Christopher Woolard CBE, Partner | Chair, EY Global Regulatory Network, Ernst & Young LLP

This session will explore the impact of the global macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape on the changing and complex world, and how these drivers are shaping the regulatory outlook for financial services firms. With this landscape front of mind, Chris will share observations on common regulatory and commercial challenges for building societies and credit unions, and what is expected of NEDs in responding to the challenges posed. 

Ella Overshott, Director and Alex Walker, Pecan Consulting

Interactive training session with audience participation.  

We all want peace of mind that our organisation’s culture is driving the right behaviours in terms of risk and reputation, in supporting strategy delivery and strengthening brand advocacy. Regulators have set their expectation that culture must be effectively assured, but how do you govern culture? How can you be sure whether the culture in the Boardroom reflects the operating culture ‘on the ground’? 

Pecan have developed a Leading Culture from the Boardroom Masterclass centred around their 4-D framework. In this 1-hour taster we will explore the best practice and common pitfalls of: 

• Setting clear cultural Direction 
• Insightful Data needed to gain assurance 
• Board Dynamics needed to have the right conversations about culture 
• Deliberate actions to take when needed 

Sarah Harrison, Incoming Chief Executive, Building Societies Association 
Robin Fieth, Outgoing Chief Executive, Building Societies Association

Covering political and economic developments over the past 12 months, and looks ahead to what 2026 might bring for the mutual movement in general and the building society and credit union sectors in particular. 

Jo Causon, Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Customer Service 

Key takeaways:  

• The strong and documented links between risk, reputation, customer loyalty, a highly engaged workforce, and profitability for your business. 
• The Institute’s recent research into Risk & Reputation, and Employee Engagement, as well as a detailed overview of the current customer landscape in the financial sector.  
• What the future of customer service looks like in the UK, and how NEDs can best engage leadership teams to ensure a long-term focus on service. 

Tony Sales, Co-Founder, We Fight FinCrime

Presentation from an ex-fraudster with audience participation.

In this keynote presentation, The Criminal's Playbook, Tony pulls back the curtain on how sophisticated financial crimes are conceived and executed. As a master of deception, he provides a chilling, step-by-step walkthrough of a real-world social engineering attack, demonstrating exactly how trust is manipulated, and vulnerabilities are exposed. He delivers brutal, unvarnished truth and actionable strategies on how to pre-empt attacks from those who think several steps ahead of conventional security measures. Tony offers a rare look from the other side of the boardroom, making him an essential voice in risk management and corporate integrity.