Opening keynote - Britain caught between crises

Britain finds itself navigating a world defined less by order than by overlapping crises. The ongoing war in Europe and an escalating conflict in the Middle East are amplifying global uncertainty - affecting energy markets, shipping routes, and financial confidence. Yet Britain faces these external shocks at a moment when economic growth is weak and the political pressures of the UK’s cost-of-living crisis remain acute. The central question becomes how a medium-sized power maintains strategic influence abroad while restoring stability at home.

David Rennie, geopolitics editor, the Economist

The SORP shake up: what the latest update means for your charity

The first accounting periods under the new Charities SORP and FRS 102 are imminent, bringing key changes that will shape how charities report and communicate their impact. This session will unpack the most important updates, including the new three-tier structure, changes to revenue recognition, lease accounting and the trustees’ report, and offer practical guidance on how to prepare with worked examples.

Steve Harper, partner and head of social purpose, HaysMac

Cyber security: how to protect your organisation

This session is run by Rob Shapland, a renowned ethical hacker and cyber security expert who has spent his life breaking into organisations worldwide to help them protect against criminal attacks. Rob will give some insight as to why charities are a potential target for criminals and explain how he breaks into organisations to give useful tips that will help your organisation stay protected against cyber threats. 

Rob Shapland, director & ethical hacker (session sponsored by United Trust Bank)

Unlocking sustainable income in challenging times

Sustainable income doesn’t happen by chance - it’s built over time through intentional growth and learning. In this session, we’ll share how an entrepreneurial, purpose-driven approach is helping MYTIME Young Carers move towards a more sustainable income model, including early steps to scale its schools programme. We’ll explore what it means for finance leaders to adopt a ‘start-up’ mindset at an early stage, and how this evolving approach can support organisations to build resilience and lay the foundations for long-term, sustainable income.

Krista Cartlidge, chief executive, MYTIME Young Carers

Crisis case study - where tech, enterprise and social impact meet

This session will explore how charities can harness technology, investment, and entrepreneurial models to unlock new funding pathways for social impact. Liz Choonara will share insights from her work at Crisis, including the creation of the award-winning Venture Studio, which builds and invests in startups aligned with the mission to end homelessness and provides grants to people experiencing homelessness to launch their own businesses. The discussion will examine how blending commercial strategy with purpose-driven innovation can reshape how the sector funds and scales solutions to complex social challenges.

Liz Choonara, executive director of commerce and enterprise, Crisis

Are your financial messages helping or harming your people?

In the current economic climate, many charities are operating under considerable financial pressure and these stresses inevitably surface in internal conversations. While transparency about finances is important, emerging evidence suggests that how organisations communicate about financial difficulties can profoundly shape the mental health and wellbeing of employees - especially in sectors where emotional labour is high and remuneration comparatively low. This session will explore some practical techniques to support and strengthen your internal communications, demonstrating that financial transparency doesn't have to compromise mental health.   

Boston Mwense, finance and support director, Blesma

AI in charity finance: from caution to confidence

Drawing on insights from charities’ responses to AccountsIQ's annual CFO Mindset Report, this session explores how finance leaders are approaching AI and automation in their day-to-day work. It considers the sector’s unique challenges and the natural caution around adopting new technologies, while highlighting how AI can streamline workflows, speed up routine tasks, and reduce errors. The session also shows why starting small and scaling gradually is often the most effective approach, alongside the need to prioritise compliance, security, and explainability when integrating AI into charity finance.

Elaine Birch, content and comms manager, AccountsIQ

From numbers to narrative: strengthening finance–board communication 

Effective board communication is more than accurate reporting – it’s about insight, clarity, and influence.
This session explores how finance directors can move beyond spreadsheets to tell a compelling financial story that resonates with non-financial trustees and supports better decision-making. We’ll cover practical approaches to framing risk for risk-averse boards, highlighting what really matters, and ensuring trustees have the confidence and understanding to engage with and act on financial information.

Speakers TBC

Closing keynote - The art of strengthening government–civil sector relationships

Kate Lee, chief executive, NCVO 

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*Limited quantity available due to restrictions in numbers at the event. Places available on first come serve, first serve.  

133 Houndsditch
London
EC3A 7BX

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