FinTech Australia launches summit on open banking data

FinTech Australia has announced a new one-day event focused on open banking and data use cases, with an agenda spanning finance, energy, housing and payments.

The inaugural Fintech Data Horizons Summit will be held on Friday, 8 May 2026, at Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. The program will examine how open banking and broader data sharing are shaping day-to-day financial decisions and business operations.

The summit follows FinTech Australia's earlier events on the Consumer Data Right (CDR) and climate-related financial services. Each session will be built around case studies, with discussion centred on what is already working in market deployments rather than policy-only debates.

Open banking usage in Australia has moved beyond pilots, with more than one million people using open banking products and services. Data is now shared hundreds of millions of times a year, according to figures cited by FinTech Australia, numbers it points to as evidence that open banking is becoming routine.

Four themes

The program is built around four themes: Open Banking and Open Data, Sustainability and Green Fintech, Housing and Cost of Living, and Financial Wellness and Financial Crime. Each stream will draw on practical examples from live projects.

Open Banking and Open Data sessions will look at how firms exchange and apply consumer-permissioned data, including features that rely on bank transaction data and adjacent datasets used in financial decision-making.

Sustainability and Green Fintech sessions will link data sharing to climate and energy outcomes, building on topics raised at FinTech Australia's FinTech for Net Zero event.

Housing and Cost of Living sessions will examine how data is used in lending and affordability assessments, as well as in products that present household finances differently. Financial Wellness and Financial Crime sessions will focus on customer outcomes and how information is used to detect suspicious activity and reduce harm.

Rehan D'Almeida, CEO of FinTech Australia, said the event will be a meeting point for companies and policymakers working on open banking.

"We're bringing Australia's open banking and data community together to discuss what's working in the real world, and set the agenda for Open Banking's exponential growth in Australia," D'Almeida said.

He said the summit will focus on consumer experiences and how businesses are applying data in competitive markets.

"We're moving beyond theory and policy debates to look closely at how open banking is already changing the way people manage money, access credit and navigate cost-of-living pressures, and how businesses are using data to compete and innovate responsibly. We're also weaving in the themes discussed in our FinTech for Net Zero event, which are closely aligned to the growth of Open Banking," said D'Almeida.

CDR maturity

Australia's Consumer Data Right provides the regulatory framework underpinning open banking. FinTech Australia has been tracking adoption and mapping the market, and described the system as entering a new stage of maturity.

"Our work mapping the Australian open banking landscape and tracking Consumer Data Right adoption shows a system that is finally starting to scale, but also one that needs careful oversight and collaboration to reach its full potential," D'Almeida said.

Collaboration will be a core part of the conversation. FinTech Australia expects participation from financial institutions, fintech firms, regulators and consumer representatives, alongside energy retailers and other sectors within the broader data-sharing agenda.

"Fintechs, banks, energy retailers, regulators and consumer advocates all have a role to play. Fintech Data Horizons is where those conversations come together, backed by real customer outcomes, solid data and lessons from live projects across energy, housing, sustainability and financial crime prevention," said D'Almeida.

Speaker list

The program will include senior figures from government and regulatory bodies. The announced speaker list includes Andrew Charlton MP, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, and Aaron Violi MP, Shadow Minister for the Digital Economy.

Also listed are Simon Kennedy MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Finance, and Andrew Bragg MP, Shadow Minister for Environment. Scott Farrell, Chair for Digital ID and Consumer Data Right, is also scheduled to participate.

From the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, Dr Ian Oppermann is listed as Commissioner. The ACCC plays a central role in CDR oversight, including accreditation settings and compliance expectations for data recipients and holders.

FinTech Australia represents more than 400 fintech companies and startups. Registrations are now open, and the agenda will draw on case studies and cross-sector experience as open banking adoption expands in Australia.