Overview

This webinar will consider the following points relating to smart ledgers (also known as blockchain or distributed ledgers):

  • what makes smart ledgers more or less secure?
  • how can they facilitate better security architectures?
  • what about personal privacy and GDPR?
  • what about the threat of quantum computing to public-key cryptography?
  • hat barriers are there to smart ledgers, and can they be overcome?

Speaker

Professor Michael Mainelli, Director, Z/Yen Group Limited FCCA

Michael is an ACCA member who co-founded Z/Yen, the City of London's leading commercial think-tank and venture firm, in 1994 to promote societal advance through better finance and technology. Z/Yen boasts a core team of respected professionals as well as numerous associates, and is well-capitalised due to successful spin-outs and ventures. A qualified accountant, securities professional, computer specialist and management consultant, educated at Harvard University and Trinity College Dublin, Michael gained his PhD at London School of Economics where he was also a Visiting Professor. His PhD was on the application of risk/reward methodologies involving chaotic systems. Michael's career summary is a decade of technology research, followed by a decade in finance, then two decades at Z/Yen.

At Z/Yen, Michael's speciality is enhancing the performance of profit-making, charitable and government organisations and investments in conditions of high uncertainty. Michael has worked in the public sector on privatisations and strategy; in the private sector in a variety of industries (banking, insurance, manufacturing, media, retail, utilities, television, distribution) on problems ranging from strategy through information systems, quality, human resources, environmental systems and R&D; and in the voluntary sector on a number of assignments to improve performance. Michael's current research interests at Z/Yen include those of Long Finance.

Michael has held numerous advisory posts, for example with Hitachi UK, HM Treasury and BIS/BEIS, as well as sitting on editorial boards for the Journal of Strategic Change and Journal of Business Strategy. He lectures widely around the world and has published over 50 journal articles, 180 commercial articles and four books. 

Your speaker

  • Michael Mainelli

    Professor Michael Mainelli

    director, Z/Yen Group Limited