Background:

How can the UK truly embrace a Digital Economy with digital money and a plethora of digital services being bought and sold, if we still lack ubiquitous network coverage, the ability to access services and in some cases the financial and digital education necessary to do so?

Against the backdrop of several new key legislations that have been adopted, the UK is now in a position where it needs to reflect on how to best embrace these opportunities of change and turn them into global leadership, moving from Fintech to Smart Data and into Ubiquitech (i.e. Ubiquitous Technology), across all aspects of the economy.

The Ubiquitech Report is there to help in taking those practical steps that will accelerate the transformation of the UK into a comprehensive Digital Economy that sets the standard for the rest of the world.

Speakers:

Dr. Ruth Wandhöfer is a prominent figure in the finance and technology sectors, with a career spanning over 22 years. Her expertise lies at the intersection of technology, finance, identity, and regulation. As a sought-after keynote speaker, author, and advisor, she influences international audiences on the evolution of the digital economy. With over 11 years at Citi and advisory roles for prestigious organizations like the European Commission and the Bank of England, she has made significant contributions to the field. Dr. Wandhöfer is also active in academia, serving as a visiting professor at institutions like CASS Business School and the London Institute of Banking and Finance. She holds several non-executive director positions and is an angel and VC investor. Her accolades include being named among Financial News' 'Rising Stars' and Management Today's '35 Women under 35'. She has authored three books and advocates for work-life balance and support for women entrepreneurs.

Andrew Churchill first moved into the payments realm in 2001, leading HM Government’s Cybercrime Task Force, and subsequently co-ordinating work with industry on Banking and Payments security technology requirements, particularly in Identity, Authentication and broader Cyber Security. In over 20 years of experience as a consultant and researcher he has advised myriad Governments, Regulators, Standards bodies and every facet of industry. He is the lead author of the British Standard in Digital Identification and Strong Customer Authentication (PAS499:2019). addressing PSD2 RTS SCA, UK member of ISO TC321 in E-Commerce Transaction Assurance, and has led industry and regulatory wargaming exercises against future threats and vulnerabilities within the payments industry, including for Open Banking. Currently he has a particular focus on the developing international legal approach to combatting economic crime, especially from the viewpoint of domestic legislative programme and its impact on the global outlook.

Internationally he has been subject matter expert on an EU Cybercrime research programme, a member of the US Federal Reserve’s Secure Payments Task Force, and an advisor to Governments on international Regulatory Alignment and standards in Secure & Trusted  environments such as payments. In addition to his first degree he holds masters in Information Security (MSc, Royal Holloway), and Defence & Security Analysis (MA, Lancaster University).