25 May 2016

• 9.00AM - 9.30AM
  Registration, refreshments & networking
  Session now full
  Registration, refreshments & networking
• 9.30AM - 9.40AM
  Chair's welcome - Leigh Daynes, executive director, Doctors of the World
  Chair's welcome - Leigh Daynes, executive director, Doctors of the World
• 9.40AM - 10.15AM
  Making waves on a shifting global stage

  To set the scene, Myles Wickstead will consider how the current global landscape impacts on the NGO community. In the face of significant operational challenges, as well as the expanding nature of humanitarian crises, risks to funding and increased scrutiny, how can NGOs further enhance their influence and proudly assume their place on the world stage to build a better global future? 
  Myles Wickstead, visiting professor (International Relations), King’s College London

• 10.15AM - 10.55AM
  Refugee crisis in focus

  The UN has called it the worst refugee crisis of our generation, and civil society has been operating on the frontline, juggling a plethora of practical and political challenges. In this session Nabila Ramdani will consider the human cost, the political implications and the effectiveness of the ongoing global response. 
  Nabila Ramdani, journalist & commentator 

• 10.55AM - 11.25AM
  Networking and refreshment break
  Networking and refreshment break
• 11.25AM - 12.10PM
  Breakout sessions

  1A: Dilemma: Terrorism & risk
  A UN report on aid diversion mentions an organisation you are partnering with as potentially having funded terrorist organisations, but there is no evidence that your programme funds have been misdirected. How would you manage the situation? What risk-management techniques should you have in place to protect against reputational damage? 
  Facilitated by  Bob Humphreys, treasurer, Oxfam International 

  1B: Technical briefing: FX cost savings - advantages of treasury centralisation
  The goal of an efficient treasury function of an INGO must be to help ensure that the full value is realised for the funding they receive. This session will look to explore the benefits that a centralised treasury function can bring to an INGO and will highlight the potential efficiencies available.
  Speaker tbc, INTL FCStone

  1C: Dilemma: Expecting more for less
  Pressure on your organisation is mounting to show you're adhering to best practice, complying with due-diligence checks and evaluating programme effectiveness. With limited resources and funding cuts, how can smaller organisations build capacity, both internally and externally?  
  Facilitated by Andy Nash, head of finance, Lessons for Life Foundation

  1D: Technical briefing: Using your investment assets to generate change  
  • Why sustainable investing matters!
  • The power of shareholder engagement - having a global voice
  • Making your cash work for you and your mission
  • How sustainable investing reduces risk and adds value
  Matt Crossman, ethical research and corporate engagement and Victoria Hoskins, investment director, Rathbone Greenbank Investments 

• 12.15PM - 1.00PM
  Breakout sessions
  2A: Technical briefing: Cost benchmarking

  With increased pressure on unrestricted funding, INGOs need to develop effective processes and systems to increase the rate of recovery of interest and support costs from restricted funding and donors. This session will offer an opportunity to discuss the findings from the joint cost benchmarking survey of UK NGOs launched by Bond and Mango, and discuss the key issues and challenges. 
  Helen I’Anson, consultancy & projects manager, Mango 

  2B: Dilemma: Dealing with the banks' 'de-risking' tactics 
  The willingness of many banks to close the accounts of humanitarian aid agencies in response to counter-terrorism legislation is causing widespread concern and hampering aid efforts. A notorious example of this was HSBC withdrawing services from Islamic Relief. But what are the wider implications of these de-risking policies and is there anything you can do to reassure your bank about your activities?
  Facilitated by Jehangir Malik OBE, chief executive, International Inspiration and former director, Islamic Relief 

  2C: Technical briefing: Financial issues affecting INGOs
  A round up of financial, accounting and tax issues affecting INGOs, including:
  • Controls in field offices and the role of internal audit
  • Grant audits and donor reporting
  • Governance and overseas structure – branches vs subsidiaries
  • The Bribery Act
  • The impact of SORP 2015 for INGOs
  • Common VAT and tax issues
  Steve Harper, senior audit manager and Murtaza Jessa, head of charities, haysmacintyre

  2D: Dilemma: Banking blockades 
  You are trying to scale up a humanitarian response in Syria, but the banking system is effectively closed, because of sanctions. You need to pay local partners, buy and ship equipment, buy food etc. What is the best way to proceed? What common pitfalls should you look out for in similar situations? 
  Facilitated by Rose Caldwell, executive director, Concern Worldwide UK

• 1.00PM - 2.00PM
  Lunch
  Lunch
• 2.00PM - 2.45PM
  Panel discussion: Disruptive technologies – should we fear or embrace them?

  Across all industries, entrepreneurial start-ups, with low overheads and more agile ways of working are displacing conventional norms. The panel will consider the challenges and opportunities that these new models present to more traditional organisations. Will the tech start-up disrupt international development as we know it? How are both types of organisations adapting their campaigns, structures, and even missions to today's modern, networked world? Is it necessary to reinvent the wheel, or can you build innovation into your existing framework? 
  Rose Caldwell, executive director, Concern Worldwide UK, Tracy Frauzel, mobilisation strategy director, Mobilisation Lab, Greenpeace, Libby James, co-founder, Wiki Development and Mandy Johnson, UK director of partnerships, Change.org 

• 2.45PM - 3.15PM
  Integrating finance and programmes to effectively navigate new business models

  Pressures on achieving value for money, completing due diligence on partners, mitigating risk and working with commercial partners on payment-by-result contracts, are resulting in new business models for NGOs. The role of the finance team is becoming increasingly important to ensure success in running a mixed economy of sponsorship, grants and contracts, and to deliver impactful international programmes. 
  Tanya Barron, chief executive and Bill Cunningham, finance director, Plan UK 

• 3.15PM - 3.40PM
  Networking and refreshment break
  Networking and refreshment break
• 3.40PM - 4.10PM
  Taking stock: reducing fraud and corruption in international charities

  The risk of fraud is significantly higher for charities operating in the world's most underdeveloped and fragile environments. In this session Oliver May will suggest some fraud-enabling factors unique to the charity sector, and explain how senior managers can better deter, prevent, detect and respond to fraud and corruption.
  Oliver May, author, consultant and former head of counter-fraud, Oxfam 

• 4.10PM - 4.55PM
  Panel discussion: Charities in the spotlight

  Welcome to the new normal, where charity is no longer synonymous only with selfless philanthropy, but where politicians, the public and the media are all too ready to cast a critical eye over our governance and our activities. What is the best approach to risk management in the highly emotive world of international development, and how are the pressures different to domestic charities?  How can we prepare for and effectively respond to reputational threats? Is transparency our greatest weapon in the face of media scrutiny?
  Barabara Frost, chief executive, WaterAid, Michael O'Donnell, head of effectiveness & learning, Bond and Brendan Paddy, head of communications, Disasters Emergency Committee 

• 4.55PM - 5.00PM
  Chair's closing remarks
  Chair's closing remarks
• 5.00PM - 6.00PM
  Networking drinks reception
  Networking drinks reception