I’d like to begin my first blog as Head of Sibos by saying how thrilled I am to be working with you all. </p> </div> </div> </div> The team and I recently spent a productive week in Sydney. Our host city for next year certainly knows how to put on a great Sibos, having held successful events in 1997 and 2006. I was there in 2006 and saw its many strengths first hand. </p> The New South Wales and Sydney community has been busy preparing for our return since 2014, when their successful bid was announced. I can tell you they’re looking forward to welcoming back the global financial community as Sibos turns 40!</p> We spent our time meeting with a region-wide alliance comprising hotels and travel partners, FinTech accelerators, banks, and government agencies. They all have one common aim: to ensure that delegates and exhibitors are treated to something very special. </p> We also familiarised ourselves with every inch of the International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney</a>, which recently reopened following extensive reconstruction. With a particularly prime waterfront location on Darling Harbour, it’s a great venue. There’s over 30,000 sq m of exhibition space, large conference and meeting rooms, and an outdoor event area where you can enjoy the stunning views. </p> </div> </div> </div> Five reasons to go to Sydney</strong></p> I know it’s that time, once again, to consider budgets for the year ahead. I’m also aware that Sydney presents certain challenges centred around travel and time zone. </p> So, here’s a few thoughts to help you make the case to join us in October 2018:</p> • You can make the travel count</strong>. There’s no escaping the fact it takes time to get to Sydney. But why not embrace this fact? </p> For example, it’s perhaps an opportunity for a strategic stopover in Singapore for a long-desired business meeting. Additionally, you can benefit from undisturbed ‘offline’ time on the plane to get some urgent work done. Or you could perhaps bookend Sibos with a break by investing in a holiday. We’ll be providing plenty of advice on how you can make the most of your time there.</p> • It’s not as costly as you, or your colleagues, may fear</strong>. There are some very good deals out there for flights, especially for those who book early. From many international airports it’s actually cheaper to fly to Sydney than it is to Toronto. </p> We’re currently working on some great deals with partner airlines. Look out for further details early next year.</p> • The scale and scope of Sibos is unmatched</strong>. There may be smaller regional financial services events taking place in your local market. But Sibos stands alone as a worldwide industry-specific event. Initial results from our customer satisfaction survey show that 94% of delegates think that Sibos met or exceeded their expectations. More results will be shared on Sibos.com</a> early in the new year.</p> The conference programme for Sydney will include hundreds of top quality speakers – big names from both the industry and beyond, so that we can introduce fresh perspectives. There will be a raft of new initiatives across the exhibition floor, and, similar to what we did in Geneva and Toronto, a forum where the financial community can interact with local and global FinTech companies.</p> • Your peers from across the global industry will be there in force</strong>. Some may think there will only be participants drawn from the local area. Not true. As a global event we set ourselves ambitious attendance targets that are achieved. The last Sibos held in Asia Pacific (Singapore in 2015) attracted 8,200 delegates, making it the region’s largest-ever Sibos. It’s worth highlighting that 44% of delegates were from EMEA.</p> • It’s a particularly exciting time for the Australian financial services sector</strong>. The New Payments Platform (NPP)</a> is a landmark payments industry initiative. The first of its kind, it covers consumers, corporates and public institutions, touching practically every part of the Australian economy. The Aussie FinTech scene is also buzzing, and we’ll be working closely with FinTech Australia</a> to showcase it at Sibos.</p> For further insight into exactly what’s on offer in Australia, I’d urge you to watch the final ‘Sibos Today’ TV show from Toronto.</p> </p> Stay close to Sibos.com</a> next year for the latest updates and news as the planning for Sydney 2018 gathers pace. But for now, let me take this opportunity to wish you a happy new year in advance!</p> </p>