[News](https://www.payments.ca/insights/news-research?field_article_type=24) # Payments SUMMIT Hosts Canada’s Top Payments, FinTech and Business Leaders to Talk Data, Modernization and Innovation May 15, 2018 **Data as Currency Paves the Way for Payments Modernization** **OTTAWA, May 11, 2018** – This week in Toronto, [The SUMMIT](http://www.thesummit.ca), Canada’s largest payments conference, welcomed a record number of attendees (approximately 1,500) ready to engage, collaborate and partner in payments discussions. Data was the theme of this year’s conference, with a focus on uncovering its true value for business leaders and exploring its impact on payments modernization in Canada. With more than 145 speakers and 73 sessions geared towards payments professionals, along with business and Canadian FinTech start-up leaders, attendees had the opportunity to engage in tangible conversation that questioned and dove deeper into what real change looks like in the payments industry. With a focus on moving past what is currently happening with technology, leaders were challenged to explore key scenarios that could unfold as the payments infrastructure modernization progresses. Overall, The SUMMIT featured some of the biggest names and news in payments, including: - **Toomas Hendrik Ilves**, former President of Estonia, co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Blockchain council - **Frank Abagnale**, renowned cybersecurity and fraud prevention expert, bestselling author and subject of ‘Catch Me If You Can’ - **Bruce Ross**, Group Head, Technology & Operations, RBC - **Asheesh Birla**, SVP of Product at blockchain startup, Ripple - **Ulku Rowe**, Technical Director of Financial Services, Google Cloud - **Bruce Croxon**, digital innovator and co-host of The Disruptors on BNN and CTV - **Bryan Pearson**, President and CEO of LoyaltyOne Co. Attendees ranked the following as the top five sessions this year: - Payments Modernization in Omnicommerce: The future for Retail and B2B payments in Canada - Is the Sharing Economy a Payments Industry? - Open Banking - Opportunities & Challenges - What to expect when you're expecting ISO 20022 - The Growing Opportunity from China Payments Canada would like to thank all the guests, attendees and partners in helping make this year’s The SUMMIT our most successful yet. **About Payments Canada** Payments Canada ensures that financial transactions in Canada are carried out safely and securely each day. The organization underpins the Canadians financial system and economy by owning and operating Canada’s payment clearing and settlement infrastructure, including associated systems, bylaws, rules and standards. The value of payments cleared by Payments Canada’s systems in 2017 was approximately $50 trillion or $200 billion every business day. These encompass a wide range of payments made by Canadians and businesses involving inter-bank transactions, including those made with debit cards, pre-authorized debits, direct deposits, bill payments, wire payments and cheques. Payments Canada is a proud supporter of the Catalyst Accord and The 30% Club. [Return to newsroom](https://www.payments.ca/insights/news-research) ## Keep reading [ ![placeholder.png](/sites/default/files/styles/article/public/placeholder.png?h=5dafd208&itok=qKDbzxAp) News October 1, 2026 ### Payments Canada welcomes six new members as expanded membership... 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