ICAS Annual Conference 2025
From ethical leadership to Trump, space walks to strategy, AI and accountancy, the new flagship event – which can be joined in person or online – promises a day of insight, inspiration and information, ensuring you’ll be ready for whatever 2026 brings
The ICAS Annual Conference 2025 promises to be an unmissable day for accountants, business leaders and policymakers alike. Taking place on 5 November at the stylish Cavendish Venues in London, the event will explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the profession, from the growing impact of AI to ethical leadership and the UK’s place on the global stage.
Chaired by BBC News Deputy Economics Editor Dharshini David, the conference will feature keynote speeches, dynamic panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to showcase how CAs can drive meaningful change in today’s business landscape.
Leading economist Paul Johnson will kick off the day with his views of the eye-catching economic trends, while British astronaut Tim Peake will share lessons from his space missions and discuss the best mindset for innovation and resilience.
This year’s programme also spotlights emerging themes such as global leadership and balancing purpose with profit, while our newest speaker, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, adds fresh perspective from a UK legal and corporate governance background.
Whether attending in person or online, delegates can expect an event full of networking, inspiration and practical insights.
SPEAKERS AND PANELLISTS
Dharshini David
Award-winning economist, broadcaster and author Dharshini David chairs the ICAS Annual Conference 2025. As Deputy Economics Editor at BBC News, David is known for her clear, incisive analysis of global economic trends, inclusive growth and public policy. Formerly HSBC’s UK economist and a key voice during the 2008 financial crisis, David also presents Radio 4’s flagship Today programme and won the prestigious 2022 Wincott Prize for her documentary “Is Britain the Sick Man of Europe?”
Paul Johnson CBE
Our opening keynote speaker is one of the most familiar faces in UK economics and Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford. Formerly the Director of the non-partisan Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson is known for expert economic commentaries on public finances, tax, pensions, education and climate change. Bringing a deep knowledge of the UK economic landscape, he’ll be exploring the considerable fiscal challenges we face and offering his forecasts for the year ahead.
Tim Peake CMG
A former test pilot and passionate ambassador for the sciences, Tim Peake became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station in 2015. During his six-month mission, he conducted more than 250 scientific experiments, completed the first British spacewalk and famously ran the London Marathon in space on a treadmill. Peake delivers the closing keynote, sharing leadership lessons on resilience, risk, the space sector, innovation and the growth mindset.
Dame Wendy Hall
Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, Dame Wendy Hall is a leading AI expert and adviser to the UK government and the United Nations. She co-chaired the UK’s AI review, acted as its first AI Skills Champion and has played a pivotal role in the development of web science. Hall actively promotes women’s participation in the sciences and will discuss AI’s transformative impact on the economy and its evolving role in accountancy.
Nick Fry
Former CEO and co-owner of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, Nick Fry is currently Non-Executive Chair of Motion Applied (previously McLaren Applied). He was a key part of the winning Brawn Formula 1 squad, has led teams to several F1 drivers’ and constructors’ championships and now applies his expertise to AI, data security and tech. He offers valuable insights on cultivating a high-performance culture and driving transformational change through cutting-edge tech on a global scale.
Tina Brown CBE
Tina Brown is a celebrated editor and bestselling author. An expert on leading through extreme disruption, she transformed Vanity Fair, growing its sales from 200,000 to 1.2 million, reinvented the New Yorker, and pioneered digital journalism as founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Beast. She also founded the Women in the World summits, serving as CEO from 2010 to 2020. She has received numerous industry awards and was made a CBE in 2000 for services to journalism.
Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE
Joining the global stage panel, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford is a UK lawyer, corporate governance expert and champion of diversity and ethical leadership. From 2018 to 2024 she served as Chair of Shakespeare’s Globe and Chancellor of Coventry University. With decades of legal and executive experience, including time at both John Lewis and Co-op, she supports entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups and advises on governance best practice.
Susie Warran-Smith CBE
Entrepreneur and innovation expert Susie Warran-Smith founded the award-winning Breakthrough Funding, which was sold to EY in 2020. A former NED of HMRC’s main board, and now on the board of the British Library, she is a frequent media commentator on business and entrepreneurship. Her acclaimed autobiography, Swimming On My Own: The Business Case for Kindness and Equality, combines business memoir with a thoughtful look at the need to lead with empathy and innovation.
Bruce Poon Tip OC
Leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist Bruce Poon Tip is the founder of G Adventures, the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, which has earned a place on several Best Places to Work lists. Founded in 1990 with an $800 investment when Poon Tip was just 22, G Adventures pioneered community-focused, sustainable travel experiences that empower local people and host about 200,000 travellers a year. Poon Tip’s work with international organisations supports hundreds of community development projects worldwide.
Katherine Pye
General Manager of Wildsmith Skin, Katherine Pye is a seasoned professional in beauty and wellness with extensive leadership experience at the Body Shop, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Champneys and Bamford. Known for her thoughtful approach to sustainability and brand development, Pye guides Wildsmith Skin’s mission to blend nature and science in ethical skincare. Under her leadership, the brand has pioneered sustainable initiatives, including compostable packaging and partnerships with innovators introducing eco-friendly materials.
Dharshini David
Award-winning economist, broadcaster and author Dharshini David chairs the ICAS Annual Conference 2025. As Deputy Economics Editor at BBC News, David is known for her clear, incisive analysis of global economic trends, inclusive growth and public policy. Formerly HSBC’s UK economist and a key voice during the 2008 financial crisis, David also presents Radio 4’s flagship Today programme and won the prestigious 2022 Wincott Prize for her documentary “Is Britain the Sick Man of Europe?”
Paul Johnson CBE
Our opening keynote speaker is one of the most familiar faces in UK economics and Provost of Queen’s College, Oxford. Formerly the Director of the non-partisan Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson is known for expert economic commentaries on public finances, tax, pensions, education and climate change. Bringing a deep knowledge of the UK economic landscape, he’ll be exploring the considerable fiscal challenges we face and offering his forecasts for the year ahead.
Tim Peake CMG
A former test pilot and passionate ambassador for the sciences, Tim Peake became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station in 2015. During his six-month mission, he conducted more than 250 scientific experiments, completed the first British spacewalk and famously ran the London Marathon in space on a treadmill. Peake delivers the closing keynote, sharing leadership lessons on resilience, risk, the space sector, innovation and the growth mindset.
Dame Wendy Hall
Regius Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, Dame Wendy Hall is a leading AI expert and adviser to the UK government and the United Nations. She co-chaired the UK’s AI review, acted as its first AI Skills Champion and has played a pivotal role in the development of web science. Hall actively promotes women’s participation in the sciences and will discuss AI’s transformative impact on the economy and its evolving role in accountancy.
Nick Fry
Former CEO and co-owner of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, Nick Fry is currently Non-Executive Chair of Motion Applied (previously McLaren Applied). He was a key part of the winning Brawn Formula 1 squad, has led teams to several F1 drivers’ and constructors’ championships and now applies his expertise to AI, data security and tech. He offers valuable insights on cultivating a high-performance culture and driving transformational change through cutting-edge tech on a global scale.
Tina Brown CBE
Tina Brown is a celebrated editor and bestselling author. An expert on leading through extreme disruption, she transformed Vanity Fair, growing its sales from 200,000 to 1.2 million, reinvented the New Yorker, and pioneered digital journalism as founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Beast. She also founded the Women in the World summits, serving as CEO from 2010 to 2020. She has received numerous industry awards and was made a CBE in 2000 for services to journalism.
Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE
Joining the global stage panel, Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford is a UK lawyer, corporate governance expert and champion of diversity and ethical leadership. From 2018 to 2024 she served as Chair of Shakespeare’s Globe and Chancellor of Coventry University. With decades of legal and executive experience, including time at both John Lewis and Co-op, she supports entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups and advises on governance best practice.
Susie Warran-Smith CBE
Entrepreneur and innovation expert Susie Warran-Smith founded the award-winning Breakthrough Funding, which was sold to EY in 2020. A former NED of HMRC’s main board, and now on the board of the British Library, she is a frequent media commentator on business and entrepreneurship. Her acclaimed autobiography, Swimming On My Own: The Business Case for Kindness and Equality, combines business memoir with a thoughtful look at the need to lead with empathy and innovation.
Bruce Poon Tip OC
Leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist Bruce Poon Tip is the founder of G Adventures, the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, which has earned a place on several Best Places to Work lists. Founded in 1990 with an $800 investment when Poon Tip was just 22, G Adventures pioneered community-focused, sustainable travel experiences that empower local people and host about 200,000 travellers a year. Poon Tip’s work with international organisations supports hundreds of community development projects worldwide.
Katherine Pye
General Manager of Wildsmith Skin, Katherine Pye is a seasoned professional in beauty and wellness with extensive leadership experience at the Body Shop, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Champneys and Bamford. Known for her thoughtful approach to sustainability and brand development, Pye guides Wildsmith Skin’s mission to blend nature and science in ethical skincare. Under her leadership, the brand has pioneered sustainable initiatives, including compostable packaging and partnerships with innovators introducing eco-friendly materials.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
The ICAS Annual Conference 2025 starts at 8:30am with registration, networking and refreshments in the Cornhill suite at Cavendish Venues, London.
At 9:30am, chair Dharshini David opens the day with key remarks, followed by the welcome address from ICAS President Karen Scholes CA.
The opening keynote at 9:45am features economist Paul Johnson CBE in conversation with David, exploring the UK’s economic outlook for 2026 and the fiscal challenges ahead.
At 10:15am, the “UK on the world stage” panel discussion examines the state of Britain’s global influence post-Brexit, with insights from Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, Tina Brown CBE and others.
After a mid-morning break, we reconvene at 11:25am with three simultaneous breakout sessions, covering sustainability, AI and ethical leadership, providing real-life case studies and practical guidance.
After lunch, the 1:35pm panel “Will AI replace accountants – or elevate them?” features leading experts including Nick Fry and Professor Dame Wendy Hall, addressing the technology’s impact on the profession.
The 3:35pm panel “Can business be ethical and profitable?” explores how companies and finance professionals can balance purpose with profit and how to create impact reports.
The conference’s finale is the 4:15pm keynote, “From space missions to business decisions”, delivered by Tim Peake. Marking 10 years since his historic ISS visit, the astronaut will share his unique experiences, drawing parallels between space exploration and resilient leadership in business.
Closing remarks from ICAS CEO Bruce Cartwright CA at 4:50pm will be followed by networking drinks, rounding off what promises to be a day rich in insight, innovation and intelligence.
The ICAS Annual Conference 2025 starts at 8:30am with registration, networking and refreshments in the Cornhill suite at Cavendish Venues, London.
At 9:30am, chair Dharshini David opens the day with key remarks, followed by the welcome address from ICAS President Karen Scholes CA.
The opening keynote at 9:45am features economist Paul Johnson CBE in conversation with David, exploring the UK’s economic outlook for 2026 and the fiscal challenges ahead.
At 10:15am, the “UK on the world stage” panel discussion examines the state of Britain’s global influence post-Brexit, with insights from Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, Tina Brown CBE and others.
After a mid-morning break, we reconvene at 11:25am with three simultaneous breakout sessions, covering sustainability, AI and ethical leadership, providing real-life case studies and practical guidance.
After lunch, the 1:35pm panel “Will AI replace accountants – or elevate them?” features leading experts including Nick Fry and Professor Dame Wendy Hall, addressing the technology’s impact on the profession.
The 3:35pm panel “Can business be ethical and profitable?” explores how companies and finance professionals can balance purpose with profit and how to create impact reports.
The conference’s finale is the 4:15pm keynote, “From space missions to business decisions”, delivered by Tim Peake. Marking 10 years since his historic ISS visit, the astronaut will share his unique experiences, drawing parallels between space exploration and resilient leadership in business.
Closing remarks from ICAS CEO Bruce Cartwright CA at 4:50pm will be followed by networking drinks, rounding off what promises to be a day rich in insight, innovation and intelligence.
Counts as 6.5 hours of CPD
Counts as 6.5 hours of CPD
VENUE
The ICAS Annual Conference 2025 will be held at Cavendish Venues, 1 America Square, London, with its distinctive views of the London Wall on the lower ground floor. The wall was built by the Romans in 200AD and was designed to protect London. Although the venue is home to a piece of history, inside it is modern and accessible – virtually next door to Fenchurch St Station and a short walk from Tower Hill Underground station.
Find full programme details and book your tickets
The ICAS Annual Conference 2025 is supported by a
range of sponsors and exhibitors
Quorum, which will also be leading a breakout session during the lunchtime break, provides IT solutions and managed services, supported by outstanding customer service.
ICAS partners are also well represented, with Croner-i offering advice on tax and accounting, HR and compliance. Ricoh will be demonstrating its ScanSnap range of scanners, and recruitment consultants Rutherford Cross will be on hand to offer guidance and career advice to attendees.
Electric vehicle leasing specialists Pike + Bambridge is also exhibiting.
We thank all our sponsors and exhibitors for their support.
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