FinTech & Generative AI: Opportunity or Risk?

As part of the Business Series, this public event brings together leading academics and industry practitioners to explore how Financial Technology (FinTech), and in particular the rapid advances in Generative AI, are reshaping modern business, finance, and decision-making.

Chaired by Dr. Khaladdin Rzayev, Senior Lacturer in Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School, the session will examine real-world applications of AI and data-driven technologies, the opportunities they create, and the risks they introduce. Discussion will also focus on the ethical, regulatory, and sustainability implications of adopting these technologies, including issues of transparency, bias, accountability, and their long-term impact on organisations and society.

Drawing on insights from both practice and research, panellists will discuss how businesses and financial institutions can innovate responsibly while navigating rapid technological change and increasing regulatory and social expectations.

Designed for students, professionals, and members of the wider community, the event offers a valuable opportunity to engage with current debates, hear from experts at the forefront of FinTech and Generative AI, and expand professional networks.

Panellists

• Chair – Dr Khaladdin Rzayev
• Aleks Tomczyk – CEO at FinTech Scotland
• Graham Cressey – Director of Accenture’s FinTech Innovation Lab UKI
• Jasmin Hasmatali – Head of Marketing at Breakthrough Social Enterprise

Agenda

6pm: Registration, tea & coffee

6.30-7.30pm: Speaker presentations followed by audience questions

7.30pm: Networking with drinks

8.30pm: Event ends

Khaladdin is a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the University of Edinburgh Business School and Programme Director of the Future is FinTech executive education programme, which equips professionals with the skills and insights needed to navigate the rapidly evolving financial technology landscape. He is also Co-Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Financial Innovation (ECFI). He has served as a technical advisor on financial markets to international financial institutions, including the Bank for International Settlements. His research has been published in leading finance journals, including the Journal of Financial Economics, Journal of Financial Markets, and Journal of Corporate Finance.

Aleks was appointed CEO, FinTech Scotland on 5 January 2026. Successful technology innovation to solve problems and business building are the key themes running through Aleks’ working life. He has 20+ years experience in the fintech space including delivering successful financial technology transformation projects in large businesses.

Purpose driven, Aleks has built two technology-led businesses based in Scotland from foundation to trade sale exit. He has been an independent consultant advising on growth and technology, and set up probably the UK’s first corporate venturing programme for a large technology company.

Aleks has been a member of FinTech Scotland Boards for the last 4 years. He is also a Trustee of the Sailor’s Children’s Society, a member of the LawscotTech Advisory Board and sits on the Estatesearch Group Board.

Graham is the Director of Accenture's FinTech Innovation Lab UKI, part of Accenture’s Strategy & Consulting practice, and specialises in Retail Finance and Embedded Finance. After starting out in the North of England, he has now migrated south to London and built up a wide range of experience in successfully mobilising and delivering customer-centric transformation at scale. He is passionate about driving the agenda for equality, inclusion and diversity in FS and has a keen interest in the effective application of emerging technology.

Graham runs a variety of user-centric and innovative product deliveries, often based around partnerships and achieving successful customer outcomes through leadership of multi-disciplinary teams e.g. Design Agencies, DevOps, Innovation Studios, Customer Channels, Data Science, Scrum Teams incl. Engineering and Automation Testing and BAU operational teams. Previously, Graham has gained a depth of experience in different industries and skill sets from managing a successful Builder's Merchant, running operations for a boutique Business Coaching firm and working in the motor trade. He is qualified as a PMI Project Management Professional, a SAFe Certified Agilist and a Scrum.org Professional Scrum Master. He spends most of his free time cycling, fixing cars or trying to keep up with his young and energetic daughter’s schedule of football, singing and swimming.

Jasmine Hasmatali is Head of Marketing at Breakthrough Social Enterprise, a mission-driven organisation closing the digital skills gap through accessible AI education. Prior to this, she spent time researching AI governance, safety, and digital inclusion in Scotland. She holds an LLM in Human Rights from the University of Edinburgh, and brings a rights-based lens to questions of how GenAI is designed, deployed, and who it ultimately serves.

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