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This year’s Public Sector Conference will focus on governance, which has become a key issue in the public sector following the COVID-19 pandemic. Governance weaknesses have contributed to recent public sector financial management failures and our conference will look at the lessons that should be learnt.
Obtain ideas about the role you can play to improve governance and risk management in your organisation.
Those on the frontline of public sector governance will share their experiences and learnings.
Learn about the importance of public sector governance and the ways you can make a difference.
Hear from high-profile experts including Meg Hillier MP, Gareth Davies and Sir Tony Redmond.
Join one of three expert-led discussion groups to share ideas about good public sector governance.
Mfon leads UK NAO’s Financial and Risk Management Hub. She is a Big Four trained multidisciplinary Risk, Assurance and Governance professional with over two decades of cross-border leadership experience across the financial services industry and beyond. Mfon has held roles at a number of blue-chip institutions, including the World Bank Group as a Risk Management Specialist, Standard Bank Group where she was the Chief Risk Officer and Regional Head of Risk for its operations in Nigeria and across West Africa, respectively, and Barclays Group Plc where she was an Audit Director. She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) on the Board of a UK bank. Mfon is a Sloan Fellow from the London Business School (LBS); a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA); a Certified Risk Manager (CRM); B.Sc. Accountancy graduate; and a British Chevening Scholar.
Gareth Davies was appointed C&AG on 1 June 2019. Before his appointment as C&AG, he was Head of Public Services at Mazars, a global accountancy firm specialising in audit, tax and advisory services. Prior to this, he was managing director of the Audit Commission’s Audit Practice. His experience spans financial and value for money audit, organisational leadership and Board governance. Gareth is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Paul has worked with public sector and not for profit clients for more than 35 years. His knowledge and experience is wide ranging, having dealt with different types of public and NFP bodies with financial, governance and performance issues. His current client portfolio includes Kings College NHS FT, Guys & St Thomas NHS FT and Camden & Islington NHS FT as well as numerous councils such as Cornwall Council, Croydon Council and Kent County Council. He is the auditor of the Corporation of London and a Freeman of the City of London. He leads GT’s NHS Counter Fraud Practice, is a Board member of a pan public services organisation Fighting Fraud Locally, a School Governor at Eden Primary Trust, as well as a Board member at the charity Here for Good. He leads business partner arrangements with both CIPFA and SOLACE and has presented at countless events on topics including the challenges of austerity and the opportunities offered by devolution.
Meg Hillier is the Member of Parliament for Hackney South and Shoreditch and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee since 2015. The cross-party committee scrutinises the value for money of public spending and holds the Government to account for the delivery of public services. First elected in 2005, Meg has been a junior Home Office Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.
Julia qualified as an ICAEW Chartered Accountant in 1989 having first completed an honours degree in Accountancy and Finance at Brighton Polytechnic. Soon after qualifying she moved into a training role, initially teaching students and later moving into CPD training and technical roles. She specialises in audit, financial reporting and anti-money laundering and has worked for diverse organisations including Wolters Kluwer, Wilmington plc, Chantrey Vellacott and Baker Tilly (now RSM). Julia has been a Council member since 2013 and an ICAEW Board member since 2017. She was Vice-President for the year June 2020 to June 2021, Deputy President from June 2021 to June 2022 and currently ICAEW President from June 2022 to June 2023.
After a substantial career in local government, including roles as Chief Executive, two as Chief Financial Officer and, also Police Authority Treasurer, Tony was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of the Commission for Local Administration in England and Local Government Ombudsman. Subsequently, he was a Local Government Boundary Commissioner, Treasurer of Unicef UK and Vice Chair of the Consumer Council for Water. Most recently, Tony led the Redmond Review into the effectiveness of Local Audit and the transparency of financial reporting in local government. His current roles include Chair of the Improvement and Assurance Board at Nottingham City Council, Course Director at Public Administration International, covering dispute resolution and governance, and Chair of Cipfa’s Charities and Public Entities Board. Tony was Knighted for services to local government in 2010 and is a Past President of Cipfa.
Alison joined ICAEW in 2020 as the Director of the Public Sector team, which supports members working in and with the public sector to deliver public priorities and sustainable public finances. ICAEW engages with policy makers, public servants and others to promote the need for effective financial management, audit and assurance, financial reporting and governance and ethics across the public sector to ensure public money is spent wisely. From September 2021 Alison is also the Director of the Tax team. The tax team leads on being the professional and public interest voice of ICAEW in the field of tax and maintains and enhances the reputation and status of ICAEW by improving the tax system through engagement and making representations to governments and the revenue authorities. Prior to joining ICAEW Alison worked at HMRC for 25 years and held the post of Commissioners’ Advisory Accountant. She previously worked in practice for several years where she qualified as a chartered accountant.
Peter is the Director of Corporate Governance and Stewardship at ICAEW. Prior to this, he was the Chief Compliance Officer for multinational enterprises headquartered in the Netherlands, France and Japan. Peter spent over six years at Transparency International UK (TI-UK), where he set up the Business Integrity Programme.
For accountants and finance professionals working in or with the public sector, this Community is the go-to for the key resources and guidance on the issues affecting practitioners like you. With a range of dynamic services, we provide valuable tools, resources and support tailored specifically to your sector. Membership is free and open to everyone, including non-ICAEW members.
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