Caron Bradshaw OBE, CEO, Charity Finance Group
Nigel Kippax, Director, Charity Leaders
Mike Adamson, Chair, St Mungos
Laura Carter, Customer Segment Director, Ecclesiastical
Laura Carter, Customer Segment Director, Ecclesiastical
Richard Evans, Partner, Head of Risk and Assurance, Crowe
Michael McGuinness, Head of Financial Crime Prevention, The Co-operative Bank
Debbie Jenkinson, Fraud Specialist and Education Leader, The Co-operative Bank
09:30 – 09:35 Chair’s welcome and introduction
09:35 – 10:15 Panel Discussion - Navigating Financial Risks: Can We Do More with Less?
In 2024, UK charities face unprecedented financial pressures, from Employer National Insurance hikes to donor fatigue and shrinking public grants. Economic uncertainty and soaring service demands add complexity, stretching resources while funding remains limited. This session examines how charities can adapt to financial shocks, mitigate risks, and consider sustainable models to maintain impact. We'll explore strategies for strengthening resilience, engaging donors in challenging times, and making essential operational adjustments to deliver more with less. Join us to discuss solutions that enable charities to navigate the pressures of reduced funding while preserving their core mission and services.
Razia Gent, Senior Manager, BDO
Mike Adamson, Chair, St Mungos
10:15 – 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 – 11:10 Governance and Leadership Challenges - Risk to Organisational Resilience
In today’s challenging landscape, UK charities face governance risks that can threaten their long-term sustainability. From board effectiveness and skills gaps through to adhering to complex regulations – making the right choices for your board and leadership team is crucial to charities’ ongoing sustainability. Join us to examine strategies for strengthening governance and leadership, ensuring that charities remain resilient, trusted, and effective in fulfilling their missions under growing pressures.
Richard Evans, Partner, Head of Risk and Assurance, Crowe
11:10 – 11:20 Coffee Break
11:20 – 12:00 Building a Resilient Workforce to Reduce Organisational Risk
How can charities compete with other sectors for talent? Charities face pressing workforce challenges, from retaining skilled employees amid salary constraints and burnout to addressing skills gaps and limited career progression. This session delves into strategies for building a resilient, sustainable workforce that reduces organisational risk. Additionally, we’ll discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in fostering a dynamic team and the digital skills necessary to adapt in a changing landscape. Join us to learn how a resilient workforce underpins sustainable impact.
13:30 – 14:10 The Importance of Sustainability - Environmental and Climate Risk
Climate change presents critical challenges for the charity sector, from rising operating costs and infrastructure damage due to extreme weather to supply chain disruptions. Charities must adopt sustainable practices to remain resilient, meet increasing beneficiary needs, and address donor expectations for environmental responsibility. This session explores how sustainability impacts fundraising, reputational trust, and service delivery. We'll discuss strategies to embed climate resilience into operations and navigate the complexities of integrating environmental goals into governance.
Laura Carter, Customer Segment Director, Ecclesiastical
14:10 – 14:25 Coffee Break
14:25 – 15:05 Tackling Authorised Push Payment (APP) Fraud in UK Charities
Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud is a growing threat to UK charities, diverting essential funds through sophisticated scams that exploit trust and human error. Reimbursement under new regulations is capped at £85,000, which may not cover all losses, particularly in larger fraud cases. We’ll examine practical strategies for fraud prevention, including enhanced financial controls, staff training, and collaboration with banks under new reimbursement frameworks. Join us to strengthen your organisation’s defences against APP fraud.
Michael McGuinness, Head of Financial Crime Prevention, The Co-operative Bank
Debbie Jenkinson, Fraud Specialist and Education Leader, The Co-operative Bank
15:05 – 15:20 Coffee Break
15:20 – 16:00 Closing plenary – New approaches to risk management
Charity leaders must strike a balance between minimising harm and maximising opportunity.
In this session, the speakers will cover the ‘hard’ aspects of risk management, such as systems and prioritising, and the ‘soft’ aspects of team dynamics and culture. They will also introduce a model for risk management based on Harvard Business School research that incorporates three categories of risk, each requiring a different approach and mindset in making decisions.
Caron Bradshaw OBE, CEO, Charity Finance Group
Nigel Kippax, Director, Charity Leaders