This year, the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB) Annual Banking Conference takes place against a backdrop of current uncertainty and long-term disruption. At the same time as global political and macroeconomic events and policy shifts are grabbing the headlines, radical advances in digital technology are presenting the industry with unique and exciting opportunities – as well as the need to make fundamental decisions on future priorities.

To shed light on the issues involved, on September 29, the HKIB will bring together a distinguished collection of the industry’s top executives and thought leaders at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Given the changing geopolitical and economic landscape, and customers’ evolving needs and preferences, the speakers and panellists will look at the ways in which the industry can retain its agility by leveraging the latest technology to test out new business models.

Dr Patrick Fung, chairman, OCBC Wing Hang Bank and chairman of the executive committee, and vice-president, council, of the HKIB, will welcome the audience and speakers to the conference.

“With financial technologies an important part of the future strategy, we have added a Technology Leader panel discussion for the first time at the main plenary session and we will bring together the technology experts from leading banks,” he says. “We also have a dedicated stream in the afternoon to cover fintech developments such as artificial intelligence.”

The morning plenary sessions promise to be lively and illuminating. Setting the scene in his opening keynote speech will be Norman T L Chan, chief executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and honorary president, council, HKIB.

Guest keynote speaker Brett King will focus on the changing preferences of banks’ customers, in an address that is sure to be not only entertaining, but also challenging to much orthodox thinking. An international best-selling author whose books look at fintech and the future of digital banking, King is also the co-founder and CEO of Moven, a New York-based mobile banking startup.

The CEO Panel that will consider “Reshaping Priorities” in the light of new opportunities and challenges presented to the industry could hardly be more prestigious. On stage for this session will be: Ivy Au Yeung, Hong Kong CEO, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group; David Liao, group general manager, HSBC Group, and president and CEO, HSBC Bank (China); Weber Lo, country officer and CEO, Hong Kong and Macau, Citibank; and Ronald Xia, CEO, Industrial Bank, Hong Kong.

The regulatory context within which the banking industry operates has undergone substantial change in the last decade, and the increasing use of digital technology is sure to continue to present the authorities with fresh challenges. This year’s regulatory keynote address will be given by Arthur Yuen, deputy chief executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and deputy chairman of the HKIB executive committee.

The technology leaders who will be debating “The Game Changers”, are Ricky Ou, chief product officer, Ping An Technology; Nimish Panchmatia, managing director and  head of technology and operations, Hong Kong and mainland China, DBS Bank (Hong Kong); Paul Wan, head of risk and controls, Hong Kong and Greater China, information technology and operations, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong); and Raymond Cheng, group general manager and COO, Asia-Pacific, HSBC.

Following a break for lunch, the conference divides into three streams in the afternoon, allowing specialist areas to be examined in detail.

The “fintech innovation” stream will look at developments in digital technology and the ways in which these advances can be effectively used by the banking industry.

Panel discussions include “Stay Agile, Stay Innovative, Stay Ahead” and “AI in Finance – It’s No Longer a Hype” and “Making Sense of Data”.

The “banking business” stream will look at some of today’s other major commercial opportunities and challenges for the industry. Both the “Shifting Sands – Finding Opportunities in a Changing World” and the “Cross Border Financing against the Backdrop of OBOR” panel discussions will be conducted in Putonghua. Speakers include Professor Ba Shusong, chief China economist, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing ; Dr Witman Hung, principal liaison officer for Hong Kong, the Shenzhen Qianhai Authority; Jasmine Lee, partner, EY;  Dr Zhiwei Zhang, managing director, chief economist and head of equity strategy, China of Deutsche Bank.

In mid-afternoon, Glenn Finch, vice-president and cognitive innovation officer, IBM Global Business Services, will give his take on “The Cognitive Bank: Redefining Banks and Banking”.

HKIB Annual Banking

Conference 2017 Highlights

Theme

Changing world, reshaping priorities

Date and time

September 29, 2017

9am-5.15pm

Venue

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai

Keynote speech

Norman TL Chan,

chief executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and honorary president, council, HKIB

Morning

Plenary session, CEO panel, technology leadership panel

Afternoon streams

Fintech innovation, banking business, risk management and compliance