Sydney To Host Future Of Digital Economy Discussion

From 22 - 25 October, the world’s premier financial services event, Sibos 2018, will be taking place in Sydney for the first time in 12 years. The event will draw 7,000 delegates and 180 exhibitors. Sydney Views catches up with Head of Sibos, Chantal Van Es to find out how she is looking to make the most of the city’s new Convention Centre and its blossoming FinTech community as the event celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Why was Sydney chosen to host this year’s conference?

Sydney has hosted Sibos twice before — in 1997 and 2006 — and our community has fond memories of the city and the great support we have received in the past. We were eager to take advantage of the facilities at ICC Sydney. On a practical level, the new venue gave us a great location and it met all of our requirements in terms of capacity. It also has impressive sustainability initiatives.

We have the support of a vibrant Australian financial community here, with links to some of today’s most important financial trends. Sydney is a global hub for financial services so it ticked all the right boxes.

What can you tell us about your role as the Head of Sibos?

My role can be compared to the person in the circus who is in charge of making sure all the plates keep circling and don’t crash to the floor. It is a multi-faceted role but it is mainly about ensuring that behind the scenes, everything runs seamlessly. I work with a great team, from logistics who ensure that delegates have a great experience, to those who put together a fantastic conference program.

What role will both Sydney and ICC Sydney play in making this a successful conference?

As many delegates will fly in from overseas, we anticipate a lot of people will take the opportunity to either come early or add a holiday break onto their trip. This gives Sydney a great chance to showcase its credentials as a leading business events destination, a leisure destination and a jumping off point for international visitors.

From the very beginning, ICC Sydney has been tremendously helpful and we cannot wait to see it transformed into ‘Sibos-land’ by the time October comes around. The team has collaborated closely with us, enabling our team to oversee a wide range of aspects, from catering and security, to managing the flow of delegates and ensuring its fantastic spaces look inspirational.

How will this event engage with Sydney stakeholders and local businesses?

The Australian financial community is very engaged and has been instrumental in helping to shape the agenda and dialogue of the event.

We will be inviting higher education students from across Australia to come up with solutions to current global industry challenges within the financial sector, as part of the 2018 SWIFT Institute Student Challenge.

We are also collaborating with FinTech Australia, a not-for-profit organisation targeting the Australian startup community. Through this partnership, we will showcase a range of local startups to international delegates at our designated Sibos Discover Zone.

How will Sibos engage with ICC Sydney’s Legacy Program?

Through the venue’s Legacy Program, we will engage with the community in a number of ways. We will be working with local food charity, OzHarvest, to collect unused food from the conference. We will receive a report on the amount of food repurposed through its collections. We will also be making use of ICC Sydney’s waste disposal and recycling streams to divert waste from landfill during the event.

FIVE THINGS SIBOS 2018 ATTENDEES ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

• An Australian odyssey

Launched in December 2016, ICC Sydney is Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue. Sibos 2018 will take over the entirety of the award-winning Convention Centre and 35,000sqm of exhibition space, creating an exciting and immersive experience for every attendee.

• A truly spectacular location

Located in the heart of Sydney, ICC Sydney sits at the epicentre of the A$3.4 billion, 20-hectare transformation of Darling Harbour. With the city’s financial, creative and education districts on its door step, the venue is a connection point to all that Sydney has to offer.

• An inspiring experience

From Tai Chi on the open-air Event Deck to tailored menus comprising ICC Sydney’s Feeding Your Performance ingredients, Sibos 2018 will be an inspiring and memorable event for all.

• An event with purpose

ICC Sydney’s sustainable event practices benefit people and the planet, and will ensure Sibos 2018 is an environmentally sensitive event that has meaningful and measurable outcomes.

• Coffee culture

An exclusive bean blend has been curated by ICC Sydney’s culinary team, showcasing Australia’s globally renowned coffee culture. With almost 70 coffee stations throughout the event, this daily delight will be on hand in every corner.

For more information, please visit: www.iccsydney.com.au / www.businesseventssydney.com.au

This article has been provided to HQ Magazine by ICC Sydney as an exclusive before its official release in the next edition of Sydney Views.