The Finnies have been postponed, again, to September

Fintech Australia has announced it will postpone the annual Finnies awards until September to give Sydney-based fintechs the chance to be part of the celebrations.

It’s the second time rolling COVID-19 lockdowns have forced the date to shift.

Originally scheduled for June 9, The Finnies awards then moved to July 21, after Victoria went into a week-long snap lockdown in late May. The latest decision to postpone, given the high number of finalists from interstate, was made after the NSW government extended its Sydney lockdown by an extra week to July 16.

The Finnies will now be held on Wednesday, September 15, at The Forum in Melbourne. 

Fintech Australia CEO Rebecca Schot-Guppy said the lockdown extension in Sydney meant it was unlikely that Victoria’s border would open to easy travel for NSW resident in time for the Finnies gala night.

“We understand that the industry is keen on an in-person awards night and we are doing our best to ensure it remains a night to remember,” she said.

Schot-Guppy said that aside from the change of date, all other aspects of the event will go ahead as planned.

“We want to thank everyone in the fintech industry for their understanding,” she said.

Anyone with existing tickets will have their Humanitix link below updated within 24 hours with the new details.

The move comes as metropolitan Melbourne relaxes its COVID-19 restrictions from Friday, July 9, to be in line with regional Victoria.

Masks can come off if you work in an office or factory and for students at school, but remain on for anyone in a customer-facing job.

The one person per two square metres rule applies statewide, including hospitality, gyms and physical recreation venues, community facilities, creative studios and places of worship – provided a COVID check-in marshal is on-site to make sure people are checking in.

Dance floors can have no more than 50 people can be on the dance floor at any one time.

Crowd numbers will increase to to 75% of their capacity at outdoor and indoor stadiums.