ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI — As the British Virgin Islands prepares to host some of the world’s leading voices in financial technology, regulation and digital innovation, a new partnership between BVI Finance and the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) is ensuring that those conversations extend beyond industry insiders and into the wider community.
The two organisations have joined forces to host BVI NextWave: Digital Assets Discovery Day, a free public event designed to give residents, students, entrepreneurs and professionals direct access to emerging trends shaping the future of global finance.
The event, powered by BVI Finance’s flagship Fintech on the Seas conference, is scheduled for June 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Robert Mathavious Institute in the Oleander Building at Port Purcell, Tortola.
Organisers say the initiative reflects a shared commitment to making discussions surrounding digital assets, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and financial innovation more accessible to the Virgin Islands community.
While Fintech on the Seas will bring together international policymakers, regulators, investors and technology leaders at Oil Nut Bay and Necker Island from June 22 to 24, BVI NextWave is intended to translate those high-level discussions into practical insights that can benefit residents and local businesses.
The conference will feature a Regulatory and Policy Summit involving regulators from the United States, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. Discussions are expected to focus on digital asset regulation, compliance standards, anti-money laundering frameworks, tokenisation, governance and emerging financial technologies.
Building on those conversations, Discovery Day participants will have the opportunity to explore how digital assets and blockchain technology are being applied in real-world settings, gain a better understanding of Web3 and fintech developments, and learn how evolving technologies are transforming financial services globally.
Chief Executive Officer of BVI Finance, Elise Donovan, said the organisation sees education and community engagement as critical components of the Territory’s long-term success in the digital finance sector.
“We’re really proud of the impact Fintech on the Seas has on the global fintech calendar and the respect it has earned within the financial services industry,” Donovan said. “But we are equally committed to helping develop the next generation of financial services and digital assets professionals on island. It is critical that the valuable insights generated at the conference help educate the local community too.”
Donovan added that the partnership with HLSCC and the launch of BVI NextWave provide an important opportunity to bridge the gap between global industry developments and local learning.
Executive Director of the Robert Mathavious Institute, Chidi Liburd, described the initiative as an extension of the institute’s mission to make world-class financial services education accessible within the Territory.
“The Robert Mathavious Institute exists to make world-class financial services education accessible right here in the Virgin Islands,” Liburd said. “This partnership opens the door for the wider community to learn from global industry leaders, gain practical insight into digital finance, and better understand how these technologies are shaping a financial services sector that is so vital to our economy.”
Featured speakers for the event include Kingsley Advani, Chairman of the Advani Family Office and CEO of Allocations; Mark Mariampillai, founder of Tokuti and a specialist in the tokenisation of real-world assets; and digital assets strategist Ashley Wright, whose work focuses on blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.
Organisers say attendance is free, but registration is required as seating is limited.
The initiative comes as digital assets, blockchain applications and artificial intelligence continue to reshape industries worldwide, positioning the Virgin Islands to engage more directly in conversations that are increasingly influencing the future of finance.
Through the partnership, HLSCC and BVI Finance hope to ensure that while the Territory hosts global leaders discussing the future of financial innovation, Virgin Islanders themselves are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to participate in that future.