Q) Hi, how are you today? 

Chilip: I’m good thanks!

Rieko: I am great, thank you.

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

C: My name’s Chilip Lai and I focus on business development, partnerships and channels for LeapXpert – Responsible Business Communication

R: I am Rieko Moody. I am a subject matter expert at Shield, and help implement surveillance models. I also conduct market research to help with product development and roadmap

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

C: I’ve always had a keen interest in technology and software in particular to see how the latest innovations could help businesses improve efficiency and decision making. Having had several discussions with industry leaders and experts many years ago I decided to join a company that focused on Compliance and Risk with enterprise technology and data.

R: I come from a compliance background, and I have worked for a few different financial institutions. My background in e-communication surveillance fitted nicely with what Shield had been developing. Besides, working for a tech company is so much more fun than working for a finance company!

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

C: I enjoy meeting so many different types of people and their businesses from start-up digital asset companies to top tier global banks and law firms. Discovering together how our technology can solve their challenges and the success they have after deploying our innovations is the most rewarding part of my role.

R: As a vendor, we have the power to change and not just to execute, and I love that about my role. When everyone is working together towards a common goal, people tend to be very collaborative and creative. We learn and discover a lot from our partners, SMEs, and clients, and it’s great that we are always up for the next innovations as a company.

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

C: The evolution of communication where their customers are demanding to use their preferred method of communication – instant messaging apps. For many reasons such as compliance and security, businesses are not allowing their employees to build relationships with their customers where they’re most engaged and responsive. However, as we’ve seen particularly with regulated businesses that banning instant messaging isn’t a viable option as judging by the recent regulatory fines and sanctions.

R: In my opinion, a lot of companies face the challenge of having to manage 5-10 different e-communication solutions to cover end to end. It is a complicated process when you have to deal with data archiving, data management, supervision, e-discovery, and surveillance for so many different communication channels, and you need to be regulatory compliant (needless to say). Some people don’t realize that one enterprise solution could solve all the problems without comprising data security issues or regulatory requirements.

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

C: The topic is very relevant not just for today but for the future of business communication. People will have some familiarity with the risks of instant messaging but they are many positive benefits for an enterprise to embrace this new communication technology from customer experience and insights to employee efficiency.

R: I think this topic is highly relevant right now since SEC and CFTC are investigating several banks’ record-keeping of communications through private platforms. We hope that everyone will be able to take some notes from this webinar and start thinking about what type of controls your firms should implement.

Q) Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

C: Keep learning from the industries or business leaders that most interest you. There’s lot of information online and with social platforms such as LinkedIn where companies and experts will share their latest updates and innovations. Creating and maintaining a professional online persona which will also help you to engage people in your target industry.

R: My mantra has always been that there is some value in some work that other people don’t want to do. I don’t think a lot of people realize how that can be the greatest currency later as you might become an SME of something that other people have no idea about. Another piece of advice is to keep learning even as you become more senior. Senior management with knowledge always earns more respect than managers who can lead the team without understanding what the team does.

Q) To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

C: I like to cook as it focuses my concentration on a single task without any other distractions. From buying the ingredients, preparation and cooking the meal itself it’s all enjoyable to me. Strangely enough I also enjoy washing up and returning everything back to how the kitchen was beforehand.

R: I like to go to a park and enjoy the sunshine (cold brew iced coffee is a must in the sunshine). I also love hot yoga, and it’s the best way to fight stress!

Q) Hi, how are you today? 

A) Thanks for asking. I have had a demanding week, but I am hanging in there 😊

Q) Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

A) I am Pero Lupevski, Ground handling &Terminal Operations manager at TAV Tunisia/ Enfidha International Airport. I started my career in aviation at very young age at the security department. Over the years I have built my career from Security to Ground handling department, then Airport Operations and Airside management. Having the chance to work across different departments has helped gain a holistic view of the airport operation work which on the other hand has helped me in the process of implementation of necessary tools to achieve the operation Excellency.

Q) How did you get started in the industry?

A) I have been fascinated by aviation and airplanes since I was a child, especially by the beautiful flight attendants 😊 I have always been interested in what that magical world is like and how everything manages to be organized accurately and on time.

Q) What do you enjoy most about your role?

A) I enjoy understanding all the resources at my disposal and using it to make sure my team meet the goals. This includes putting people in the right spots, procuring the right tool as well as putting together an appropriate motivation to get the work done

Q) What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

A) People do not understand that aviation is an expensive toy that takes a lot of money, time, and commitment to reach a high level of service. For the passengers it is normal that this level of service should be provided but are they aware what it really takes to achieve this.

Q) Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

A) In this age of modern technologies, I think it is very important to highlight the importance of the application of new technologies for the development of an airport as well as the achievement operation excellency.

Q) Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

A) Get to know who you really are and what you really want to achieve in your career. Try to imagine the ideal professional development for you and then make it as your goal. Take small steps and never stop learning.

Q) To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

A) Spending time with family and friends would be my favourite way to spend free time. I love being outdoors no matter if it is a mountain or a sea, hiking or cycling.

Click here to register for TAV Technologies webinar on Tuesday 31st May 2022, 1PM BST

Hi, how are you today? 

I’m good and delighted to have this opportunity to share some of the things I have learnt about the challenges of managing an audit tender process.

Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

My name is Graham Hall. For the last 25 years I have worked in financial accounting and reporting for two multinational companies headquartered in Switzerland (Novartis AG and Nestle SA). In 2018 I was tasked with defining, managing, and documenting a global audit tender for Nestle. The experiences and learnings I gained on my own audit tender journey are what I would like to share with you today.

How did you get started in the industry?

For many people, including myself, an audit tender is a new experience and the need to provide a truly fair and balanced process means a very quick learning experience. I was the project leader on the Nestle process and I found the journey really fulfilling. Having learnt so much I now seek to help others as they too embark on their own audit tender journey.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Sharing the solutions to the multiple challenges of an audit tender and working with people from companies and audit firms as they face similar challenges to those, I faced in 2019.

What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

Many companies are not prepared for the challenges of an audit tender. Indeed for many the need to look outside of their current audit provider is a strange experience. The key is to build a process that will deliver a fair and balanced tender process such that no one firm (including the incumbent) has an unfair advantage. It is important to remember, each firm will invest significantly in its participation in your process, so fairness is fundamental. A key enabler of this goal is the provision of a robust, secure, and very user-friendly virtual data room to enable efficient information exchange, collaboration and an audit trail of the process and decision-making.

Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

Companies listed on regulated markets, credit institutions and insurance undertakings (known as Public Interest Entities or PIEs), in the UK and EU are required by law to conduct a competitive audit tender process every ten years. However, given the importance of a high-quality audit, companies or groups of companies which are not PIEs may also decide that it is in their best interests to put their audit out to tender. Many companies are unprepared for the challenges of managing an audit tender, which can be an unfamiliar experience for the individuals who are responsible and accountable for the success of the process. During our webinar, I will share my learnings from managing a global audit tender in 2019/20 for one of Europe’s largest companies, covering more than 750 entities and 180 countries. I will focus on practical advice covering issues such as planning and preparation, governance, key activities and documentation, transition planning to a new auditor, and technology tools that can be used to help achieve a successful outcome.

This webinar will be essential viewing for anybody involved, or likely to be involved, in an audit tender, both from the point of view of the tendering entity but also for incumbent and challenging audit firms, as well as their professional advisors

Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

If you are training to be an auditor or indeed a junior member of the team, or indeed a manager who aspires to become a Partner, and through this you get an opportunity to attend presentations by the company who’s audit your firm seeks, listen, learn and be attentive (research the company, not just its numbers and footprint, but its ethos, ethics and goals, turn off your phone, ask pertinent questions, do not be shy). YOU are the future of your firm; you can be a deciding factor for the company in arriving at its final choice of audit firm.

To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

Relax…. good question, I would like to say spending time with my grandchildren, but maybe that is not exactly relaxing. So maybe it’s more accurate to say I relax watching rugby and watching my wife manage the grandchildren. I have also written a book to share my experiences of the Nestle audit tender process and I found writing this very relaxing on my quiet evenings and weekends as I travelled the world for five months introducing the tendering audit firms to Nestle’s businesses and people in key locations.

You can register for Sterling Technology’s webinar “How to navigate an audit tender process – and survive!” here:

https://bit.ly/3yp0S9o

Hi, how are you today? 

Hey, I’m pretty good thank you – coffee in hand so I can’t really complain!

Can you please introduce yourself in case some of our readers aren’t familiar with you?

Of course – so my name is Tom Ackrill, and I’m the Business Development Manager for a company called ITL. We’re experts in the design, development, and manufacture of medical devices and IVDs; and since 2018 have been part of G&H who in turn are world leaders in optical components and systems. It’s a pretty niche industry, and my job role really covers everything from sales, to marketing, PR, and legal on occasion – it really does keep me busy.

How did you get started in the industry?

I had a slightly sideways entry into this world to be honest. When I was leaving school, I wanted to do something with the sciences; and to cut a long story short I ended up doing an apprenticeship and earned my degree that way. After I’d finished that, I was shown a job at ITL, originally looking after the sales element of a laboratory brand we have in-house called Vitl.

The idea was that it was easier to teach a scientist to “speak Salesman” than the other way around, and so I was given a chance. I did that role for a few years and was later offered the opportunity to “try my hand” at the main business of ITL which is contract design and development. Then about five years ago, I was offered the role as BDM which I was more than happy to accept.

I really didn’t think I’d end up working in this sort of job role all those years ago as a student, I was planning on becoming a teacher, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

 What do you enjoy most about your role?

It absolutely must be the variety of “stuff” I get to see and do on a daily basis. I’ve been with the company for the best part of 11 years now, and I never have two days quite the same. One day I might be wrangling with a contract negotiation with a new client, the next I might be speaking to a group of students off-site somewhere, and the day after I could be talking with a company about their fantastic new project.

The absolute heart of it all though is that what we do helps people. We aren’t just making consumer electronics, or toys, or luxury goods; the pieces of kit being developed and designed within ITL are directly benefitting people around the world – and that’s an awesome, if not humbling feeling.

What is a problem in your industry that people don’t suspect?

Right now? Getting your hands on the various electronics components needed to build these incredible products. The whole world currently is just a bit of a mess on that front – it’s just been a bit of a perfect storm over the past couple of years with Covid, the situation in Ukraine, the growth of electric cars, 5G, etc. has put massive strain on the supply chain. I think it’s almost a daily occurrence now that something has slipped out on its lead time, and obviously we then must do our best to manage and mitigate that. Our purchasing and production teams right now, I think, are worth their weight in gold.

Why did you choose this topic for your webinar? Why should people tune in?

I think because it’s one that we see all too often when we are first talking to clients who have either designed their product in house, or perhaps have worked with a contractor who doesn’t have the same level of exposure to the manufacturing “world” that ITL does.

One of our big USPs is that we design AND we manufacture – and by nature it means that our engineers must design things that are able to be put together as needed. It sounds obvious, but the number of times we see missed opportunities in the design phase, that by the time you realise them, you’re already far too late to make changes without incurring significant costs what with the potential impact on regulatory testing, tooling, updating the design pack etc.

That then really snowballs all the way through the chain – you either can’t make the product in the necessary volume, or for the necessary price point which negatively impacts our business. Further up the chain, our customers can’t meet the demand from their customers, or worse they can’t meet the price point they need, and then of course right at the sharp end are the medical professionals and home users who then can’t get equipment that would make a huge difference, because there’s no budget, or insufficient budget in play.

Do you have any advice for younger people who are just getting started on their professional journey?

Don’t assume anything – otherwise you’ll almost always be wrong. And on that subject; be ready to get things wrong and take a slap on the wrist where necessary. We are all young once, and there are plenty of things I did in my 20’s that I look back on now and go “why?”. Luckily, I had a great management and board team during those formative years who were there to steer me along the right path.

To close off – how do you relax in your free time? 

Nothing too exciting here I’m afraid! I have two dogs who obviously take up a chunk of my time, I also keep tropical fish and run a social media group (Freshwater Fishkeeping) on the subject as well as the occasional dalliance with writing articles for the leading hobbyist magazine in the UK.

With what little time I’m left after all that, I really enjoy walking, particularly in the hills of Scotland – it’s a long run up there to do it, but I always feel a sense of calm when I’m there.

You can register for Integrated Technologies Limited’s webinar “Start Small – Think Big” here:

https://bit.ly/3yokXww 

What do you hope attendees will gain at your webinar?

The aim of our process filtration solutions and services is to support our customers’ product and process integrity through world-class application expertise. For many companies, fermentation of plant-based protein is a rather new field, but also the pioneers of this industry are always looking for ways to improve their production lines. We will be explaining ways to do this by using best-in-class filtration and fermentation solutions.

What discussions do you look forward to having with the attendees?

As a filtration company, we are often involved in setting up production lines at a very early stage and we know our products can serve the manufacturing of many kinds of food and beverage innovations. We are always eager to discuss production processes of edibles and drinks we ourselves haven’t tasted before. And we are also looking forward to discussing ways to improve existing processes.

How did you get into the industry?

I initially joined Donaldson 14 years ago and worked for different business units. I am glad to be part of the Process Filtration team as the global engineering director to strengthen the process filtration engineering organization by leveraging my experience in advanced product development, quality management and liquid filtration.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Being part of a growing business within Donaldson creates fantastic opportunities for my team to develop new technologies and solutions in line with our customers’ requirements, to serve the growing worldwide needs for sustainable food to help to reduce carbon food print and help to improve people’s lives.

Where is your favourite place in the world and why?

My favourite place is Barcelona. I have visited this amazing city multiple times over the past 25 years, appreciating the fantastic architecture by Gaudi. Especially Park Guëll is an extraordinary and inspiring place.

You can register for Donaldson’s webinar “Filtration Solutions for Fermentation of Plant-Based Protein” here:

https://bit.ly/3FqMsHh