Speakers

Clara Robinson, IFA

Topic: Accounting for Risk

Clara is the IFA’s Regulatory Case Manager, handling internal disciplinary referrals for breaches of the IFA’s Byelaws, Regulations, and AML monitoring.

She holds both an MSc and an MA in Religious Studies, with a focus on sociology, ethics and law. This mix of subjects gives her a practical understanding of how ethical principles and real-world situations come together in professional life.

Clara’s passion is making ethics straightforward and relevant, cutting through the jargon so people can tackle tricky situations with confidence.

Tamryn Dicks, Pharsyde Solutions

Topic: Understanding Burnout

Accountant, business owner and burnout survivor, Tamryn loves to share her experience and knowledge to help others build a business that gives them greater freedom.

Tamryn experienced severe burnout while building her accounting practice. She then stepped away from the hustle, started learning and developed a way of working that allowed her to achieve a better work-life balance while owning more than one business.

With 24 years in the industry and 19 years as a business owner, she understands the challenges of being a professional accountant and brings a unique perspective on what freedom and success can look like.

Neil Howells

Topic: Criminal Minds

Neil Howells is a career detective with 25 years’ experience, including extensive work within cybercrime.

His experience spans digital forensic examinations, training detectives in high-tech crime, and supporting businesses and public sector organisations to strengthen their defences against cyber attacks.

Andrew Robertson, GAAPweb

Topic: Recruitment trends in 2026 and what SMEs should be aware of

Building on a successful background in specialist recruitment, Andrew joined the Reach Work management team in 2012.

As Sales Director for GAAPweb, SecsintheCity and TotallyLegal, Andrew leads the commercial strategy and team development for the group’s job sites.

Abbas Owainati, Charles Stanley

Abbas Owainati is Head of Portfolio Management & Asset Allocation at Charles Stanley, having joined the firm in 2023. He is responsible for Charles Stanley's centrally managed investment solutions, including its range of UCITS funds, segregated mandates and model portfolios. He also leads the firm's strategic and tactical asset allocation process.

Prior to joining Charles Stanley, Abbas held portfolio management and multi-asset strategy roles at Brightwell, formerly BT Pension Scheme, and Quilter Investors, formerly Old Mutual Global Investors. Abbas holds an MSc in Economics and a BSc in Financial Economics from the University of Essex.