Organised by the Society for World Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT), Sibos is recognised globally as best-in-class in both the financial and B2B events communities.
Every year, it brings together thousands of business leaders, decision makers and topic experts from a range of financial institutions, market infrastructures, multinational corporations and technology partners. Hosted in a different city each year, it started out as a banking operations seminar in 1978 and has since grown into the premier business forum for the global financial community to debate and collaborate in areas of payments, securities, cash management and trade.
In 2019, for the first time, Sibos was hosted in London at Excel. It was the biggest Sibos event ever, with a record-breaking number of delegates.
One of the key aims was to make Sibos 2019 the biggest ever, and attract more exhibitors and more delegates, using London – one of the world’s major financial centres and a hotbed of innovation – as one way of achieving it.
By blending conference and exhibition, Sibos sought to create a truly immersive experience, drawing delegates through a diverse and engaging environment. The conference focussed around the theme of “Thriving in a hyper-connected world”, through looking at enhancing digital eco-systems, leveraging data, keeping ahead of cyber-security threats and adopting to shifting geo-political and regulatory priorities.
Another integral aim of Sibos was to deliver an environmentally and socially responsible event, focussed around protecting the environment, caring for the community and promoting equality and diversity.
Over 11,000 visitors
600 speakers
300 exhibitors
Delegates from 150 countries
This was a gathering of thousands of people from a range of financial institutions, market infrastructures, multinational corporations and technology partners but with a difference.
There was a key focus on sustainability, not just in the event’s content – where on day four, the Spotlight stage examined how the financial industry can help the world address the huge challenges of climate risk, financial exclusion, safeguarding biodiversity and more – but in its delivery, too.
The team from Excel worked with Sibos to deliver on their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Recognising that travel impacts our environment, SWIFT provided Oyster Cards to all delegates to encourage use of Excel’s public transport links, to reduce carbon emissions.
Sibos also partnered with WeForest on a tree planting campaign in Africa, to offset carbon emissions. It funded seven trees for every delegate, to compensate for the travel of its employees to the event.
Sibos worked with Ecobooth to reduce exhibition stand waste with the ‘Repurpose with Purpose’ campaign.
The team collected stand materials that exhibitors weren’t going to reuse and, employing the latest recycling technology, transform the materials into 100% recycled outdoor furniture that will then be donated to East London schools local to Excel London.
Sibos partnered with The Honeypot Children’s Charity which provides respite breaks and support for young carers and vulnerable children across the UK.
Excel London Hospitality baked 800 honey infused cupcake per day, which were offered to delegates, in return for a donation towards this fantastic charity.
As part of its work to promote equality and diversity, this year Sibos partnered with Speakers for Schools, an educational charity which aims to bridge inequality by bringing together students from all backgrounds with leaders in business, academia and the arts.
Almost forty students from across London came to Excel London to experience and explore the event.
Founded in 2011 by journalist Robert Peston, Speakers for Schools helps established influencers give their time to state schools, arranging assembly-style talks to inspire youngsters and ignite their ambition for the future.
