas, Head of Sustainability & Responsible Investments, The Investment Association

• Michael Donnachie, Global Commercial Development, Endeavour
• Ruan Steyn, Nuclear Project Leader Sizewell C

Our panel will provide an insightful discussion exploring the use of Hyperscalers and Small Modular Reactors to support evolving data demands: 

• Discover the fascinating world of Hyperscalers and their crucial role in supporting cloud providers.
• Gain valuable insights into the significant data and subsequent energy demands driven by the growth of AI and distributed ledger technology (DLT)
• Explore how nuclear energy is emerging as a sustainable and reliable power source. 

• Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee and MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central & West

Chi will share her insights on the pivotal role of innovation and technology in driving the UK’s economic growth. She will discuss the work of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, highlighting the structural factors influencing start-ups and spin-outs, and the importance of a robust regulatory framework to support technological advancements.

• Tim Ryan, Partner and Head of DAC’s National Commercial, Technology and Media, DAC Beachcroft
• Christopher Air, Partner, DAC Beachcroft

In this fireside chat, Tim and Chris (both leading technology lawyers at DAC Beachcroft) will provide an incisive and refreshing legal opinion on recent topical events and developments in the fascinating world of AI -  the focus will be on debunking common myths and breaking down often complex legal positions into bite sized and understandable opinions.   

• Ravi Patel, Pre-Sales Director, FundGuard 
• Chris Mills, Managing Director, Citisoft

The pace of change in the asset management space is accelerating at lightning speed, driving asset managers, asset servicers and related providers to double down on operational optimisation.

Join Ravi and Chris as they discuss what exactly industry participants need, and how firms can best position themselves to survive and thrive in this competitive future.

• Keri Gilder, CEO, Colt Technology Services
• Nina Jones, Head of Adviser Experience, Fidelity International

Join Keri and Nina as they delve into how data-driven strategies are revolutionizing customer experiences in both the telecom and asset management sectors. They will share valuable insights on best practices and future innovation requirements, demonstrating how leveraging data can enhance customer satisfaction and drive growth.

• Moderator: Simon Swords, Founder and Managing Director, Fundipedia
• Lucy Walker, Founder & CEO, AM Insights
• Igor Tesinsky, Founder & CEO, Intellibonds
• Thomas Oberlechner, Founder & CEO, BehaviorQuant
• Charlie Barlow, Global Head of Sales, Tumelo
• Charlie Gibson, Head of Sales, Propellant

Our 7th Cohort of Engine Innovator firms discuss their experiences, lessons and learnings. Tangible takeaways for FinTechs and asset managers on how to innovate to elevate.

• Gillian Painter, Director Membership, Enterprises, Marketing and Engine, The Investment Association

Post event materials will be emailed to all attendees.

16:30 - 17:30 Drinks Reception

Join us for the Engine drinks reception. This is the perfect opportunity to discuss the day, connecting with speakers, sponsors and fellow attendees in a relaxed atmosphere.

17:30 End of Event

Chris Cummings, Chief Executive Officer, The Investment Association 

Chris joined the IA in 2016 from TheCityUK, which he set up and ran as CEO for seven years. He sits on the Treasury’s Asset Management Taskforce, the Board of EFAMA (European Fund & Asset Management Association) and is the President of IIFA (International Investment Funds Association). He is also Chairman of Just Finance Foundation. He was previously a member of the FCA’s Regulatory Decisions Committee and the FCO’s Diplomatic Excellence Panel. 

Max McKechnie, Global Market Strategist, J.P Morgan Asset Management 

Max McKechnie is a Global Market Strategist based in London. He is responsible for generating research-driven analysis on the global economy and markets, and communicating this to clients. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan Asset Management Max spent 8 years as an officer in the British Army. He holds a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and an MBA from Exeter University. 

Symon Garfield, Director – Capital Markets Advisory & Digital Strategy, Microsoft 

Symon partners with business leaders and executives across banking and capital markets to realize the transformational potential of digital technologies and AI, and to forge strategic business partnerships. Symon is deeply engaged at the intersection of financial services with ethical AI, sustainability, and Web3, and digital securities. 

John Allan, Head of Innovation and Operations Unit, The Investment Association 

John is responsible for the Innovation and Operations Unit which aims to build the industry’s innovation capacity through IA policy development on technological change, DLT, crypto and AI, as well as promoting fund modernisation and supporting firms on operational policy including resiliency. John is also a fixed member of the FCA’s Innovation Advisory Group bringing the regulator’s attention to key issues impacting the investment sector and fintech. 

Dario Crispini, CEO, Kaizen  

Dario founded Kaizen in 2013 following nearly 20 years specialising in regulatory reporting including as a regulator, a consultant, and directly within the industry as a compliance officer.  

After seeing first-hand the challenges that firms had meeting their regulatory reporting obligations, Dario set out to develop an automated assurance solution which gave firms full visibility of their reporting quality. With year on year growth since inception, hundreds of financial firms globally now rely on our ReportShield™ assurance to meet their trade and transaction reporting obligations.   

As the former head of the UK FCA’s Markets Reporting Team, Dario continues to act as one of the leading specialists on MiFIR transaction reporting at Kaizen, supporting clients and providing detailed guidance for over 4,000 client questions on Kaizen’s helpdesk.   

Dario resides in Guernsey but has spent most of his career working in London in compliance related roles covering reporting regulations and market surveillance.  

Jason Webb, Director of Web 3, SS&C 

Jason Webb is a Bitcoin evangelist and is Director of Web3 at SS&C Technologies where he is responsible for implementing their Blockchain, Tokenisation and Metaverse strategies.  He joined in 2023 from Fidelity International, where as lead for blockchain and crypto he led the project that was the first in the world to successfully tokenise a fund share class in production .  He currently leads various initiatives delivering not only the next generation of investment products but also immersive and engaging experiences for the younger generations to learn about and engage with those products. 

Keri Gilder, CEO, Colt 

Appointed to the role in May 2020, Keri is responsible for executing Colt’s strategy which centres around putting the power of the digital universe in the hands of its customers – wherever, whenever and however they need. Before becoming CEO, Keri was Colt’s Chief Commercial Officer, leading global teams across sales, presales and marketing, as well as working closely with the wider organisation to ensure Colt delivered for its customers. Before joining Colt, Keri held several leadership roles at Ciena but was most recently its Vice President and General Manager EMEA, responsible for guiding Ciena’s EMEA service provider and enterprise customers, as well as partners. Named CEO of the Year 2024 at the TMT Finance Awards; included in Management Today’s Women in Leadership Power List; named People’s Choice Woman of the Year by Network X; CEO of the year at the World Communications Awards; Outstanding Female Executive (Pacific Telecoms Council); Outstanding Contributor (Layer123 awards) and a leader that ‘has the ability to move mountains’ (Global Telecoms Women’s Network), Keri is passionate about promoting Inclusion and Diversity to ensure Colt is a business where everyone feels they can bring their true selves to work. In addition, Keri brings this passion to the wider industry as the Chair of the TM Forum’s Diversity & Inclusion Council and President of the Global Telecom Women's Network. Prior to Ciena, Keri worked in multiple roles for Lucent Technologies, and she has also worked for Hughes Aircraft as a Network Engineer. Keri has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Management Information Systems (MIS) from New Mexico State University. Keri lives in London with her husband and two children and is based at Colt’s head office in London. 

Tim Ryan, Partner and Head of our national Commercial, Technology and Media, DAC Beachcroft 

Tim is an experienced commercial lawyer whose team advises across a variety of matters in technology, media and telecoms, with clients ranging from scale-ups to listed companies. 

In addition to leading on large technology projects and transactions, Tim is heavily involved in working with his clients on a wide range of matters in digital business, ranging from software development, hosting, licensing, and data analytics to ecommerce and digital media. 

Tim's team also works with our regulatory and sector experts to advise clients in, particularly, the FinTech, InsurTech, PropTech and HealthTech sectors. 

Christopher Air, Partner, DAC Beachcroft 

Chris is a Partner in our Manchester team and specialises in non-contentious technology projects, commercial contracts and advising on data protection compliance. He has over 10 years’ experience in advising clients across a range of sectors including health, real estate, public sector, insurance and financial services, retail and manufacturing. 

Chris advises organisations ranging from leading technology suppliers, government bodies and large corporates (including international insurance companies, global real estate companies and large manufacturers). He has also spent time in house with clients on secondment, including a successful secondment with a major IT supplier and with the ICO as part of their Regulatory Sandbox Project. 

Chris is recognised as a Next Generation Partner for information technology work in the Legal500 Directories.  In addition, Chris holds the BCS Certificate in Data Protection. 

Chris Mills, Managing Director, Citisoft 

Chris Mills is a Managing Director at Citisoft with over 25 years of sector experience. Prior to joining, Chris successfully led business development for Finastra’s global managed services business and KPMG’s UK investment management practice. He has also driven the global growth for leading system vendors including BlackRock Solutions and Charles River Development. Chris has deep expertise in data infrastructure, fintech integration, alternatives, and digital assets. 

Antony Slee, Sales Director, FundGuard 
 
Antony Slee is responsible for leading FundGuard's business development initiatives across EMEA. Prior to joining FundGuard, Antony worked as a senior leader with some of the world’s leading financial organisations and technology solution providers, responsible for developing go-to-market strategies and execution in support of international business growth.   
 
Antony has successfully grown revenue in several geographic regions, with a proven track record of developing new business, as well as breaking into new markets/regions to develop new opportunities. Antony understands complex operating models and business requirements, whereby he has helped financial institutions design and deliver strategic enterprise-wide solutions, providing guidance from both a business and technology perspective. 
 
Antony has gained numerous professional qualifications, including the Financial Planning Certificate (FPC), Investment Administration Qualification (IAQ), Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and Level One of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. 

Jon Cleborne, Managing Director for Vanguard Europe 

Jonathan Cleborne, CFA, is Managing Director for Vanguard Europe, responsible for leading the operations and distribu- tion efforts of the European business. Mr. Cleborne relocated to London from Vanguard’s global headquarters in the United States in 2024. 

Prior to this role, Mr. Cleborne was head of Personal Investor Advice leading a team that provides Vanguard’s U.S. clients with ongoing asset management and investment advice consultations with Certified Financial Planner™ professionals through Vanguard's Personal Advisor offers. Mr. Cleborne and his team were also responsible for Vanguard Digital Advisor®. Collectively, the team stewarded over $300B on behalf of indi- vidual investors and 401(k) plan participants. 

Since joining Vanguard over 20 years ago, Mr. Cleborne has held a variety of roles in Personal Investor, Financial Advisor Services, Corporate Strategy, and the Investment Strategy Group. He was also the global head of Vanguard Portfolio Review Department, which oversees Vanguard's 400-plus mutual funds, ETFs, and their advisors. The department is also responsible for developing the optimal fund lineup for inves- tors, analyzing the health, usage, and competitive landscape of Vanguard's funds and ETFs and serving as specialized product experts. 

Mr. Cleborne earned a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Society of the United Kingdom. 

Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee 

Chi Onwurah MP is a British politician representing Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West in the House of Commons. She was first elected in 2010 to represent Newcastle Central. She serves as the Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.  

Chi is a Charted Electrical Engineer and before entering Parliament spent over twenty years working on engineering projects around the world. She has previously served as Head of Technology at Ofcom.    

Born in Wallsend, Chi attended Kenton Comprehensive School in Newcastle, where she was elected the school’s ‘MP’ in mock elections aged 17.    

Cassie Waller, Chief Executive Office, Santander Asset Management UK 

Cassie Waller joined Santander Asset Management UK as Chief Commercial Officer in February 2023, earning promotion to the role of Chief Executive Officer in May 2024. 

Cassie joined Santander Asset Management from Syntax Research Inc, where she was Chief Operating Officer. She also held the role of Chief Marketing Officer based in Florida, as well as a number of senior roles in State Street Bank Europe and State Street Global Markets, with responsibility for consultant relationships and portfolio solutions sales. Roles at Putnam Investments, Friends, Ivory & Sime and Wellington Management saw her gather a wealth of experience across a diverse range of disciplines. 

A forward-thinking senior executive with a proven record of accomplishment during her 25-year career, Cassie is a driven and ambitious business leader, dedicated to continuous business improvement, with a focus on enhancing revenue and streamlining business operations. Cassie has been successful in executing successful investment sales strategies, establishing winning teams and forging strong industry and internal partnerships. 

Cassie Waller holds a degree in International Politics, Communications and Marketing from Boston College. She is committed to diversity and inclusion, supporting women in business through a number of industry initiatives. 

Lauren Dixon, Chief Data Officer, FCA 

Lauren Dixon is a senior leader with 20 years of experience in pensions and financial services regulation, specialising in data transformation, operational strategy, and regulatory compliance. 

She began her career at The Pensions Regulator, spending a decade overseeing corporate transactions and leading high-profile enforcement cases. Since joining the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2015, Lauren has spearheaded major transformation initiatives across Supervision, Operations, and Data. Her leadership was instrumental in delivering the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) deadline, driving operational change following the FCA’s relocation, and shaping the regulator’s approach to data-driven oversight. 

As a senior leader in Data, Lauren has played a pivotal role in modernising regulatory data capabilities, most notable through her role as the Accountable Executive for Transforming Data Collection, a joint programme with the Bank of England, focused on optimising data collection to enhance regulatory effectiveness while minimising costs to the industry. 

A respected voice in data transformation, Lauren brings deep expertise in data strategy, governance, and the intersection of technology and financial regulation. 

Nina Jones, Head of Client Services, Fidelity International 

Nina Jones is currently Head of Client Services for Fidelity International. Her role is responsible for delivering an offline client experience for over 1 million Fidelity clients who use the Fidelity platforms. Her key objective is to build a market leading Service Centre, so that all clients who interact with the Fidelity Service Centre have great conversations, which in turn, enable them to build better financial futures. Nina has been with Fidelity for nearly 6 years, during which time she has held multiple roles, all of which have been focused on improving the Fidelity client experience to enable a sustainable operating business. Over the past 20 years, Nina has held multiple customer experience roles across several industry sectors, focusing on both direct to consumer as well as business to business relationships. All of her roles have been focused on helping companies achieve sustainable growth and profit through embedding a client centric approach. Nina’s most recent roles before joining Fidelity in 2019, were Director, Global Owner Experience for Jaguar Land Rover and Director, Customer and Partner Experience for Microsoft UK. Nina lives in Newbury, Berkshire, however, spends as much time as she can travelling the world and having new experiences! She is a member of the Tate Gallery but also enjoys running and has recently discovered HIIT classes in the local park which she attends come rain or shine! 

Lawrence King, Strategic Business Development Lead, Dell Technologies 

Lawrence King is the Strategic Business Development Lead for EMEA at Dell Technologies. Based in the UK, Lawrence specialises in driving digital transformation for customers across the region, primarily focused on AI and multi-cloud. With a deep-rooted expertise within the financial services sector, and broader experience across multiple markets, Lawrence helps maximise business and IT value for customers, ensuring they can harness the full potential of their technology investments.