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Strategic levers for banking innovation | Sydney | June 11
Strategic levers for innovation in financial services
Inspired by the trends highlighted in Volume 32 of Thoughtworks' Technology Radar, our next Technology Exchange will examine how AI, data, and observability are driving change across banking and financial services:
AI-powered coding assistants are accelerating developer productivity, helping banks modernize systems and deliver new digital experiences faster.
Advancements in observability tools are improving the performance and reliability of large language models (LLMs), critical for AI-driven banking applications.
Innovations in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) are optimizing AI outputs, enabling smarter, more context-aware customer interactions.
Event details
Date: Wednesday June 11, 2025
Formalities: 5:30 – 8:30pm AEST
Networking: Following the formalities, stay to enjoy spectacular views of the Vivid Sydney lights across the harbour.
Format: Interactive panel and roundtable discussions followed by networking
Location: Work Club, 200 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Dive into the tech trends shaping banking, set against the iconic VIVID sydney lights!
This interactive session will bring together banking and technology leaders for a strategic discussion on how to operationalize emerging tech trends, delivering smarter, faster, and more customer-centric financial services.
Held at the stunning Work Club office on George Street, with breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, this venue offers the perfect vantage point to witness the iconic Vivid Sydney lights in full display.
We encourage you to stay after the session to connect with fellow guests and fully enjoy the immersive light experience.
Agenda
5:30pm AEST
Registration & welcome
Arrive early to check in, grab your name badge, and enjoy a something to eatas you connect with other attendees before the event begins.
6:15pm AEST
Welcome remarks
6:30pm AEST
AI-driven development, credit innovation and knowledge optimization
We will explore how AI is revolutionizing software development and credit processes in banking. From coding assistants to advanced AI models like RAG, discover the benefits of faster credit assessments, fraud detection, and personalized customer engagement while addressing challenges around security and compliance.
7:30pm AEST
Next-gen observability and data strategy for financial services
We will discuss the importance of next-gen observability in managing complex systems and leveraging data for innovation. Learn strategies for ensuring clean, governed data to drive real-time insights, performance, and differentiated financial services.
8:30pm AEST
Closing remarks & networking
We'll wrap up with key insights from the evening before inviting you to relax, connect, and take in the view over food, drinks, and engaging conversation.
Speakers
Manu Iyer
Director & Industry Head, BFSI for APAC, Thoughtworks
Manu leads the portfolio and strategic direction for Thoughtworks' banking, financial services and insurance business for the Asia Pacific region. A son of two bankers, and therefore, having grown up in banks across Asia through the early days of banking inclusion and growth, he strongly believes in the ability of 'banking' being the equalizer and opportunity creator for an economy.
Rickey Zachary
Global Engineering Platforms Lead, Thoughtworks
Currently leading and expanding Thoughtworks' global practice in Engineering and Developer Platforms, Developer Experience, and FinOps solutions, Rickey works with organizations of all sizes—from startups to large enterprises—to identify friction points across the software development lifecycle (SDLC), build robust engineering platforms, and enhance developer productivity.
Andy Nolan
Director of AI for APAC, Thoughtworks
Andy leads AI innovation for Thoughtworks across APAC, leveraging emerging technologies like computer vision and machine learning to tackle real-world challenges in banking, energy, retail and SaaS.
Nicky Darwin
Head of Engineering & Platforms, ANZ
Nicky is an experienced transformation leader within the banking and finance space, specialising in front office and data technology. She has lead large transformation projects from concept and delivery, regulatory reform and system integration. Nicky joined ANZ 5 months ago and brings a fresh and exciting perspective to the bank. Her experience managing multimillion dollar budgets and large scale cross regional resourcing has already made an impact.
Jamie Simon
Director, Banking and Financial Services (A/NZ), Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Jamie is a dedicated leader in the AU/NZ executive leadership team, guiding AWS’s Financial Services industry business across Australia and New Zealand. He works closely with Banking, Insurance, Payments, Wealth Management, Capital Markets, and Fintech clients to help them navigate business transformation, harness the cloud, and drive meaningful innovation and growth.
Fireside with Martin Fowler
Fireside with Martin Fowler, Chief Scientist, Thoughtworks and hosted by Andy Nolan, Director of AI Technologies, Thoughtworks
Martin Fowler reflects on the evolution of software from the Agile Manifesto to AI-driven platforms. He shares perspectives on building AI products, modernising legacy systems, using RAG for interrogation, and what defines great tech talent today.
Operationalizing AI for business impact
Heiko Gerin, Technical Director, APAC, Thoughtworks
The mainstreaming of AI — and generative AI in particular — is continuing apace. But as AI proliferates, it’s more evident that successfully operationalizing AI models and bringing them to production remains a challenge. From questionable output to unintended consequences, there are a host of real and projected scenarios that prevent organizations from leveraging AI to its full potential.
Catch up on the Technology Exchange!
Dive into previous Technology Exchange sessions and hear directly from industry leaders on the ideas, tools and techniques shaping tech today. Watch past recordings and discover fresh perspectives on design, engineering, AI and more!
