TalkingTech: Smart Contracts, Smarter Markets: The Future of Tokenised Finance

Tokenisation is redefining the architecture of investment management—from fund issuance and settlement to custody and compliance. This TalkingTech seminar, hosted by Burges Salmon LLP, explores how smart contracts and distributed ledger technology (DLT) are enabling more efficient, transparent, and programmable investment vehicles. Join legal and industry experts to examine how tokenised assets are being integrated into fund structures, the regulatory frameworks emerging around them, and what this means for asset managers, platforms, and investors. Discover how the next generation of digital infrastructure is reshaping the buy-side. 

Gain Legal Insights on Tokenisation

Understand the legal implications and regulatory context shaping the future of tokenised assets in the UK fund landscape.

See Tokenisation in Action

Learn from real-world examples of how tokenised funds and smart contracts are being implemented across the industry.

Stay Ahead on Regulatory Developments

Hear the latest from FCA discussions on how compliance and governance are evolving to support distributed ledger technology (DLT).

Get the Buy-Side Perspective

Discover how asset managers are leveraging tokenisation to enhance fund structure, liquidity, and investor access.

Explore Critical Infrastructure Needs

Dive into the technology and systems — including custody, settlement, and interoperability — required to support tokenised finance.

Connect with Industry Leaders

Network with peers, regulators, and innovators during the drinks reception and throughout the event.

Be Part of the Digital Asset Evolution

Position yourself and your organisation at the forefront of financial innovation and the transition to tokenised investment products.

Subject to change:

14:00 Registration

14:25 Opening Remarks

• Henry Bewley, Membership and FinTech Executive, The Investment Association

14:30 Opening Keynote - The Digital Asset Ecosystem: Recent Legal and Regulatory Developments

A welcome address introducing the session’s objectives, with a legal perspective on tokenisation and its implications for the UK funds landscape.

14:50 Tokenisation in Practice – From Concept to Capital

An exploration of what IF3.0 looks like, and expanding the vision of the blueprint for tokenisation

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

15:00 Panel: Smart Contracts, Smarter Markets?

Where is UK on the global trajectory of growth in digital assets? How do we solve for key settlement and adoption challenges? What can projects like DIGIT and the DSS deliver?

• Modertaor: John Allan, Head of Innovation and Operations, The Investment Association
• Alastair Sewell, Liquidity Investment Strategist, Aviva Investors
• Steve Whyman, Independent Advisory
• Stephen Ashworth, Chief Commercial Officer, Tokenovate
• Catriona Kellas, International Legal Lead - Digital Projects, Franklin Templeton

15:40 Fireside Chat: Crypto-Convergence Considerations

A one-on-one conversation between an IA Policy Lead and a prominent Crypto Voice

• Shruti Deb, Policy Advisor, The Investment Association
• Michele Curtoni , Head Digital Assets Strategy, SIX Group

16:10 Closing Remarks 

Final thoughts and key takeaways

• Henry Bewley, Membership and FinTech Executive, The Investment Association

16:20 Networking Drinks Reception

Join us for informal drinks and further discussions

Free to attend!

Why Sponsor this event

• Focused Exposure:

TalkingTechs are Engine’s most concentrated events, each built around a single high-impact theme. This September’s edition—Smart Contracts, Smarter Markets—offers sponsors a unique opportunity to align with a tightly curated programme dedicated to tokenised finance and digital asset innovation.

• Influential Audience:

The event will convene a broad array of asset management professionals, with a particular emphasis on industry leaders and decision-makers actively shaping the future of digital assets and tokenisation. Sponsorship ensures direct access to this high-value audience.

• Strategic Positioning:

By sponsoring, your organisation will be positioned at the forefront of one of the most transformative conversations in finance. You’ll be seen as a forward-thinking partner in a sector undergoing rapid evolution—reinforcing your brand’s relevance and leadership.

For more details on sponsorship packages, you can contact the IA at Events@theia.org.

Kindly hosted by 

Steve Whyman, Independent Advisory

Steve was recently head of debt capital markets at Fidelity International, looking across market to be proactive with the firms 90bn fixed income investment capital. He was lead on the tokenisation of the MMF for collateral and the digital securities working group. Pre Fidelity he has 25 years plus career in Capital markets and trading seats for Amundi, Aviva and BlackRock having previously worked at investment banking seats specialising in Developing markets and access product. He is a known thought leader across a number of digital market working groups and consortiums and historically a vocal member at the IA round tables on the subject. Having left Fidelity earlier in the year he is currently working as an advisor to a number investment houses and digital market infrastructure firms as well as working to Co-author a number of white papers to provide so much needed insight into changing regimes and opportunities that DLT and the regime evolution presents. 

Alastair Sewell, Liquidity Investment Strategist, Aviva Investors

Alastair is responsible for developing and executing the firm's liquidity solutions business strategy, covering money market funds through to ultra-short duration bond funds. In this role, Alastair defines strategy for the group, drives product development, produces research and marketing content and supports portfolio managers in achieving performance targets.

Alastair is the chair of the Investment Association’s money market fund working group.

Alastair joined Aviva Investors from Fitch Ratings, where he was Head of Fund Ratings, responsible for producing ratings and research on money market and short duration bond funds in EMEA and Asia Pacific. Prior to this, Alastair was a CDO rating analyst in Fitch’s structured credit group. Alastair started his career at a UK local authority in 2003. Alastair holds a BSc from the University of Bristol, an MBA from the University of Bath and is a CFA Charterholder.

Michele Curtoni, Head of Digital Assets Strategy, SIX Group

Michele Curtoni is Head of Digital Assets Strategy for SIX Group, where he drives innovation and growth in blockchain-backed digital asset infrastructure across the Group. He previously served as an Executive Member of SIX Digital Exchange (SDX), helping to establish one of the world’s first regulated digital asset exchanges and CSDs. Earlier in his career, Michele was Vice President at State Street and held multiple roles in Strategy and Corporate Development at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). He holds an MSc in Economics and International Financial Economics from the University of Warwick.

Shruti Deb, Policy Adviser, Innovation and Operations Unit at the Investment Association

As part of the Unit at the IA, Shruti works across a wide variety of projects that bring technology and finance together. Shruti has a keen interest in technology policy particularly where it impacts the investment management industry. Shruti supports the IA's work on cyber resilience and has a keen interest in exploring incidents, developments and mitigation measures for preventing cyber attacks. Additionally, Shruti also works on the tokenisation of funds workstream and leads IA's data strategy work.

Martin Cook, Partner and Head of the firm’s FinTech and Financial Services teams, Burges Salmon

Martin Cook is a Partner at Burges Salmon and Head of the firm’s FinTech and Financial Services teams. He is internationally recognised for his expertise in fintech, digital assets, and financial regulation, ranked Band 1 for Fintech by independent legal directory, Chambers & Partners, and listed in Citywealth’s ‘Tech Top Ten’, a list of the leading lawyers for technology entrepreneurs. Martin advises a broad spectrum of clients - from start-ups to global banks - on strategic technology projects, regulatory change, and market innovation. His experience includes in-house leadership at Funding Circle and WorldRemit, and appointments to UK government and industry-led initiatives such as the Financial Markets Law Committee (FMLC) working group on Fintech and the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT).

Eleanor Furlong, Associate, Burges Salmon

Eleanor Furlong is an Associate at Burges Salmon, with particular expertise in emerging technologies such as blockchain, digital assets and Web3. As part of the firm’s Corporate, Tech and Fintech practices, Eleanor advises both private and public companies on a range of corporate transactions, including equity investments, M&A, capital markets transactions and corporate reorganisations, regularly leading multi-jurisdictional teams on transactions with international elements. Eleanor also completed the Oxford Blockchain Strategy Programme in 2022.

Brandon Wong, Associate in Funds and Financial Regulation, Burges Salmon

Brandon Wong is an Associate in Burges Salmon’s Funds and Financial Regulation team, specialising in financial services regulatory matters across fintech, authorised funds, and digital assets. He advises a broad client base - from institutional investors and fund managers to start-ups and regulators - on topics including payment services, e-money, crypto regulation and the structuring of innovative investment platforms.

Justin Barrow, Senior Associate in Tech Team, Burges Salmon

Justin Barrow is a Senior Associate in Burges Salmon’s tech team, advising on commercial technology, data protection, IP, and cyber security matters. His expertise covers complex B2B2C cloud-based technology platforms, cross-jurisdictional outsourcing arrangements and fin-tech solutions, that increasingly make use of AI technologies across a range of both regulated and non-regulated sectors. In the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, Justin was recognised as a Recommended Lawyer in IT and Telecoms, he has worked as in-house legal counsel at crypto wallet provider Copper, and is also a member of the Society for Computers and Law (SCL). Prior to his career as a solicitor, Justin led and worked for both large and early-stage, venture-backed tech companies, and has extensive experience in environmental

Stephen Ashworth, Chief Commercial Officer, Tokenovate
Stephen Ashworth is Chief Commercial Officer at Tokenovate, a post-trade automation platform transforming derivatives and securities financing. With more than 25 years of experience across global capital markets, Stephen brings a rare blend of trading expertise, investment management insight, and product innovation.

His career spans derivative trading at global banks, portfolio management at a hedge fund, and senior business development roles at prestigious brokers. A recognised derivatives specialist and market innovator, Stephen plays a central role in helping institutions embrace next-generation infrastructure for a faster, safer, and more efficient post-trade future.