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2025 event

ICAEW Annual Conference

Thriving in transformation

17 October 2025, Convene Sancroft, London

Book now About the venue

Don’t get left behind – thrive in 2025

The ICAEW Annual Conference is back after a sold-out 2024, and it’s bigger than ever. "Thriving in transformation" dives into AI, leadership, and sustainability – showing you how to lead, adapt and grow. Spend the day with forward-thinking experts shaping the future of accounting. Secure your seat at "the go-to annual event for all chartered accountants".
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Stay ahead of the curve

Unlock bold insights to help you thrive in a world of rapid economic change

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Lead with purpose

Shape a better future by driving sustainable success and building meaningful relationships

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Think big

Be inspired by visionary thinkers redefining what’s possible in business, finance and beyond

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Turn challenge into opportunity

Embrace uncertainty with confidence, and discover new paths to growth and resilience

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Invest in yourself

Gain up to 7 hours of verifiable CPD while expanding your horizons and professional impact

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Tailor your day

Focus on the topics that will impact you the most with 24 sessions to choose from

Programme

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Registration, breakfast, exhibition viewing
08:30
Chair’s opening remarks | Emma Vardy
09:45
Welcome address | Alan Vallance, Chief Executive, ICAEW
09:50
Opening keynote: Powering growth – the key to unlocking business success
Business leaders and advisors come together to tackle the most pressing barriers facing SMEs today, exploring how businesses can start strong, scale faster, and navigate the financial and regulatory landscape with confidence – and, crucially, how the accountancy profession can lead the charge in making business growth easier, not harder.
10:00
The UK and global economic outlook: risks and opportunities
Huw Pill, Chief Economist and Executive Director for Monetary Analysis, Bank of England
10:35
Morning break and exhibition viewing
11:15
Breakout sessions covering sustainability, leadership and technology
Details to be confirmed.
11:45-12:50
Keynote session with inspiring ACA
12:55
Lunch and exhibition viewing
13:25
Optional lunch sessions covering sustainability, leadership and technology
Details to be confirmed.
13:30
Leadership, resilience, and building a winning mindset | Jill Scott MBE
Join us for an exclusive fireside chat with Jill Scott MBE, England football legend and UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 champion, as she shares her insights on leadership, resilience, and teamwork.
14:15
Rethinking waste: the circular economy advantage | Tessa Clarke, Olio
Waste isn’t just an environmental issue – it’s a missed business opportunity. Discover how a circular economy approach unlocks cost savings, new revenue streams, and competitive advantage and learn practical strategies to integrate circularity. From food surplus to supply chains, see how businesses are turning waste into profit, enhancing reputation, and staying ahead of ESG regulations.
14:50
Thriving in transformative times | Riaz Shah, Hult International Business School
Explore how leaders can navigate today’s rapidly shifting landscape. With global demographics in flux, evolving employee expectations, and relentless technological disruption, traditional leadership models are under pressure. Get powerful insights and practical takeaways from Riaz as he discusses how to lead with curiosity, boldness, and humanity – stay resilient, attract talent, and thrive in uncertainty.
14:50
Real-world AI in accountancy: lessons from early adopters | Lola Rose Avery, Barrister and Legal AI Specialist
AI is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s here, transforming accountancy in both practice and business. But what does AI adoption really look like in the real world? In this session, early adopters share their firsthand experiences of integrating AI, exploring the practical challenges, key successes, and measurable impacts of AI on efficiency, compliance, and client services. | Chaired by Peter Beard.
14:50

The event of the year - always a great agenda, speakers, topics, and other delegates.

ICAEW Annual Conference 2024 delegate
Afternoon break and exhibition viewing
15:20
Advancing gender equality: driving the 'S' in ESG from commitment to action
What does real inclusion look like in practice? Julia Penny sits down with Rachel Harris – practice owner, media commentator, and Stylist’s first female finance columnist – for a fast-paced, insightful chat on how she built a tech-forward firm with zero outsourcing, a grassroots talent pipeline, and a bold commitment to social mobility and equity. Expect practical takeaways on creating workplaces women choose, and how to drive measurable, meaningful change.
15:45
Lead with presence: how physiology shapes confidence and influence | Kerri Hollick, Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant
Great leaders don’t just think differently – they use their body, voice, and physiology to project confidence, make better decisions, and inspire action. In this high-energy, interactive workshop, Kerri will share practical techniques to help you unlock the power of body language and presence to enhance your leadership impact, guiding you through strategies to project confidence and authority in any situation.
15:45
Driving AI adoption with integrity
Panellists: Nina Barakzai, HPE | Paul Ekwere, BDO | Esther Mallowah, ICAEW. Learn how to build AI systems that follow legal and ethical standards. Find out how to handle regulations, reduce risks, and create trustworthy AI solutions. Discuss the role of professional judgment in using AI, helping you make informed decisions, and explore how AI can drive innovation in accounting, making processes more efficient, accurate, and valuable for your clients and organisations.
15:45

A great, thought-provoking day, focused on the future.

ICAEW Annual Conference 2024 delegate
Closing keynote: Navigating uncertainty and resilience | Richard Ratcliffe
What does it take to stand up for what’s right in the face of extraordinary challenges? Chartered accountant Richard Ratcliffe became a prominent human rights advocate during his campaign to free his wife, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, from unjust detention in Iran. Richard's unique experience of navigating a high-profile international crisis has provided him with profound insights into coping with extreme uncertainty and the importance of support networks. He will discuss how his accounting background, and the support from his firm, played crucial roles in managing the situation and returning to normalcy. Richard's story highlights the broader lessons of teamwork, empathy, and the strength found in professional and personal communities during challenging times. Join us to hear how these experiences can inspire and inform our approach to overcoming adversity in both professional and personal contexts.
16:20
Chair's closing remarks | Emma Vardy
16:50
Closing remarks | Derek Blair, ICAEW President
16:55
Drinks reception
17:00
Event close
18:30

Our speakers

Tessa Clarke headshot
Tessa Clarke Co-Founder and CEO, Olio

Tessa leads the world’s only neighbour-to-neighbour food-sharing app. Since 2015, Olio has grown to 8 million users, redistributing over 100 million meals. Recognized as Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman of the Year in 2023, Tessa advises the UK Government on SME concerns.

Kerri Hollick headshot
Kerri Hollick Executive Coach and Leadership Consultant

Kerri Hollick is passionate about empowering leaders through presence. She believes great leaders use their body, voice, and physiology to project confidence, make better decisions and inspire action. With over 20 years of experience, she shares practical techniques to enhance leadership impact through body language and presence.

Headshot of Riaz Shah
Riaz Shah OBE FCA Professor of Practice for Innovation & Leadership, Hult International Business School

Riaz is a former Senior Partner at EY. With over 40 years of experience, he advises companies and developing country governments on how to adapt, lead, and thrive in today’s rapidly changing, complex global landscape.

This conference is the perfect mix of networking, interesting and topical sessions, interesting exhibitors and inspirational and expert speakers. A great day away from the office to remind me why I joined this profession and spend time with other hardworking professionals.

ICAEW Annual Conference 2024 delegate

A great opportunity to hear about a wide range of topics, all of which were relevant to a multitude of industries, whilst meeting new people and embracing the atmosphere.

ICAEW Annual Conference 2024 delegate

The event was broad ranging without being overly technical, fast paced and multi-dimensional with adequate breaks to absorb the lessons from each session. All the main speakers were excellent.

ICAEW Annual Conference 2024 delegate

A really informative and inspiring day, I came away with plenty of practical tips to put into action in the business. I hope to be back in 2025!

ICAEW Annual Conference 2024 delegate

Our partners

ICAEW works with global companies that support the finance profession to bring you the best events possible.

Headline Partner: MHA

Session Partners: Dext, Diligent, Rathbones, Thomson Reuters Confirmation, Workday, Yooz

Exhibition Partners: Circit, Fiscal Technologies, Frontline Accounting, Marsh Commercial, Mitigo, Starling Bank, Xero

MHA Bakertilly logo Circit logo Dext logo Diligent logo Fiscal Technologies logo Frontline Accounting logo Marsh Commercial logo Mitigo cybersecurity logo Rathbones logo Starling Bank logo Thomson Reuters Confirmation logo Workday logo Xero logo Yooz logo

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by external guest speakers in interviews or other publications included on this website are, by their nature, those of the speaker. They are not necessarily fully endorsed by ICAEW or purport to reflect the official policies and views of ICAEW or its members.

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