11 October 2018

• 8.45AM - 9.20AM
  Registration, refreshments, networking & time to visit exhibition
  Registration, refreshments, networking & time to visit exhibition
   
• 9.20AM - 9.25AM
  Chair's welcome
  Welcome from Gareth Jones, editor, Charity Finance
   
• 9.25AM - 10.00AM
  Opening keynote: The future is clear; the future is....data
  Smart collection and analysis of data can transform a charity’s ability to deliver and demonstrate impact, both social
  and economic, to funders and an increasingly sceptical public. Drawing on his experience at the heart of government,
  as a leading economist and as chair of a charity that helps other charities understand and improve the impact and
  value of their work, Lord O’Donnell will outline the opportunities available to charities from effective use of data, and
  imagine a future for the sector where evidence speaks for itself.
  
  Lord O’Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary; chair, Frontier Economics and chair, Pro Bono Economics
   
• 10.00AM - 10.05AM
  Stream chair's welcome

  Stream A – VAT & Tax 1
  Richard Bray, finance regulatory &
  taxes manager, CRUK
  
  Stream B – VAT & Tax 2
  Favaad Iqbal, head of indirect taxes, Cambridge Assessment
  
  Stream C – Risk & Strategy
  Liz Pepler, associate, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – UK branch
  
  Stream D – Investment
  Victoria Hoskins, investment director, Rathbones Greenbank Investments
   

   

• 10.05AM - 10.45AM
  1A Case law overview and recent developments
  Join this session for a review of the past year’s court and tribunal decisions that have consequences for charities. You will also learn about any changes of interpretation to published VAT guidance, together with an update on any areas of VAT currently of particular interest to HMRC.
  
  Thomas Mobee, senior VAT manager, Buzzacott
   
• 10.05AM - 10.45AM
  1B. Latest update on employment tax law
  The law around employment tax changes frequently, and it can be easy to miss an important development. Join this session to be brought up to date on the tax status of employed workers versus self-employed, the latest developments around employee expenses and benefits, and the new termination payment rules.
  
  Nick Bustin, employment tax director, haysmacintyre
   
• 10.05AM - 10.45AM
  1C. Building resilience through effective risk managemen
  Strong risk management can underpin a charity’s foundations and make it less susceptible to crises. But how do you know whether your risk management processes are strong or not? In this session, Kate and Jonathan will share their expert advice for building solid foundations, covering themes such as preventing groupthink and defining a healthy risk appetite, plus the use of practical tools such as board assurance reporting.
  
  Jonathan Orchard, partner and Kate Sayer, consultant, Sayer Vincent
  
   
• 10.05AM - 10.45AM
  1D. Ethical, sustainable impact investing - what you need to know
  Doing good doesn’t mean sacrificing profits. Ethical investment takes many forms, and investing thematically to achieve social change is becoming increasingly popular. In this session, Victoria will outline how to apply both positive and negative ethical, social and environmental criteria in the management of portfolios. She will explain how to use ethical screening and engagement to ensure that your investments match your organisation’s values, mitigate risks and maximise long-term performance.
  
  Victoria Hoskins, investment director, Rathbones Greenbank Investments
   
• 10.45AM - 11.15AM
  Networking and refreshment break
  Networking and refreshment break
• 11.15AM - 12.00PM
  2A. Structuring trading activities
  HMRC is increasingly enquiring into charities’ trading activities. Join this session for an update on the structuring of trading activities, trends from recent HMRC enquiries and effective planning for trading income and expenses.
  
  Katharine Arthur, head of tax and Louise Veragoo, NFP Tax Directors, haysmacintyre
   
• 11.15AM - 12.00PM
  2B. New HMRC guidance on grants and contracts
  Recently HMRC published 26 manuals outlining their latest guidance around VAT on grants and service level agreements, covering topics such as what constitutes a supply, payment from public funds, European grants, and subsidies. Join this session to hear a summary of the key changes, HMRC’s latest interpretation of the relevant case law, and how to apply the guidance to your own tax affairs.
  
  Debbie Jennings, VAT principal, Kingston Smith
   
• 11.15AM - 12.00PM
  2C. Why safeguarding is now an issue for all charities
  In the wake of recent revelations, the Charity Commission has effectively extended the scope of safeguarding to encompass the protection of individual rights by charities, including the rights of employees and all those affected by a charity’s operation. This has important implications for the risks faced by charities, both in designing their systems and processes to ensure compliance, and in responding if those systems fail. Join this session for an expert legal overview of the key implications of the Commission’s new regulatory approach, including governance, serious
  incident reporting, resource allocation, insurance planning and reputation management.
  
  Tabitha Cave and Con Alexander, partners, VWV
   
• 11.15AM - 12.00PM
  2D. China’s influence on the world stage
  While the US has been reducing commitments abroad and withdrawing from international treaties, China is expanding its reach overseas through projects such as the One Belt, One Road initiative. Beijing probably views US isolationism as a strategic opportunity to advance its economic development, establish strong relations and alliances overseas and draw in more foreign capital by opening its equity and bond markets. As China’s footprint in fund managers’ portfolios is tiny, this presents an opportunity for investors to look to cheaper emerging markets.
  
  Daniel Casali, Investment strategist, Smith & Williamson
   
• 12.00PM - 12.40PM
  3A. VAT on property developments
  Navigating the VAT treatments on property transactions can be a minefield, and no more so than in the construction of new buildings. Join this session to learn how to use design and build arrangements to achieve maximum VAT savings, along with a summary of recent case law around various charitable building projects and how these decisions translate into practice on the
  ground.
  
  Debbie Jennings, VAT principal, Kingston Smith
   
• 12.00PM - 12.40PM
  3B. Maximising VAT recovery and understanding partial exemption
  Determining the VAT that a charity can recover on its purchases and overheads is an inexact science, and one fraught with pitfalls. Join this session to hear an expert view on the rules for calculating the input tax that can be recovered on different types of expenditure, the methods that can be applied, and relevant case law. You will also learn techniques for negotiating recovery agreements with HMRC.
  
  Alison Hone, charity VAT partner, Saffery Champness
   
• 12.00PM - 12.40PM
  3C. The role of organisational culture in implementing risk appetite
  The way decisions are made is often driven by the culture of an organisation. A risk appetite framework is a mandate from the trustees to management which will enable them to operate within the risk appetite of the trustees, and this can be hindered or helped by culture. Join this session to learn what risk appetite means for a charity, the role of culture in applying it in practice, and how to assess the implications of different risk appetite levels across the
  organisation.
  
  Kami Nuttall, associate director, Moore Stephens
   
• 12.00PM - 12.40PM
  3D. UK equities: Keep calm and carry on

  Join this session to hear Adam Avigdori address concerns investors may have about the UK economy and highlight the robustness and diversity of UK listed equities.
  
  Adam Avigdori, UK Equity Income portfolio manager,
  BlackRock
   

   

• 12.40PM - 1.50PM
  Lunch, networking and time to visit exhibition
  Lunch, networking and time to visit exhibition
   
• 1.50PM - 2.35PM
  4A. Hot topics around Gift Aid
  Join this session to hear a round-up of the latest developments on Gift Aid. As well as a whistlestop tour of the new rules being introduced in April 2019, you will gain expert insights into topics such as family membership subscriptions, donor benefits, and how to survive a Gift Aid audit.
  
  Mark McGarry, direct tax partner, Saffery Champnes
   
• 1.50PM - 2.35PM
  4B. Tax considerations for property transactions
  VAT is not the only tax to consider when you are entering into a property transaction, or investing in property assets – you must bear in mind Stamp Duty Land Tax and various other Corporate Tax liabilities. Keeping on top of property tax legislation is essential to allow accurate evaluation of costs and returns when buying, selling or building premises, but it is a complex area. Join this session to get the latest rundown on all the charges and reliefs available.
  
  Luke Savvas, charity tax partner, Buzzacott
   
• 1.50PM - 2.35PM
  4C. Weighing up strategic opportunities
  All progressive, forward-thinking charities ought to be looking at how they can maximise their impact in the future. Could your charity achieve more if it were to merge or collaborate with another organisation, or move into new areas of operation? How do you even make these decisions? Join this session to hear David Martin’s unique model for weighing up the pros and cons of such opportunities, to help teams decide whether or not to take
  them further.
  
  David Martin, director of resources, OneYMCA
   
• 1.50PM - 2.35PM
  4D. Avoiding complexity: Simple strategies for investment success
  With so many investment options on offer, it can be difficult to develop an investment strategy that makes sense. This can be particularly challenging for charities that might not have the resources to make the sometimes complex and always financially impactful choices involved. This session will discuss four key principles that can simplify these complex decisions and help all investors develop investment strategies that give them the best chance of investment success.
  
  Peter Westaway PHD, chief economist and head of Vanguard Investment Strategy Group, Europe, Vanguard Asset Management
   
• 2.35PM - 3.15PM
  5A. Making Tax Digital: Update from the horse’s mouth
  From April next year, Making Tax Digital will change the entire landscape of VAT administration and payment, and charities need to be ready. In this session, Claire Williams will provide an overview of progress on implementation of the new system, and outline an essential checklist to help charities prepare.
  
  Claire Williams, customer readiness and external stakeholder team, Making Tax Digital for Business, HMRC
   
• 2.35PM - 3.15PM
  5C. Measuring impact when the outcome is death
  Royal Trinity Hospice has done a lot of work to determine how it can best measure and report on its impact – not an easy task when your outcome is death. In this session, which is half case study, half thought leadership, Clare Montagu will chart the journey so far, impart the lessons learned and share some overarching principles about impact measurement that can be applied to any type of charity.
  
  Clare Montagu, chief operating officer, Royal Trinity Hospice
   
• 2.35PM - 3.15PM
  5D. The ethical premium
  Investing ethically can ensure charities are meeting their objectives and help to reduce the risk of reputational damage. But how much return do they have to give up to be ethical? Join this session to hear Stephen Beer explain why the question “Can trustees afford ethics?” should be turned on its head, and outline the premium that comes from ethical investment.
  
  Stephen Beer, chief investment officer, Epworth Investment
  Management
   
• 3.40PM - 4.25PM
  6A. VAT and tax: live issues of the day, in association with Charity Tax Group

  In this interactive closing session, experts from Charity Tax Group (CTG) and selected charities will explore the most relevant VAT and tax issues of the moment, including charities’ own experience of implementing Making Tax Digital. Our panel will highlight the key topics, discuss how these may play out, and answer any questions from the floor about any VAT and tax matter. The session will be conducted under the Chatham House Rule and delegates are encouraged to submit questions in advance.

  The session will be led by CTG vice-chairman Richard Bray, finance, regulatory and taxes manager at Cancer Research UK, with input from other CTG management committee members including Favaad Iqbal, head of indirect taxes, Cambridge Assessment

• 3.40PM - 4.25PM
  6C. Panel discussion: Making the case for core costs

  Charities are constantly being told to keep “overheads” as low as possible, to maximise the money spent on “the cause”. We know this is a false economy, but how do we convince funders, the public and our boards that devoting resources to regulatory compliance and robust systems is not a waste of money? Our panel will consider this question and arrive at some answers that you can take back to use with your own stakeholders.
  
  Panel – Chair, Adeela Warley, chief executive, CharityComms;
  panellists – Paul Streets, chief executive, Lloyds Bank
  Foundation; Shoaib Sheikh, finance director, Muslim Aid;
  Karen Atkinson, head of charity and social investment, Bridge
  House Estates; Tim Boyes-Watson, global director of alliances and advocacy, Humentum

• 3.40PM - 4.25PM
  6D. Controlling your inner caveman - An exploration of behavioural biases within investments
  Personality traits, emotional reactions and ingrained analytical habits can all influence investment decisions, and override logic and reason. The ability to recognise, understand and avoid these biases can help investors to improve their decision-making processes, and reach more impartial and rational decisions based on evidence, data and logic. Join this session to learn how to overcome such biases and reduce their effects for a less volatile strategy that delivers better performance over the long term.
  
  John Wyn-Evans, head of investment strategy, Investec
  Wealth & Investment
   
• 4.25PM - 4.55PM
  Closing keynote: Reclaim the realm
  Yes, the sector has made some mistakes recently and yes, it needed to ask itself some searching questions about values and standards. But we are dangerously close to allowing the public and the state to forget that charities are much more than just contracted organs of service delivery or fundraisers – they are public institutions that occupy a unique place in people’s hearts and minds. Society would be unimaginable without their contribution. In this no-holds-barred closing address, Kathy Evans will call on charities to take responsibility for their portrayal in the public discourse, and reclaim the sector’s rightful place as a force for good in the public psyche.
  
  Kathy Evans, chief executive, Children England
   
• 4.55PM - 5.00PM
  Chair's closing remarks
  Gareth Jones, editor, Charity Finance
   
• 5.00PM - 6.00PM
  Networking drinks reception
  Networking drinks reception

"A very informative and well organised event"
Julian Anthony, Norwood Schools

Interesting and useful range of content. Well organised and held in an excellent venue
Gillian Dobson, Mental Health Matters

Very relevant content, excellent speakers
Tony Saunders, St Luke’s Hospice

Thoroughly enjoyable. Will be back!
Oonagh Dockley, Greenham Trust

Very well run, content packed day. The app has been fantastic
Helen Tracey, RSPCA

Excellent range of high quality, relevant and inspirational speakers
Kelly Evans, National Autistic Society

The event was very well planned and informative. It was broken down into segments which were the perfect length to keep you engaged and asking questions. All of the speaker’s talks were in simple terms which made it easy to understand for people at all levels
Shivani Magdani, Cancer Research UK

Good coverage of key topics and an excellent starting speaker
Nicola Jones, Cats Protection

Really interesting, thought provoking day
Sarah Gartshore, Brighton & Hove Seaside Community Homes

Good learning opportunity
Zara Woodhouse, Fishmongers’ Charitable Trust

Great update on current topics
Nicola Kirby, Daisy Chain Project

​​​​​​​The conference was most impressive to me especially in the quality of the speakers and in the content of their presentations
Pearl Sebastian, Social Care Institute for Excellence

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Investment sponsors:

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VAT & Tax sponsors:

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Strategy & Risk sponsor

Networking sponsor:

Great ways to save!

1. Small charities: Charities with an annual income of less than £250,000 can save up to £100.00 off the ticket price
2. Be an early bird! Book your place by 7 September to save £50.00 off the ticket price.
3. Attend with your team! Ensure your whole team benefits from a great day's learning. With the Charity Team Ticket you can send up to four people for less than £160 each, saving your charity 40% on the booking fee. 
    

Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organisers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such Civil Society Media Ltd reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.

Substitution and cancellation policy: On receipt of your booking form, your place is confirmed. Delegate substitutions are allowed. Refunds on cancellations will only be issued (less a 15% administration charge) up to and including 14 days prior to the event. Refunds will not be issued after this date. Confirmation of cancellations MUST be in writing and sent or faxed to Civil Society Media at 15 Prescott Place, London, SW4 6BS 020 7819 1200 (fax: 020 7819 1210).