"Don't call it a comeback*": why BPP Guernsey's conference is more vital than ever
29 Sept 2025
Stuart Chandler
Commercial Director at BPP International Finance LinkedIn
2023 feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? After a brief pause in proceedings, BPP’s Guernsey Business and Finance Conference is back for 2025! Now, I don't know about you, but I've missed the buzz of caffeine-fuelled conversations and lively debates that create a collective sense of excitement you only get when a room full of sharp minds comes together. Last year's break was like someone hitting the pause button on your Game Boy just as you were about to clear a tricky level; a jarring pause that made you appreciate the game even more when you finally got to unpause. And now, the batteries are fresh, the lights are on and we’re loading up for 2025.
So, what should we be looking forward to? A lot, as it turns out – and no, not just because I’m talking... the agenda is packed with some captivating and relevant issues, and provides a snapshot of where Guernsey's finance industry stands right now. Thinking of two topics on the agenda – the impact of AI and the essential work of AML compliance – they tell a very interesting story about Guernsey’s journey forward.
The first topic, the impact of AI, is the one that's been making headlines everywhere. The messages around it are so mixed: should it be feared or revered? The real story is more nuanced. AI isn't here to replace us; it's here to empower us. It's the ultimate co-pilot.
The future of finance in Guernsey, it appears, is less about resisting this tide and more about learning to embrace the [frigid] water. The conference will, I hope, delve into how we can use AI to supercharge our workflows, from automating routine compliance checks to identifying market trends with incredible speed. It is about freeing up our most valuable asset, our people, to focus on the things that truly matter, like building client relationships and managing staff with empathy which a computer can’t replicate.
“The messages around it [AI] are so mixed: should it be feared or revered? The real story is more nuanced.”
Which brings me to the second topic: the vital, ongoing work of AML and financial crime prevention. It is here that Guernsey's position as a robust, well-regulated jurisdiction really shines. We’ve all seen the reports, such as the positive feedback from our most recent MONEYVAL assessment which confirms what we’ve always known, we’re protecting the integrity of our financial ecosystem, the invisible shield that allows us to attract and retain the highest calibre of business from around the globe.
So, when you see those two topics on the conference agenda, see them as two sides of the same coin. As a small community with global reach, Guernsey's future is about using the power of AI to make us more efficient and innovative, which will boost our competitive edge, while also using our reputation for regulatory excellence as our foundation. It's about embracing agility while maintaining prudence and using technology without compromising our integrity.
I’m genuinely excited about the 2025 Guernsey Business & Finance Conference. It’s an opportunity for us all to reconnect and to leave feeling inspired and energised for the year ahead…see you there!
* LL Cool J – Mama’s Gonna Knock You Out