Leaders of the global and local technology communities are to be among the panellists and speakers at the Bermuda Virtual Tech Summit 2021.

The October 13-15 event will kick off with a conversation between Forbes associate editor Michael del Castillo and the Premier, David Burt.

The virtual conference will be centred on the theme “Transforming the Digital Landscape” and will include a variety of panel discussions and one-on-one “fireside chats”.

The Bermuda Business Development Agency, the conference presenters, said the summit “will feature the world’s leading technology thought leaders as they reimagine the digital landscape of the future and provide attendees with insights and predictions based on the latest trends and future developments”.

Among the technology leaders taking part are Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of fintech company Circle, which provides payments and financial infrastructure for internet businesses; Dmitri Galinov, CEO and founder of 24 Exchange, which operates a multi-asset class trading platform; Sandra Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council, a global industry association for the blockchain technology ecosystem; and Andrew Engler, co-founder and CEO of insurtech company Kettle.

Susan Pateras, interim CEO of the BDA, and the organisation’s chairman Stephen Weinstein will appear on panels.

Other participants include Jeff Baron, chief compliance officer, Bittrex Global; Qian Dickinson, Bermemes; Sean Reel, executive director, Ignite Bermuda; Colin Rego, CEO, Sargasso Sea App; and Coral Wells, CEO and founder, Connectech.

The conference also features panellists from the capital management, legal, re/insurance, professional services, banking, entrepreneurial, regulatory and government sectors.

Mr Burt said: “Bermuda has repeatedly proved itself open to change and invites fellow change makers to attend this year’s summit on transforming the digital landscape.”

He said the event “offers professionals the chance to expand their network, create new partnerships, and interact with leading innovators, legal experts, and business executives – a rare opportunity not to be missed”.

Mr del Castillo, who reports on cryptocurrencies and blockchain, said: “Just like bitcoin itself was adopted by individuals and small companies long before big banks took it seriously, island nations like Bermuda were the first to take digital asset regulations seriously.

“Now that central banks around the world are locked in a heated race to upgrade the very definition of money based on lessons learnt from bitcoin, Bermuda and other island nations are proving to be rife with learning opportunities.”

Over the three-day event, virtual guests can attend an array of panels featuring business leaders and specialists, including:

• “The Underwriter of the Future” featuring Susan Pateras, BDA interim CEO; James Birch, development director, Ki Insurance; Adrian Jones, managing director, HSCM Capital Management Ltd; Fred Kipperman, managing director, Archipelago; and Abhijeet Kuray, chief technology officer, Mosaic.

• “Transforming the Regulatory Landscape” featuring Michelle Chivunga, founder/CEO/investor, Global Policy House; Jeff Baron, chief compliance officer, Bittrex Global; Dmitri Galinov, CEO, 24 Exchange; Jerome Wilson, partner, Appleby; and Aqsa Zubair, assistant director, fintech, Bermuda Monetary Authority.

• “Bermuda’s Future Digital Infrastructure” featuring Fiona Beck, BDA board member; Jeane Nikolai, director of energy, Government of Bermuda; Joel Ogren, CEO, ACA International; and Steve Rees Davies, partner, Carey Olsen.

• “Transformation of the Traditional Business Model – a Bermuda Perspective” featuring Qian Dickinson, Bermemes; Sean Reel, executive director, Ignite Bermuda; Colin Rego, CEO, Sargasso Sea App; and Coral Wells, CEO and founder, Connectech.

• “Bermuda – Silicon Valley of the Atlantic” featuring Gayle Gorman, co-founder and executive director, InnoFund Innovation Incubator; George Alayon, assistant director, supervision (insurance), BMA; Ari Chatterjee, chief underwriting officer, Envelop Risk; Andrew Engler, chief executive officer, Kettle Ltd; and Matthew Jones, managing director, Anthemis.

• “ESG and Tech – The Evolution of Sustainable Development” featuring Van Hesser, chief strategist, Kroll Bond Rating Agency; Gina Pereira, philanthropic fiduciary director, Meritus Trust; Charles Thresh, managing director, KPMG; Stephen Weinstein, chairman, BDA; and Darren Wolfberg, CEO, Blockchain Triangle.

• “Tech Investment Trends and the Private Wealth Sector” featuring Sheba Raza, counsel, Carey Olsen; Elizabeth Denman, director, Conyers; Chris Maiato, principal, EY; and Bruce Jackson, chief wealth management officer, Clarien.

The BDA said CEO fireside chats will be held between Marcus Wade, from the premier’s office of fintech with: Jeremy Allaire, CEO, Circle; Zia Chishti, chairman and chief executive officer, Afiniti; Sandra Ro, CEO, Global Blockchain Business Council; and Steven Stonberg, CEO, Bittrex Global.

The organisation said the summit introduces a new virtual platform, BDA Live.

The summit is free to attend, and prospective attendees can register at https://www.bda.bm/events/bermuda-virtual-tech-summit-2021/.