Financial services virtual conference 2026
The regulatory landscape across Financial Services continues to evolve at pace. Supervisory expectations are intensifying, accountability frameworks are maturing, and operational resilience remains firmly on the agenda. At the same time, organisations must respond to digital disruption, financial crime risk and shifting stakeholder expectations without compromising stability or customer trust.
Our 2026 Financial services virtual conference brings together specialists across banking, insurance and wealth to examine the key regulatory and industry developments shaping the sector. The conference features sessions relevant across financial services, with sub-sector focused insight sessions.
Hear a cross-border view on how regulatory priorities are evolving across Australia, the UK and EU. Presenters unpack what this means for risk management, governance and resilience, highlighting developments in digital assets, financial crime and payments – as well as the shift towards simplification and proportionality in regulatory language.
Presenters:
- Tari Makanda, Partner, Audit and Assurance
- Alex Ellerton, Partner, Head of Financial Services at Grant Thornton UK
- Shuvo Banerjee, Partner, Internal Audit – Midmarkets Banking at Grant Thornton UK
Move beyond implementation to understand what ‘effective’ looks like in practice. Hear how organisations are strengthening operational resilience under CPS 230 Operational Risk Management, where accountability frameworks are creating friction, and how boards and executives are evidencing judgement and oversight. Presenters also share early observations from APRA’s supervisory focus and CPS 511 Remuneration public disclosures.
Presenters:
- Jane Stanton, Partner, Risk Consulting
- Isabella Quant, Director, Risk Consulting
- Isha Miglani, Manager, Risk Consulting
Hear how existing prudential, privacy and governance obligations apply to AI, and where the key risks sit across data, models and third-party arrangements. Presenters consider what boards and executives should be thinking about before, during and after adoption, with practical lessons from industry and implementation.
Presenters:
- Daniel Farthing, Partner, Risk Consulting
- Atul Rishav, Manager, Risk Consulting
Gain clarity on AUSTRAC’s expectations around the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reforms, key timelines and what implementation looks like in practice. Presenters cover governance expectations, the role of senior management and compliance officers, and how to maintain strong oversight of financial crime risk under the updated regime.
Presenter:
Martin Stone, Partner, Risk Consulting
Hear how tax governance is shifting from policy‑level frameworks to detailed, testable controls. Presenters outline where the ATO is focusing – from documentation and assurance to Taxation of Financial Arrangements (TOFA), Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and Common Reporting Standard (CRS), and Pillar Two – and unpack current review and audit activity, including GST risk areas.
Presenters:
- Himashini Weeraratne, Partner, Head of Financial Services Tax
- Cliff Chang, Partner, Indirect Tax
- Nathan Caprara, Director, Corporate Tax
Strengthen your approach to data as a regulatory asset. Presenters outline how to identify critical data, establish a trusted source of truth, and enable controlled access across legal, compliance, audit and management functions – supporting faster, more effective regulatory engagement.
Presenter:
Paul Fontanot, Partner, Forensic Consulting
Sub-sector insight sessions
These sessions will provide insights tailored to specific segments of the financial services sector.
Thursday 23 April | 11:30am – 12:15pm AEST
Stay ahead of key regulatory developments, including APS 117 Capital Adequacy, CPS 190 Recovery and Exit Planning, and upcoming changes under APS 111 Capital Adequacy. Presenters examine emerging climate-related risks – particularly property underinsurance – and how banks can better understand and manage exposure across their lending portfolios.
Presenters:
- Claire Scott, Partner, National Head of Financial Services
- Jamil Saripada, Director, Audit and Assurance
- Joel McInnes, CEO, Sustain 2050
Thursday 23 April | 11:30am – 12:00pm AEST
Understand where regulators are focusing across superannuation and investment products. This session covers member outcomes, investor protection, advice quality, product design and governance – and what this means for oversight and accountability.
Presenter:
Leona Goh, Partner, Risk Consulting
Thursday 23 April | 11:30am – 12:15pm AEST
Hear how APRA’s expectations are evolving and how insurers can demonstrate resilience in practice. This session unpacks how claims volatility, climate risk, operational disruption and heightened regulatory attention are shaping expectations around governance, risk management and board oversight across the sector.
Presenter:
Alison Sheridan, Partner, Head of Private Health Insurance
Series facilitator
Claire Scott
Partner & National Head of Financial Services
Claire has 17 years of external audit, assurance & advisory experience for financial services clients including superannuation funds, investment managers, ADIs such as credit unions, mutual banks and foreign banks, mortgage funds and other financiers covering residential mortgage funds, personal lending, commercial lending, leasing and specialty finance.
