NextGenAI
Our speakers
Dr Janet Bastiman
Chair of the Royal Statistical Society’s Data Science and AI Section and member of FCA’s newly created Synthetic Data Expert Group, Janet started coding in 1984 and discovered a passion for technology. She holds multiple degrees and a PhD in Computational Neuroscience. Janet has helped both start-ups and established businesses implement and improve their AI offering prior to applying her expertise as Chief Data Scientist at Napier. Janet regularly speaks at conferences worldwide on topics in AI including explainability, testing, efficiency, and ethics.
Debi Bell-Hosking
James Benford
James is responsible for the Bank’s collection of statistics and regulatory data and for a Bank-wide transformation agenda to enable the Bank to make the best possible use of data across all its functions through effective analytical processes. Joining the Bank of England in 2005, James headed up the Bank’s Global Analysis Division. He represented the UK on the G20 Framework and International Financial Architecture working groups, and established and led the Bank’s Brexit Contingency Planning team. He has worked in various roles across the Bank’s Monetary Analysis and Financial Stability areas, has produced and presented the Monetary Policy Committee’s economic forecasts and was part of the Secretariat for the Financial Policy Committee.
Sandra Blaga
Sandra Blaga is at the forefront of digital transformation at NatWest, leading AI and ML projects that are changing the way banking works. Currently, she is working on building advanced pricing capabilities and promoting ethical AI practices. With a strong background in project management across both onshore and offshore banking, Sandra has successfully implemented projects like the first Robotic Process Automation at RBS International. She is passionate about creating inclusive and sustainable financial products. At the NextGen Banking Conference, Sandra will share practical strategies and real-world experiences in managing AI projects, providing insights for anyone interested in leveraging AI in banking.
Amanda Brock
Amanda Brock is CEO of OpenUK, the UK organisation for the business of Open Technology: open source software, open hardware, open data, open innovation, open standards and open access AI - with a purpose of UK Leadership and Global Collaboration in Open Technology.
Jonathan Ede
Raquel Gomes
Raquel Gomes has over 15 years of experience providing software solutions across diverse industries, with a focus on Financial Services. As Head of Innovation at RedCompass Labs, she drives the company’s innovation journey, creating and executing forward-thinking strategies. Known for her technical expertise and business acumen, Raquel is passionate about innovation and solving complex problems. Her leadership enables multifunctional teams to transform creative ideas into sustainable, impactful solutions.
Madush Gupta
Madush Gupta is the Policy Lead for Innovation and Technology at the City of London Corporation, where he is an elected Common Councillor. Madush interfaces with regulators and industry, shaping growth-oriented policy.Beyond the Corporation, Madush is an Innovation and digital transformation leader at Lloyds Banking Group. His influence and experience in innovation and product management enables him to tackle complex business challenges, driving strategic thinking, and sustainable results. Madush is a non-exec director of the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology, Board Advisor to Innovate Finance, and Board Advisor to the National Cyber Resilience Centre Group.
Lord Christopher Holmes
Chris is a passionate advocate for the potential of technology and the benefits of diversity and inclusion. His core policy focus is on digital technology for the public good with a particular interest in technologies such as AI and blockchain and areas of application such as fintech and trade. In Parliament, he has introduced a private members’ bill that proposes the regulation of artificial intelligence and was integral to the passing of the ground-breaking Electronic Trade Documents Bill. He has previously co-authored House of Lords Select Committee Reports on Democracy and Digital Technologies, AI, and Digital Skills. He is also adviser to several tech and fintech companies.
Prashant Jajodia
Prashant leads the Financial Services Sector for IBM Consulting UKI. In this role, he has the profit and loss responsibility of IBM's consulting financial services business across business transformation, technology strategy, implementation and delivery. He is a member of the IBM Consulting Global Leadership Team and IBM’s Global Executive Committee. Prashant has built a 25+ year distinctive record as a global business leader in financial services with in-depth experience shaping and leading AI, Cloud and Digital Transformation programmes for large banks. Prior to IBM, he worked at Citi as the Head of Technology for EMEA Treasury and Polaris Software Labs as Senior Vice President and Head of UK Business.
Kshitija Joshi, Ph.D
Aman Luther
Dr Joe Lyske
Stuart McDowell
Stuart is the UK CIO at Societe Generale London Branch, where he is responsible for the oversight and leadership of the UK IT Community, developing and supporting the Global IS Strategy, and ensuring the delivery of business-critical technology and core infrastructure. He also has responsibility for the UK Digital Office, working with business units in the digital transformation of their systems, processes and staff mindset.
Roberto Napolitano
Stathis Onasoglou
• Stathis is currently the FSI Principal for EMEA at Google Cloud, helping FSIs to digitally transform with Cloud. He has over 17 years of combined experience in technology and financial services. Prior to Google he worked in a London-based event driven Hedge Fund, where he was leading the data science capability. Previously, he worked as a Product Manager in the FX algo-trading desk at Morgan Stanley, and in the past in the FS Risk Advisory of Deloitte UK as a management consultant. Stathis is a CFA Charterholder, has an MSc in Signal Processing from Imperial College London (2008), has achieved his MBA with focus on Strategy in 2013 and graduated with a joint MSc & BSc in Electrical & Computer Engineering in 2006.
Dr. Jochen Papenbrock
Jochen is a financial data scientist with a doctorate from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Germany. He brings over two decades of experience in AI, machine learning, data science, risk management, and IT within the financial services industry (FSI). His diverse roles have included researcher, data scientist, coder, business consultant, entrepreneur, editor, keynote speaker, panelist, thought leader, and ecosystem shaper. Some key projects involved investment and insurance companies, banks, central banks, hedge funds, trade associations, and the European Commission. At NVIDIA, Jochen leads the FSI topics, with a focus on trustworthy, explainable AI and sustainable finance, environmental risk, and ESG.
Daniel Szmukler
In his current role, Daniel is in charge of business development, thought leadership, innovation, events and educational activities. He runs the association’s working groups, the EBAday conference and EBA’s professional training seminars and schools. Daniel completed a first term of office as Head of Communications and Corporate Governance at EBA CLEARING from 2002 to 2012. From 2001 to 2002, Daniel was a Payment Systems Advisor to the European Banking Federation (EBF) in Brussels. He began his professional career in 1994 with SWIFT in Brussels. Daniel holds graduate degrees in business administration and management from Boston University, Mass. and from the University of Brussels.
Jeff Tijssen
Ed Towers
Ed leads the FCA's Advanced Analytics and Data Science Unit function responsible for developing and embedding data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence tools and capability across the organisation. He also runs the FCA's RegTech activities, including the FCA's Digital Sandbox and TechSprint events. Since joining the regulator in 2015 Ed has led a number of transformation initiatives. Prior to the FCA Ed worked as a consultant within Financial Services.
David Tracy
At Smart Data Foundry, David is responsible for leading the product development team including the Aizle synthetic data team. His main objective is to utilise financial data to gain insight into how individuals and businesses manage their finances. David collaborates with government institutions, banks, charities, fintech and academics to make more informed decisions, develop better policies and create superior products that will ultimately lead to improved outcomes. Prior to joining Smart Data Foundry, David led the Data Science and Innovation team for Experian's UK Consumer data division. He has also gained extensive experience in the banking and insurance financial services industry.
James Wong
James advises leading global companies as they work through the opportunities and challenges associated with the digital economy including in relation to artificial intelligence, data strategy and governance, data protection and privacy, cybersecurity, e-commerce, online safety, commercial contracting. At law firm Clifford Chance he has worked alongside both AI service providers and customers/deployers, supporting them in their transformation journeys as they seek to leverage data assets, identify use cases, upskill their workforces, manage risks and navigate a complex global regulatory landscape.
Gary Wright