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A World in Transition | FMA, Dubai | Matthew Griffin | Futurist Keynote Speaker
In this session keynote speaker Matthew Griffin shows ministers and executives how our world is changing, the challenges it faces, solutions, and underscores the important role financiers have in helping get these solutions funded.
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Griffin, M. (2022) 'A World in Transition | FMA, Dubai | Matthew Griffin | Futurist Keynote Speaker', 311 Institute, 25 March. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/futurist-keynote-a-world-in-transition-uae-fma/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Firstly, thank you to Manilla and the UAE Financial Markets Association and the ACI and ICA, for inviting me to be the keynote at their annual world congress, held in the amazing La Pearle theatre in Dubai’s business district, where finance leaders, ministers, and professionals from across the Middle East came together to discuss the future of the financial services industry and hear about the latest developments in impact investing and emerging technologies.
Over the past decade or so the global financial services industry has seen the arrival of all manner of trends, from the rise of fintechs and decentralised finance, to the emergence of new cloud and digital based business and operating models, as well as the continuing acceleration of the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the rapid automation of the core banking systems. And all this is before we discuss the impact that CBDC’s, cryptocurrencies, NFT’s, Tokenisation, and the emerging so called Metaverse “Meta-Economy” will have on the sector.
Replay and rewind the keynote in full
During my talk I discussed all of these, including their impact on the culture of the industry, its hiring practises and changing role, then highlighted the important role that financiers will play in the years and decades ahead in helping the world overcome and solve some of its greatest challenges such as climate change, energy poverty, hunger, inequality, poverty, and water scarcity.
One of the most interesting things to come out of the session was the feeling of empowerment and hope the audience had after I’d wrapped up with many expressing they didn’t know some of the solutions existed and then just how “easy” and elegant they were. All of which should give us all some hope as the Middle East looks forwards to hosting COP 27 and COP 28 – the latter of which will be held in Dubai.
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Why does this matter?
In this session keynote speaker Matthew Griffin shows ministers and executives how our world is changing, the challenges it faces, solutions, and underscores the important role financiers have in helping get these solutions funded.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Financial Markets Association uaefma.com
- Aci united arab emirates acifma.com
- annual world congress acicadubai.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 25 March 2022. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2022). A World in Transition | FMA, Dubai | Matthew Griffin | Futurist Keynote Speaker. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/futurist-keynote-a-world-in-transition-uae-fma/
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