The LendTech Summit London
14 May 2026 – London, UK
Agenda - 14 May 2026
Time
Session
Format
- 08:30 - 09:15
- Arrival and Networking Breakfast
Networking Break
- 09:15 - 09:20
- Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Speaker:
- Oscar Cunningham, Co-Founder & Director of Events, Shape Finance
Opening Address
- 09:20 - 10:10
- Panel Discussion - Modernising the Lending Workflow: Automation and Operational Efficiency
Many lending teams still rely on manual processes, fragmented systems and time intensive underwriting workflows. As lenders look to improve speed, consistency and scale, automation is increasingly being applied across areas such as document processing, data ingestion and decision support. This panel will examine where the biggest operational bottlenecks remain, which parts of the lending process are most suited to automation, and how teams are balancing efficiency gains with the need for human judgment as workflows continue to evolve.
Speakers:
- Oksana Dovorecka, Former Executive Director – Lending Workflows at UBS Wealth Management [Moderator]
- Nik Barter, Head of Data and Risk, Playter
- Ben Thomas, Founder & CRO, Covecta
- Ben Robinson, Head of Technology, Fair Finance
- Hamza Behzad, Business Development Director, Finova
Panel Discussion
- 10:10 - 10:30
- Presentation: Seasoned Banker Agents - from Pilot to Production
Speaker:
- Ben Thomas, Founder & CRO, Covecta
Plenary Presentation
- 10:30 - 11:15
- Networking Break
Networking Break
- 11:15 - 12:05
- Panel Discussion - Affordability, Alternative Data and the Next Borrower Segment
Traditional affordability models are being tested by changing borrower profiles, from self employed and irregular income to thin or fragmented credit histories. As lenders look to expand access while maintaining responsible lending standards, many are exploring how open banking and other forms of alternative data can provide a clearer view of income and financial resilience. This panel will examine where current affordability approaches are starting to fall short, the realistic role of alternative data in credit decisions today, and which borrower segments represent the most significant growth opportunity for lenders in the years ahead.
Speakers:
- Andreia Cruz, Head of Credit Risk, Unity Trust Bank [Moderator]
- Chris Bosworth, Founder, Finclusion
- Susana Ponce Froment, Global Head of Financial & Credit Risk, Tide
- Naga Tumuluri, Former Chief Risk Officer at Blue Motor Finance
Panel Discussion
- 12:05 - 12:15
- Product Demo: Helping lenders detect fraudulent documents in seconds
Speaker: Quentin Lefebvre, Fraud Fighter, Resistant AI
Product Demo
- 12:15 - 12:25
- Presentation - The Last Mile Problem: Why the Final 20 Percent of Implementation Is the Hardest
Most lending technology initiatives work in principle, but the final stage often exposes integration, governance, and operational challenges that delay go live. This discussion explores what separates projects that reach production from those that stall in the final stretch.
Speaker: Michael Dean, Director & Co-Founder, Avamore Capital
Panel Discussion
- 12:25 - 12:40
- Interactive Lender Case Study: Lessons from a Lending Transformation Journey
In this interactive session, Andy will share practical lessons from Simply Asset Finance’s lending transformation, including the approaches that delivered the greatest impact and how the team successfully reduced loan cycle times to around ten minutes.
The session will focus on the realities of modernising lending operations, from technology choices and workflow redesign to the practical opportunities that breaking down team silos create when innovating in the lending process. Audience discussion will be encouraged throughout, allowing participants to explore the practical challenges and trade offs involved in transforming lending processes.
Speaker: Andy Trimmer, Director of Technology, Simply Asset Finance
Panel Discussion
- 12:45
- Closing Remarks & Networking Lunch
- 14:00
- End of Event