An extremely productive event, providing me with exposure to a number of suppliers in an expedient way, who can now be further assessed for their suitability for solving our business needs. Workshops and seminars add to the overall informative experience.
Finance Director
Adure
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Conference
The conference programme is drafted following consultation with key senior finance professionals.
Facilitated discussion groups enable delegates to explore issues and share best practice with others in the finance industry.
Outstanding keynote speakers help delegates access the latest thinking. As the speakers and sessions are confirmed they will be posted on here.
Contact us if you would like to contribute to the programme, either with ideas for content or as a discussion leader.
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The future - opportunities and risks for finance
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| Opening keynote |
| Professor Ian Goldin, Director, James Martin 21st Century School, University of Oxford |
Technological and economic growth have the potential to lead the 21st century to being the best period of human existence on the planet, but there are challenges. Professor Goldin will examine the key demographic, economic, political and technological changes of the coming decades focusing on both the opportunities and risks for finance. He will highlight the extent to which the scale of issues with which we are faced is unprecedented, and understanding their influence and impact is critical. The tidal wave of globalization has created a pace of change that has not been experienced in any previous century. Our challenge and opportunity is to embrace this rapid evolution while working to ensure that globalization is sustainable and not reversed. Professor. Ian Goldin shares his view of this new world and the risks and rewards for businesses and individuals around the globe.
Ian was appointed as the first Director of the Oxford Martin School in September 2006. He has previously held positions as Vice President of the World Bank (2003-2006), Director of Development Policy at the World Bank (2001-2003), Chief Executive of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (1996-2001) and adviser to President Nelson Mandela.
Professor Goldin has a BA (Hons) and BSc from the University of Cape Town, an MSc from the London School of Economics and an MA and Doctorate from the University of Oxford.
He has published 13 books, been knighted (Chevalier) by the French Government and holds a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College. |
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Management of systemic risk
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| Industry session |
| Professor Ian Goldin, Director, James Martin 21st Century School, University of Oxford |
Recent decades of globalisation have created a more interconnected, interdependent and complex world than ever witnessed before. While global policy has focused on facilitating integration, the implications of growing interdependence have been largely ignored. The acceleration in global integration has brought many benefits, but it also has created fragility through the production of new kinds of systemic risks. The workshop provides a framework for understanding these new 21st Century systemic risks and examines the challenges they pose to global governance. The 2008-2009 financial crisis will be used to illustrate the failure of even sophisticated global institutions to manage the underlying forces of systemic risk. The failure of the most developed and best-equipped global governance system, finance, to recognise or manage the new vulnerabilities associated with globalisation in the 21st Century highlights the scale and urgency of the challenge of systemic risk. |
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Words from the wise
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| Panel Session |
| Chairman: Richard Young, freelance writer & editor, panel members: Paul Hinder, Non Exec CFO; Ashley Martin, Non-Executive Director & Audit Committee Chair, Rightmove plc; Jim Weight, investor in distressed businesses |
As a senior finance professional, how often do you get an opportunity to ask for advice and opinions from fellow FDs - especially those with a wealth of experience? It's easy enough to get answers on technical questions from your auditor - but what about the best ways to communicate, influence your board colleagues or handle tricky situations? What about your next career move? Operating under the Chatham House Rule, this panel is the ideal forum to share your thoughts.
The "Word from the wise" panel session will allow delegates to ask the views of three veteran CFOs with over 80 years of experience between them, covering quoted companies, private equity and private businesses, from start-ups to billion-pound turnover groups.
Questions are welcomed on a whole range of areas from boardroom politics, becoming a NED, turning companies around, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, entrepreneurship, growing companies, investor relations, strategy... anything, in fact, that you've wanted to discuss with fellow FDs, but have never had the chance. |
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Finance and strategy: a moving target
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| Industry session |
| Jim Buckle, Chief Operating Officer, LoveFilm, session chaired by Richard Young, freelance writer & editor |
Jim Buckle is CFO-turned-COO of LoveFilm, the DVD rental and movie streaming company now owned by Amazon.com. In this session moderated by Richard Young, Jim will explain how important strategy is to a business in such a fast-moving industry and will discuss the challenges of working with a business model with a built-in time limit. |
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Obscured by clouds: the hidden agenda risks that could threaten the integrity of your IT business case
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| Industry session |
| Colin Beveridge, management troubleshooter and independent strategic adviser |
Unexpected cost and disappointment have too often been the undesirable outcomes of IT investment, which reinforces the paramount importance of business case integrity. However, the emergence of so-called cloud computing seems to offer attractive mitigation opportunities; through pay-as-you-go, scalable and cost-transparent service models.
Perhaps paradoxically, given its name, “the cloud” is seen by many as the antidote to years of IT obfuscation and complexity.
But, of course, not every cloud will have a silver lining; just because many of the implications and dimensions of complexity of cloud services may not be immediately apparent to the casual observer does not mean that they are absent. The headline pricing of cloud might seem clear but the true costs of non-ownership need to be properly investigated and expressed before investment.
This highly interactive presentation will explore some of the finer points and will provide you with the insight to be able to manage the transition of your business systems, through better awareness of issues that may otherwise remain off the corporate radar. |
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Successful acquisition strategies - avoiding the challenges and pitfalls
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| Industry seminar/workshop |
| David Fawcus, Corporate Finance Lead Adviser |
An interactive session looking at the following areas:
1. Setting your acquisition criteria – what is important from the potential acquirers prospective?
2. Identifying and approaching acquisition targets to get the best initial engagement.
3. Understanding the mentality of SME entrepreneurial business owners in their approach to the transaction process.
4. Bridging the gap between the purchasers and vendors perception of opportunity and risk. Dealing with value perception differences and creating appropriate win/win scenarios.
5. Overcoming practical problems and issues that often arise to ensure an efficient deal process.
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Understanding the business case for social media
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| Industry session |
| Charlie Osmond, Co-Founder & Director, FreshNetworks |
Using best practice and case study examples with measurable ROI, Charlie Osmond will take delegates though how an effective social media strategy can be developed, helping delegates understand and assess the business case for their own companies.
In his refreshingly frank presentation Charlie will not pander to the social media hype-machine and will explain why focusing on social media for marketing may be the least effective approach for your business.
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How to become a consultant FD
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| Interactive Peer-to-Peer Discussion Group |
| Moderated by: Paul Hinder, Non Exec CFO |
An interactive discussion group looking at:
- What does it mean to you (career and personal life) and will you enjoy the lifestyle?
- How can you get started?
- What does a typical client look like and how do you find them?
- How do you charge clients and what kind of living can you make?
- What can you do to increase your level of success?
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The first steps to becoming a NED
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| Interactive Peer-to-Peer Discussion Group |
| Moderated by: Ashley Martin, Non Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair, Rightmove plc |
A non-executive directorship is an obvious next step for a finance director looking for a new challenge or simply to widen their experience. However it is not an easy position to earn. This interactive discussion group will look at the following areas:
- Is it for you? – what does the role entail?
- What are the key attributes a Non Exec needs?
- How do I go about becoming a Non Exec?
- What experience is essential to gain for your CV to best suit a NED position?
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Additionally confirmed speakers, moderators and topics under consideration
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| Further information to follow |
| Seminars, workshops, panel sessions & discussion groups |
Confirmed speakers / moderators:
- Jim Buckle, Chief Operating Officer, LOVEFiLM
- Richard Young, Freelance Writer & Editor
Topics under consideration:
- Finance transformation
- New technology, the impact on the FD
- Business finance partnering
- Cash and sources of funds
- FD case-study presentations
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Highlights from Past Conference Programmes
Highlights from the 2011 Conference Programme
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| Keynotes & Forum Sessions |
| Sessions & Speakers |
To download the final copy of the 2011 conference programme please click here
Keynote Addresses:
- From Breakdown to Breakthrough: a Competitive Outlook for 2011 and beyond - Professor Stéphane Garelli, Professor at IMD and Professor at the University of Lausanne, Director of IMD World Competitiveness Center
- Closing Address Summary - A snapshot of the 21st century FD - Richard Young, freelance writer and editor and Eric Tracey, independent director, Findel plc and others, and former trouble-shooting finance director
Industry Seminars, Workshops & Interviews:
- Economic overview and update - Merryn Somerset Webb, Editor-in-chief, MoneyWeek
- Sustainability from a CFO’s perspective - Jan Piet Valk, Chief Financial Officer, Logica Benelux
- Is UK plc fit for purpose? - Stephen Kitts, Partner & Head of Corporate Finance, Eversheds LLP
- CFO of a private equity backed business. Is it for you? - Sarah Hunt, Managing Director, EquityFD and Colin Bramall, CFO, James Hull Associates
- Leading, managing and benefiting from change - David Palser, Senior Partner, One Performance Outcome
- Finance transformation - Peter Simons, Research and Development Technical Specialist, CIMA
Discussion Groups:
- Progressing your career - what should be your next steps? - Sarah Hunt, Managing Director, EquityFD
- Staff motivation and retention - Mandie Taylor, Head of Finance, Camelot Group plc
- Cash flow and working capital management - Eric Tracey, Independent Director, Findel plc and others, and former trouble-shooting finance director
- The requirements and attributes of the modern FD - Omar Khan, GM Commercial Finance, Shell International, Kevin Lowen, Chief Financial Officer, Magal Engineering, Jerry Bird, Finance Director, Accenture
Professional & Career Development:
- The new era – the FD as the strategy driver - David Palser, Senior Partner & Richard Leech, Managing Partner, One Performance Outcome
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