The UK-Australia Fintech bridge: Your entry playbook and ecosystem map

Unlock Australia’s thriving fintech market, join this session to learn how to expand with confidence, navigate regulations, and turn opportunity into growth.

What you’ll learn

• Market entry strategies. Build a realistic Australian entry plan: the right legal structure (Pty Ltd vs branch), the true cost and timeline, the banking step that gates everything, and how to choose between a soft landing and a full subsidiary.

• FinTech ecosystem overview. Map where the real opportunity and the gaps sit across payments, lending, wealth and crypto, and identify the partners, capital and customers worth pursuing first.

• Regulatory considerations. Understand the licensing path (AFSL, the new payments rules, CDR and open banking, AML and CTF) and how the FinTech Bridge and the ASIC-FCA sandbox link make the crossing easier for UK firms.

Description

Australia has emerged as one of the most attractive and accessible markets for UK tech and fintech scale-ups, yet it remains underexplored by many British founders. The country’s technology sector is a major and growing contributor to the economy, while its fintech ecosystem is ranked among the world’s leading hubs—currently placed sixth globally and second in Asia-Pacific.

The UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement, together with the UK–Australia FinTech Bridge, has helped to reduce barriers to entry. These frameworks support improved digital trade and data flow provisions, strengthen collaboration between regulators, and provide clearer pathways for talent mobility. They also offer practical support for firms navigating licensing, compliance, and market entry, making Australia an increasingly accessible destination for UK businesses.

This session brings together practitioners who work at the forefront of market entry into Australia. Lily Jaffres (Altios ANZ) will outline a practical approach to establishing operations, covering company structuring, regulatory considerations, and routes to first revenue. Brandon Saputra (FinTech Australia) will provide an overview of the local fintech ecosystem, key stakeholders, and the networks that can accelerate growth.

Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the commercial opportunity in Australia, alongside actionable guidance on how to enter the market efficiently and with confidence—minimising risk and avoiding common pitfalls.

Speakers

Lily Jaffres
VP Advisory & Business Development ANZ, Altios International

20 years of International operational experience across different industries. Lily’s mission is to drive expansion and growth by leveraging her field of expertise to support a company's goals, fostering a culture of success through collaboration and adaptability.​

Brandon Saputra
Community & International Programs Lead, FinTech Australia

Brandon leads Community and International Programs at FinTech Australia, managing both the ~400 member fintechs as well as delegations to and from Australia. Prior to this, he has held positions at the US$6.2 billion fintech unicorn, Airwallex, Australia's leading institutional bank, ANZ Banking Group and Westpac's former venture capital arm, Reinventure.