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 complex M&A activity in a technology-driven landscape shaped by AI, advanced analytics and accelerated deal cycles. As competition for assets intensifies and due diligence becomes increasingly data-rich, CFOs must combine financial discipline with digital fluency to assess value, manage risk and drive integration success. The session explores how AI is reshaping deal sourcing, valuation, diligence and post-merger integration, and how finance leaders can use intelligent tools to enhance decision quality and execution speed. Topics include:
• The CFO’s strategic role in AI-enabled M&A
• Using advanced analytics to enhance valuation and due diligence
• Identifying technology, data and capability synergies
• Assessing digital assets, intellectual property and innovation pipelines
• Managing integration risk and realising post-deal value
• Leveraging scenario modelling and predictive insights in deal strategy
This is for Global CFO Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Sandy Markwick (sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Scott Moeller, Professor in the Practice of Finance, Founder of M&A Research Centre, Bayes Business School | Alida Scholtz, CFO, RAKEZ
This Masterclass is part of the Global GC Academy and is delivered in collaboration with The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London.
This masterclass provides General Counsel with the tools, insights and frameworks to proactively manage legal risk and respond confidently to disputes and crises. With rising regulatory complexity and reputational stakes, GCs must lead on risk awareness, compliance and organisational resilience. The session covers how to assess and mitigate legal, regulatory and commercial risks, embed a risk-conscious culture, and prepare for crisis scenarios. Practical strategies will be shared for managing litigation, optimising external spend, and implementing an effective crisis response.
Topics include:
• Staying ahead of legal and regulatory developments
• Embedding risk awareness across the organisation
• Avoiding and managing litigation effectively
• Crisis planning and the Prepare / Respond / Recover framework
• Legal’s leadership role in business continuity
• Leveraging legal tech and external partners in risk mitigation
This is for Global GC Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Ben Palmer (ben.palmer@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Harry Borovick, General Counsel & AI Governance Officer, Luminance Technologies | Mark Cockerill, SVP, Legal – Corporate, M&A and International Development, ServiceNow Inc.
AI agents sound like something that needs a development team, a budget line and a six-month project plan. They are not. The tools now exist for a legal leader to build a working agent, one that takes a task, works through it step by step and hands back a finished output, in the time it takes to drink a coffee.
SPEAKERS
Ben Palmer, C-Suite Director, Winmark | Catherine Qi, Head of Research, Winmark
The Right Thing to Do for businesses? The Risks of Speaking Up & Staying Neutral
Companies have often felt that taking a position on some of the issues of the day (#MeToo, BLM, Ukraine) was an expression of their values, where they stood as a company. However on issues that are controversial, whichever side an organisation takes will, by definition, be divisive. The pressures internally can be very strong – from staff networks or other groups of colleagues – and equally the pressure externally from activists, campaigns and various kinds of accreditation.
CHAIR
Matthew Kirk, International Affairs Advisor, Squire Patton Boggs
SPEAKERS
Simon Fanshawe OBE, Chair, Hexagon Housing Association | Neil Morrison, Group Human Resources and Communications Director, Severn Trent | Helen Webb OBE, Chief People Officer, John Lewis Partnership
Artificial Intelligence has moved beyond experimentation to become a strategic business imperative. Yet despite significant investment, many organisations struggle to move from isolated pilots to enterprise-wide transformation. While individual use cases often demonstrate value, relatively few companies have successfully embedded AI across core business processes at pace and scale.
CHAIR
Adela Araujo, VP President Programme and Portfolio Delivery, Colt Technology Services
SPEAKERS
Arslan Sharif, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Moto Hospitality
USA ‘Deep Dive’: The Tax Environment for Multinational Groups
In the latest in our ‘deep dives’ into specific regions and countries we turn our attention to the USA. This discussion will be of interest to tax directors from a wide range of groups which have operations or trading relationships in the USA. It will also be of interest to regional Heads of Tax of US-owned groups reporting into group HQ.
CHAIR
Sandy Markwick, C-Suite Director, Winmark
SPEAKERS
Rodrigo Gastalver, Global Head of Tax, Ferroglobe Plc
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
This masterclass examines the CFO’s role in engaging investors, navigating financial markets, and interpreting macroeconomic forces that shape enterprise performance. In a volatile capital environment, CFOs must understand market expectations, capital allocation dynamics, and economic signals, translating them into clear financial strategy and credible stakeholder communication. The session explores how finance leaders position their organisations effectively in the capital markets while strengthening investor confidence and board-level insight. Topics include:
• Engaging institutional investors and managing market expectations
• Capital structure, funding strategy and market positioning
• Interpreting macroeconomic trends and financial market signals
• Communicating performance, outlook and risk with credibility
• Supporting board oversight of market-facing strategy
• Aligning financial strategy with shareholder value creation
Designed for CFOs seeking to deepen their capital markets expertise and strengthen strategic influence with investors and boards.
This Masterclass is part of the Global CFO Academy and is delivered in collaboration with Bayes Business School, London.
SPEAKERS
Junli Zhao, Lectuer, Bayes Business School | Manju Malhotra, NED & Former CFO, Smith News plc
This Masterclass is part of the Global GC Academy and is delivered in collaboration with The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London.
Attracting, developing, and retaining top legal talent is a growing challenge in a competitive, candidate-driven market. This masterclass equips General Counsel with practical strategies to build high-performing legal teams with the right skills and mindset to thrive. You’ll explore how to identify capability gaps, recruit lawyers who align with your culture, and create compelling career pathways that drive loyalty and engagement. The session also examines how to raise the profile of your team, reward beyond compensation, and retain talent within a flat structure.
Topics include:
• Evolving legal recruitment and in-house market trends
• Identifying skills gaps and hiring for cultural fit
• Motivating and progressing talent without hierarchy
• Raising the legal team’s profile across the organisation
• Leveraging non-financial rewards and development strategies
• Exploring alternative career pathways for in-house lawyers
This is for Global GC Academy Delegates only, to find out more or become involved please contact Ben Palmer (ben.palmer@winmarkglobal.com)
SPEAKERS
Katja Roth Pellanda, Group General Counsel, Zurich Insurance | Spencer Davis, Group General Counsel, Lifezone Metals
Building Together: Capital, Partnerships and the Future of Affordable Housing
Across the affordable housing sector, organisations are rethinking how future growth is financed. As providers look beyond traditional funding models, they are increasingly turning to private capital, cross-sector partnerships and alternative funding models to fund development and support long-term growth. At the same time, leaders are being compelled to make difficult decisions about where capital should be deployed. As investment demands across existing homes, building safety and new development continue to grow, organisations must balance growth ambitions with financial resilience while embracing new partnership models and rethinking how risk is managed.
CHAIR
Elizabeth Froude, Group Chief Executive, Sage Homes | HOSTS – Marc Burns, Head of Affordable Housing, JLL | Mark Nevett, Head of Affordable Housing Investment Valuation, JLL
SPEAKERS
Michael Shepherd, Group Development & New Business Director, Vivid Homes | Matthew Waters, Partner, Devonshires Solicitors
