David is an Ethics Partner at BDO LLP in the UK. He specializes in ethics, public policy, and has a background in audit. David is a member of several senior governance committees, including the Business Interest Oversight Board and the Quality and Risk Management Executive. He also attends the INE’s Public Interest Committee meetings. Internationally, David is a full-time member of the BDO Global Network’s Ethics and Independence Steering Committee, driving the network’s strategy on ethics and independence. He is influential in the professional and regulatory space, both in the UK and internationally, and is a Past Chair of IFAC’s Forum of Firms.

Peter Beard ACA BFP is the Founder and Director of GenFinance.AI, a company dedicated to accelerating finance professionals through rapid, reliable, and responsible GenAI adoption. A chartered accountant and former EY Technology Specialist, Peter joined the ICAEW as a School Leaver Student when training at EY. Peter has over eight years’ experience, including managing audits for FTSE and EURO Stoxx 50-listed companies, whilst contributing to EY’s Global AI Research Team, and leading digital transformation projects at EY. Recognised with EY UK awards for innovation and technical excellence, he now specialises in deploying GenAI for finance teams, and professional service practices.

David is the International Audit Director at Crowe Global, supporting member firms in delivering international audit services and enhancing professional quality. Previously, he was an audit partner at Crowe Global's UK member firm, auditing public companies and international businesses, and supporting market transactions. David has held roles with ICAEW and IFAC, including being a member of ICAEW’s Independent Regulatory Board until 2020 and the Institute’s Council from 2001 to 2013. He is also involved in the City of London as the Renter Warden of the Worshipful Company of Horners and a member of the Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.

Krishna, a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of international experience across the UK, India, and Nepal, specializes in audit and assurance. A UK Registered Auditor since 2013, he has held roles such as Chairman of ICAI UK Chapter (2022–2024) and Chair, ACCA Harrow Panel (2022). His expertise spans global business, ESG, data analytics, and emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. Krishna champions innovation in audit while upholding professional values, focusing on quality, stakeholder engagement, and future-ready strategies. He is also committed to mentoring future professionals and promoting global best practices in financial reporting, governance, and the evolving audit landscape.

Debbie Edwards is a Senior Audit Manager at the UK National Audit Office with over 20 years’ experience spanning public sector audit and ‘on the other side of the fence’ in financial reporting and management roles. She has led complex financial audits and played a key role in delivering audit quality through technical guidance, training, and implementation of new standards. Debbie was a workstream lead in the NAO’s Audit Transformation Programme, delivering award-winning learning and development, and now leads a team providing technical support to the NAO’s financial audit practice.

Sarah is a director of Benee Consulting Limited. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years specialising in audit. Her roles have included auditor, trainer and quality control reviewer for Deloitte London, leading an audit/corporate department for a Midlands based firm and QAD reviewer for the ICAEW. Sarah now runs her own practice that specialises in audit, hot and cold files reviews and training for a range of UK and international auditors.

James is an Audit Partner at Menzies LLP, with over 25 years of experience in external audit. Since joining Menzies he has led their audit service line, sat on the firm’s Management Committee and currently leads their Solent office, whilst acting for a large portfolio of privately owned companies across a range of sectors. He is active in the HLB International network and works with many internationally active clients. Earlier in his career he spent seven years working with RSM in New York City where he qualified as a CPA.

Drew Haigh is a Chartered Accountant with 23 years’ experience in external and internal audit. Drew’s career includes 15 years with PwC in the Banking and Capital Markets audit practice primarily in London and New York (2009 – 2011). In 2017, Drew joined Barclays Internal Audit where he ultimately led the Global Risk and Finance internal audit team as Managing Director. In 2025, Drew joined Citigroup internal audit as a Managing Director in Finance. Drew has also volunteered his time as a co-opted member of the Brunel University Audit and Risk Committee between the years of 2019 and 2024.  

Catherine is a Partner at Price Bailey LLP and has over 30 years of experience in the accounting and audit profession. As the firm’s compliance partner, she supports teams on auditing and accounting matters, provides training, and conducts numerous Engagement Quality reviews. She has been a member of the ICAEW Technical and Practical Auditing Committee for a number of years and recently joined the IFAC Small and Medium Practices Advisory Group, nominated by the ICAEW. She also served six years on the Education & Training Board at the ICAEW. Catherine has also delivered webinars and podcasts on behalf of ICAEW.

Abigail is a senior leader in 2nd and 3rd line transformation programmes, with experience spanning governance, internal controls, enterprise risk management, and internal audit. She specialises in implementing international SOX compliance, enterprise risk management, and agile, risk-based internal audit across a range of industries. Abigail has extensive experience in listed, private, and private equity–backed organisations, supporting IPOs, trade sales, and integrations, with a focus on UK-headquartered businesses that are dual- or internationally listed. She chairs the ICAEW Internal Audit Panel.

Neil is an independent expert advisor to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on its reforms to the Local Audit system in England. This follows two and a half years where Neil led the Financial Reporting Council’s work as shadow system leader for the Local Audit system in England. Prior to these expert roles, Neil spent 13 years leading external audits of Government and Public Sector organisations, both as a Key Audit Partner at EY and as District Auditor for the Audit Commission. Neil brings a unique perspective to the audit and assurance faculty board having convened multiple stakeholders to address system risks and worked for public and private sector audit providers, regulatory bodies and Government departments

Emily is the Head of Audit Quality for the UK and has executive responsibility for the Audit Quality framework and sits on the Executive Leadership Team. Prior to being Head of Audit Quality, Emily was Head of the Department of Professional Practice for audit which has responsibility for the methodology and guidance that our UK audit teams follow. Emily also had an integral leadership role in our Audit Quality Transformation Programme from inception, transforming our audit practice to date. Emily has two decades of audit experience, and has worked on both FTSE 100 group audits and large, private, complex, group audits both in the UK and New Zealand.

Alison advises Boards and senior corporate stakeholders on auditor transition, indirect procurement strategies, compliance, controls and governance enhancements. Previously she was on the Global Executive Board of an indirect sourcing firm, a Managing Director of an international bank leading the non-compensation cost reduction program, the professional services procurement and the Sarbanes Oxley compliance program. Originally a Director with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Switzerland and London she is a fellow Chartered Accountant, Board certified and Oxon alumni. Additionally, Alison is a senior advisor and corporate fundraiser for the UK charity Let Me Know.

Styliana is a Director in the Assurance Department of PwC Cyprus and also member of the Corporate Reporting Services team advising clients on complex accounting matters. She works mainly with financial services clients which consist of credit institutions, investment firms and investment funds and other international groups. She is also involved in internal quality reviews in Cyprus and across the PwC network. She is a fellow Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), an ICAEW Business and Finance Professional and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC). She is also the Chair of the ICAEW Cyprus Younger Members Committee.

Bhavita is an Audit Partner at KNAV Limited and provides advisory services from its affiliate firm, Aventus Partners Limited. With over 15 years’ experience, she specialises in auditing medium and large companies, focusing on UK subsidiaries and branches of international groups. Bhavita has extensive expertise in preparing and auditing financial statements under UK GAAP and IFRS, serving a niche portfolio of global clients.

Semsi is a seasoned partner at PwC with over 18 years of experience in leading large, complex controls audits, focusing on assessing critical Internal Controls over financial reporting, including IT controls, for multinational corporations. Starting her career in PwC Brussels, she later moved to London, where she now spearheads the PwC Digital Audit practice, revolutionizing audit procedures through digitalisation, GenAI and emerging technology. Outside of work, she passionately mentors female talent in technology, having established the Female Tech Talent Programme at PwC to empower and support women in technology careers.

Clare is a partner in Deloitte’s UK Audit & Assurance business within the Audit Quality and Risk function. She has over 20 years professional experience as an auditor and as a risk and regulation practitioner and is an RI. Her audit background at Deloitte has been with large UK and US listed audits often in the Technology Media and Telecoms sector. Within the Audit Quality and Risk function at Deloitte she leads on external inspections and regulatory interactions and broader regulatory supervision of audit. She also supports audit and assurance engagements on risk matters.

Paul is the head of the firm’s Quality Support Team, which is focussed on supporting the firm’s audits of public interest entities. He has experience of working at the UK’s audit regulator, having particular expertise in inspection and enforcement activities, international standard-setting, ethics and independence. He also leads on regulatory and reputational matters, which involves dealing with the Financial Reporting Council and other regulators who have oversight of the audit practice. He is also a member of the firm’s Audit Oversight Board, a director of the Centre for Public Interest Audit and a member of the Policy and Regulation Group.

Following Acquisition by a top ten firm Carol became UK Head of Audit then Audit Compliance Principal and Head of Regulation. Carol led and developed the audit service line quality, efficiency and attractiveness alongside progressive innovation in audit delivery and oversight. Previously Chair of Support Members Strategy Group. Supporting Chartered Accountants in disciplinary processes, Carol understands that proportionate, effective guidance and CPD in the audit arena are essential towards quality audit delivery. Carol is also an ICAEW Council Member representing South Wales and a member of the South Wales Board.

Rhodri Whitlock, FCA, is an accomplished non-executive director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee at Albion Enterprise VCT plc. As founding director of HPL Associates Limited, he provides governance, technical, and quality advisory services to audit firms. With more than 25 years as an assurance and advisory partner in a top 10 accountancy firm, Rhodri has supported public interest entities and SMEs. He has contributed to PKF International’s audit committee and BDO’s Partnership Council, and later joined the Financial Reporting Council, engaging in projects, reviews, and inspections. He also lectures at the University of Portsmouth Business School.