The Complete Roundup from RegTech Forum 2025
This year's RegTech Forum took place on November 5th 2025. Over 300 regulatory leaders filled London's Livery Hall for discussions that went beyond the usual conference rhetoric about regulatory transformation.
The forum achieved something unprecedented; both the current and former Secretary Generals of the Basel Committee on the same stage. Neil Esho and William 'Bill' Coen, representing 25 years of Basel Committee experience between them, offered perspectives on global banking standards and insight into how Basel could evolve in 2026 and beyond.
Senior representatives from JP Morgan, HSBC, Lloyds and the Bank of England joined panels addressing immediate regulatory concerns. The discussions centred on the role of RegTech in financial regulation, the practicalities of data standardisation, what's next for the Basel framework, and the direction of regulatory reporting.
Diana Paredes, Suade's CEO and co-founder, led a fireside chat with both Basel Committee leaders that departed from prepared talking points. The conversation revealed how global standards get negotiated and adapted across different markets, with both speakers sharing unvarnished views on regulatory evolution.
The day concluded in the Guildhall Crypts, where medieval stone vaults provided an atmospheric backdrop for continued discussions.
A highlight of the RegTech Forum panels:
The Role of RegTech and AI in Modern Financial Regulation
The panel on RegTech and the future of AI explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping regulatory reporting and compliance.
Speakers discussed the shift from tactical to strategic data systems, the growing importance of interoperability, and the potential of AI to enhance insight generation and anomaly detection. They debated the challenges of explainability, governance, and maintaining human oversight in critical decision-making.
While some warned against premature adoption, others stressed measured experimentation within clear regulatory frameworks. The discussion concluded that AI’s value lies not in replacing humans but in augmenting analytical capacity, improving accuracy, and driving long-term regulatory efficiency.
Evolution of RegTech: From Innovation to Maturity
In this panel, the evolution and growth of the RegTech sector were discussed, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in scaling the industry. The speakers explored the role of collaboration between RegTechs, financial institutions, regulators, and government in driving innovation and adoption.
Key topics included the importance of interoperable solutions, addressing integration and change management challenges, and the need for increased education and investment. They also highlighted the global expansion potential of RegTech and the significance of ecosystems like London for fostering growth and innovation in the space.
Basel III: Adapting to Regulatory Divergence and Competitive Threats
In this panel, Basel III and its uneven implementation across jurisdictions were discussed, alongside the challenges it poses for banks competing globally.
The speakers highlighted ongoing efforts to monitor and align national rules, addressing the complexities regulators face. They also considered the balance between regulation simplicity and resilience, and the practical constraints of procurement and legacy systems.
The session provided a realistic view of the regulatory landscape’s evolution, emphasising the need for coordinated action and pragmatic adaptation by industry and regulators alike.
DORA and the Future of Operational Resilience in Financial Services
The panel on DORA and the future of operational resilience examined how financial institutions and their technology providers are adapting to the EU’s new Digital Operational Resilience Act ahead of its 2025 applicability.
Speakers discussed key implementation challenges, including ICT risk governance, incident reporting, and complex supplier repapering requirements. They compared DORA’s prescriptive approach with the UK’s developing Critical Third Parties (CTP) regime and debated whether harmonisation or flexibility would best serve innovation and supervision.
The conversation highlighted emerging risks from AI and quantum technologies, the need for stronger cross-border coordination, and the importance of embedding genuine resilience beyond compliance.
In the Trenches of Data Management
The panel, moderated by Samir Dahmani, examined the ever-changing landscape of data management in banking.
Speakers discussed the PRA’s Future Banking Data project, regulatory data initiatives such as IReF and BIRD, and the ongoing challenges of implementing BCBS 239 principles.
They explored issues of data consistency, reconciliation, and the feasibility of golden source models. Additional discussions covered lineage automation, data quality governance, and self-reporting frameworks.
The session concluded with reflections on AI’s emerging role in data management and the opportunities better data practices could provide for banks and supervisors in improving efficiency, transparency, and regulatory reporting accuracy.
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