Will Banks- Deputy Chairman of the Business Council for Banking and Trade Finance.
Introducing Will Banks, he brings over two decades of international expertise in leading businesses through financial regulatory authorizations, mobilizations, and crisis management, whilst serving in senior financial and board level executive positions. He has dedicated his career to building, advising, and managing global financial service institutions and start-ups, successfully venturing into traditional retail and investment banks, neo banks, electronic money institutions, and brokerages.
Throughout his career, Will has gained a reputation as an effective and equitable business leader, with a results-driven approach that consistently improves business performance through an inclusive approach. Having managed Global Markets balance sheets of up to £234b while working for the ‘big 4’ clearing banks in the UK, he progressed quickly through the ranks via multiple promotions.
Will has been sought-out for various roles, including writing the Credit Guarantee Scheme mechanism for the UK’s Quantitative Easing Programme during the GFC for Her Majesty’s Debt Management Office and being appointed to the Senior Management Team of TSB, engaged in the prominent Lloyds Banking Group divestment programme. He has also accepted CEO and CFO positions for several fintech start-ups.
His extensive experience and reputation in the international arena were recognized in 2019 when he was headhunted by the Australian Federal Government and granted permanent residency through the exclusive “Distinguishing Talent Visa Program.” in just 2.5 weeks. This resulted in Will becoming the first migrant from Europe and the global fintech sector to receive this rare visa.
Since then, Will founded Infinity, a pioneering Australian fintech, under the aegis of his firm DayTek Capital, which he subsequently sold to an investment fund two years later, facilitating the launch of UnionPay into the Australian market. Will has launched several other businesses and is recognized as a market’s pundit. He has also been appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Banking and Business Council of the International Trade Council, Washington DC.
Beyond his professional achievements, Will is committed to supporting students at Griffith University, QUT, and UQ. He serves as an Adjunct Industry Expert (Department of Business Strategy & Innovation), Expert in Residence (Department of Business Strategy & Innovation), Executive Advisor (Exec MBA), Alumni Ambassador for Entrepreneurship, mentor (Business School), and Industry Fellow (Faculty for Business & Law). Will is also an Advisory Board member of London’s Roehampton University, Business School, where in 2023, he was honored with a prestigious professorship of Business and Law.
In notable features published by CEO World Magazine and Forbes in 2023, Will was lauded as:
“His influence extends far beyond his own ventures, and will leave an everlasting imprint on the world of finance.