Europe: The Bigger Picture webinar series - Career moves, global work and business realities

Event information

In a fast-changing global landscape, professionals and business leaders need more than just skills — they need perspective.

The Bigger Picture: Career Moves, Global Work, and Business Realities is a four-part webinar series that explores the shifts shaping our industries, careers, and organisations.

Whether you're aiming for your next leadership role, expanding across markets, or adjusting to new ownership models — this series gives you the insights to stay ahead.

What to expect

• Cross-continental insights from professionals working across sectors
• Industry trends that are reshaping business strategy
• Career transitions decoded — from manager to partner, CFO to CEO
• Ownership models demystified — from family business to listed companies 

Webinar details 

• Webinar 1: Collaborating across borders, 18 September 2025
• Webinar 2: Exploring industry developments, 4 December 2025
• Webinar 3: Transitioning careers – structuring the next step, 19 February 2026
• Webinar 4: Business structures – adapting to ownership models, 25 June 2026

Find out more in the relevant tabs above. Please note that Zoom links will be sent to you in the booking confirmation email.

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending these webinars could contribute up to 1.25 hours of verifiable CPD per webinar, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the webinar booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Collaborating across borders

This session will explore the realities of working in internationally connected roles, with insights from members who engage with colleagues across the US, Asia, the UK, and the Middle East.

Topics include:

• Cross-cultural communication and etiquette
• Time zone coordination
• Navigating region-specific business and regulatory challenges

Speakers include:

• Ben Cowley – Regional Head of Internal Audit for EMEA & APAC, Netflix BV
• Andreas Theocharides - Commercial Retail Director, PepsiCo (Greece) International
• Tracy Staines - Inspector General of the Global Fund
• Bettina Cassegrain - Global Director, Professional Standards and Sustainability Assurance, HLB (moderator)

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this webinar could contribute up to 1.25 hours of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the webinar booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Exploring industry developments

This session will help members explore opportunities across both established and emerging industries. Participants will be grouped into sector-focused breakout rooms based on interest areas.

Sectors include:

• Financial services
• Retail
• Energy

Speakers include:

• Nikiforos Bantoukoudis, Head of Finance Division, HELLENiQ Upstream
• Lucie Harwood - CFO, Abundia Global Impact Group
• William Hiscock – Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Booking.com
• Constantinos Mourouzides, CFO, IKEA UK & IE
• Janet Wright – Global Head of Financial Reporting, Funds Administration Operations, Citigroup
• Dan Zubaryev - Senior Manager, Financial Control, N26

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this webinar could contribute up to 1.25 hours of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the webinar booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Transitioning careers – structuring the next step

A practical session for members considering a career move or planning their next step.

Choose one of three breakout rooms to hear from our expert speakers. In the registration form you’ll be asked to confirm breakout room and provide a little more information about yourself to help the conversation.

The session is planned to be interactive and recordings of the sessions will not be available due to the breakout nature of the event.

Our breakout sessions:

• Practice - from Manager to Partner
• Tackling the transition from Practice to Business
• Business - Aspiring CEO

More details on the sessions:

Practice - from Manager to Partner

Hear from Michalis Stephanou, a Partner with PwC Cyprus, on his journey from ICAEW student to Partner and the lessons learned along the way. This session provides first hand perspectives on intentionally progressing within an accountancy firm through early career planning, continuous technical and leadership training, and seeking exposure beyond day-to-day client work. The discussion will also explore involvement in professional bodies and committees, building credibility, broadening perspective, and developing influence within both the profession and the wider business environment to position oneself as a trusted advisor. This session will offer a clear roadmap for aspiring Managers preparing for senior leadership and partnership.

Tackling the transition from Practice to Business

Hear from Louise Jacobs of Axera AI as she explores the realities of tackling the transition from Practice to Business. Louise will share insights on shifting mindset from technical excellence to commercial impact, navigating the fast pace of a tech start-up, managing rapid progression from Finance Manager to CFO, and securing funding to support growth and scale. This session offers a practical, real-world perspective for professionals interested in how experience gained in practice can translate into senior leadership and value creation within high-growth businesses.

Business - Aspiring CEO

Hear from Peter McKenzie as he shares valuable insights for aspiring CEOs aiming to lead at the highest level. Peter will explain how to plan your career path toward the CEO role, highlighting the key differences between CFO and CEO in terms of mindset, responsibility, and influence. The discussion will focus on the importance of stepping beyond finance to understand stakeholders, strategy, and organisational dynamics, with practical tips on gaining broader business knowledge, building influence, and leading confidently through transformation.

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this webinar could contribute up to 1.25 hours of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the webinar booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Business structures – adapting to ownership models

A deep dive into how different ownership structures influence business culture and leadership expectations. Panelists will share experiences from working in:

• Family -owned businesses
• Private Equity–backed companies / Pension fund–owned organisations
• Listed Companies

Speakers include:

• Bettina Cassegrain - Global Director, Professional Standards and Sustainability Assurance, HLB 
• Adonis Sotiriou - Group Chief Financial Officer, Lanitis E.C. Holdings

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this webinar could contribute up to 1.25 hours of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the webinar booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.