Fintech and banking experts join students to discuss AI-driven future finance

Hosted on Wednesday 29 April, AI Inside FinTech: Careers, Challenges and Opportunities is a flagship event designed to bring industry expertise directly to postgraduate and undergraduate students. Speakers included representatives from Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, SimicX, S&W, FinTech West, and the Dirty Data team (a collaboration between FinTech West, UWE, and the University of Bristol), as well as STEM Ambassadors from UKRI and AI West.

Supported by the UKFin+ Network and UK Research and Innovation, the event forms part of a project led by Dr Hui Li and Dr Jia Shao, in partnership with FinTech West, focused on preparing students for the ethical and effective use of AI in finance.

Speakers shared candid insights into how AI is reshaping finance — from model risk and AI oversight at major banks, to workforce transformation, regulatory compliance, and emerging fintech innovation. Talks covered both the strategic challenges AI poses to the sector and the career pathways opening up for the next generation of finance and data professionals.

Professor Chris Good, Head of School of Mathematics, said: "This event reflects exactly the kind of industry-academia collaboration our students deserve — bringing real-world challenges and opportunities directly into their learning experience."

A highlight of the event was the announcement of twelve industry-proposed MSc dissertation projects, spanning topics from ESG compliance monitoring and model risk to AI workforce strategy. These projects offer PGT students a valuable opportunity to work on real-world questions defined by industry partners, with direct mentorship and engagement throughout the process.

Andy Weller, Chief Model Risk Officer, Lloyds Banking Group, said: "It was such a lovely welcome and opportunity to present to such a receptive audience. We really value this type of collaboration and would love to support future events."

Stuart Harrison, Director and Founder, FinTech West said: "We came away genuinely inspired by both the quality and enthusiasm of the students and staff. There is a clear appetite to engage with real-world industry challenges, and bringing businesses and students together in this way creates enormous value on both sides. It helps students become more industry-ready while giving organisations access to fresh perspectives, ideas and future talent. We’re excited to continue building this collaboration over the coming months."

The afternoon's conversations were so engaging that the event ran a full hour beyond its scheduled close, with students continuing to network with industry partners well past the 5pm finish. Staff equally valued the opportunity to build connections with fintech and banking professionals, exchange ideas, and explore future collaborations.

Speakers expressed strong interest in continued engagement with the School, including future events, ongoing mentorship of dissertation projects, and broader collaborative initiatives.