Look Forward to Presentations From...
We've started our call out for speakers for our 2023 event. If you have a finance, procurement, supply chain or automation story to share, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We'd love to hear from you.
Rebecca Howard, Head of Supplier Relationship Management, Coventry Building Society
Rebecca leads the Supplier Relationship Management team and is responsible for developing partnership relationships with suppliers to drive mutual value and continuous improvement. Rebecca is a recognised industry thought leader in the field of Procurement learning & development and supplier negotiation, with a focus on enhanced supplier management capability throughout the organisation. She is an evangelist for the supply chain sustainability agenda and as part of this, champions effective P2P practices that support innovative commercial models and empower developing suppliers.
Robert Brooker - Head of Fraud & Forensics, PKF GM
Robert Brooker is Head of Fraud & Forensics at PKF GM, an accounting firm and delivers risk-based strategic fraud prevention, detection and investigation services to a range of private businesses and the public sector.
A leading figure with more than 20 years’ experience, Robert specialises in the prevention, detection & recovery of loss. The investigation of crime including online fraud, security breaches, cybercrime, IP and the insider threat. His investigations have resulted in regulatory sanctions and criminal, disciplinary and civil recovery actions. Prior to joining PKF, Robert was Head of Fraud at TFL where he managed a team of investigators, prevention staff and data analysts to support the authority’s risk and assurance strategy.
Rakesh Sangani, Proservartner CEO
Rakesh is a recognised thought leader in business transformation, shared services and outsourcing and regularly presents at conferences in Europe, Asia and North America. With considerable experience within industry and board-level roles within the NHS and charity sector, he has the gravitas to influence executives and build strategic relationships.
Since founding Proservartner in 2008, Rakesh has been dedicated to the success of the organisation, building a team of highly skilled practitioners and developing industry-leading approaches.
He has been recognised as one of the most influential leaders in shared services and outsourcing, and nominated for Advisor of the Year at the National Outsourcing Association’s Awards. He is a qualified chartered accountant, certified project manager and Black Belt Lean Six Sigma.
Anders Liu-Lindberg, COO, Business Partnering Institute
Anders co-founded the Business Partnering Institute because to crack the code on Business Partnering and unlock the value potential hidden in finance functions around the world. By helping them adopt a business partner mindset, they'll instantly move closer to the business and start creating value together. BPI aim to be the catalyst for change in Finance and help individuals and organisations to change in a digital world where the finance function of tomorrow looks very different from that of yesterday. Anders draws on his experience as a Senior Finance Business Partner at Maersk.
Lubnah Alam, Director Of Financial Operations, EG Group
Lubnah’s passion is to drive change through people, process and systems whilst challenging the status quo. Having a clear, logical mind with a practical approach to problem solving and a drive to see things through to completion has made her a force to be reckoned with in the industry.
From working in multiple sectors (Public/Manufacturing/Telecoms/Housing/Construction/Education) and now Retail, she has gained the experience and skills to become an accomplished leader in the Shared Services space. This experience was enhanced recently, by completing an 11 month assignment in Karachi, Pakistan for Aga Khan University in setting up a Global HR Shared Services function.
Being a Qualified accountant and an ambitious people leader, with c15 years of experience of setting up and enabling Finance Shared Services, coupled with ERP implementations, her passion about Business Transformation (keeping it simple) and enabling a Growth Mind-set within teams, shines through, injecting some fun along the way too!
Javed Bobat, Finance Recruiter, Mental Health Advocate and Workplace Wellbeing Speaker
Founder of Fide - Ethical Finance Recruitment and F=@#! Mental Health CIC
Javed Bobat has a rare skill set where he is a mental health speaker, workplace well-being advocate, Mental Health First Aid instructor AND Finance Recruiter!
He is the founder of Fide and F=@#! Mental Health CIC, a non-profit he set up in 2019 to raise mental health awareness, specifically within the accounting and finance profession and their workplaces. Through the CIC, he provides one-on-one mental health support to individuals and line managers. In addition he also delivers Mental Health First Aid training, bespoke mental health/workplace wellbeing training, talks, workshops and events.
He has worked with some notable businesses, from FTSE100 business like Burberry and other blue chip companies including Asda and Liberty Global, through to finance institutes including ICAEW, Chartered Institute of Taxation and First Intution in addition to growing SMEs.
He set it up as a give-back venture on the back of his own lived experience around anxiety, depression, burnout, suicide ideation, addiction and substance misuse.
He funds and sustains his non-profit through the revenues he generates from his other company Fide. Fide is a groundbreaking, ethical recruitment business that combines finance recruitment with mental health. He gives each company he works for a wellbeing budget each time he recruits for them.
Philip King, FMCA, CGMA, ADGBS – Senior Director – Global Business
Services & Finance Advisory, The Hackett Group
Phil has 28 years of experience in finance transformation, shared services, global
business services (GBS) and business process outsourcing, in both industry and
consulting.
He currently advises a portfolio of clients in Hackett’s advisory membership
programs in GBS and finance and is the SME and community leader for the
Hackett Institute’s Advanced Diploma and Diploma in Global Business Services.
Phil is passionate about GBS, shared services & finance functions moving to
value-added services supported by talented people.
Susan Ní Chríodáin, Founder of Beyond The Numbers
Leadership development coach, facilitator, and former finance director Susan Ní Chríodáin founded Beyond the Numbers to create more emotionally aware workplaces. She is an award-winning chartered accountant with a Big 4 background. Through a career that spanned three continents and a range of leadership roles, she learned that success demands bravery, boldness and building strong working relationships; technical skills are only half the story. Susan works with individuals and teams who know that putting people first generates the greatest return. Her popular podcast, Life Beyond the Numbers, is for people who are curious about having a more fulfilling work-life.
Sarah Furness MA Cantab RAF
Founder of Well Be It| Keynote Speaker|Bestselling Author | Executive Coach| Helicopter Pilot |Thought leader | Mindfulness Coach |Cognitive therapist.
After graduating from Cambridge University, Sarah followed her dream to become a combat helicopter pilot in the RAF. As a Squadron Leader she led on operational combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. During her experiences both at home and at war, she made two important discoveries;
- resilience and performance under pressure is NOT instinctive
- BUT humans have an extraordinary ability to thrive and even excel under pressure when they know how.
She now has ONE mission. To share the secret to outstanding resilience, performance and courage “under fire”.
Sarah is the No1 Best Selling author of FLY HIGHER - train your mind to feel as strong as you look. All of her mental training techniques are backed by science and proven in combat. She is fluent in “alpha male” and whilst she takes her work seriously, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. She has a 7 year old son who she adores and who inspires her every day.
Liz Barclay - Small Business Commissioner
Liz Barclay is a small business and consumer affairs broadcaster, producer and writer. She started her career as an adviser and then CEO with Citizens Advice before moving into radio and TV production and presentation specialising in business and consumer affairs. She is Financial Inclusion Commissioner; Chair of the Fair by Design Campaign; a non-executive Director of 2 organisations and a member of the Standards Boards of The Equity Release Council.
Liz has worked with Boards and small businesses on improving governance, trust and culture, inclusion, and understanding customer behaviour. She coaches communication and presentation skills, chairs national and international conferences and has written several books on business.
Liz was appointed the role of Small Business Commissioner in July 2021 to spearhead the national effort to crackdown on poor payment practices which cause thousands of small businesses to close every year.
Jason Roberts, CEO & Founder, Kaleida
Hailing from Brixton, South London, after 24 years working in the financial services industry in both banking, and sales, Jason was frequently reminded of his diverse identity. From the lack of representation in boardrooms, to being made aware that his 6’ 5" frame was intimidating, he experienced prejudice, bias and discrimination that impacted opportunities.
In 2021, Jason launched Kaleida International, a fully-inclusive, B2B marketplace for tenders focused on helping buyers find, assess and invite diverse suppliers to tender.
Dan Foley - Finance Shared Services Director, Kier Group
A Renowned International Award Winning Senior Professional and Leader with over 20 years’ experience in various dynamic Blue Chip organisations, such as Premier Foods, ITV, Mouchel and M&S, with significant Business Transformation, Organisational, Operational and Change Delivery/Management experience; excellent Operational, Commercial, Business, Process and Finance knowledge as well as matured CRM and Programme Management skillset.
Matt Duncan, Managing Director, Protiviti
Matthew Duncan is a Managing Director in the Business Performance Improvement practice in Protiviti in the UK, one of the world’s leading global management consultancies. Matt is a highly motivated senior leader with over 18 years’ experience across a broad number of industries. He enjoys working as a trusted advisor to C suite clients, solving their most complex problems and where he specialises in delivering high profile, large scale, transformational change and has a track record of delivering lasting business benefits. Matt previously worked for The Berkeley Partnership and Accenture.
Clive Davis, Executive Director, Robert Half
Clive has over 25 years recruitment experience leading and working with Robert Half talent solutions teams in various UK and international locations including the Benelux, the UAE, Brazil and Chile. Clive’s deep experience of talent delivery, excellent knowledge of working across different country markets and sensitivity to cultural diversities is informed by his extensive “story-telling” knowledge of how to attract the best candidates to grow businesses. Sensitive to ongoing discussion about the Future of Work, Clive is an experienced speaker with access to data from many recent Robert Half sponsored studies focussed upon leading, hiring and working in an ever-changing hybrid work environment.
James Perry, Exam & Career Coach
James Perry is a respected professional in accounting and finance, known for his ability to guide and mentor individuals to achieve their professional and personal aspirations. He has a successful career in the industry and is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Ulster. James offers a range of services through his consultancy business, including his "Accounting Exam Accelerator" and "Accounting Career Accelerator" programs, as well as corporate workshops. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant, Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Authority, holds a Masters Degree in Advanced Accounting, a First-Class Honours Degree in Accounting, and an Executive Coaching certification.
He is a Northern Ireland Top 40 Under 40 2018 & 2019 and has assisted hundreds of students and professionals in reaching their goals. James is also an adventurous traveller who brings a unique perspective to his work and clients.
Dave Jones - Indirect & Technology Procurement leader
Dave Jones is an IT and indirect/technology procurement leader who has worked for several leading businesses including John Lewis, Waitrose, Efficio, Thames Water and Vodafone. For example, Dave worked at The John Lewis Partnership where he headed up IT Procurement for Waitrose and supported the business deliver a complete source to settle systems transformation. Dave is also one the founders of Proctopus which is a global networking group.
Shelsea Adrian, Yooz
Shelsea has over 10 years experience in International Sales and Customer Services, including several years helping global clients to improve their internal processes and gain efficiency in both B2B and B2C sectors.
Shelsea is seen as a trusted advisor who helps companies of all sizes implement adapted strategies and reach their full potential.
Sheryl Miller ACA MBA - Diversity Consultant, Author, Public Speaker, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant
Sheryl Miller is the author of Smashing Stereotypes. A Chartered accountant by background, Sheryl is an award-winning entrepreneur who’s worked with large global corporates for nearly thirty years. She is the co-founder of Reboot Global, which transforms the lives of busy professionals and business owners.
Deborah Jones, UK Sales Director, Proactis
Deborah has been assisting leading organisations within the area of Spend Control and eProcurement for over 5 years. She has been helping customers private and public sector organisations of the calibre of Screwfix Direct, Government Property Agency, P&O Ferrymasters and Four Seasons Healthcare to achieve proven, tangible benefits through a consultative led approach of combining performance benchmarking, innovative software solutions and process best practice.
At Proactis, Deborah is the UK Sales Director and works closely with customers, prospects and strategic partners to promote Proactis solutions and services across the entire spectrum of Spend Management.
Will Craven, Tradeshift
Vice President for EMEA with over two decades of experience in ERP, finance, supply chain, and program delivery. Currently leading Tradeshift’s EMEA business which includes some of the world’s largest travel, transport, and logistics companies.
Christopher Blake, Basware
Christopher Blake is a seasoned marketing leader with a wealth of experience in building brands, creating impactful campaigns, and driving growth. His expertise lies in understanding customer behavior and developing innovative strategies that resonate with target audiences. Christopher has a proven track record of successfully launching new, innovative products and services. His career has seen him work internationally in countries including Japan, Italy, Czech Republic and The Netherlands. Chris leads proposition marketing at Basware, the no.1 global vendor in AP Automation.
Conor McGrath, Tradeshift