TalkingTech: AI in Financial Services: Strategy, Risk & Opportunity
Description
Join us to explore how artificial intelligence is being adopted across investment management, from increasing operational efficiency, to governance and risk oversight. This session will examine how firms are turning AI pilots into productivity gains, and what senior leaders need to think about as capabilities and regulatory expectations progress.
TalkingTech is the Investment Association’s (IA) technology seminar series—powered by Engine—that brings together asset and wealth managers, FinTech innovators, market infrastructure and policy specialists to explore the technologies reshaping investment management. Each edition blends fast, practical content with the opportunity to network and compare notes with peers.
AGENDA
09:00 Registration & Networking
Meet peers as you collect your badge, grab a coffee, and complete a quick pre-event pulse check.
09:30 Welcome - Opening remarks
A quick run-through of the agenda, safety notices, and a brief interactive activity to set the scene.
- Henry Bewley, FinTech Manager, The Investment Association
09:40 Opening Keynote
09:50 AI Governance and Controls in Focus
This panel explores how expectations around governance, accountability and control frameworks are evolving, and where supervisors are focusing attention. Expect a practical discussion on how firms can adopt AI confidently while staying aligned with regulatory intent.
- James King, Head of Resilience, Investment Association
- Adam Grainger, Managing Director, Agentic Risks
- Olivier Bouteille, Chief Client Officer, Amundi Technology
10:20 How Technology Is Shaping the Future
Hear directly from firms at the forefront of technology adoption as they share how AI and emerging tools are changing operating models today. This session focuses on what is actually being deployed, what has moved beyond pilot stage, and where firms are seeing real productivity gains. A candid discussion on lessons learned, scaling challenges, and what comes next.
- Caroline Abbondanza, Senior Director, SS& C Technologies Limited
- Alexander Lerch, CEO, Raquest
- Richard Rouse, Head of EMEA, Unqork
10:40 Frontier AI Presentation
- Daniel Kwak, VP Finance, Perplexity
10:50 Changing Markets, Changing Consumers
As technology reshapes how consumers engage with financial services, this session explores what that means for investment management, with a particular focus on the growing role of AI. Speakers will discuss how AI-driven tools can support better outcomes for retail investors - enhancing engagement, understanding and decision-making - while managing risks around trust, transparency and accessibility. It will also consider how different demographic groups engage with digital channels and AI in distinct ways, and what this means for client expectations, product design and distribution models
- Ellen Hodgetts, Investor Insights Manager, The Investment Association
- James Nicandrou, Associate Director, Opinium
11:10 Regulation, Risk and the AI Pivot Point
This session examines the regulatory and risk implications of more advanced AI adoption, including where AI begins to replace—not just augment—human decision-making. Pannelists will discuss emerging concerns around unregulated advice, model risk and accountability, alongside a forward look at related technologies such as quantum computing. A strategic conversation on how firms can stay ahead of both innovation and oversight.
- Lawrence Baker, Policy Adviser, The Investment Association
- Chris Tart-Roberts, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard
11:30 Closing Remarks
How to stay involved, upcoming opportunities, and where today’s conversations continue.
- Henry Bewley, FinTech Manager, The Investment Association
11:40 Networking time
12:30 End
PRICING
IA Members: Free to attend
Non-members: £95.00 (exc. VAT)
SPEAKERS
Adam Grainger, Agentic Risks Project Lead, Accomplish
Adam runs the asset management CX Benchmark, which lets firms discover, in time and money, where their client experience out or underperforms in engaging clients. To help asset managers overcome fragmented, inconsistent, or hard-to-access data, he co-designed the Fetch AI data collection agent. This experience inspired him to develop the Agentic AI Risk Control Framework, which integrates agentic AI into firms’ risk management arrangements. Adam has completed Oxford University’s Artificial Intelligence programme and has an MBA from the London Business School.
Alexander Lerch, Agentic Risks Project Lead, Accomplish
Adam runs the asset management CX Benchmark, which lets firms discover, in time and money, where their client experience out or underperforms in engaging clients. To help asset managers overcome fragmented, inconsistent, or hard-to-access data, he co-designed the Fetch AI data collection agent. This experience inspired him to develop the Agentic AI Risk Control Framework, which integrates agentic AI into firms’ risk management arrangements. Adam has completed Oxford University’s Artificial Intelligence programme and has an MBA from the London Business School.
Caroline Abbondanza, CTO, Calastone
Caroline joined SS&C in 2025 to lead the GIDS global operating model and is now CTO for Calastone. She joined from Brooks Macdonald where she held COO and CTO positions. Caroline has held Group CTO roles at FNZ and Travelex where she led the technology, digital and change teams. Previously she has chaired the Investment Association technology forum.
Chris Tart-Roberts, Partner, Tech Solutions, Addleshaw Goddard
Chris is a Partner and leads Addleshaw Goddard’s Tech Solutions team. He delivers a unique, “tech-native” service to clients, combining market-leading legal expertise, deep sector insight and advanced technologies to enhance traditional legal support and unlock entirely new capabilities for clients, delivering innovative, efficient legal solutions across core areas including risk management & control, data extraction & terms analysis, due diligence & document review, transaction execution, and, legal, regulatory & policy compliance monitoring & governance. Chris acts for financial services and private capital firms, including banks, financial institutions, asset managers, hedge funds and credit funds.
Ellen Hodgetts, Investor Insights Manager, The Investment Association
Ellen Hodgetts is Investor Insights Manager at the Investment Association, where she leads a programme of research into retail investor behaviour and sentiment.
Her research projects focus on topics including investor communications, product use and the barriers to investing in the UK. Ellen works closely with member firms, policymakers and research partners to translate market trends and consumer insights into practical recommendations for the industry that aim to improve investor outcomes.
James Nicandrou, Associate Director, Partner, Opinium
James is a senior research specialist focused on financial services, investment behaviour, and the evolving role of AI in decision-making. He works closely with leading asset managers, pension providers, and professional services firms to design and deliver insight programmes that inform strategy, product development, and communications. His work spans large-scale tracking studies and international thought leadership, helping clients understand how investors, businesses, and consumers engage with financial products and emerging technologies such as AI. James is particularly experienced in translating complex briefs into clear, robust survey design, uncovering actionable insights on investment habits, attitudes to risk, and adoption of AI-driven tools. He partners closely with stakeholders to ensure research delivers commercial impact using data to shape narratives, identify opportunities, and support evidence-based decision making across financial and investment organisations.
Henry Bewley, Membership and FinTech Executive, The Investment Association
Henry leads the IA’s Engine initiative, driving innovation and collaboration across the investment management and fintech ecosystem. With a focus on fostering partnerships, supporting emerging technologies, and shaping industry engagement, Henry works closely with members, startups, and strategic partners to accelerate digital transformation in financial services.
Lawrence Baker, Policy Adviser, The Investment Association
Lawrence Baker is a Policy Adviser within the Innovation and Operations Unit at the Investment Association (IA). Operating at the intersection of emerging technology, regulatory policy, and industry strategy, Lawrence directs the IA’s response to artificial intelligence while helping member firms navigate technically complex frontiers, including tokenisation, digital market infrastructure, and wider market modernisation. A practical innovator as well as a policy expert, Lawrence serves as the "Lab Master" for the IA’s internal AI Sandbox, where he has championed the secure adoption of agentic AI and LLMs to transform internal workflows and policy analysis.
Olivier Bouteille, Chief Client Officer, Amundi Technology
Olivier Bouteille is Chief Client Officer of Amundi Technology with 20+ years’ experience in financial industry management. Olivier joined Amundi Technology from Amundi Asset Management UK, where he was Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO. His prior roles include Global Chief Information Officer and Digital Transformation Lead at Natixis Investment Managers, and UK’s Chief Operating Officer at Natixis CIB
SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS
Why Sponsor?
Topic Authority:
TalkingTechs are Engine’s most focused events, each dedicated to a single, high-impact theme. This makes them a prime opportunity to align your brand with cutting-edge thought leadership across an array of topics
Elite Audience Access:
These events attract a curated group of asset management professionals, including senior leaders from IA member firms. Sponsorship ensures visibility among those driving innovation within our dynamic community.
Premium Sponsorship Benefits:
Sponsorship opportunities include standalone presentations, panel participation, branding across event materials and the website, access to the delegate list, logo placement in the digital brochure and more. This ensures your brand is not only present but actively engaged in the event’s narrative and networking.
For more details on sponsorship packages, you can contact the IA at Events@theia.org
Event kindly hosted by
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WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Designed for leaders across investment, operations, technology, risk and policy who want an actionable overview rather than a deep dive.
Anyone interested in the event topic.
WHY ATTEND
- See how firms are turning AI from pilots into real productivity gains
- Understand the governance and risk considerations shaping AI adoption
- Learn how to balance innovation with regulatory expectations
- Get practical insight into where AI is delivering value across investment operations
- Hear how senior leaders are embedding AI into business strategy