Winmark C-Suite Summer Drinks – Business State of the Nation: What Should Business Leaders Be Focusing On Today and in the Near Future?
Join Winmark for our annual Summer Drinks Reception and an engaging panel discussion exploring the current State of the Nation from a business leadership perspective. Our panel will discuss the major forces shaping the business environment, the implications for Boards and executive teams, and the practical actions leaders should be taking now to position their organisations for future success.
SPEAKERS
Professor Charlotte Valeur, Non Executive Director, The Bankers Investment Trust PLC & Member of Primary Markets Group, London Stock Exhange Group | Mark Richards, Chairman, VenCap International and Enzagroup | Keith Fraser, Vice Chair, Association of Chief Executives & Public Chairs’ Forum (ACE-PCF) .Chair Youth Justice Board
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping business models, operating structures, workforce dynamics and competitive advantage — creating both opportunity and risk for Boards and Non-Executive Directors. This Chairs & NED discussion will explore how Boards should govern AI, the questions directors should be asking management teams, and how organisations can balance innovation, ethics, cybersecurity, regulation and long-term value creation.
CHAIR
Helene Usherwood, Senior Partner, Anderson Quigley
SPEAKERS
Matt Frank, Independent Advisor, former Chief AI & Innovation Officer, Telana | Ian Golding, Chief Digital Information & AI Officer, TC Group | Celia Pronto, Non-Executive Director & Remuneration Committee Chair, South East Water | Baroness Wendy Alexander, Chair, The Electrotechnical Joint Industry Board
Aimed at those aged 18-25, our One Day MBA for Young Adults is a great way to get a grounding in the key tools and concepts of a full MBA and put them in the context of real-world business challenges. Utilising practical exercises and thought leadership, the course is designed to expand your knowledge using the latest insights into business strategy, corporate governance and leadership.
Leading the Finance Department, Strategic Planning, Governance & Risk
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
This masterclass examines how CFOs can lead finance departments that deliver disciplined governance while actively shaping strategic direction. As expectations on finance continue to expand, the CFO must ensure the function is structured for control, clarity and performance — while enabling forward-looking planning and enterprise growth. The session focuses on building a finance capability that underpins effective strategic planning, strengthens governance frameworks, and enhances organisational credibility. Topics include:
• The CFO’s leadership role in strategy and governance
• Structuring the finance function for control, insight and impact
• Integrating financial planning with enterprise strategy
• Strengthening governance, risk oversight and accountability
• Developing capability, succession and leadership depth
• Budgeting and resource allocation aligned to strategic priorities
Designed for CFOs seeking to lead high-performing finance departments with authority, discipline and long-term impact.
This is for Global CFO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Sandy Markwick (sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Paul Sheriff, COO/CFO, New Day | Ivana Raonic, Associate Professor in Finance, Bayes Business School
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
This masterclass provides CFOs with the tools to forecast internal financial demand, manage external vendors, and scale services efficiently. With spending under increasing scrutiny, CFOs must balance flexibility and control while extracting maximum value from supplier ecosystems. Learn how to model demand, negotiate strategically, and track impact effectively.
Topics include:
• Financial demand forecasting and resource planning
• Strategic sourcing, procurement, and vendor lifecycle management
• In-house vs outsource decision-making
• Performance tracking, cost control, and transparency
• Using metrics, dashboards, and benchmarking for accountability
• Driving vendor innovation, collaboration, and SLA management
This is for Global CFO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Sandy Markwick (sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Edward Guest, Senior Operating Partner, DBay Advisors | Kashish Kohli, Group Chief Financial Officer and SVP Asset Management Division, Sanad – A Mubadala Company
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
This masterclass supports CFOs in operating as strategic partners to the CEO, Board and wider stakeholder group. In today’s environment, the CFO is not only responsible for financial stewardship, but for shaping strategy, driving performance and enabling long-term value creation. The session explores how to strengthen board relationships, provide clear decision-ready insight, and increase the influence and impact of the finance function. Topics include:
• CEO expectations and the CFO’s evolving strategic role
• Building trusted relationships with the Chair, NEDs and C-Suite
• Structuring impactful financial input at board level
• Communicating risk and opportunity to non-financial stakeholders
• Aligning financial strategy with enterprise priorities
Designed for CFOs seeking to deepen their influence at the centre of organisational decision-making.
This is for Global CFO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Sandy Markwick (sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Patrick Butcher, Non Executive Director, Endava | Francisco Urzua, Professor of Finance, Bayes Business School
HR Technology Transformation: Mastering Change Management and Culture
Philip Wixon recently led the HR systems transformation at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. This constituted a 30-month programme whose outcome was the consolidation of more than twenty HR systems into a single cloud platform plus supplementary tools serving over 18,500 employees multiple business entities and locations.
SPEAKERS
Philip Wixon, Former Head of HR Transformation, The Hong Kong Jockey Club
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
This masterclass equips CFOs to lead digital transformation within the finance function and harness AI, data and automation to enhance performance, insight and competitive advantage. As technology reshapes operating models and decision-making, finance leaders must move beyond traditional planning and control to become architects of digital capability and innovation. The session explores how to modernise finance infrastructure, embed intelligent tools, and lead innovation in a disciplined, value-focused way. Topics include:
• The CFO’s role in digital finance strategy and innovation leadership
• Embedding AI, automation and advanced analytics within finance
• Modernising systems, data architecture and reporting capability
• Using digital tools to enhance forecasting, scenario planning and insight
• Building technology fluency within the finance team
• Governing digital investment and measuring transformation impact
This is for Global CFO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Sandy Markwick (sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Aneesh Banerjee, Associate Dean and Reader in Management, Bayes Business School | Ed Jones, Chair, Wightlink Ferries and former CFO, P&O Cruises and Cunard Line
