Past Sibos: Toronto 2023

Our biggest
North American event ever

Sibos returned to Toronto, and North America, for the first time since 2017. From 18-21 September, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) brought the Sibos community together for a conference programme featuring world-leading experts and a packed exhibition floor.

Sibos 2023 was the third-biggest Sibos gathering on record, as well as the largest North American Sibos ever, with over 9,000 participants attending in person and online, from over 160 countries. Centred on the theme ‘Collaborative finance in a fragmented world’, the conference programme featured hundreds of expert speakers sharing their insights and outlooks across over 250 sessions.

Highlights from Sibos 2023

Watch the best moments
from Toronto

FIND OUT WHO ATTENDED

Get the breakdown of Sibos 2023 participants:

9,300+

registered participants

250+

sessions

100+

C-suite speakers sharing insights

190+

exhibitors

750+

speakers

160+

countries

  • Region
  • Areas of Expertise
  • Institution type
  • Function type
 
  • 39%EUROPE
  • 35%AMERICAS
  • 21%ASIA PACIFIC
  • 5%MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA & INDIA SUB CONTINENT
 
  • 13%Innovation/Research And Development
  • 13%Trade Services
  • 10%Information Technology/Operations
  • 7%Technology
  • 6%Business Development/Strategy
  • 6%I Prefer Not To Share
  • 6%Sales
  • 4%Compliance
  • 3%Securities
  • 2%Cash Management
  • 1%Consultancy
  • 1%Customers Services
  • 1%Cyber Security
  • 1%Treasury
  • <1%Cyber Security/Risk Management
  • <1%Derivatives
  • <1%Fx/Mm
  • <1%Risk Management
 
  • 27%Commercial Bank
  • 22%Other
  • 14%Software/IT Vendor
  • 8%Fintech/Start up
  • 6%Consultancy
  • 4%Central Bank
  • 4%Payments Market
  • 3%Corporate
  • 3%I prefer not to share
  • 3%Investment Bank
  • 2%Custodian
  • 2%Retail Bank
  • 2%Securities Market
 
  • 26%Payments
  • 13%Technology
  • 7%Cash Management
  • 9%Trade Services
  • 6%Securities
  • 3%Consultancy
  • 3%Compliance
  • 4%Treasury
  • 2%Cyber security/Risk management
  • 0%Derivatives
  • 1%FX/MM
  • 0%
  • 0%
  • 4%I prefer not to share
  • 21%Other
 
  • 24%Director / Vice President
  • 18%C-Level / Executive
  • 18%Other
  • 7%Department Manager / Supervisor
  • 6%Product Manager
  • 4%I prefer not to share
  • 3%Project Manager
  • 1%Developer
  • 1%Infrastructure / IT Manager
  • 1%Risk Manager
  • 1%Treasurer
 
  • 12%21 to 30
  • 28%31 to 40
  • 31%41 to 50
  • 18%51 to 60
  • 3%61 and over
  • 8%Prefer not to share

Sibos conference theme

Collaborative finance in a fragmented world

Under the theme of ‘Collaborative finance in a fragmented world’, Sibos 2023 provided participants with valuable insights as the industry adapts to ongoing geopolitical challenges and works together to create a sustainable and inclusive financial industry.

The conference programme discussed topics across the financial ecosystem including cross-border payments, post-trade data, financial crime prevention, digital currencies, financial inclusion, AI, machine learning, ESG standardisation and sustainability.

Watch the opening plenary of Sibos 2023, featuring a special keynote speech by Brian Moynihan, Chair of the Board and CEO of Bank of America.

Conference information

Back together again

Find out more about Sibos 2023, including the conference programme and speakers, and our strategic partners:

Conference programme Sibos 2023 partners

Sustainability

Sustainability was again front and centre at Sibos 2023. Following its successful launch in 2022, our sustainability strategy #LeadTheChange went further in 2023. It was visible throughout the conference and exhibition, including in the Lead the change village, our dedicated sustainability space in Toronto. There was also a significant focus on recycled and repurposed exhibition and conference materials.

Sibos 2023 included a wide range of sustainability initiatives such as support for WWF-Canada’s Seed Orchard Program and giving back to the local community through Sibos 2023’s charity SickKids Foundation, the fundraising arm for the Hospital for Sick Children, Canada’s largest centre dedicated to improving children’s health.

The Sibos Sustainability Pledge

The Sibos Sustainability Pledge launched in 2023 to drive positive change among the Sibos community. To take part we asked exhibitors and participants to commit to at least five specific actions, ranging from choosing a meat-free lunch for at least one day of the event, supporting our charity partner or attending a conference session addressing diversity in the workplace. Nearly 1,000 participants and 43% of exhibitors took the Pledge and made a positive difference at Sibos 2023.

Promoting biodiversity and climate resilience

For many years, Sibos has contributed to nature conservation projects as part of our sustainability efforts.

In 2023, we supported WWF-Canada’s Seed Orchard Program, which seeks to increase the supply of native plants and trees to be used for restoration, all while ensuring genetic diversity and climate resilience.

By using seeds from healthy native plants and trees and propagating them in orchards, the scheme helps reverse biodiversity loss and restore damaged ecosystems across Canada. The organisation also works to educate and engage communities in habitat restoration, providing opportunities for volunteers to participate in seed collection and orchard maintenance.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Sibos 2023 built on the experience of Amsterdam, with sustainability placed at the heart of the design and production of all Sibos and Swift exhibition features. More than 40% of exhibition and conference materials were rented or repurposed, over 90% of all show waste was recycled or transformed into energy, and more than 100 pieces of furniture were donated to local charities.

We also donated the Cityscape Displays to Designwith who repurposed our banners into bags and other usable goods. Designwith are a local organisation in Toronto that promotes the democratisation of design education, bringing together corporations, academia, and community members from diverse backgrounds to collectively share their knowledge and skills, using a practical approach to learning. 

Exhibitors and participants also played a vital role. Exhibitor sustainability guidelines supported the creation and management of sustainable stands, while participants were encouraged to reduce waste though using reusable water bottles, taking advantage of our digital Newscorner and recycling their waste correctly.

Keeping it local

Sibos 2023 offered a range of sustainable, locally sourced, seasonal catering to participants. The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) offered 80% local and seasonal food, including items from small or organic farms, and plant-based options. In addition, their rooftop culinary garden provided organic vegetables and herbs, and the venue also managed food waste carefully via food bank donations and composting.

We served more than 26,000 meals during Sibos week, with less than 10% food waste.

In support of the local economy, Sibos, Swift and their partners who helped to build the event hired 80% of staff locally.

Giving something back

Our charity partner for 2023 was SickKids Foundation, the fundraising arm for The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada’s largest centre dedicated to improving children’s health.

As Canada’s most research-intensive hospital, SickKids works hard to find new treatments and cures, and train the next generation of experts in child health.

Funds from Swift, exhibitor partners and Sibos participants supported the hospital’s Garry Hurvitz Centre for Brain & Mental Health. You can learn more about the Centre’s vital clinical care and research here.

The charity raised a total of over 16,000 CAD from onsite fundraising, so a huge thank you to everyone who donated. There’s still time to donate to SickKids Foundation if you haven’t yet by clicking here. Together we can help children live a long and happy life.

Enabling talent to shine

The STAR scholarship fosters the development of women in finance, providing them with opportunities to expand their networks and expertise. Leading banks from around the world are invited to nominate a high potential, ambitious employee to participate. Sibos 2023 marked the largest scholarship programme to date with 33 women taking part from 13 countries.

Showcasing the Sibos community

Sibos supports the Inclusive Panels Charter, and our conference programme was carefully curated to ensure it featured speakers from a broad range of regions, cultures and backgrounds. Across the Sibos 2023 conference programme 43% of speakers were female. During the Sibos week, 35 sessions covered diversity and inclusion, as well as sustainability, reflecting the importance of these issues among our Sibos community.

Sibos TV

Sibos TV featured 32 hours of livestreaming and more than 80 guests in Toronto with leaders from across the finance industry. Catch the best of Sibos TV now.