The Federation of International Banks Ireland (FIBI) hosted its flagship annual conference 2025 Competing for Growth – Ireland’s Future as a Global Financial Services Hub on Wednesday 12th Novemberat the College Green Hotel Dublin. Over 140 industry representatives, regulators and policy makers gathered to focus on what is required to secure and grow Ireland’s position as a leading location for international financial services in the context of increasing global geopolitical fragmentation and intense competition across financial centres. Discussions considered both industry challenges and opportunities in the evolving global landscape and as the European Union advances its ambitious competitiveness and simplification agenda.
The conference was moderated by Richard Curran, Broadcaster and Journalist with
- An opening keynote from Jack Chambers T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation, during which the Minister shared his views on how Ireland can ensure its continued success as a global hub for financial services in the context of increasing competition, the Government’s current competitiveness agenda, and the forthcoming Irish presidency of the Council of the EU.
- A FIBI Chair Address from Davinia Conlan, Chair of FIBI and Citi Country Officer Ireland where she spoke about how Ireland’s future as a global financial services hub depends on one overriding goal – to secure long-term competitive positioning – and delivering on that vision requires a domestic agenda built on simplification, skills, and speed.
- A Practitioners Outlook panel: Securing Ireland’s Future as a Global FS Hub featuring Terri Dempsey, Chief Executive and Country Head, State Street Ireland; and Derek Kehoe, CEO and Country Head, BNP Paribas Ireland; Enda Kilcullen, Chief Executive, TD Securities; Sinead Mahon, Independent Non-Executive Director; and Ian Nelson, Partner, Head of Financial Services and Regulatory, KPMG in Ireland; who discussed the opportunities and challenges facing the international financial services industry.
- An in-depth fireside chat on Simplification and Competitiveness – European and Domestic Regulatory and Supervisory Perspectives with Luis de Guindos, Vice President of the European Central Bank, and Mary-Elizabeth McMunn, Deputy Governor, Financial Regulation, Central Bank of Ireland.
- A panel discussion on Ireland’s forthcoming EU Presidency explored the unique opportunity to influence the EU’s financial services policy agenda with panellists Regina Doherty MEP; Emma Lokko, Head of Market Structure Europe, Susquehanna; Niamh Mulholland, Financial Institutions Group Partner, Matheson LLP and Susan O’Reilly, Principal Officer, Funds, Markets and Securities Division, Department of Finance; who gave their views on where effort should be focused to drive a competitiveness and growth agenda.
- Sonali Punhani, UK Economist and Director European Economics Team, Bank of America provided an Economic Insight on Competing for Growth in a Transforming Global Economy
- A RegTech Talk on AI Adoption for Compliance – Value, Risk and Scale from Rory Timlin, Partner Technology Consulting, KPMG in Ireland
- Nicola Curry, Directory at the Inner City Trust talked about the work carried out to support to projects and community organisations within Dublin’s inner city
- Brian Hayes, CEO of BPFI delivered the closing remarks to the conference
We would like to thank our conference sponsors KPMG, Matheson LLP and IOB.
To find out more about the Federation of International Banks in Ireland visit here.
