P20, the transatlantic payments initiative, will host its second annual conference in Atlanta on October 9 and 10. This year’s conference will bring together the world’s most influential leaders in payments technology, top U.S., U.K. and Canadian government officials and regulators to discuss the future of the global payments industry. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron will be the featured speaker.

The 2018 P20 Conference, taking place at the Atlanta History Center, will serve as a forum for leaders to discuss progress toward creating greater regulatory clarity, increasing industry and consumer security, fostering collaborative innovation and expanding financial inclusion in the payments industry. More than 150 senior leaders from across the globe, representing applicable government agencies, industry advocacy groups, financial institutions, payments processors, fintech companies and academic institutions will be in attendance.

“After months of planning, we are excited to have P20 members and delegates convene in the United States for the first time,” said Bruce Lowthers, P20 conference chairman and chief operating officer of FIS. “With payments and financial technology playing a vital role in our society and economy, it’s important to host a conference where senior leaders and officials can share ideas that will move the world forward into the future.”

“As a P20 board member, First Data is pleased to bring a member or our Chairman’s Advisory Board, former British Prime Minister David Cameron, to this conference,” said Barry C. McCarthy, executive vice president and head of network and security solutions of First Data Corporation. “Prime Minister Cameron’s distinguished career offers conference attendees a unique glimpse into geopolitical affairs and an inside view of his transformative leadership that has inspired millions around the world.”

“With key leaders and organizations from the payments industry meeting together under one roof, we have the ability to effect change, not only on a transatlantic scale, but on a global scale,” said H. West Richards, P20 president and founder, and executive director of American Transaction Processors Coalition.

Created by the American Transaction Processors Coalition, P20 connects Atlanta’s flourishing “Transaction Alley” of payment processors with the financial capital of the world, London, by rotating the annual conference between the two cities and creating an international platform that includes executives and officials from both countries.

Dedicated to making payments accessible, affordable and secure for all, P20’s goals for the second year of the conference include:

• Promoting awareness of the unique and growing position the payments industry holds in the global economy

• Identifying challenges and opportunities in policies governing the payments industry

• Collaborating internationally to offer best practices for the four guiding pillars of P20 – cybersecurity, innovation, regulation and financial inclusion with a specific emphasis on regulation and cyber-security

The following local, regional, national and international government leaders and officials are expected to make remarks at the conference:

• Nathan Deal, governor of Georgia

• U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY, 6) chairman, Monetary Policy Subcommittee, House Committee on Financial Services

• Antony Phillipson, Her Majesty’s consul general of New York and trade commissioner for North America

• David MacNaughton, Canada’s ambassador to the United States

• Kipp Kranbuhl, Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions – U.S. Dept. of the Treasury

• Andrew Staunton, British consul general – Atlanta

• Richard Price, chief economist – United Kingdom

• U.S. Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA)

• U.S. Congresswoman Karen Handel (R-GA)

• U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA)

• U.S. Congressman Rob Woodall (R-GA)

• Tom Price, Former White House Cabinet Secretary and U.S. House Budget Committee Chairman

• Keisha Lance Bottoms, Mayor – City of Atlanta

• Patrick Wilson, GDeCD Commissioner – State of Georgia

Additionally, the conference will include presentations and panel discussions from P20 board members and delegates about the organization’s four pillars and several pressing topics, including identity verification, cyber risks, General Data Protection Regulation, regulatory technology/open banking and innovation sandboxes.

Following this year’s event in Atlanta, the P20 conference is scheduled to return to London in 2019.