The IFX Forum has just launched the Liaison and Interoperability Working Group (LIWG), following approval of its charter by the Steering Committee.  The new Working Group is chartered to be a center of expertise within the IFX Forum for interoperability and communications with external standards bodies. 

The LIWG will recommend strategies, tactics and content for the IFX standard that advance the goal of interoperability with external standards.  The new working group will oversee activities such as pilot projects, proof-of-concept projects and submissions to ISO, which will further the IFX Forum's leadership position in the financial services industry.  The LIWG will immediately take responsibility for IFX submissions to ISO 20022, where we have several initiatives in progress. We will issue updates as the LIWG takes on new projects.  

"The IFX Forum has always emphasized an international outlook and collaborative approach to standards development, which are becoming increasingly important with the widespread trend toward adoption of ISO 20022 and similar standards, and this new Working Group formalizes that orientation," said Richard P. Urban, President of the IFX Forum.  "I urge IFX Forum member financial institutions and other interested companies to join and actively participate in the LIWG, so that we can work together to benefit the global financial community."

If you're interested in joining this Working Group (you must be employed by a member of the IFX Forum), send a message to Judith Vanderkay, info@ifxforum.org.  Mailing lists and a collaborative workspace on the members-only website are being set up.

Once again - it's becoming a tradition - we will have a "virtual face-to-face" meeting in February, instead of braving winter storms and flight cancellations to hold a physical meeting.  We'll meet via teleconference/web conference for half-days Tuesday through Thursday, February 15-17, and we'll cover the same ground that an open Architecture meeting would cover at a typical quarterly meeting.  All members are invited to participate. 

The sessions will run from 9 AM to 1 PM Eastern.  A detailed schedule is being drawn up and will be posted for members.  Teleconference and web conference information will be sent to all member representatives as well.  If you have any questions, send a message to info@ifxforum.org.  

Please save the dates - the IFX Forum's 2011 Annual Meeting is being held this year at the facility of ACI Worldwide in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, the week of May 1.  At this event, the membership will elect candidates to the Board of Directors, and Forum leaders will provide an update on the state of the organization.  The new Liaison & Interoperability Working Group will hold its first in-person meeting, and we hope that there will be some special guests in attendance as well.

Our hotel will be the Omaha Marriott.  Hotel reservation information, a specific schedule, and a registration facility will be linked from the Forum's home page at www.ifxforum.org.

As always, prospective Forum members are welcome to attend a face-to-face meeting to get a sense of how the Forum operates.  The meeting fee of $695 per person will be applied toward the first year's dues if your company joins the IFX Forum within 60 days.