World's premier finance event comes to Sydney for a third time

SIBOS, heralded as the world’s premier financial event, opens in Sydney 22 October, with organisers expecting 7,000 attendees from around the world. The annual conference, exhibition and networking event draws business leaders from a range of financial institutions, multinational corporations and technology partners and is in its 40th year. Organisers this year hope to ignite conversation between global banks, industry executives, entrepreneurs and academic experts – following a period of increased regulation and scrutiny in Australia. Generating more than AUD$38m in direct expenditure to the NSW economy, SIBOS was secured for the country over four years ago by Sydney’s global meeting bidding specialist, BESydney. It is the event’s third visit to Sydney and will showcase the state-of-the-art International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), which was built by the New South Wales (NSW) Government to attract global events like SIBOS. Ahead of SIBOS, the NSW government will meet with heads of the world’s major finance and banking institutions in a gathering brokered by the NSW Department of Industry. Taking place at Parliament House, the event will highlight the investment opportunities available in NSW. What this concerted effort reflects is a recognition of the benefit to cities and industries that global meetings of this magnitude have. Organisers claim the collaboration between businesses, academics and disruptors next week should not only result in new ideas and solutions, but also long-tail effects such as redefined practice, strengthened networks, and social change. “Economies are increasingly becoming knowledge intensive,” says BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith. “And, for Australia to remain truly competitive, we need to future-proof our sectors. Global meetings, which promote and encourage the development of skills, drive important conversations forward and provide opportunities for global trade and investment, support this. And, in Sydney, we have a proven model of success.” Head of SIBOS, Chantal Van Es adds: “Sydney has a perfect intersection of energy, innovation, infrastructure and new ideas.” “The BESydney team have been our first point of contact for everything. They’re incredibly connected and put us in touch with all the right stakeholders.” Highlights of the event include a Discover Zone, which will showcase the innovations taking place at NSW universities in the areas of aerospace, bio printing and desalination. The Oceania Lounge will feature exhibitions from 32 FinTech start-ups from across NSW, Australia and New Zealand. There will be Innovation Labs from leading Australian banks Commonwealth Bank, ING, National Australia Bank and Westpac. And the 2018 SWIFT Institute Challenge will see students create solutions in the area of personal data protection. The eight selected finalists include two teams from the University of Sydney and one from the University of Technology Sydney. At a pivotal time for Australia’s financial services sector, SIBOS 2018 is facilitating cross discipline collaboration, and allowing the country to showcase its soft power strengths.