12.30

Welcome and introductions

12.35

Speaker/topic discussion

13.10

Q&A

13.30

Close

Joanne Parker | Newcastle University Business School

Joanne Parker began her career as an auditor for KPMG and is now a Lecturer in Accounting at Newcastle University. She is passionate about empowering women to achieve success in their careers. She has collaborated with schools, the Girls' Network, and the ICAEW to create opportunities and support systems for young women and has championed initiatives aimed at supporting women’s career progression within the University.

Kate Jarman | Leeds Office Managing Partner | Ernst & Young

Kate joined EY in Leeds in 2004 as an audit graduate, following a summer internship the year prior. With over 20 years of experience in external audit, she has led both global and UK-based teams, supporting a diverse portfolio of international, listed, and private equity-backed businesses. Her clients span various industries, including retail, energy, manufacturing, and technology. In 2020, Kate was admitted to the partnership and has now been appointed as the Leeds Office Managing Partner, where she now leads a team of around 500 people, serving EY clients across the region.

Kate has played a significant role in promoting Diversity and Inclusion within the firm. For the past four years, she has been a member of the EY UKI Assurance DE&I council as the Gender Leading Partner and oversees the EY Leeds Women’s Network. She is passionate about creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of gender, has equal opportunities and feels empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.

Natalie Wright | Leeds Office Managing Partner | Private Client Partner & Head of UK Family Business

Natalie is a Private Client Partner with over 20 years of experience advising business owners and their families. Her understanding of both personal and business financial planning allows her to take a truly holistic approach. Whether clients are navigating individual financial goals or managing business complexities, Natalie can provide comprehensive guidance and practical solutions.

As the UK Head of Family Business, Natalie supports and advises family-owned enterprises. She understands the unique dynamics, challenges and opportunities faced by family businesses. Her insights can help clients create a seamless strategy that aligns personal, family and business interests.

Instrumental in growing the Mazars’ financial planning and wealth management proposition, Natalie’s team now manage over £2.6bn of assets for private individuals and their families. The team have also been recognised by the Financial Times as one of the Top 5 Firms in the UK for Financial Planning and Wealth Management for the last 4 consecutive years.

As the Office Managing Partner in Leeds, Natalie is responsible for leading our team of 300+professionals, with a strong focus in Yorkshire on privately owned businesses.

Main areas of focus: succession and legacy planning, wealth management, profit extraction, exit strategies, business protection and continuity planning.

Rachel Fleming | Audit Partner | RSM UK

Rachel joined RSM in 2019 having previously spent 16 years in audit at KPMG in which time she audited PLC’s, owner-managed businesses, private equity backed companies and not-for-profit entities.

Rachel is an Audit Partner based in the RSM Newcastle office but works on a range of clients including National and Global businesses. At RSM Rachel’s client base is principally made up of large corporate audit clients, including listed and private equity backed groups.

Rachel has extensive audit and assurance experience across a wide variety of sectors including retail, consumer goods, manufacturing, healthcare and technology. Rachel is passionate about providing value adding and high quality audits to her clients based on a deep understanding of their organisation and the environments and sectors that they operate in.

Hazel Little | CEO | Career Returners

Hazel is the CEO of Career Returners and a leading return-to-work expert. Since joining the organisation in 2016, she has partnered with more than 150 private and public sector employers to design, launch and support effective returner programmes. She is a regular speaker on return-to-work best practice and a recognised voice in the returner talent landscape. Before joining Career Returners, Hazel had a 16-year career in HR within financial services, culminating in her role as HR Director. She took a three-year parental career break during which she qualified as a career and executive coach.