Australian fintech industry leaders today announced that Melbourne will host a week-long fintech festival later this year, which is expected to be the most influential event of its type in the Asia-Pacific region.

FinTech Australia, as the peak body for Australia's fintech industry, revealed it would be hosting Australia's first national fintech festival, to be known as Intersekt. Intersekt will run from October 27 until November 3 and will be held in partnership with FinTech Victoria, York Butter Factory and Next Money, and presented by the Victorian Government.   The festival has also already attracted key corporate and government partners including NAB, Accenture, EY, Acorns, Entersoft, VTWO, the Melbourne Convention Bureau and the City of Melbourne.   Intersekt is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates and participants, along with among the world's best fintech thought leaders and influencers.   FinTech Australia president Simon Cant says Intersekt would have a strong focus on helping better connect the Australian and Asian fintech environments.   “Australia has tremendous potential to be world's leading intersection for fintech innovation and a large part of that comes from our proximity, common time zone and strong cultural links to Asia,” he says.   “Asia presents incredible opportunities for the Australian fintech industry, including venture capital to help grow our globally focussed fintechs.   “Intersekt will play an important role in helping expose our thriving fintech environment to an Asian-Pacific and global audience and bringing about the connections and insights to help take our industry to the next level.

Next Money CEO Rob Findlay says: “We are delighted to be working with the Victorian Government and fintech community to deliver a festival which should capture world attention and highlight the exciting qualities of the Australian fintech ecosystem.

Victoria Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis used the festival launch to announce that his government would be Intersekt's presenting partner.   “The Intersekt festival will showcase Melbourne's outstanding credentials as a global fintech hub and the world's most liveable city to a global audience of senior fintech leaders,” Dalidakis says.   “The Victorian Government has provided funding to support Intersekt and looks forward to working with FinTech Australia and its partners to plan and deliver the festival.”   Key elements of the Intersekt festival will include:

• The Collab/Collide summit, which will be a two-day event co-produced by FinTech Australia and Next Money discussing the latest domestic and international fintech trends including open data, digital identity, open and private blockchain, next gen banking, digital super, regtech and insurtech;
• A two-and-a-half day fintech hackathon;
• A two-day community and corporate Melbourne showcase circuit, which will include dynamic community discussions and events and highlight the city's fintech ecosystem;
• An expo, pitchfest and extensive networking opportunities; and
• A one-day event focussing on blockchain technology, which is transforming financial services in areas such as supply chains, smart contracts, payments and foreign exchange.