Keynote speakers announced for 2nd Middle East Banking Forum

• Spotlight on increasing challenge of digital channels
• Strong sponsorship secured for second annual conference of UAE Banks Federation
• Contributions from wide range of international speakers and panellists

29 October2014: Guest keynote speaker, Dan Schatt, Chief Commercial Officer at Stockpile, the world’s first online brokerage platform offering investors affordable stock, and formal General Manager of Financial Innovations at PayPal, will be among key regional & international speakers to address the UAE Banks Federation second annual conference “The Middle East Banking Forum – Innovation in a digitally connected world”.  Schatt has authored many publications dedicated to e-Banking including Virtual Banking, and will focus in his presentation on “Innovation and Partnership – the key to successful banking.”

The Middle East Banking Forum, second conference to be hosted by the UAE Banks Federation being organised by The Banker, will take place at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai on 17th November. The full day event is by invitation only, aimed at top tier industry specialists, experts, consultants, and chief executives from regional & international banks.

The conference, and for the second consecutive year, have received a strong support from a its member banks and confirmed sponsors are NBAD, Emirates NBD, FGB, ADCB, Barclays, CBD , Mashreq, BoS and UNB.

“We see innovation using the latest technology as one of the banking industry’s greatest challenges. It provides solutions we could never have imagined 20 years ago but also brings its own complexities” said the Chairman of the UAE Banks Federation, H.E. AbdulAziz Al Ghurair.

“Our speakers this year have been chosen to help the Federation’s members and our international guests understand lessons that have been learned elsewhere, and ones that undoubtedly await us in the future. The platform this year is intentionally dominated not by bankers but by those who can bring us a different viewpoint on how to manage the issues which we face every day. This will be a fascinating programme of insightful discussion,” he added.

The conference agenda will also include 2 sets of roundtables to allow open discussion on a number of important topics for banks including cyber security, creating a safe and resilient banking sector, mobile money, supporting SMEs, job creation and future steps for Islamic Banking. The conference will also for the first time allow electronic voting to allow delegates to express their views on issues raised in the discussions.

Also speaking at the event will be Simon Hills, Executive Director at the British Bankers’ Association. Banks, as competitive organisations, also collaborate with each other – through industry associations, multi-lateral agreements on shared utilities, business joint ventures and informal networking. Mr Hills will examine the roles of other associations around the world and the ways bankers can improve their co-operation and partnership skills.