Collaboration and innovation will shape the future of financial services, Cork Financial Services Fo

Cork Chamber and the Cork Financial Services Forum hosted the Cork Financial Services Forum Annual Summit 2025, welcoming industry leaders, policymakers and innovators from across Ireland’s financial services sector.

The summit has become an annual highlight of the financial services calendar, providing a platform for networking, collaboration and insight into the sector’s evolving landscape. There are 135,000 people employed in financial services in Ireland, with Cork and the broader South-West region accounting for 8.3% of this workforce, underlining the region’s growing significance in the national financial services landscape.

This year’s keynote address was delivered Minister of State with Responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance, Robert Troy TD, who spoke on the future of Ireland’s international financial services sector and the strategic importance of regional growth.

Minister Troy said, “With one in four international financial services jobs based outside of Dublin, gatherings such as these emphasise the true national spread of the sector. Regionalisation is a key pillar in the current Ireland for Finance strategy, the whole of Government approach to the international financial services sector, and it will remain an important element as we deliver a new strategy in early 2026. Cork has significant strength across funds and asset management, but also innovative fintechs to support these industries and others. These are firms who contribute significantly to the local and international economy, and it is testament to the work of the Cork Financial Services Forum and Cork Chamber to maintain and grow this strong ecosystem.”

Chair of the Cork Financial Services Forum, David Bennett, emphasised the importance of the summit in bringing together industry expertise, “This year’s summit demonstrated the value of collaboration across the sector, from regulation and asset management to innovation and sustainability. The insights shared today reflect the strength and depth of Cork’s financial services community, and the collective ambition driving the region’s continued growth.

Events like this are not only about sharing expertise, but also about building lasting partnerships that support Cork’s position as a key player in Ireland’s financial services landscape. The engagement we’ve seen highlights a shared commitment to ensuring Cork continues to evolve as a centre for excellence, innovation and opportunity in financial services.”

Speaking at the event, Cork Chamber President Rob Horgan highlighted Cork’s growing role as a financial hub, “Cork is already an important hub for Ireland’s financial services sector, offering a dynamic environment for innovation, investment, and talent development. The region continues to go from strength to strength as Ireland's second-largest financial services centre, with a competitive and collaborative ecosystem. It is essential that Cork continues to thrive as a centre for financial services. This means investing in the enabling infrastructure that will sustain growth, from connectivity and housing to talent and innovation supports, ensuring that Cork remains an attractive place to grow, collaborate and innovate.”
 
The summit featured two panel discussions:

• The Future of Financial Regulation: Challenges and Opportunities, featuring insights from Mícheál O' Keeffe (Central Bank of Ireland), John Casey, (South East Technological University and Funds Academy Programme Leader) and Geraldine Brehony (Irish Funds).
• The Next Frontier in Asset Management, with contributions from Helen O' Beirne (Mercer), Colm McDonagh (Insight Investment Management Europe), Kevin Coughlan (J.P. Morgan Asset Management) and David O’Neill (HANetf EU Limited).