FundsTech 2026: Cybersecurity, quantum computing and the future of asset management - Funds Europe

The cybersecurity challenges of today and the link to the quantum computing challenges of tomorrow will feature at the upcoming FundsTech 2026 by Funds Europe, taking place in London on 29 April. Featuring a panel on Cybersecurity in Asset Management, the event will hear insights into the proliferation of cyber threats as AI, tokenisation, and cloud reliance grow. This will feature a frank conversation about resilience, regulation, and board accountability. Panelists here include Dr Ruth Wandhöfer (pictured above), director of European Markets at Blackwired, a cybersecurity provider, and independent NED on the board of Permanent TSB Bank in Ireland, among other independent director roles since 2018. She has been the chair of the Statutory Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) Panel in the UK and board member of the London Stock Exchange Group, Gresham Technologies, Digital Identity Net and Aquis Exchange Group. She is a member of the Bank of England CBDC Engagement Forum and chairs the CBDC Privacy Working Group. She also advises the City of London Corporation, the British Standards Institute and the European Third Party Provider Association (ETPPA). Wandhöfer is a visiting professor at Bayes Business School (formerly CASS), where she gained her PhD, teaching fintech in banking and finance and digital money as well as providing executive training on topics such as financial market infrastructures, payments and the future of finance. Also joining the panel is Neil Coutts (pictured left), director in Cyber and Technology Risk at KPMG, where he specialises in cybersecurity and operational resilience for financial services, with a particular focus on wealth and asset management. He is a trusted adviser to boards, CISOs, CIOs and CROs on managing cyber risk in an environment increasingly shaped by AI adoption, cloud dependency and emerging technologies. Coutts has held interim CISO and head of Information Risk roles for global financial institutions and regularly briefs board audit and risk committees on cyber maturity, regulatory expectations and resilience. His experience spans cyber governance, regulatory alignment, large-scale transformation and board-level decision support. His work focuses on strengthening accountability at the top of the organisation and helping firms move beyond qualitative cyber narratives to more decision-useful, business-aligned risk insights in the face of intensifying threat and regulatory scrutiny. Quantum Looking further to the future, FundsTech 2026 features the panel titled Quantum Frontier, set to discuss the reality of adoption of quantum computing technology across the investment management value chain, including front, middle and back office, and what the regulatory response may be. As noted by the FCA when it published its Research Note: Quantum Computing Applications in Financial Services in late 2025, “This research was undertaken to explore the potential applications of quantum computing in UK financial services, and to assess how firms and regulators can prepare for their emergence.” “It was triggered by the continued advancement of quantum technologies, and by the need to understand what their deployment could mean for financial markets, consumers and the UK’s position as a global financial centre.” “Now is a critical moment: while commercial applications are still emerging, progress is accelerating and proactive regulatory engagement can help the UK capture opportunities while managing risks.” Joining the discussion is Ross Grassie (pictured right), Global Strategy & Operations Manager, JIJ Europe, who as co-author of the FCA Research Note will provide insights into the key findings and preparations facing the industry. Grassie previously held roles with Oxford Quantum Circuits and Quantum Software Lab, following a career in academia including postgraduate studies at Edinburgh University in Mathematical Physics, and Imperial College London in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces. FundsTech 2026 by Funds Europe This year’s event features insights into key technology developments affecting the asset management industry, including: The new regulatory frontier of AI, cloud and digital assets How to choose between private vs public blockchain The growing need for cybersecurity Case studies on modernising the investor experience, and into implementing LTAF/ELTIF 2.0 Understanding the quantum computing frontier and its impact on financial services A vision of what an asset manager will be in 2030 How to build the workforce of the future Attendance at this year’s event is free for qualifying delegates. For more information on the event and the agenda, click here.