Keynote Speakers

Derek Arden is a leading negotiation expert with over 30 years of experience in helping individuals and organizations achieve success through effective negotiation. Starting his career in finance, Derek quickly identified the importance of negotiation in business and has since become a trusted advisor, coach, and speaker on the subject.

He is the author of several acclaimed books, including “Win-Win: How to Get a Winning Result from Persuasive Negotiations,” known for their practical and actionable advice. Derek has delivered over 1,500 keynotes and workshops globally, where his engaging and interactive style leaves audiences equipped with strategies they can immediately apply.

A prolific podcaster, Derek has conducted over 200 leadership interviews, sharing insights from top professionals across industries. He also writes a popular weekly newsletter, offering negotiation tips and leadership advice to his dedicated readers.

Derek’s expertise is frequently sought by media outlets, and his insights have been featured in leading publications and television programs. When not speaking or writing, he mentors young professionals, helping to shape the next generation of leaders.

Will is the founder of Farnell Clarke, setting the business up in 2007 having previously worked within a Big Four firm. He wanted Farnell Clarke to be a different kind of accounting firm. He saw an opportunity to utilise technology to drive efficiency and change the way accounting services could be delivered to clients. This led to Farnell Clarke being one of the first 100%-cloud practices in the world.

Will now uses the experiences acquired as a tech-driven firm to support other firms moving to a digital-based strategy. He’s regarded as one of the UK’s foremost thought leaders and speakers on accounting tech and the changing landscape and environment currently driving the accounting profession. Will is author of ‘The Digital Firm’, a blueprint for digital transformation within an accounting firm and is a regular engaging speaker and advocate for some of the leading UK and global accounting tech brands.

Ian Heads up Partner Sales at Xero, looking after the teams who account manage Xero’s accounting and bookkeeping Partners. Ian has been with Xero for 9 years, starting as a Senior Account Manager and progressing through the business as it has grown. Prior to that Ian has worked for other SaaS businesses and BPP, experience that has given him a strong understanding of professional services firms and their small business clients, and a passion for the technology that powers them.

With over 20 years’ experience, Steve is a strategy & technology professional with strong expertise in the accountancy profession as a chartered accountant. Steve works closely with HMRC, governing and professional bodies to ensure IRIS’ solutions efficiently manages financial, compliance and human capital resource requirements as the profession moves towards a digital future including Making Tax Digital. 

Steve champions the digital transformation and role evolution of Accountants and is focused on helping them realise their potential by increasing their effectiveness via integrated and automation solutions.

Jo Edwards is the founder of JE Consulting, a full-service marketing agency who specialise in providing marketing assistance to accountancy and legal firms. Jo has over 35 years practical marketing experience working with a wide range of legal firms, vendors and networks across the UK, both large and small and has a particular specialism in preparing and delivering lead demand and cross sell strategies to these clients.

Her clients include software vendors, CPD training organisations, large and medium size accountancy and legal firms and UK and International networks.

Joining JE Consulting on 2 September 2024, Callum has led the Business Services marketing team at IRIS Software Group for the last 15 years, where he has been responsible for creating and executing multi-channel marketing programs that are tailored to specific personas and audiences, and that align with the company objectives.

Callum is an expert in developing marketing strategies to meet pipeline demand and in developing messaging strategies for clients.

Callum was also a Finalist for ‘Rising Star of the Year’ at the 2019 Marketing Week Masters Awards.

Julie Smith, an ICAEW Chartered Accountant, uses her extensive experience in practice, industry, and education to lead her team in delivering support designed to address the specific needs and challenges of ICAEW Practice members and member firms.

Dr. Jessica Levin is COO and North America Regional Director for Abacus Worldwide.

Having worked with professional services firms for two decades, she understands their pain points and what it takes to create a culture that supports growth. Dr. Levin’s expertise in organizational leadership and development blends her understanding of communication and technology, approaching the creation of systems and processes with a strategic perspective. She is often sought to provide guidance and consult on brand development, corporate culture, and professional development.

She’s the author of four books, including Accounting for Times: Evolve or Dissolve. She was recently named as one of NJBiz’s 2024 Leading Women in Business. Her doctoral capstone was titled “Strategies to Create Positive Culture to Recruit and Retain Accountants”.

Trevor Mapondera is the founder and CEO of Nurseline Health Group, leading specialists in mental health across the South of England.

Nurseline has built its reputation by making the needs of their clinicians their top priority across 8 locations throughout the UK.

Trevor has led an impressive career spanning 20 years within the healthcare sector leading a high-calibre leadership team that nurtures and develops strong leaders around a co-creating and autonomous framework across his group of companies, supporting his passion for building healthy teams and putting people first.

Trevor believes in building people and healthy families while impacting our community with an aim to leave our world a better place then he found it through investing in businesses within the healthcare space, making his story one of doing good through Impact Investing and Socially responsible Investing (SRI).