Judges

Ami Copeland is CEO of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers in the UK. Ami stepped in to the role of CEO in 2023 after many years successfully overseeing the marketing and communications arm of the organisation. This background gives Ami an in-depth knowledge of the bookkeeping profession which combines with a natural empathy and enthusiasm to place Ami as a champion for bookkeepers all over the world.  

Asma Iqbal is an award-winning solicitor and partner specialising in corporate recovery and insolvency and litigation at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors, a Yorkshire based law firm. Asma is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion and holds the position of Inclusivity Champion for the Mayor’s Business Board at West Yorkshire Combined Authority; she is the Champion for Diversity and Inclusion for the Insolvency Service UK and sits on the Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee for INSOl International.

Asma takes on a proactive role to promote diversity, inclusion and equality, working with institutions, organisations and sits on boards to bring about and implement meaningful and lasting change.

Asma is also part of the R3 Association of Business Recovery Professionals Membership Committee and the Regional Committee for Yorkshire. Asma was one of the founding members of the WNY Chamber of Commerce BAME Committee and is on the Leeds Leadership Group. Asma is named on the Northern Power Women 2024 Power list, she was winner of the BusinessDesk Leadership Award for Diversity and Inclusion and winner of the Yorkshire Hero Awards for Yorkshire Business Leader of the Year 2022 and won the title of UK Hot Lawyer 100 in 2022 for the Lawyer Magazine.

Bev Flanagan is an accountant with a passion for nurturing growth in the accounting profession and is just coming up to 30 years in the field.

As the visionary founder of a 100% cloud based accountancy practice, she not only steered it into success but also orchestrated it’s seamless sale in the summer of 2022, marking a remarkable 17 year legacy.

Today, Bev channels her profound expertise into her consultancy business, dedicated to empowering accountants and bookkeepers to unlock the full potential of their practices. She thrives on fostering growth and prosperity within the accounting community.

In addition to her consultancy endeavours, Bev stands as a respected and engaged council member, director and trustee of the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), a role that underscores her commitment to elevating the accounting profession.

For Bev, the accounting profession isn’t just a career – it’s a lifelong passion, and she’s on a mission to help accountants and bookkeepers alike thrive and excel.

Collins Ntim (PhD accountancy, Glasgow, UK; CPA Australia) is a Professor of Accounting at the University of Southampton Business School, UK.  He has previously served as a head of department, associate dean, and deputy head of school.  He has published extensively in the accounting, finance, business and management journals focusing on accounting, finance, governance, development and sustainability research interests. His work has generated significant research income, as well as cited widely, including by academics, policy-makers and the media. He has consulted widely for several organisations, such as the Financial Reporting Council, UK and World Bank, including leading the development of the National Corporate Governance Code for Ghana. Collins also served as a full sub-panel member for the 2021 UK Research Excellence Framework and is the current President of the British Accounting and Finance Association and Independent Governor at the South Hampshire College Group.

David Potts is director of operations at the AIA and is responsible for maintaining the professional body’s international recognition and regulatory strategies.

David works with regulatory bodies across the world to ensure AIA members meet the appropriate standards of competence and professionalism.

David is a Professional Member of the International Compliance Association.

Emma Rawson is a technical officer with the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT). She initially trained with a Big 4 Firm but also spent a short time working in a specialist consultancy firm where she provided advice to other practitioners before joining the ATT in 2017.

Emma has contributed articles on topical tax issues to several leading tax and accountancy publications. She has presented talks and webinars around the country, appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC News to discuss tax issues, and provided oral evidence to both the Treasury Committee and House of Lords Finance Bill Committee.

In addition to being a member of the ATT, Emma is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). She is currently the chair of the ATT/CIOT Leeds branch.

Jodie Barwick-Bell is a Tax Partner at Evelyn Partners in Yorkshire and the North East. She is Chair of STEP Yorkshire as well as being a Chartered Tax Adviser and a Fellow of the ATT. 

Jodie has over 25 years experience advising private clients, business owners, trustees and family offices. This includes 6 years spent in-house running family offices for two entrepreneurial families. Jodie is a Trustee of two charities, the Manny Cussins Foundation and a community regeneration charity she co-founded. 

Jodie’s experience as a private client adviser, as well as in running family offices and being a trustee, has given her deep insight into many issues wealthy families and family businesses face and also ideas and strategies for dealing with challenges that can arise. 

At Evelyn Partners, Jodie leads the national family office team who provide virtual family office services to families with complex affairs, as well as support to in-house family office teams. Jodie also provides tax advice to a broad range of private clients, trustees and business owners across the region. 

Kevin is currently president of AAT. He has a career history of operating at board level in large PLCs and SMEs. Companies including Alcatel-Lucent, Northcliffe Newspapers, part of the Daily Mail and General Trust Plc, ATS Euromaster, part of Michelin, National Express Plc and Accenture. He has worked overseas in ROI, Australia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Greece and USA. 

Kevin currently holds non-executive directorships with several SME companies operating across different industry sectors.

Kevin is a family man with a wife, two children and a dog called Bonnie.

His formal qualifications are: MBA, FCMA, CGMA, MCMI, MAAT and a masters in quantum sales and marketing for SMEs.

Lee Haywood has over a decade of experience in the UK accountancy sector, specialising in supporting micro- to medium-sized accountancy practices. Currently serving as the operations manager and company secretary at the Certified Public Accountants Association (CPAA), Lee plays a pivotal role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organisation. 

In this capacity, Lee works closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure that the CPAA effectively supports, represents, and regulates accountancy practitioners across the UK. Lee’s dedication to the profession is further highlighted by his leadership in developing the CPAA’s inaugural qualifications, which are tailored to equip small accountancy practitioners with the essential knowledge and skills they need to thrive in an ever-evolving industry. 

With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by smaller practices, Lee is committed to driving initiatives that foster excellence and professionalism within the accountancy community. 

Born and raised in East Yorkshire, Martin Petch works as an Account Manager for AAT, the Association of Accounting Technicians, covering Yorkshire & Humber. AAT are the world’s leading professional body for accounting technicians and develop a range of finance qualifications, designed to give learners real world skills and knowledge valued by organisations.

Martin’s role involves meeting with approved training providers in the region, along with national providers based in the north of England & Scotland. Ensuring they are fully supported to deliver our qualifications and engaged with businesses and employers in the region. This role has given him a unique insight into the world of accountancy; the demands of the workplace and the skills needed by our members to strive in an everchanging sector.

In his past-time, Martin makes the most of all that Yorkshire has to offer; water sports in the North Sea, cycling in the Wolds and enjoying weekends with the family in the Moors & Dales. 

Sarah Beale, CEO at AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians), has a vision to equip AAT’s members with skills fit for the real world. 

Coming full circle when she became CEO of AAT, after gaining her AAT qualifications nearly 30 years earlier, Sarah has never been afraid to take the path less trodden. At that time Sarah adopted an unconventional route into a profession that hadn’t embraced vocational learning. 

Fearless in her approach, an ambitious new 2030 strategy for AAT was launched, which will secure greater recognition for the AAT community innovative products and services relevant to a fast-changing business world.  

Previously, Sarah held multiple financially based roles, before developing into management, and then securing executive roles, followed by the appointment as CEO of CITB, a £300m sector wide training organisation.  Sarah has been a non-executive director and appointed to government taskforces to promote the value of diversity, practical skills and talent attraction. 

Sarah is a highly accomplished professional with a first-class business degree and extensive experience in managing businesses across various sectors.

In 2009, she founded Women Who Count (WWC), a practice that has earned multiple awards for its exceptional services. Serving as the CEO of the Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers (IAB) and the IAB Group, Sarah is committed to empowering finance professionals through education and fostering business development support to ensure top-notch service for business owners.

Sarah’s dedication to education extends to her clients, as she believes skilled finance professionals can profoundly impact small business owners by providing invaluable financial insights. Actively involved in lobbying efforts and HMRC consultations, Sarah advocates for positive change within the finance community, supporting both finance professionals and business owners alike.
With her approachable demeanour and unwavering dedication, Sarah is a driving force in empowering her clients and colleagues to achieve success.

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