GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY:

Showcasing the Financial Services Cluster in South-West Ireland

“The IFS sector has developed to a point where it is recognised as an important component of the Irish economy, and the nature, scale and complexity of activities carried out here is broader, more diverse, and more geographically spread across the country than ever before.” (Ireland for Finance Action Plan 2021 - Building on Resilience)

IRELAND FOR FINANCE is the Irish Government’s strategy for the development of Ireland’s international financial services sector. The plan identifies three strategic priorities: Sustainable Finance, Diversity and Regionalisation. Annual action measures are developed with input from stakeholders and for 2021, these measures are grouped under four pillars, where stakeholder activities will focus, namely: Operating Environment; Technology and Innovation; Talent; and Communication and Promotion

“Regional locations in Ireland offer a viable alternative to Dublin for providing international financial services, whether as a primary site or as a second site that is complementary to operations in Dublin. Over a third of international financial services jobs are located in areas outside Dublin.” (Ireland for Finance Action Plan 2021 - Building on Resilience)

Ireland’s South-West region is home to a significant and growing cluster of international financial services (IFS) companies representing multiple sub-sectors of financial services (FS), with particularly strong activity in the areas of asset management, fund administration and fintech. The sector is supported by a robust enabling environment which includes a significant number of leading audit, accountancy and l e g a lfi r m s .

The sector has grown steadily over the last 10 years and is supported by a strong talent pipeline of graduates from the two regional universities, MTU and UCC. Furthermore, the long-established ICT cluster and the growing cyber cluster in the region provide an ideal environment for complementary activities and exchange of expertise in areas that will dominate the future of the FS industry, including AI, cybersecurity and regtech.

On 5 th November, Cork Financial Services Forum is hosting a sector-focused event, as part of a commitment to the Ireland for Finance Action Plan 2021. The event will showcase some of the many successful financial services companies operating in the South-West and will highlight certain areas where the sector is particularly strong and growing, such as funds and fintech.

DEIRDRE O’CONNOR

Managing Director, BlackRock

Deirdre O’Connor is the CFO of BlackRock Alternatives Investments and Managing Director. BlackRock Alternatives has $330Bn of assets under management.

Previously, she was Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan. She held various roles including CFO, COO, Chief of Staff, across Real Assets, Private Equity, Credit, Real Estate, Mutual Fund, and Registered Funds.

Deirdre was the International Advisor to the Irish Department of Finance and sat on the Irish Financial Services Advisory Committee. She Co-Chairs the Diversity Project North America across the Asset Management industry. Deirdre was the founding member of the Digital Irish Angels and the New York Digital Irish group. Deirdre was on the Board of Directors of a number of not for profit organizations including Woman’s Bond Club, Concern USA and Irish Repertory Theater.

Deirdre went to Colaiste Muire, Cobh, Co.Cork and the Munster Technology Institure and is a fellow at CIMA.

GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY: Showcasing the Financial Services Cluster in South-West Ireland

EVENT MC: Alan Cuddihy, Audit Director - Financial Services, Grant Thornton

WELCOME: Eoin Motherway, Country Head, AMX

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

• Michael McGrath, TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

• Deirdre O’Connor, Managing Director, BlackRock

PANEL 1 - FINTECH AND THE FUTURE Chaired by Karen Conboy, Audit Partner - Financial Services, KPMG

Panellists include:

• Patrick Horgan, Managing Director, Horizon 8

• Dr. Donna O’Shea, Chair of Cybersecurity at Munster Technological University

• Prof. Philip O’Reilly, Professor of Financial Technologies and Information Systems, Cork University Business School, UCC

• Ruth McCarthy, CEO, FEXCO

PANEL 2 - SUCCESS IN FUNDS Chaired by David Bennett, Associate Partner, EY.

Panellists include:

• John Mullins, Executive Chairman, Amarenco Solar

• David Brosnan, Managing Director at Clearstream Global Security Services

• Heather Crowley-Kerr, Regional Director – Central Operations, Alter Domus

• John Bohan, Regional Managing Director Europe, Apex Fund Services Ltd

The event is kindly supported by