AI & Digital Unlocked: A Practical Conference for Financial Services Professionals
Description
Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept, it is already reshaping financial services in significant ways. This focused half-day, in-person conference is designed to help industry professionals understand the real impact of AI today and how to adopt it responsibly and effectively.
Through expert insights, regulatory perspectives, and real-world examples, delegates will gain a clear understanding of how AI can enhance operations, improve decision-making, and drive innovation, while navigating the ethical, legal, and cultural considerations that come with it.
The event also features a Vendor Product Showcase, giving attendees the opportunity to meet a wide range of AI solution providers and explore technologies that could support their firm’s evolution. From automation tools to predictive analytics platforms, the showcase offers a chance to see AI in practice.
Whether you are just beginning to explore artificial intelligence or looking to sharpen your current strategy, this event offers practical guidance, regulatory insight, and exposure to cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of financial services.
Suitable For
This conference is designed for professionals in financial services seeking to understand the opportunities, risks, and regulatory expectations around AI. It is especially relevant for:
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Senior leadership and board members
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Compliance, risk, legal, and regulatory advisors
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Technology and innovation leads
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Operations, transformation, and HR professionals
Whether you're exploring AI or already applying it, this event will provide practical insights and expert guidance.
Agenda
Time |
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Topic |
| 08:30-09:00 | Registration | |
| 09:00-09:10 | Registration and welcome from the Forum Chair Chris Usher, Managing Director of the School of International Financial Services |
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| 09:10-09:40 | Supervising the Algorithm: The JFSC’s Expectations on AI in Financial Services Alan Ainsworth, Executive Director of Policy, Innovation and Marketing & Communications at the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) |
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| 09:40-10:10 | AI Regulation and Liability: Legal Considerations for FS Firms ... |
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| 10:10-10:40 | Panel Discussion: AI in Practice: Use Cases, Controls and Cultural Shifts in FS Chris Usher (SIFS), Rory Steel (BDO) & Vincent Sider (DeepBlocker.ai) |
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| 10:40-10:55 | Refreshment Break | |
| 10:55-11:25 | Empowering, Not Replacing: Implementing AI Without Triggering Anxiety Stuart Richford, Chief Executive Officer of Optifi |
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| 11:25-11:55 | Panel Discussion: Not Getting Left Behind: Upskilling, Board Readiness and Futureproofing Chris Usher (SIFS), Arthur Bennett (UtendumAI) & Tony Moretta (Digital Jersey) |
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| 11:55-12:00 | A quick-fire roundup of practical take-aways Chris Usher, Managing Director of the School of International Financial Services |
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Presenters
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Chris Usher (Chair) Managing Director at the School of International Financial Services |
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Chris is the Managing Director of the School of International Financial Services (SIFS), a leading provider of training and education in offshore financial services across 15 jurisdictions globally. He has over 25 years of experience in offshore financial services, having previously held senior wealth management roles at Barclays Wealth and Santander, where he advised private clients and corporates on complex global investment solutions and wealth structuring. Chris is currently also a Director at Cavenwell Group. With a deep understanding of geopolitical and economic dynamics, Chris helps clients navigate the changing international wealth structuring landscape and optimise tax efficiency. Chris has trained over 6,000 people in qualifications for the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments (CISI) in wealth management and is a well-regarded member of the Institute. He also serves on the committee of the Jersey Wealth Managers Association (JWMA) and is a member of the Institute of Directors. |
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Alan Ainsworth Executive Director of Policy, Innovation and Marketing & Communications at the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) |
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Alan Ainsworth joined the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC) as Executive Director of Policy, Innovation and Marketing & Communications in August 2024. As Executive Director of Policy, Innovation and Marketing & Communications, Alan has overall responsibility for the development and maintenance of Jersey’s financial services regulatory framework, including related local and international stakeholder engagement. He is also responsible for the JFSC’s Marketing and Communications team, and the JFSC’s Innovation Hub, which advises on the development of innovative practices within Jersey’s financial services industry. Prior to joining the JFSC, Alan spent six years as the Strategy, Policy and Standards Director for Open Banking Limited in the UK. He also worked for the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance as their Open Finance Lead. Alan brings over 30 years’ experience in banking, payments and FinTech, including leading government relations for Barclays Bank PLC consumer and payments businesses for over a decade. |
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Tony Moretta Chief Executive Officer of Digital Jersey |
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Tony has over 20 years of senior management experience across a wide range of digital industries, including mobile, online, broadcast, payments, advertising and data analytics, using the latest technological innovations to develop new revenue streams. Tony began his career at NatWest on the graduate training programme, going on to spend 7 years there and rising to Senior Manager of Commercial Development in their cards business. He went on to work for Visa Europe as Vice President of New Products, where he developed a number of new electronic payment products. He took this interest in innovation to ITV Digital where he was Director of Interactivity, followed by senior positions at the National Grid Wireless and Digital Radio UK, where he increased digital radio sales from 5 million to 11 million in testing market conditions and persuaded the car industry to standardise it in all new models. Before joining Digital Jersey, he was delivering a number of projects in the digital space for both the UK Government and major private sector companies, and was one of the founders of Weve, a joint venture between EE, O2 & Vodafone in mobile marketing, payments and data analytics. As CEO of Digital Jersey Tony is responsible for delivering the organisation’s long-term economic, social and reputational objectives together with meeting annual business plan goals, to develop Jersey as a recognised digital jurisdiction. |
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Stuart Richford Chief Executive Officer of Optifi |
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A visionary leader in digital transformation and financial services, Stuart Richford has over 30 years of experience in private equity, fund administration, trust services, and banking. He has led large-scale global restructures, post-acquisition integrations, and regulatory change projects, working with brands such as BDO, Deutsche Bank, and Barclays. As a business leader, Stuart previously founded, scaled, and successfully exited a consulting business. A recognised industry speaker, Stuart is passionate about leveraging AI, data, and emerging technologies to drive operational excellence and future-proof financial services. As CEO of Optifi, he spearheads innovation in the trust and family sector, ensuring clients achieve efficiency, scalability, and regulatory confidence. |
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Rory Steel Head of Digital & Adoption at BDO Jersey |
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As Head of Digital and Adoption at BDO Jersey, Rory Steel brings a unique blend of expertise as a lifelong educator and technologist. His career has been built at the critical intersection of teaching, learning, and innovation, enabling change through understanding. As a passionate early adopter with a commitment to demystifying technology, Rory is adept at making complex digital concepts accessible and understandable for all. He is known for being able to cut through jargon and hype, with relatable, real-world examples that resonate across a diverse range of learners and businesses. With a proven track record of delivering transformative change, Rory has significantly advanced Jersey’s digital capabilities. This includes establishing the world’s first Gigabit Cloud School and more recently leading the Digital Jersey Academy, where he championed the island’s digital future through strategic skills development and innovative application of current and emerging technologies. Rory is deeply driven by his understanding of how the potential of individuals is intrinsically linked to their environment. He takes considerable pride in his ability to understand an organisation's needs, then embedding innovative digital tools into practical solutions that empower Jersey businesses to remain competitive on the global stage. |
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Vincent Sider Founder of DeepBlocker.ai |
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Vincent Sider is an internationally recognised AI strategist and executive advisor, and the founder of DeepBlocker.ai, a cutting-edge solution to deepfake voice & video scams, created in response to his own experience with identity theft and impersonation. DeepBlocker delivers real-time, enterprise-grade protection against the growing threat of AI-driven social engineering. He is also the creator of Prodigo, a multi-agent AI swarm platform used across insurance companies and banks . Previously Vice President of Social Media at the BBC, Head of Strategy at BT, and a Digital Board Advisor to The Royal Foundation, advising Prince William, Kate and Harry on the foundations 3 pillars (Mental health, Military Forces, Conservation), Vincent has spent two decades deploying digital infrastructure at global scale. In February 2025 He was awarded the world’s first “Master of Make (4M users worldwide)” designation for his work on advanced AI Agents, combining voice, vision, and decision layers into production-grade workflows as well as awarded Product of the Month by Product Hunt for his AI Radar. |
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Arthur Bennett Founder of UtendumAI |
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Arthur is the Founder of UtendumAI, a leading AI training platform helping organisations and professionals harness the power of artificial intelligence responsibly and productively. Through his work with international education bodies and government departments, Arthur has played a key role in guiding institutions through the adoption of AI, developing frameworks and training programmes to support ethical, effective, and sustainable AI integration. Before founding UtendumAI, Arthur worked closely with a number of international education boards in navigating the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging AI technologies. His focus on accessibility and real-world application has positioned him as a trusted voice in AI education and digital transformation. Arthur regularly speaks on the intersection of AI, innovation, and organisational strategy, with a particular emphasis on how financial services leaders can future-proof their operations and workforce in the age of intelligent automation. His mission through UtendumAI is to empower teams to move beyond theory and actively leverage AI tools to drive productivity, creativity, and long-term business value. |
Educational Partners
Utendum AI UtendumAI delivers training to individual and enterprise users to enhance their understanding of AI tools and help them unlock productivity gains. For more information, please visit: www.utendum.ai |
Digital Jersey Digital Jersey drives the growth of Jersey’s digital industries and champions the use of technology to strengthen and expand our economy. Our focus is on nurturing a culture of innovation, driving up skills and bringing together the brightest minds to grow Jersey’s digital sector, create jobs, deliver cutting-edge solutions and ensure the island is fit for a digital future. For more information, please visit: www.digital.je |