29 April 2025

• 9.00AM - 9.20AM
  Registration, coffee & networking
• 9.20AM - 9.30AM
  Chair's welcome
  Chair: Jenni O'Donovan, events director, Civil Society Media
• 9.30AM - 9.55AM
  Opening keynote: Reasons to be cheerful: Expanding the boundaries of public benefit and showing solidarity

  Individual charities may be feeling under the cosh, but this present period of discontent masks a long-term trend of positive development in our sector. From what is considered charitable to who is allowed a seat at the table, the direction of travel is inherently progressive and emphasises the essential nature of charitable endeavour.  In this inspiring opening keynote, veteran activist and advocate Helen Moulinos will chart the evolution of public benefit and the regulatory framework that polices it, explain why this should embolden those speaking truth to power, and outline the importance of taking action to amplify the voices of other organisations with less agency than yours.

  Helen Moulinos, interim CEO, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust; vice chair, Amnesty International UK; trustee, Global Legal Action Networ

• 9.55AM - 10.55AM
  Plenary panel discussion: Paying trustees: Time to reopen this can?

  At this very conference last year, the audience was asked whether they favoured making it easier for charities to pay charity trustees for being trustees. A significant number raised their hands, many more than ever had before when this issue was on the agenda. So, we thought it could be time to reopen this long-running debate, and see whether sentiment is indeed shifting towards a more permissive approach to trustee remuneration, and what difference it could make to governance effectiveness and charitable impact.

  Chair: Penny Wilson, charity consultant and former CEO, Getting on Board 

  Panellists:Tanya Barron, chair, Affinity Trust and trustee, Educational Development Trust; Mita Desai, co-CEO, Young Trustees Movement and chair, Community Action Redbridge; Paul Latham, director of communications and policy, Charity Commission; Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, former chair of the Lords select committee on charities; Brian Walsh, chair, Alternative Futures Group

• 10.55AM - 11.25AM
  Morning networking break
• 11.25AM - 12.10PM
  1A. Fathoming the finances to maximise charity impact

  As the winds of change grow ever stronger, it has never been more important for trustees to hold their nerve and stay focused on strategic decision-making.  This session will explore how trustees can ask the right questions of leadership teams to optimise financial sustainability and examine all options for maximising impact. Delegates will learn how to understand and minimise costs from a trustee perspective; hear why they must not overlook the impact of fundraising on long-term sustainability; and find out how to play with financial modelling to examine different options for their charity's business model. 

  Speaker: Steve Harper, social purpose partner, haysmacintyre 

• 11.25AM - 12.10PM
  1B. The value of project delivery for strategy execution

  Project management plays a growing role in the success of non-profit organisations, helping them to maximise their impact and achieve their missions. But they operate under distinct conditions compared to their for-profit counterparts – resource constraints, wide stakeholder diversity, the frequent involvement of volunteers, and the need to align project outcomes with the  broader mission of the organisation – and these differences significantly influence how projects are managed within the sector. In this session, Adam will explore the unique aspects of project management in charities, highlighting best practices, challenges and strategies for effective project delivery.

  Speaker: Adam Boddison, chief executive, Association for Project Management 

• 11.25AM - 12.10PM
  1C. Developments in Charity Commission regulation and other legal changes

  Join this session to hear Shivaji and Charlotte reflect on key developments in charity law and regulation and how charity trustees should respond to them. With reference to Commission guidance, inquiry reports and recent legal cases, they will explore the Charity Commission's developing approach to regulation, considering longstanding issues, newer areas of concern and the practical steps trustees can take to respond to them.

  Speaker: Shivaji Shiva, partner and Charlotte Nutt, associate, VWV

• 12.15PM - 1.00PM
  2A. Session details to be announced
  Speaker from Sayer Vincent
• 12.15PM - 1.00PM
  2B. Strategy and the role of the board

  Charities' approach to strategy is changing as we all navigate a rapidly changing world. Join this session to hear strategy and governance consultants from Bayes Business School, who specialising in the non-profit sector, share their ideas for ways to leverage the power of co-production and agility to ensure that strategy truly drives the organisation, including the work of the board. 

  Speakers: Angela Style and Nick Wilkie, consultants, the Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Bayes Business School (formerly Cass)

• 12.15PM - 1.00PM
  2C. Shining light on dark arts: Cyber governance in charities

  How confident are you that your charity is well protected against cyber risks? Many trustees lack the confidence even to ask questions about cybersecurity, thanks to the technical nature of such topics. But lack of rigorous oversight can leave charities vulnerable to serious risks such as insider threats, exploitation by technology suppliers, data protection breaches, financial fraud and safeguarding failures. Join this session to learn how to promote open discussion about cyber governance on your board, what questions trustees should be asking to understand cybersecurity risks, and how to take a whole-organisation approach to minimising these risks.

  Speaker: Jessica Figueras, founder, CxB (Cyber Governance for Boards) and vice chair, the UK Cyber Security Council 

• 1.00PM - 2.00PM
  Lunch
• 2.00PM - 2.20PM
  Charity Commission update

  In his first speech to Trustee Exchange, David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, will reflect on his first nine months in office, and set out what the sector can expect from the Commission in the years ahead.

  Speaker: David Holdsworth, chief executive, Charity Commission

• 2.25PM - 3.10PM
  3A. Decarbonisation, demographics and deglobalisation: The 3D reset & AI

  The global economy is in a phase of considerable transformation. As we navigate through these significant shifts, three key trends – deglobalisation, decarbonisation, and demographics, collectively referred to as the 3D reset – are shaping the global economy and influencing long-term investment opportunities. AI plays a significant role in the 3D reset – it is a critical enabler and catalyst for each of these forces, facilitating innovation, efficiency, and sustainability in various sectors. This session will explore what the 3D reset entails, its implications for investment, and how AI is a transformative technology that underpins these trends.

  Speakers from Cazenove Capital

• 2.25PM - 3.10PM
  3B. The role of the board in creating organisational culture

  Organisational culture drives organisational performance, and must be rooted in the charity’s values and led from the very top. But how do you achieve a culture where everyone feels valued and included, and motivated to do their best work, especially when many of the team are working remotely? In this session, Tiger shares his experience of instilling a positive culture of belonging within charities, including the specific role of the trustee board.

  Speaker: Tiger de Souza, executive director of people and culture, Samaritans

• 2.25PM - 3.10PM
  3C. Fundraising compliance from a board perspective

  Join the Fundraising Regulator for an essential overview of the new Code of Fundraising Practice and the key fundraising responsibilities of trustees, along with an insight into its complaints and investigations process.

  Speakers: Paul Winyard, head of policy and Nikki Renken, head of casework, the Fundraising Regulator

• 3.10PM - 3.35PM
  Refreshments & networking break
• 3.35PM - 4.20PM
  4A. Diversifying and growing income: A TLC case study

  As sector funding is squeezed ever tighter and competition for finite resources bites harder, many charities are desparate for new revenue streams and fundraising innovations.  TLC is one charity that has met this challenge head-on, and successfully grown its income from less than £1m to £5m in seven years, through a combination of public sector commissioning, investing in fundraising, three tranches of social investment,  and the launch of a "profit with purpose" trading subsidiary. Join this session to hear the charity's journey from precarity to sustainability, how it arrived at and weighed up different options, and its ambitious plans for even greater growth.

  Speaker: Michelle Hill, chief executive, Talk, Listen, Change 

• 3.35PM - 4.20PM
  4B. Moving to a four-day working week

  Both Friends of the Earth and Brook have taken the plunge and implemented a four-day working week for their staff – with no loss of pay. Join this session to hear about their journeys, the challenges they overcame, the benefits reaped so far, and to ask any questions you may have about making such a move at your charity.

  Speakers: Adrian Cruden, head of people, Friends of the Earth; Helen Marshall, chief executive, Brook; Joe Ryle, campaign director, the 4 Day Week Campaign (chair)

• 3.35PM - 4.20PM
  4C. A conversation: Is the sector's approach to risk holding us back?

  There is a view in the sector that as charities have become subject to ever more law and regulation, boards have become more compliance-aware and risk-averse – to the extent that this is acting as a brake on achievement of impact and inhibiting real change.  Is this true, and if so, we can be done about it?  Join this session for a lively conversation with two sector leaders who have been thinking about this topic a lot, and working on new approaches that aim to grease the wheels of progress. 

  Speakers: Caron Bradshaw, chief executive, Charity Finance Group; Ed Mayo, chief executive, Pilotlight

• 4.25PM - 4.50PM
  Closing keynote: How to be an anti-racist charity

  Equity, diversity and inclusion is now on the radar of most charity boards, but many are now realising that real change – for both the organisation and its beneficiaries – can only be infused and sustained if these strategies are underpinned by an organisation-wide drive to be actively anti-racist. In this thoughtful and provocative closing keynote, Frances will spell out the role of trustee boards in driving forward the anti-racism agenda within their charities, highlighting some of the obvious and more subtle barriers that stand in the way of change, and suggesting some practical tips for moving forward – including helping delegates to reflect on whether their own narrative or behaviours could be stifling progress.

  Speaker: Frances Brown, governance, EDI and strategy specialist

• 4.50PM - 5.55PM
  Networking drinks reception

All prices excluding VAT

For registration queries contact Dilan Ucer

For media partnerships and marketing queries contact Bethany Dawson

Lanyard Sponsor 

BMA House

Tavistock Square,

London

WC1H 9JP

Nearest tube/train:

• Euston (5 min walk)
• St Pancras International (10 min walk)

Further directions to BMA House

1. Payment
   1. Registrations will not be fully confirmed until correct payment is received. If you have any issues with payment, please contact [email protected]
2. Programming
   1. Please note that speakers and topics were confirmed at the time of publishing, however, circumstances beyond the control of the organisers may necessitate substitutions, alterations or cancellations of the speakers and/or topics. As such Civil Society Media Ltd reserves the right to alter or modify the advertised speakers and/or topics if necessary. Any substitutions or alterations will be updated on our web page as soon as possible.
3. Event attendance
   1. Delegates are required to observe and comply with all laws, regulations, rules and requirements relating to COVID-19 and which Civil Society Media has adopted as part of its operations. Civil Society Media will communicate the COVID-19 Measures to you from time to time including and without limitation via pre-Event emails, its social channels and the event website
   2. Civil Society Media reserves the right to alter or remove its COVID-19 Measures at any time in response to the latest guidance or legislation from the UK Government or as otherwise deemed necessary by Civil Society Media in its discretion.
   3. Civil Society Media reserves the right to eject you or refuse you entry from the event if, in our reasonable opinion, you are refusing to comply with any COVID-19 Measures without reasonable grounds.
4. Cancellation or reimbursement
   1. On receipt of your booking form, your place is confirmed. Delegate substitutions are allowed. Refunds on cancellations will only be issued (less a 15% administration charge) up to and including 30 days prior to the event. Refunds will not be issued after this date. Confirmation of cancellations MUST be in writing and sent to [email protected]
   2. Individual registrants who registered as part of a discounted group registration are not eligible for refunds, unless the entire group cancels. Registrations may be transferred to another person from the same organisation at any time.
5. Postponement or Cancellation of the Event by the Organiser
   1. Should we have to cancel or postpone due to COVID-19 we will endeavour to give you as much notice as is reasonably possible.
   2. In the event that we have to postpone the Charity Finance Summit due to COVID-19, we will transfer your ticket to the next alternative date.