AI: Opportunities and risk mitigation for retailers

Sarah Belsham, Partner, Data Analytics & Insights, Business Consulting, RSM UK
Sarah has over 25 years of experience in delivering technology and digital transformation programmes. Sarah is responsible for RSM’s data, analytics and insights consulting services as well as leading the firm’s Data and Analytics Innovation Programme. She understands the challenges faced by organisations trying to drive value from their data assets, including implementing effective AI tools, and develops data strategies that align to business and digital strategies.

Jacqui Baker, Partner, Head of Retail, RSM UK
Jacqui is an audit partner and as RSM’s national head of retail, she brings in-depth industry knowledge to the team. She is regularly quoted in the media including recently where her commentary on ONS retail spending data has been featured in the FT, The Daily Telegraph and the London Evening Standard as well as numerous trade titles. A member of the ICAEW retail committee, Jacqui has chaired a number of national ICAEW events. As an audit specialist Jacqui advises a number of national retailers together with independent stores. Client brands include Cloud 9, Under Armour, Plumbs, Wynsors Shoes, Hobs Reprographics and American Golf. Jacqui’s interest in retail goes beyond the office. She is a retailer herself – her womenswear store was shortlisted in the Best New Retailer category of the 2021 Drapers Independents Awards.

Kaitlyn Reth, Manager, Data Analytics & Insights, Business Consulting, RSM UK
Kaitlyn provides strategy and implementation services to empower clients to leverage their data as an organisational asset in order to align to their business strategies, foster innovation, and obtain better insight. Kaitlyn is experienced with developing data strategies; implementing data governance; performing data maturity assessments; conducting process improvement initiatives; supporting complex data migrations; developing ETL’s and data warehousing; and developing data models, data visualisation, reporting, and creating advanced analytics solutions. This work has enabled her to help clients better manage their data and transform data into data-driven decisions for clients.

Chair: Ian Pay, Head of Data Analytics and Tech, ICAEW
Prior to joining ICAEW in March 2022, Ian worked for over 10 years at PwC in Data Analytics, specialising in External Audit and Data Acquisition and developing robust and automated ETL processes to support the firm’s award-winning Halo suite of applications. Ian also played an active role in the development and delivery of training courses, with digital upskilling being an area he is particularly passionate about.