On the first day of Sibos 2019 London, 30 participants of the inaugural STAR (Sibos Talent Accelerator Route) scholarship opened trading at London Stock Exchange.</p> London is playing host to Sibos - the annual conference, exhibition and networking event organised by SWIFT - for the first time in its 41 year history, and over 10,000 delegates will attend at ExCeL London. The STAR scholarship is a new addition to the programme designed to empower professional women, accelerating their knowledge, skills and self-confidence as future leaders in the financial industry. </p> The STAR scholarship brings together 30 women from some of the largest financial organisations across 17 countries, including the UK, Sweden, South Africa, China and Australia, to benefit from the learning and networking opportunities at Sibos for the first time. The dedicated week–long scholarship programme will foster the development of female talent by providing women with opportunities to expand their networks and expertise, to support their progress to senior levels. The group will meet with Sibos speakers, leaders and senior mentors, access private networking events and participate in conference sessions.</p> “Attracting and nurturing a diverse talent pool is essential to ensure the financial industry moves with the times. Financial organisations need to address diversity imbalances at a leadership level and with the launch of the STAR Scholarship programme, alongside Talent Thursday, we are putting a focus on the investment of future leaders now to drive change for the long term,” said Rosemary Stone, global head of human resources at SWIFT, who spoke at the event. </p> Diane Côté, Chief Risk Officer, London Stock Exchange Group said: “This morning’s market open not only marks the start of Sibos, but is also a celebration of the inspiring women who make up the Sibos STAR scholarship team. At LSEG, we believe diversity and a commitment to equal opportunities is vital in driving innovation and success across the industry. We’re proud to support this initiative as part of our broader commitment to diversity in the workplace.”</p> “The speed and magnitude of innovation and change in the world of payments and financial services is creating exciting new opportunities, as well as increasingly complex challenges for the industry and our clients. Advancing more women into leadership roles through development, mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, and fostering an industry that is inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences will be critical to help us solve the banking challenges of tomorrow and unlock the next frontier of innovation in payments,” said Lisa Lansdowne-Higgins, Vice President, Business Deposit & Treasury Solutions, RBC.</p>