24 September 2026 – The Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) held its annual Distinction Evening today with Mr. Gan Kim Yong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), as the Guest of Honour.
DPM Gan delivered the keynote address and launched the IBF AI Workforce Co-lab with 23 financial institutions. He also announced the launch of the Job Redesign Playbook for Financial Services by IBF, in partnership with the Institute for Human Resources Professionals (IHRP) and Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA). DPM Gan also witnessed the signing of an enhanced tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between IBF, the NTUC Financial and Professional Services Cluster of Unions, and seven financial industry associations to support workforce transformation in the financial sector.
IBF Inspire and Advance Awards
The annual event recognises industry leaders and financial institutions for their professional excellence, exemplary thought leadership, and significant contributions to the advancement of Singapore’s financial sector.
The IBF Inspire Award was conferred on DBS, Manulife and UOB in recognition of their significant achievements and strong commitment to skills development, workforce transformation and talent pipeline development, both across the financial sector and within their respective organisations.
The IBF Advance Award (Workforce Development) was conferred on Citi, Prudential and UBS AG in recognition of their strong commitment to developing young, mid-career and leadership talent through their workforce development initiatives. This the first year that Citi and UBS AG have received this award.
The Workforce Transformation Award, jointly presented by IBF and SWDA, was conferred on OCBC in recognition of its strong commitment to holistic workforce transformation. Through a robust employee development ecosystem, OCBC empowers its workforce to continuously learn, adapt, and grow, while fostering a culture of career resilience, adaptability, and future readiness.
IBF Distinguished Fellow and Fellow Awards
Eight industry veterans were conferred the prestigious IBF Distinguished Fellow award. This award recognises industry captains who are the epitome of professional stature, integrity, and achievements. They embody professional competence and commitment to industry development and serve as beacons of excellence for the financial sector.
28 industry leaders were conferred the IBF Fellow award. This award recognises industry specialists and leaders who have demonstrated mastery of a profession and exemplify thought leadership and commitment to industry development in the financial sector.
Please refer to Annex A for the full list of IBF award recipients, Annex B for the list of financial institutions participating in the IBF AI Workforce Co-Lab and Annex C for profiles of financial sector professionals from financial institutions which are participating in the IBF AI Workforce Co-lab.