Please note that this in-person event is hosted by Leeds University Business School as part of the Leeds Digital Festival with funding from the Business School's Challenge Fund.

A significant proportion of the UK's adult population displays signs of financial vulnerability. According to the FCA Financial Lives 2022 Survey, approximately 47% of UK adults exhibit these characteristics. The task of identifying these vulnerable consumers and providing them with appropriate and timely support has grown increasingly challenging due to the shift towards digital platforms for financial services and the subsequent reduction in face-to-face interactions. The discrepancy between consumers' subjective perception of their financial resilience and the objective reality further complicates the identification of these vulnerable customers.

In this event, we delve into the issue of financial vulnerability, emphasising the crucial role that technology can play in identifying and supporting those at risk. Our aim is to bridge the gap between social science insights and technological solutions, exploring potential use-cases where digital technology and artificial intelligence can be leveraged to combat financial vulnerability.

The event serves as a platform for stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue and foster relationships that could influence policy and practice.

The discussions are expected to generate a broader understanding and articulation of the environment in which financial vulnerability sits, encompassing consumers, technology, staff and institutions.

This event is designed to appeal to:

Financial institutions - For banks and building societies, the session offers the opportunity to identify potential innovative applications for existing data to combat financial vulnerability.
Regulators - Insights gleaned from the session should be valuable for informing future policies.
Technology companies - Businesses and start-ups specialising in AI, machine learning and digital platforms will discover specific use-cases where their technologies can be applied to real-world financial challenges.
Non-profit organisations - Third-sector representatives can shape the discourse on the opportunities and challenges of using technology to address financial vulnerability.

Draft Programme (speakers and timings TBC)

12:30 - Registration and networking lunch

13:00 – Welcome and introductions

Dr Nabi Omidvar, Associate Professor of AI in Finance at the University of Leeds

13:05 - Plenary session 1:

Presentation 1

Dr Nabi Omidvar, Associate Professor of AI in Finance at the University of Leeds

13:30 - Presentation 2

Helen Lord, Chief Executive at the Vulnerability Registration Service

13:40 - Presentation 3

Deborah Fletcher, Senior Manager of Group Customer Inclusion at Lloyds Banking Group

Kellie Lloyd, Analysis and Insight Manager of Group Customer Inclusion at Lloyds Banking Group

13:50 - Speaker Q&A session

14:15 - Coffee break

14:30 - Plenary session 2:

Presentation 1

Richard Carter, Chief Executive at Lenvi

14:40 - Presentation 2

Savannah Price, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Serene

14:50 - Presentation 3

Neil Hancox, Principal Consultant with the Decision Science and Analytics team at TransUnion

Sam Newman, Credit Consultant at TransUnion

15:00 - Speaker Q&A session

15:20 – Panel discussion: Diving deeper into financial vulnerability

Chair: Dr Nabi Omidvar, University of Leeds

Panellists:

Helen Lord, Chief Executive Officer, Vulnerability Registration Service

Deborah Fletcher, Senior Manager, Group Customer Inclusion, Lloyds Banking Group

Kellie Lloyd, Analysis and Insight Manager, Group Customer Inclusion, Lloyds Banking Group

Richard Carter, Chief Executive, Lenvi

Savannah Price, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Serene

Neil Hancox, Principal Consultant, Decision Science and Analytics team, TransUnion

Sam Newman, Credit Consultant, TransUnion

16:20 – Closing remarks: Reflections and next steps

Dr Nabi Omidvar, University of Leeds

16:30 – Networking

17:00 - Event close

Photography and recording will take place during this event. The images will be used for publicity or other purposes within the Leeds University Business School communication channels, both in print and online. If you would like to be exempted from this activity, please inform a member of the team on arrival.

This event is designed to appeal to:

D﻿raft Programme (speakers and timings TBC)

S﻿peaker Biographies

Draft Programme (speakers and timings TBC)

Speaker Biographies

Understanding Financial Vulnerability: Challenges and Opportunities