The Z/Yen team and FS Club wish you a prosperous and successful February. Kicking off our events for this month, join us on Tuesday 10 February for Advancing Taiwan’s Capital Market Within The Asian Asset Management Center, sponsored by the Taiwan Stock Exchange, exploring Taiwan’s strategic reforms, market openness, cross-border services, and its growing role as an asset management hub in Asia. On Thursday 19 February, we look forward to Why MAST Matters, spotlighting the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST), the UK’s leading charity in maritime archaeology. We’re also excited to announce the launch this month of our new podcast, Standards Stack, in collaboration with AIQI, tune in for the inaugural episode exploring AI assurance, standards, ethics, and regulation with global leaders driving responsible AI forward. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our events or to our podcast soon.

Sasha Davis (Manager, FS Club) & The Team at Z/Yen

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Events & Webinars

• Featured Past Webinars

Dr David P. Doyle:
An Update On EU Financial Services Regulatory Agenda

Mike Wardle & Professor Michael Mainelli:
Launch Of Smart Centres Index 12

• Forthcoming Webinars

Why Smart People Find It Difficult To Be Happy Tuesday, 03 February 2026

Financial Fluency For The Next Generation: Insights From PISA Thursday, 05 February 2026

Advancing Taiwan’s Capital Market Within The Asian Asset Management Center Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Discover Belize – A Secure, Innovative And Investor-Friendly Financial Services Hub Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Why MAST Matters Thursday, 19 February 2026

The Esop Centre’s newspad, is a monthly publication providing in-depth coverage of the main international news in the field of employee share ownership. Read this month’s newspad in full.

FS Club News

Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation: Invitation: Advancing Taiwan’s Capital Market within the Asian Asset Management Center webinar: TWSE, in collaboration with Z/Yen, will host a webinar to explore Taiwan’s strategic progress as an Asian Asset Management Center (AAMC) on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, from 9:00–10:00 GMT. Leading experts will discuss regulatory developments, market practices, and future opportunities, fostering high-level dialogue and enhancing global understanding of Taiwan’s role as a “Locally Rooted, Globally Connected” asset management hub. Event Information & Registration Link.

TWSE Outlines 2026 Five Strategies to Advance Taiwan’s AAMC Ambition: Looking ahead to 2026, the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Taiwan as a leading asset management center in Asia, focusing on five strategic priorities: value enhancement and unicorn incubation, a diversified ETF ecosystem, sustainability and digital empowerment, global connectivity, and financial inclusion.

TWSE Actively Promotes the "Power Up TW Program" to Help Listed Companies Boost Global Competitiveness and Strengthen Taiwan's Capital Market: The Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) has been actively promoting the "Power Up Program." As of December 31, 2025, a total of 487 listed companies have responded to the initiative and announced their relevant plans, accounting for 45.81% of all listed companies. Reviewing the progress in 2025, the number of participating companies grew from only 4 in May to 487 by the end of the year.

The news from the TWSE: https://twmonthly.twse.com.tw/
Follow TWSE on LinkedIn to stay informed.

Financial Services Commission Mauritius: Your Ideal Hub for Fund Management and Administration: Mauritius has built a strong reputation as a trusted jurisdiction for fund management, supported by a robust and internationally recognised regulatory framework aligned with the principles and standards of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). Funds domiciled in Mauritius benefit from a business-friendly environment, ideal time zone, cost competitiveness, experienced corporate service providers, and an extensive network of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements and Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements. As an innovative International Financial Centre, Mauritius offers a wide range of sophisticated fund structuring products, including Variable Capital Companies, which provides greater flexibility, operational efficiency and cost effectiveness, making the jurisdiction attractive to both traditional and alternative fund managers.

Busan Finance Center: Busan Strengthens Digital Financial Hub Ambition as Fractional Investment Market Emerges:

Korea has established a legal framework for Security Token Offerings (STOs), with amendments to the Capital Markets Act and the Electronic Securities Act. These amendments provide a basis for issuing and distributing digital securities using blockchain-based distributed ledger technology. This would expand the scope of securitisation beyond what the existing electronic securities system can easily accommodate, opening the market to fractionalised products linked to assets such as real estate, fine art, and music copyrights.

Building on this policy momentum, Korea is preparing to launch its first regulated over-the-counter (OTC) trading platform for fractional investment market. The objective is to transition fractional investment from a regulatory sandbox into a supervised market environment with clearer rules and stronger investor protection, creating a formal pathway for secondary trading and broader market participation. Read the full publication here.

Seoul Fintech Lab: Seoul Financial Hub, managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is currently inviting esteemed overseas financial institutions to join our global financial epicenter in Yeouido, Seoul. Benefit from exclusive office space, expert consultation on market entry, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Stay ahead with insights into the Korean Financial market. For further details about Seoul Financial Hub, click here.‎

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Kigali International Financial Centre: The Kigali International Financial Centre, in collaboration with partners, are organising the third edition of the Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF), to be hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, on 10–12 March 2026 at the Kigali Convention Centre. Following the successful second edition of the Forum held in Kigali in 2025, IFF 2026 anticipates hosting 3,000 delegates from Africa, Asia, Europe, and beyond, featuring world-class speakers, engaging discussions, and a high-level opening ceremony. Learn more.

Scottish Financial Enterprise: Scottish Financial Enterprise has launched an update to its skills action plan to help prepare the industry for its future skills requirements. The update comes as rapid advances in emerging technologies and a competitive hiring landscape are reshaping the industry and seeks to highlight how best to prepare the workforce for an AI and data led world. Click here for more information.

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Astana International Financial Centre: Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) presented the analytical report  “The Next Wave of Urban Development: Investing in Smart City Infrastructure and Technology”. Around the world, cities are undergoing profound change — evolving from traditional administrative centre into data-driven, connected ecosystems that integrate technology, sustainability, and human-centred governance. Kazakhstan is part of this global transformation. This report provides a comprehensive overview of Kazakhstan’s smart-city journey — from global benchmarks and policy evolution to local implementation and investment opportunities. It highlights how digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are reshaping service delivery, urban management, and citizen engagement across the country’s leading cities. Fore more details please see the report.

Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance: TABF Partners with ACAMS to Host the 17th ACAMS Taiwan Conference:

TABF was honored to co-organize the 17th ACAMS Taiwan Conference with ACAMS, convening leaders from government, banking, FinTech, and academia to address key anti-financial crime challenges. Discussions covered virtual asset and stablecoin risks, sanctions convergence, and the transition toward proactive, technology-driven fraud prevention, underscoring the importance of public–private collaboration and innovation in strengthening Taiwan’s AML and financial integrity framework.

TABF extends its sincere appreciation to ACAMS, all speakers, moderators, and participants, and looks forward to continued collaboration to enhance financial resilience in Taiwan and the region. For more information: LinkedIn.

Northeastern University London: Join us for National Apprenticeship Week: Wednesday 11th February 2026:

Northeastern University London is marking the occasion with an exclusive employer event designed for organisations navigating the evolving apprenticeship funding landscape.

As budgets tighten and talent strategies evolve, this timely session will equip you with practical insights to build stronger teams.

What's on the agenda?

• → Fresh strategies for maximising apprenticeship funding in 2026's economic climate 
• → Embedding apprenticeships into your ESG and social value commitments - with real impact 
• → Hear directly from our apprentices: authentic insights into what works (and what doesn't)

Spaces are limited. Click here to find out more details and secure your spot.

Bridgeworks: Happy New WAN: Protecting Data Into 2026: Only a few days away now from New Year’s Day again, fireworks and all. Hopefully, it’ll be a happy and prosperous one for everyone. Unfortunately, cyber-attacks aren’t about fun, prosperity and good will. Of course cyber-criminals might celebrate the new year if their scams and attacks bear them financial rewards, then they really would have something to celebrate. However, most of us don’t wish them such luck; we need to ensure that our data and finances are secured.

Amongst the many cyber-attacks that have occurred in 2025, one that stands out was cyber-attack on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. These London boroughs in England enacted emergency plans after they were hit by a cyber-attack on 26th November 2025. Read the full publication here.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We currently have opportunities available to partner with Z/Yen as a sponsor for our ongoing research into the development of financial centres. If you may be interested in sponsorship of the Global Green Finance Index or Smart Centres Index, please get in touch with Mike Wardle.

Pamphleteers Blog

The Pamphleteers Blog features considered thoughts – somewhere between a knee-jerk editorial and a full-blown piece of research.

"Write for today and not for tomorrow."

Made Me Think

Christopher Gleadle: In The Era of Net-Zero, Measurement Needs To Be More Sound, Than Bite

Of Great Interest Professor

Michael Mainelli: Digital Backwash - The Next AI Gold Rush Is Epidemiological Hygiene

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• The Great Divergence, According To The White House

Membership & Sponsorship FS Club is the premier global executive knowledge network for technology and finance professionals. Great events, research, and social functions build a buzz for Members and a valuable partnership for Sponsors. Membership of the FS Club is a great way to enhance your professional development, grow your network and profile, and get backing for your ideas, contact: sasha_davis@zyen.com