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About the event

OPTIC is returning for its second year! AFME’s annual Operations, Post-Trade, Technology & Innovation conference brings together the industry’s leading voices, to discuss the role of technology in developing capital markets in Europe, with particular focus on the world of operations and post trade.

OPTIC 2023 will take place in Brussels, with a two-day agenda packed with keynote addresses from regulatory authorities, thought-provoking panels and speeches from Europe's leading financial institutions, and ample networking opportunities for attendees. 

Delegates will hear from practitioners, technologists, and policymakers on the most important innovations happening here and now, and what the future landscape might look like. Our expert speakers will discuss the opportunities and challenges that are unique to Europe, and contemplate whether the capital markets ecosystem, and its underpinning regulatory framework, is well-positioned to support innovation.

As many initiatives move into their ‘delivery’ phase, the need for collaboration has emerged as a key trend. Join us to hear practical, real-world examples of how organisations from the public and private sector are collaborating innovatively, and working together to solve common challenges.

Another key theme across the conference will be the role of data in delivering change, including how data can be leveraged by banks, regulators and infrastructures to drive strategy, and how new technologies are changing the way in which we store and share data.

Join us on the second day for ‘Digital Assets Day’, as we take a deep-dive on the rapidly evolving digital assets landscape. We focus on the underlying technologies of DLT and tokenisation, and consider to what extent they will be leveraged to transform traditional markets.

This event is attended by senior capital market professionals working in operations, post-trade, technology, regulation, and policy. 

Registration fees:
• AFME member: €899 + VAT
• Non member: €1249 + VAT

Multi-booking discount:
• 10% off when booking 3 or more delegates at the same time
• 20% off when booking 5 or more delegates at the same time

Multi booking discounts can be applied at check out for group booking.

Complimentary subject to verification:
• Investor: promo code INVESTOR
• Regulator: promo code REGULATOR
• Press: promo code PRESS for in person attendance or VIRTUALPRESS to receive a live stream link (this link is only available to press)

Note: Promo codes are case sensitive

Partners

Lead Partners
Partners
Associate Partners
Exhibitors
Event Endorsers
Media Partners

Who attends?

  • Heads of post trade
  • Investors
  • COOs
  • Market structure specialists
  • Regulators
  • Policymakers
  • Clearing and settlement houses
  • Law firms
  • Consultancies
  • Trading platforms and technology providers
  • Financial associations
  • AFME members
  • Investment banks
  • European supervisory authorities
  • National competent authorities
  • Clearing and settlement houses
  • Exchanges
  • Asset managers
  • Technology providers
  • Professional services
  • Fintech start-ups

Why attend?

  • Hear keynote speeches from global industry, technology and regulatory leaders
  • 70+ leading speakers representing global banks, service providers, policymakers and regulators
  • Network with a European audience of over 350 senior registrants
  • Over ten hours of dedicated networking in the exhibition space
  • Exclusive content delivered over three half days of high-level debate and discussion. Content designed and driven by market participants

Registration enquiries

For registration enquiries, please contact Events on [email protected] for assistance.

Tuesday 17 October

08:00
Welcome registration and refreshments
09:00
Opening remarks
09:15
Panel discussion: The View from the Top
A panel of senior C-suite level executives assess the current capital markets landscape in Europe
  • What major technology initiatives are in flight? What is driving these? (Client demand, revenue generation, cost efficiencies?)
  • Is it easy to be innovative in Europe? Does the current regulatory framework enable Europe-based firms to be competitive on a global basis?
  • How can technology be leveraged to deliver policy goals, and what are the key opportunities and threats in the coming months and years?
Moderator:
James Kemp,
Managing Director, Global FX, Technology and Operations and Policy Divisions, GFMA and AFME
Speakers:
Clare Francis,
Senior Advisor, Chair and Non-Exec, Provenance Blockchain Foundation
Philippe Laurensy,
Head of Group Strategy, Product Management, and Innovation, Euroclear group
Rima Varsy,
Head of Investment Technology Europe, Vanguard
Stephen Martin,
Head of Security Compliance, Amazon Web Services
View details & speakers
10:10
SPOTLIGHT session: Real world use cases of how technology has been deployed in capital markets organisations
Speaker:
Pierre Kovacs,
SVP Capital Markets Technology, Endava
View speakers
10:20
Being Ready for the Digital Age
Keynote Address
Speaker:
Verena Ross,
Chair, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)
View speakers
10:45
Networking Break
11:15
Panel discussion: Securing your business in the Digital Age
Stream A
  • The rise of ransomware and what firms can do to mitigate their cyber risks
  • Is digital op res changing your business model
  • How industry can support regulators in shaping a global safety net/response?
Moderator:
Marcus Corry,
Associate Director, Technology & Operations, AFME
Speakers:
Dr Melanie Garson,
Cyber Policy Lead, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change
Evangelos Ouzounis,
Head of Policy Development and Implementation Unit, European Network Information Security Agency (ENISA)
Greg Ros,
Technical Advisor, FSB Working Group on Cyber Incident Reporting, Bank of England
Matthew Field,
Executive Director - Head of Cyber and Tech Policy & Partnerships, EMEA, J.P. Morgan
View details & speakers
Panel discussion: Building a competitive landscape for European Market Infrastructures
Stream B
  • Can more be done to engender true competition across market infrastructures and deliver cost efficiencies?
  • Are current trends in CCP models enhancing or restricting competitiveness?
  • Who are the likely winners and losers from digital transformation?
Moderator:
Camille Papillard,
Head of FI&C Client Line for EMEA, BNP Paribas
Speakers:
Karel Lannoo,
Chief Executive Officer, Centre for European Policy Studies
Pierre Davoust,
Head of Central Securities Depositories, Euronext
Randy Priem,
Coordinator of the Markets and Post-trading Unit, professor of finance, FSMA, UBI Business School and Antwerp Management School
View details & speakers
12:00
Panel discussion: Resilience and Risk Management in 2023 and Beyond
Stream A
  • How will due diligence processes evolve in years to come? Can new technologies be leveraged to reduce risks, or do they create new ones?
  • How have banks and infrastructures altered business models to absorb external shocks and adapt to a changing operational environment?
  • How can multi-national organisations address geopolitical risk? What lessons can be learned from recent crises?
Moderator:
Marcus Corry,
Associate Director, Technology & Operations, AFME
Speakers:
Amy Lee,
Senior Manager, International Engagement Team, Sector Resilience Division, Prudential Regulation Authority, Bank of England
Brett McGowan,
Associate Director, Technology Risk & Resilience, Protiviti
Mattias Levin,
Deputy Head of Unit, DG for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission
View details & speakers
Panel discussion: Automating the Post Trade Lifecycle
Stream B
Moderator:
Peter Tomlinson,
Director, Post Trade and Prime Services, AFME
Speakers:
John Worden,
Head of Custody & Post Trade Strategy, UBS
Karan Kapoor,
Global Head of Regulatory Consulting, Delta Capita
Remi Lagane,
Senior Post Trade Processing Expert, Murex
View speakers
12:45
Networking Lunch
Women of OPTIC lunch (guestlist only)
13:45
Panel discussion: The Data behind the Digital Economy – trends you need to know
Stream A
  • Drivers of Data Sovereignty – how are geopolitics and increased localisation shaping the bigger picture?
  • Global vs. Sovereign Clouds – what is the solution?
  • Will Open Finance come to pass and how do the EU and UK approaches compare?
  • What are the challenges to be considered when developing a robust data economy? (e.g. interoperability, data security, data privacy, competition, innovation)
Moderator:
Daniel Pujazón,
Director Corporate Public Policy, Banco Santander
Speakers:
Adriana Ennab,
Director of Public Policy, Credit Suisse
Davide Corda,
Senior Director Group Technology Data, Intesa Sanpaolo
Raphaël Lemahieu,
Policy Officer, European Commission
View details & speakers
Panel discussion: ESG: It’s all about the data
Stream B
  • What role do intermediaries play?
  • How is new technology being used?
  • What is the secret to ESG data management?
Moderator:
Marcus Corry,
Associate Director, Technology & Operations, AFME
Speakers:
Isabelle Delorme,
Head of Strategy and Product Expansion for Issuers, Fund Managers and Sustainable Finance, Euroclear Group
Karen Smith,
Managing Director, Data and Analytics, Protiviti
Matthew Mernagh,
Head of ESG data for Sustainability Data and Technology, Deutsche Bank
Michiel de Smet,
Sustainable Investment Expert, National Bank of Belgium
View details & speakers
14:30
Panel discussion: Quantum Computing
Stream A
  • A closer look at the potential of quantum computing to accelerate existing financial services that require high performance computer power.
  • What are the real world use case opportunities and threats this new technology delivers?
  • Where does it have a role to play and what does the future look like?
Moderator:
Mohit Sarvaiya,
International CIO, BNY Mellon
Speakers:
Dr Sonali Mohapatra,
Quantum Innovation Sector Lead, National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)
Mohammed Gharbawi,
Fintech Hub, Bank of England
Philippa Spencer-Williams,
Senior Innovation Partner, Digital Catapult
View details & speakers
Panel discussion: The future of Asset Servicing
Stream B
  • How does the current regulatory and legislative framework (e.g. SRDII, withholding tax regimes) need to change to support more efficient asset servicing processes?
  • How is new technology being leveraged to make corporate actions more efficient? Including APIs, new messaging formats and digital platforms.
  • Is DLT and smart contracts the ultimate solution?
Moderator:
Marcello Topa,
Market Policy and Strategy Director, Citi Securities Services
Speakers:
Krasimira Rayanova,
Director, Head of Asset Servicing Product Development, Clearstream
Michael Collier,
Executive Director, International Head of Asset Services, Product Management, Securities Services, J.P. Morgan
Michael McPolin,
Managing Director, Market Advocacy & Business Change, Broadridge
Teresa Afonso,
Product Manager – Asset Servicing global product and Regulatory Solutions, BNP Paribas
View details & speakers
15:15
Networking Coffee Break
15:45
SPOTLIGHT session: Real world use cases of how technology has been deployed in capital markets organisations
Speaker:
Chris Stevens,
Chief Revenue Officer, Duco
View speakers
15:55
Keynote Address: Building a Safer and More Efficient Post Trade Ecosystem
Speaker:
Jennifer Robertson,
Head of Unit, European Commission
View speakers
16:25
Panel discussion: T+1 and the path to Settlement Efficiency
  • How can European markets build towards T+1 settlement whilst also reducing settlement fails?
  • What role does data play in achieving this?
Moderator:
Alan Cameron,
Head of Advisory FIC Client Line, BNP Paribas
Speakers:
Jesús Benito,
Head Domestic Custody & TR Operations, SIX
Lisa Danino Lewis,
Chief Growth Officer, CLS Group
Matt Johnson,
ITP Product Management & Industry Relations, DTCC
Sachin Mohindra,
Executive Director, Goldman Sachs
View details & speakers
17:25
Closing remarks & drinks reception

Wednesday 18 October

08:15
Registration & refreshments
09:00
Opening remarks
Speaker:
Rick Watson,
Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets Membership and Events, AFME
View speakers
09:15
Keynote address: The Changing Financial System
Speaker:
Cecilia Skingsley,
Head of the BIS Innovation Hub, Bank for International Settlements
View speakers
09:45
The Evolving European Regulatory Landscape for Digital Assets
Panel discussion
  • Panellists reflect on the latest developments in MiCA, as the EU looks to position itself as a global leader in regulation of digital assets
  • With the DLT Pilot Regime now in operation, what has the industry uptake been, and what lessons have been learned?
  • How does the proposed UK FMI Sandbox stack up in comparison?
Moderator:
Christopher Wallace,
Associate General Counsel and Director, Bank of America
Speakers:
Ivan Keller,
Securities Markets Unit, DG FISMA
Marina Reason,
Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
Sasha Mills,
Executive Director of Financial Market Infrastructure, Bank of England
Teunis Brosens,
Head of Regulatory Analysis, ING
View details & speakers
10:30
SPOTLIGHT session: FX Everywhere
  • Real world use cases of how technology has been deployed in capital markets organisations
Speaker:
Mark Williamson,
MD, Global Head of FX & Commodities Partnerships & Propositions, HSBC
View details & speakers
10:40
Networking Coffee Break
11:10
Panel discussion: Institutional Adoption of Crypto Assets
Stream A
  • Have recent market events slowed down institutional interest in crypto?
  • Will stricter and clearer regulations facilitate greater adoption?
  • What types of cryptoasset have the most potential for wider adoption?
Moderator:
Coco Chen,
Associate Director, Technology & Operations, AFME
Speakers:
Duncan Trenholme,
Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Digital Assets, TP ICAP
Juan Jiménez Zaballos,
Digital Public Policy Director, Santander
Manuel Nordeste,
Vice-president, Fidelity Digital Assets
Stéphane Malrait,
MD, Head of Market Structure & Innovation, ING Bank
View details & speakers
Panel discussion: Custody of Digital Assets – Legal and Operational Considerations
Stream B
  • Providing custody services for digital assets creates a whole new set of challenges – from technical challenges for the storage of private keys, to legal and regulatory considerations.
  • Will this space come to be dominated by traditional players or new entrants, or a combination of both?
Moderator:
Britta Woernle,
Director, Head of Market Advocacy Europe Securities Services, Deutsche Bank
Speakers:
Alex Dockx,
Executive Director, Industry Development, JP Morgan
James Cunningham,
Senior Advisor, Public Policy and Government Affairs, BNY Mellon
Martin Watkins,
Chief Executive, Montis Group
Nadine Teychenne,
Director, Head of Digital Assets, Securities Services Citi
View details & speakers
11:55
Panel discussion: Demystifying DeFi
Stream A
  • Does DeFi have a practical application for capital markets, and what is the appropriate regulatory framework?
  • Should aspects of DeFi fall under financial regulation?
  • What are the use cases for NFTs and DAOs in capital markets?
Iota Kaousar Nassr,
Economist & Policy Analyst, OECD
Moderator:
Keith Bear,
Fellow, Centre for Alternative Finance, University of Cambridge
Speakers:
Anna Matson,
Senior Vice President, Digital Assets & Financial Markets, Northern Trust
Annabelle Bernal,
General Counsel, Société Générale - FORGE
Mark Williamson,
MD, Global Head of FX & Commodities Partnerships & Propositions, HSBC
View details & speakers
Panel discussion: Wholesale CBDCs – An essential building block for digitalisation?
Stream B
  • There is accelerating momentum behind development of CBDC – is it the solution to faster, cheaper settlement?
  • What other options are there?
  • What progress has been made in various experiments to date?
Moderator:
Coen ter Wal,
Director Technology and Operations, AFME
Speakers:
David Durouchoux,
Dep. CEO – Business development & client relationship, Societe Generale - FORGE
Dr. Jonas Gross,
Chairman, Digital Euro Association (DEA)
Holger Neuhaus,
Head of Market Innovation and Integration, European Central Bank
Nicole Sandler,
Head of Digital Policy, Barclays
View details & speakers
12:40
Networking Lunch in the Exhibition Zone
Lunch & Learn: T+1 (Title TBC)
13:40
Keynote Address
Speaker:
Tom Duff Gordon,
Vice President International Policy, Coinbase
View speakers
14:10
SPOTLIGHT session: TP ICAP
  • Real world use cases of how technology has been deployed in capital markets organisations
Speaker:
Duncan Trenholme,
Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Digital Assets, TP ICAP
View details & speakers
14:25
Panel discussion: Tokenisation of Securities Markets
  • What does a tokenised securities market ecosystem look like? Will we see new platforms deploy public or private blockchains?
  • What benefits does this bring?
  • What new risks may be created and how can the industry mitigate these?
Moderator:
Kelesi Blundell,
Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills
Speakers:
Chris Jones,
Digital Asset Technology and (acting) Global CIO for Securities Services, HSBC
Laurence Arnold,
Head of Innovation Management, AXA Investment Managers
Mathew McDermott,
Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Thilo Derenbach,
Director, Head of Business Development & Commercialisation Digital Securities Services, Clearstream
Thomas Dugauquier,
Head of Product for Tokenised assets, Swift
View details & speakers
15:25
Closing Remarks
Moderators:
Coen ter Wal,
Director Technology and Operations, AFME
Peter Tomlinson,
Director, Post Trade and Prime Services, AFME
View speakers
15:30
Closing networking reception

Keynote Speakers

Cecilia Skingsley

Head of the BIS Innovation Hub, Bank for International Settlements

Jennifer Robertson

Head of Unit, European Commission

Verena Ross

Chair, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)

Other Speakers

Adriana Ennab

Director of Public Policy, Credit Suisse

Alan Cameron

Head of Advisory FIC Client Line, BNP Paribas

Alex Dockx

Executive Director, Industry Development, JP Morgan

Amy Lee

Senior Manager, International Engagement Team, Sector Resilience Division, Prudential Regulation Authority, Bank of England

Anna Matson

Senior Vice President, Digital Assets & Financial Markets, Northern Trust

Barbara Frohn

EMEA Head of Regulatory Engagement, Citigroup

Borja de Pedro

Manager Public Policy, Santander

Brett McGowan

Associate Director, Technology Risk & Resilience, Protiviti

Britta Woernle

Director, Head of Market Advocacy Europe Securities Services, Deutsche Bank

Chris Stevens

Chief Revenue Officer, Duco

Christopher Wallace

Associate General Counsel and Director, Bank of America

Clare Francis

Senior Advisor, Chair and Non-Exec, Provenance Blockchain Foundation

Daniel Pujazón

Director Corporate Public Policy, Banco Santander

Davide Corda

Senior Director Group Technology Data, Intesa Sanpaolo

Dr Melanie Garson

Cyber Policy Lead, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change

Dr Sonali Mohapatra

Quantum Innovation Sector Lead, National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)

Dr. Jonas Gross

Chairman, Digital Euro Association (DEA)

Duncan Trenholme

Managing Director, Global Co-Head of Digital Assets, TP ICAP

Evangelos Ouzounis

Head of Policy Development and Implementation Unit, European Network Information Security Agency (ENISA)

Giuseppe Siani

Director General for Financial Supervision and Regulation, Banca d'Italia

Greg Ros

Technical Advisor, FSB Working Group on Cyber Incident Reporting, Bank of England

Holger Neuhaus

Head of Market Innovation and Integration, European Central Bank

Iota Kaousar Nassr

Economist & Policy Analyst, OECD

Isabelle Delorme

Head of Strategy and Product Expansion for Issuers, Fund Managers and Sustainable Finance, Euroclear Group

Ivan Keller

Securities Markets Unit, DG FISMA

James Cunningham

Senior Advisor, Public Policy and Government Affairs, BNY Mellon

James Kemp

Managing Director, Global FX, Technology and Operations and Policy Divisions, GFMA and AFME

Jesús Benito

Head Domestic Custody & TR Operations, SIX

Juan Jiménez Zaballos

Digital Public Policy Director, Santander

Karan Kapoor

Global Head of Regulatory Consulting, Delta Capita

Karel Lannoo

Chief Executive Officer, Centre for European Policy Studies

Karen Smith

Managing Director, Data and Analytics, Protiviti

Keith Bear

Fellow, Centre for Alternative Finance, University of Cambridge

Kelesi Blundell

Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

Krasimira Rayanova

Director, Head of Asset Servicing Product Development, Clearstream

Laurence Arnold

Head of Innovation Management, AXA Investment Managers

Lisa Danino Lewis

Chief Growth Officer, CLS Group

Marcello Topa

Market Policy and Strategy Director, Citi Securities Services

Marina Reason

Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills

Mark Williamson

MD, Global Head of FX & Commodities Partnerships & Propositions, HSBC

Martin Watkins

Chief Executive, Montis Group

Martyn Nott

Managing Director, Global Head of Network Management, Bank of America and

Chair, Post Trade Board, AFME

Mathew McDermott

Managing Director, Goldman Sachs

Matt Johnson

ITP Product Management & Industry Relations, DTCC

Matthew Mernagh

Head of ESG data for Sustainability Data and Technology, Deutsche Bank

Mattias Levin

Deputy Head of Unit, DG for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission

Michael Collier

Executive Director, International Head of Asset Services, Product Management, Securities Services, J.P. Morgan

Michael McPolin

Managing Director, Market Advocacy & Business Change, Broadridge

Michiel de Smet

Sustainable Investment Expert, National Bank of Belgium

Mohamed Chaabane

Senior Post Trade Processing Expert, Murex

Mohammed Gharbawi

Fintech Hub, Bank of England

Mohit Sarvaiya

International CIO, BNY Mellon

Nadine Teychenne

Director, Head of Digital Assets, Securities Services Citi

Nicole Sandler

Head of Digital Policy, Barclays

Peter Tomlinson

Director, Post Trade and Prime Services, AFME

Philippa Spencer-Williams

Senior Innovation Partner, Digital Catapult

Philippe Laurensy

Head of Group Strategy, Product Management, and Innovation, Euroclear group

Pierre Davoust

Head of Central Securities Depositories, Euronext

Pierre Kovacs

SVP Capital Markets Technology, Endava

Randy Priem

Coordinator of the Markets and Post-trading Unit, professor of finance, FSMA, UBI Business School and Antwerp Management School

Raphaël Lemahieu

Policy Officer, European Commission

Remi Lagane

Senior Post Trade Processing Expert, Murex

Rick Watson

Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets Membership and Events, AFME

Sachin Mohindra

Executive Director, Goldman Sachs

Sasha Mills

Executive Director of Financial Market Infrastructure, Bank of England

Stéphane Malrait

MD, Head of Market Structure & Innovation, ING Bank

Teresa Afonso

Product Manager – Asset Servicing global product and Regulatory Solutions, BNP Paribas

Thilo Derenbach

Director, Head of Business Development & Commercialisation Digital Securities Services, Clearstream

Thomas Dugauquier

Head of Product for Tokenised assets, Swift