ASIFMA Annual Conference 2026

ASIFMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
Thursday-Friday, 5th-6th March | International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia

OVERVIEW

About the event:
ASIMA is proud to host its 2026 Annual Conference for the first time in Sydney, Australia. The anticipated conference will take place on the 5th and 6th of March and will be focused around the central theme of “The Renewed Promise of Asia’s Capital Markets,” which will delve into the new dynamics changing the landscape of financial markets around the region.

Language:
English

ASIFMA Events and Conferences Contacts

For more details about the event, please contact Claire Souleyman at csouleyman@asifma.org
For other event sponsorship enquiries, membership, and other event collaboration, please get in touch with Joy Balboa a jbalboa@asifma.org

Media contact

This event is open to the press. For media inquiries, please contact Corliss Ruggles at (cruggles@asifma.org).

AGENDA

DAY 1: THURSDAY 5TH MARCH 2026 / EU-ASIA FINANCIAL SERVICES DIALOGUE

08:55 –09:05	Opening Remarks Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
09:05 –09:25	Opening Keynote Address Jean-Paul Servais, Chairman, IOSCO
09:25 –09:40	Keynote Address TBC
09:40 –10:30	AM Panel 1 The Future of AI and Regulation Across Borders As the adoption of machine learning, large language models, generative AI and agentic AI accelerates across the industry, regulators are refining their approaches and frameworks to ensure robust governance and risk management while continuing to promote a strong innovation agenda. However, these approaches vary widely across jurisdictions, potentially making cross-border operations and compliance more complex. Additionally, regulators are increasingly adopting AI as part of their broader regtech strategies themselves. This panel will explore the various types of frameworks in operation in the EU and Asia and how to strike the right balance between maintaining responsibility and fostering innovation, including how cross-border consistency might be better achieved in the future. Speakers: 1. Alexandra Jour-Schroder, Deputy Director General, DG Fisma Moderator: Rishi Kapoor, Executive Director, Head of Technology and Operations, *ASIFMA*
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:20	*Keynote Address* Verena Ross, Chair, ESMA
11:20 –12:20	AM Panel 2 Sustainability Speakers: Moderator: Diana Parusheva-Lowery, Managing Director, Head of Public Policy and Sustainable Finance, *ASIFMA*
12:20 –12:30	Closing Remarks Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
12:30 –13:30	Networking Lunch

DAY 1: THURSDAY 5TH MARCH 2026 / ASIFMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

13:40 –13:50	Opening Address Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
13:50 –13:55	Welcome Remarks Matt Benney, Managing Director, APAC, IMC Trading
13:55 –14:10	Keynote Address Joseph Longo, Chair & Accountable Authority, ASIC
14:10 –14:20	Charting Asia Pacific’s New World Map: A Geopolitical Prelude The Honourable Josh Frydenberg, Chairman Australia and New Zealand, Senior International Advisor for Asia Pacific, *Goldman Sachs Australia*
14:20 –15:10	PM Panel 1 The Geopolitical Climate and Impact on Asia Asia stands at the crossroads of intensifying geopolitical realignments, economic fragmentation, and shifting global power dynamics. From capital decoupling and financial sanctions to regional de-dollarization and strategic autonomy initiatives, the region is navigating a complex and rapidly evolving landscape. This panel will explore how these geopolitical forces are reshaping Asia’s financial architecture, investment flows, and regulatory priorities. Panelists will examine the implications of U.S.-China tensions, the resurgence of industrial policy, and the growing use of financial infrastructure as a geopolitical tool. The discussion will also address how Asian markets are responding with resilience strategies, including diversification, digital finance innovation, and regional cooperation. Speakers: Moderator: Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, *ASIFMA*
15:10 – 15:35	Coffee Break
15:35 – 16:25	PM Panel 2 The Future of Global Collaboration on Financial Policy and Regulation As the global financial landscape evolves amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, rapid technological disruption, and urgent climate imperatives, cross-border collaboration on financial policy and regulation has become more critical than ever. Despite decades of progress toward interoperability, current stresses on the system are testing the resilience of established frameworks and challenging the status quo making the need for cohesive, forward-looking regulatory approaches more pressing than ever. This panel brings together global leaders in public policy and regulatory innovation to examine how international cooperation can address emerging risks, safeguard financial stability, and promote inclusive growth. Panelists will explore the evolving role of multilateral institutions, the influence of digital finance and sustainability mandates on regulatory convergence, and the pathways to building trust and transparency across jurisdictions. Speakers: 1. Pornanong Budsaratragoo, Secretary-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (Thailand) 2. Myles McGuiness, Chief Executive Officer, *Financial Markets Standards Board* Moderator: Trish Yap, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Affairs, IMC Trading
16:25 – 16:55	Fireside Chat Speaker: Moderator:
16:55 –17:45	PM Panel 3 Tokenising the Crystal Ball: Asia’s Acceleration, Now and Beyond With estimates of future global tokenisation valued in the tens of trillions of dollars, Asia holds enormous potential to burnish its credentials as a global innovation hub for tokenisation initiatives across a diverse suite of assets. However, several legal, regulatory and industry-related challenges remain to unlocking further acceleration and building at hyperscale. This session’s panelists will explore current tokenisation efforts currently underway across Asia, how to further clear the pathway to adoption and what the future of tokenisation looks like for the region. Speaker:Tuang Lee Lim, Assistant Managing Director, Capital Markets, MAS Steve Vallas, Chief Executive Officer, Blockchain APAC Moderator: Rishi Kapoor, Executive Director, Head of Technology & Operations, ASIFMA
17:40 –17:45	Closing Remarks TBC
17:45 –19:00	Cocktail Reception (Ballroom Foyer)

DAY 2: FRIDAY 6TH MARCH 2026 / ASIFMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

08:50 –09:00	Welcome Remarks Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
09:00 –09:15	Keynote Address TBC
09:15 –10:05	AM Panel 1 *Liquidity in Motion: The Rising Influence of Market Makers and Prop Trading Firms* As traditional sources of liquidity evolve, market makers and proprietary trading firms are playing an increasingly vital role in keeping capital markets efficient and resilient. This panel will explore how these players are stepping in to provide liquidity across asset classes, the technologies and strategies driving their edge, and what their growing influence means for exchanges, institutional investors, and market structure. *Speakers:* 1. Matt Benney, Managing Director, APAC, *IMC* Trading 2. Paul Smith, Managing Director, Head of Markets, Japan, Asia North & Australia, Citi Moderator: Lyndon Chao, Managing Director, Head of Equities and Post Trade*, ASIFMA*
10:05 –10:35	Coffee Break
10:35 –11:25	AM Panel 2 Pension Reform and Global Capital: Asia’s Investment Shift As aging populations reshape the economic landscape, governments across Asia are reforming pension systems to ensure long-term sustainability. From Australia’s superannuation model to China’s evolving framework and the mandatory schemes in Hong Kong and Singapore, the “3 Pillars” approach is gaining traction. These reforms are driving pension schemes, especially private ones, to seek overseas market exposure to meet growing return demands. This panel will explore how these shifts are transforming capital markets and creating new opportunities for asset managers and financial institutions. Speakers: 1. Craig Balenzuela, Managing Director, Head of the Client Solutions Group for Australia and New Zealand,*Goldman Sachs Asset Management* 2. Mathieu Fuhrmann, Head of Sales APAC, Eurex Moderator:
11:25 – 12:00	Australia Intensive (FIRESIDE CHAT) Speaker: Moderator:
12:00 – 12:45	AM Panel 3 Reimagining Sustainable Finance: A New Vision in a Fragmented World The vision for sustainable finance is being reshaped amid geopolitical fragmentation, climate urgency, and diverging policy commitments. The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has highlighted the volatility of global climate cooperation and the need for resilient, market-led solutions. This panel will explore how financial institutions, regulators, and multilateral bodies are adapting to a world where alignment on climate goals is no longer assured. Panelists will discuss the evolution from disclosure-based frameworks to investor-driven strategies, the rise of transition finance, and the role of regional leadership in advancing sustainable capital flows. With Asia at the forefront, the session will highlight how the region is navigating uncertainty to drive innovation, resilience, and long-term value. Speakers: 1. Camille Blackburn, Director – APAC, Financial Conduct Authority (UK) 2. Nicole Yazbek-Martin, Executive Manager, Sustainability Standards and Practice, Australian Sustainable Finance Institute Moderator: Diana Parusheva-Lowery, Managing Director, Head of Public Policy and Sustainable Finance, *ASIFMA*
12:45 – 12:50	Closing Remarks Peter Stein, Chief Executive Officer, ASIFMA
12:50 –13:50	Networking Lunch

SPONSOR

To effectively engage this esteemed audience and connect with the global and regional community, various sponsorship packages with speaking slots and marketing opportunities are available for ASIFMA members and non-members offering unparalleled branding exposure and lead generation. Financial institutions, vendors, consultants and law firms are particularly encouraged to join as sponsors.

For sponsorship, contact Joy Balboa, Manager – Marketing and Membership (jbalboa@asifma.org).

SPEAKERS

Past ASIFMA speakers are industry experts and senior representatives from sell-side and buy-side communities, law firms/ consultants/ vendors, global and Asian policy makers, regulators and central banks.

At ASIFMA, we are committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion in our workplace and this policy is applied in all areas of our business including speaker roles at our events and conferences. We wish to work with members and partners who share this same commitment and are willing to support this policy. For more details about the event or if you would like to join the speaking faculty, please contact Claire Souleyman, Manager – Events & Training at csouleyman@asifma.org

REGISTRATION

	TICKET INFORMATION
			Standard Rate (inclusive of GST)
	ASIFMA Members / Endorser Members		USD 550.00
	Non ASIFMA Members		USD 632.50

*By registering to this event organised by ASIFMA, you agree that your contact details will be made available to ASIMFA, our event sponsors, and partners. Your contact details may be used to inform you of future related events, products, and services.

*All registrations require final approval by ASIFMA and ASIFMA reserves the right to cancel or decline any registration at any time.