BIS Appoints Beju Shah as New Leader of Toronto’s Innovation Hub
The launch of the Toronto Innovation Centre marks a significant milestone in the exploration of emerging technologies in the financial sector. Supported by the Bank of Canada, this centre opened its doors in June 2022, aiming to advance innovative solutions across Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Leadership and Vision of the Toronto Innovation Centre
At the helm of the Nordic Centre of the BIS Innovation Hub since 2022, Shah brings extensive experience in spearheading initiatives focused on:
- Cybersecurity and cyber resilience
- Prevention of financial crimes
- The future of money and payment systems
- Artificial intelligence applications in finance
Prior to his role at the BIS, Shah dedicated a decade to the Bank of England, where he led various large-scale data, technology, and business transformation projects.
Focus Areas of the Toronto Innovation Centre
The Toronto Innovation Centre is centered on three primary objectives, which align with the BIS’s six priority themes for its Innovation Hub:
- Next-generation financial market infrastructures
- Innovation for regulatory, supervisory, and oversight purposes
- Open finance initiatives
In addition to these focal points, the other priority themes include:
- Cybersecurity
- Green finance
- Central bank digital currencies
A Global Network of Innovation Hubs
Toronto stands out as the first BIS Innovation Hub Centre established in the Americas, joining a global network that includes six other centres located in:
- Switzerland
- The Eurosystem
- London
- The Nordics
- Hong Kong
- Singapore
This strategic positioning reinforces Toronto’s role as a key player in the development of financial technologies on a global scale.
For further insights into the initiatives and goals of the BIS Innovation Hub, you can visit the official BIS website.