Mr Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), Minister for Trade & Industry (Trade), and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore,
Council members and CEO of the Institute of Banking and Finance,
Tripartite partners,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Introduction

1. Good evening, everyone. A very warm welcome to the IBF Distinction Evening 2026. We are delighted to have DPM Gan Kim Yong as our Guest-of-Honour this evening.

2. We come together annually at this platform to recognise and celebrate the individuals and financial institutions who have contributed their time, expertise and experience to strengthen our sector and develop its workforce. This support has allowed us to scale our efforts as the needs of the workforce continue to evolve.

Scaling up workforce development in emerging areas

3. Over the past year, we have stepped up our efforts to equip the financial sector workforce with emerging skills, particularly as AI reshapes the way we work.

4. IBF has accredited close to 60 programmes, in collaboration with training partners and financial institutions, to equip finance professionals with critical AI skills. To help our workforce use AI safely, IBF has also worked with the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS), NUS Asian Institute of Digital Finance (AIDF) and Singapore College of Insurance (SCI) to launch training programmes on the responsible use of AI for the financial sector. These programmes are contextualised to financial-sector use cases and MAS guidelines, and tailored to different job functions.

5. Through our strengthened tripartite partnership, IBF and NTUC have worked together to make foundational AI training accessible and affordable for finance professionals, through IBF-accredited programmes offered via NTUC LearningHub.

6. But equipping workers with new emerging skills is only part of the equation. We also need to support workers as jobs and tasks evolve. In August this year, we brought together over 200 finance professionals at the Financial Sector Learning Festival, jointly organised by IBF and NTUC’s Financial and Professional Services Cluster. The participants learnt about available training and career support, and heard from peers about their career transition journeys as they took on new or redesigned roles. The event also included an interactive workshop on ‘Design Your Life’, where participants explored how they can stay adaptable and resilient as work continues to evolve.

Developing the next generation of talent

7. Young talents are entering the workforce as the sector is evolving. Early exposure can help them understand the sector and the various career opportunities ahead. In May this year, IBF brought together close to 800 students and 12 financial institutions at the annual Financial Industry Fiesta, giving students the opportunity to engage directly with industry practitioners and hiring managers to learn more about careers in financial services. Across the financial sector, around 1,000 internship and traineeship opportunities from 20 financial institutions are available over the next year.

8. Beyond internships and traineeships, we are also bringing education and industry closer together by incorporating more industry perspectives and real-world applications into the curriculum.

Recognising Industry Contributions

9. To our IBF Council, Committees, Workgroups and Exam Boards; as well as our partners from the financial institutions, training ecosystem, Institutes of Higher Learning, trade union and government agencies; thank you for your invaluable contributions and commitment. Your support and collaboration have been instrumental to what we have achieved together year on year.

10. Tonight, we recognise a number of financial institutions for their contributions to skills and talent development. Congratulations to all the award winners.

11. We also celebrate the professional excellence and contributions of our financial sector leaders, through the conferment of eight Distinguished Fellows and recognition of 28 IBF Fellows.

Closing

12. Looking ahead, new technologies will continue to reshape financial services and the way we work while creating new opportunities for the sector. We will need to continue strengthening capabilities, supporting people as roles evolve, and building a strong talent pipeline. This will require a continued and collective effort across the sector.

13. Let me once again congratulate all our award recipients. We look forward to your continued partnership. Thank you.