Biography:

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Biography:

Ann Hall is the Assistant Chief Officer for Cleveland Police. As well as finance, her portfolio includes the Force's Central Business Unit, Procurement, Facilities, Estates and Fleet. She is the first member of staff in the Force to have held rank at Executive level. She tutors in Resource Management at the Police National Strategic Command Course, and is a Member of the National ACPO Business and Finance Group.

A chartered accountant who qualified with KPMG in the North East, she spent 18 years in the private sector before making the jump to the public sector in 2004 and recently won the Nigel Wright North East Accountancy Awards Finance Director of the Year Award 2007.

Here she tells about how good financial management has been a key part of delivering improved policing services to the communities of Cleveland.

Biography:

Brenda is the Group Finance and IT Director for J Barbour and Sons Ltd and is the current holder of the Finance Director of the Year award (2008).

Prior to Barbour, Brenda worked for Jacques Vert PLC for 8 years where she held the post of Finance Director. During this time, the company went from single brand £30m turnover to multiple brands £150m turnover following the takeover of a competitor. Brenda restructured the finance departments (North and South) ensuring the finance function (people and systems) were fully operational in a very short period of time to maximise the benefits of multiple brands under one company.

For the last four years, Brenda has been working on updating both the finance and IT functions at Barbour. More recently she has introduced and is currently implementing a new ERP system throughout the global group replacing the current system that has been in operation for the last 23 years. The return on sales at Barbour has gone from strength to strength and Brenda is delighted to be working in a company whose heritage is firmly based in the North East.

Brenda was born in the North East and has continued to grow her career here over the last 20 years.

Biography:

Chris Blaxall returned to the North East in 2006 having spent the previous nine years in Australia. He had left the North East in 1997 after successfully seeing Derwent Valley Foods (Phileas Fogg) through a trade sale to United Biscuits as Group Finance Director, and the turn round and refinancing of Tomorrows Leisure plc and its listing on the London Stock Exchange as Managing Director.

In Australia, Chris developed the national private equity advisory business as a partner with Deloitte before being headhunted for a global CFO role for a software company.

Upon returning to the North East, Chris assisted in the development of the Tanfield Food Company before joining Kilfrost Group Plc, the global market leader in aircraft de/anti-icing fluids, where he has helped drive the growth of the business as CFO for the past 3 years. �Chris also continues to assist other developing companies in the area with strategic and general business advice.

Biography:

With considerable HM Revenue & Customs experience and "Big4" heritage, Chris has developed an enviable track record of negotiating exit strategies for clients in distress with contentious HMRC investigations. His in-depth appreciation of HMRC guidelines combined with his profound technical knowledge provides a competitive edge.

It is the level of his tactical experience that enables Chris to deal with highly complex areas of work to great effect. Over the years, Chris has provided clients with considerable support as well as implementing tax compliant risk management strategies to deal with future challenges in an area where HMRC continue to focus resources.

Chris has undertaken many assurance reviews, disclosures and filing positions to extinguish any later challenges from HMRC, allowing clients the comfort that the tax risk will be low should HMRC challenge any position adopted.

While Chris can minimise clients' tax risk to avoid pitfalls, he also provides just the right crisis response when a serious incident has only just come to light.

On a personal note, Chris played representative rugby for many years. He now coaches a local rugby team of under 7's who won the largest European mini rugby tournament in front of 9000 supporters at Newcastle Falcons � Chris says his proudest moment was when his son scoring the winning try!

Biography:

Chris Siddle trained with Deloitte Haskins & Sells in Newcastle before joining Financial Training (now Kaplan). He was head of the Newcastle centre for 15 years and is now National Head of Taxation courses. Chris sits on the Committee of the Northern Society of Chartered Accountants and is a past Chairman of the Newcastle branch of the Chartered Institute of Taxation

Biography:

Having worked in local government for almost 9 years I joined KPMG in 2001. During my time with KPMG I worked in the FE / HE assurance and advisory teams. In 2005 I joined the University of Sunderland as Deputy Director of Planning and Finance. In 2009, remaining in the University I moved roles to take over responsibility for the newly formed Business Assurance Service.

Biography:

David is responsible for placing senior qualified accountants with clients in the North of the region and Cumbria. Dave is an ACA�and trained wiith Deloitte in Newcastle. He transferred to the Toronto office with Deloitte where he spent a further 2 years before returning to the Newcastle office. He progressed to senior manager and was responsible for a broad mix of clients ranging from plcs to owner managed businesses.�Dave joined Nigel Wright in 2004.

Biography:

After qualifying with BDO Binder Hamlyn in 1993, Dona left practice to work in commerce, predominantly within the service sector. Most recently, along with her husband Andrew, she has set up Woodbine Business Services, a firm based in Gosforth specialising in providing accounting and management support to small and medium sized businesses, recognising the need for businesses to have support throughout the year, together with ensuring accounts and tax compliance requirements are efficiently handled.

Dona is an active member of the ACCA Northern Counties Network Panel, with which she has been involved for several years and is the current President. She is involved with organising events for members and students as part of the Network Panel�s programme of events throughout the year. She is a strong believer in allowing people to be given opportunities based on ability and application, challenging artificial barriers to show it�s the outcome that counts.

Biography:

Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co before joining Reg Vardy plc in 1988, where he served as Finance Director from 1991 to 2001 and latterly as Chief Executive.

Joined Northgate plc, the UK and Spain�s leading commercial vehicle rental Company as Group Finance Director in January 2002 where he served in this role for five years.

In January 2008 Gerard accepted a new role as Finance Director of The Vardy Group of Companies.

Biography:

Gemma is originally from Newcastle�however, she �moved to Australia for eight years but always knew she would�return�to the UK for university. She graduated from Newcastle University in 2003 with a LLB (Hons) in Law.

Following graduating she�travelled around the world�before joining RMT Accountants and Business Advisors in 2004 and started her training in the Accounts and Audit department and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2008. After 4 years with RMT, Gemma moved to BAE Systems�in Newcastle where she currently works as a Decision Support Accountant.

Gemma has been an active�member of the NCASS committee since she started her training and is now Chair of the committee.

Biography:

With 34 years in public service George has delivered audit, inspection, financial services and corporate governance advice to a range of public sector organisations.

Joined the Audit Commission as a Best Value Inspector inspecting local authority services. Currently a performance specialist delivering Use of Resources and Comprehensive Area Assessments of North Tyneside Council. Has undertaken over 50 inspections in public sector organisations across the Country and is currently the Northern Regional lead for Good Governance and Audit Committees.

Has worked with the Shanghai Municipal Reform, with the Crown Agents and Chief Internal Auditors from Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, and Georgia. Had four tours of Bosnia helping to develop proper internal control processes and establishing effective Internal Audit. Has recently returned from 4 weeks working with the Federal Republic of Macedonia developing anti corruption hotlines and training programmes for the staff operating them.

Currently Chair of CIPFA in the North East Region

Biography:

Glenn McCauley is a Director in Deloitte�s Government and Infrastructure Team specialising in advising public and private sector clients on complex Public Private Partnerships, Joint Ventures and PFI transactions. As well as being a leading adviser in the domestic market he has a major role in Deloitte�s European, Middle East & Africa Public Sector Group for PPP/PFI matters and has contributed to some of their major thought leadership pieces in this area.

He is a procurement adviser who has completed projects in a variety of sectors and contributed to examples of national guidance, as well as advising on a number of award winning projects.

Prior to joining Deloitte, Glenn qualified as a CIPFA accountant while working at Newcastle City Council.

Biography:

Howard studied for three years at law school and qualified as a practising solicitor in 1967. He then studied at Cranfield Business School.� He joined Mincoffs in 1969 and was appointed as partner in that year.� Since that time, Howard has become one of the most respected and well liked lawyers in the North East legal community.�

Howard's professional background is commercial property and he was responsible for establishing the firm's property department, acting on some of region�s most high profile commercial property deals since its establishment.� He now acts as the firm�s senior partner and is responsible for maintaining and building relationships with clients and other members of the business community.�

Howard maintains an interest in business affairs and is a Non Executive Director of approximately twelve companies.

Biography:

Jackie is Professor of Financial Management and academic leader of the financial management, risk and performance subject area that is part of the Accounting and Financial Management Subject Group. Her main teaching areas are on the undergraduate Specialist Finance Degree and on the Postgraduate Global Financial Management where she delivers modules on risk and investt ment management. Her research is in the field of money laundering and in particular the costs and benefits of regulatory complii ance. Jackie has been invited to speak at a number of very high profile academic and practitioner conferences in both the UK and Europe. She is on the Editorial Board for the European Cross-Border Crime Colloquium that brings together researchers from across Europe.

Prior to becoming an academic, Jackie, whose PhD is in Taxation Policy, spent 10 years working for a major merchant bank, followed by a 3 year posting as fiscal policy adviser (under the auspices of the British Government) to the Ministry of Finance in Belize.

Biography:

Jane Cuthbertson is a qualified CPFA following earlier studies to become a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.

During her CIPFA studies, Jane was the Inaugural Chair of the National Students Forum that was set up by CIPFA in 2002. The Forum has developed to become a body right at the heart of the CIPFA family. This was demonstrated by the initiative to include a student representative on CIPFA Council - Jane was the first student to hold that position.�

Jane has been successful in gaining a seat at CIPFA Council on 3 further occasions and is a duly elected member on CIPFA Council for 2009/10. Jane has been a member of the CIPFA in the North East Region executive committee since 2002 and is currently Vice Chair of the Region.

Jane has worked in both the public and private sector and has a wide and varied knowledge of service delivery in both sectors.� Jane spent her early career with North Tyneside Council and KPMG before moving to South Tyneside Council.� Jane is currently working for BT South Tyneside providing a Management Accountant service for South Tyneside Council.��

Biography:

An Accountant by training, he ran his own accountancy practice in York for over 25 years before starting a new career in bio diesel.

In 2002/03 he was elected president of his professional body, ACCA which is the world�s only global accountancy body with members and students in over 170 countries.

As a representative of ACCA he serves on a Europe wide Ethics working party and at present is chairman of a task force writing a paper on �Integrity in Professional Ethics�

He is now working in international consultancy and also in the production of bio-diesel from non food crops on marginal and arid land. In the bio diesel field he has helped and advised various companies and departments of governments including having led a seminar in Switzerland on behalf of a Swiss Bank.

He is a practising Christian; a keen rider and reader and active in all he undertakes.

Biography:

Keith trained as a chartered accountant with Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG) in Newcastle, qualifying in 1978. He then moved on to Rowlands, a small accountancy practice in Consett, before joining chartered surveyors Sanderson Townend & Gilbert in 1984, and spending the next 15 years as partnership secretary, looking after finance and administration. In 1999 Keith led a management buy-out of Sandersons Property Group, the firm's Darlington-based estate agency arm, where he was finance director.

Since 2001, Keith has been in his current role covering the Northern region, which has 3,200 members and the Scottish regions that has 1,300 members.

Biography:

Kevin has been involved in CIPFA in the North East for a number of years initially through the re introduction of the Audit Sub Group and then spending two years as Chair of CIPFA in the North East. This involved taking forward the creation of a distinct region in the North East from 1 January 2008 which incorporates Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Teeside. Previously he chaired the Northern Division of a much larger region. Recognising the importance of the social side of the institute he also helps to organise the annual CIPFA golf day held at (Royal) Beamish Park in September each year. All those with a link to Public Sector Finance welcome to participate! A lifelong External Auditor he trained with the National Audit Office (NAO) in London returning to the North East after qualification to work with the Audit Commission. Subsequently he rejoined NAO where he has supported the significant expansion of the Newcastle Office which now stands at nearly 100 staff with most of his audit responsibilities relating to either trees or fish!

Biography:

A CPFA qualified accountant Luke trained with RSM Robson Rhodes before joining Grant Thornton UK and latterly the National Audit Office, where he leads on the audits within the Department for Work and Pensions. Luke has extensive audit experience across both public and private sectors in England and Scotland, with specific experience in health and central government.

Luke volunteers for the North East CIPFA Regional Committee and is the current secretary of the North East CIPFA Audit Group. Luke was a judge of the 2007 Public Servant of the Year and 2009 North East Accountancy Awards.

Biography:

Michael Brodie is Assistant Director of Finance at the NHS Business Services Authority, where he has responsibility for all aspects of Financial Accounting, Financial Governance and Financial Services, as well as a broader remit for Property and Facilities Management and Sustainable Development.

Michael graduated from Northumbria University in 1990 with a BA (Hons) in Accountancy and qualified as a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in 1994.

He has a wealth of experience across the public sector having held senior finance positions in local government, the police service and the NHS.

In 2009 Michael was chosen for the "Future Leaders" award organised by Public Finance magazine to highlight ten of the brightest talents in public sector finance.

Since August 2009, Michael has served as an external co-opted member of the University�s Audit Committee. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of CIPFA in the North East.

A keen sports enthusiast, Michael coached the Great Britain junior Inline Skater Hockey team at the European Championships in 1999, having previously been a successful player himself for over a decade.

Biography:

Paul Varley joined eaga in June 2006 as the Divisional Managing Director of the Home Services Division with responsibility for undertaking energy efficiency services, providing �in home� energy advice and delivering insulation measures and other energy efficiency related products from 20 locations across the UK. Paul then moved into the role of Divisional Managing Director of the Managed Services Division; leading eaga�s delivery of key contracts across the UK, including the Warm Front Scheme in England.

Paul is currently Group Commercial Director and is responsible for expanding and diversifying the range of products and services eaga deliver.

Prior to joining eaga, Paul worked for LogicaCMG as the Business Development Director responsible for Business Process Outsourcing, particularly back office transactional processes. Prior to this, Paul worked for Siemens for just under three years; latterly as an Operations Director within Siemens Business Services. Paul started his career qualifying as an accountant at Procter and Gamble and worked on various projects across Europe across a nine year period.

Biography:

Business Founder +catalyst
Paul Wilson, 32 and Newcastle born, is founder of +catalyst, a two year old recruitment company. He has over five years successful experience with one of the largest independent recruitment firms in the North East, with over four years being responsible for building a finance division from scratch.

As a graduate, he started in recruitment with a high growth, 3i backed, Leeds based executive search and selection consultancy. Before that, he began his career training for three years with a chartered accountancy practice in Newcastle.

Paul approached Benchmark Communications to co-organise the North East Accountancy Awards and has taken up the position of supporting sponsor for the Awards. The concept came about having received an extremely positive response from the Accountancy profession when introducing the idea of establishing the event as an opportunity to show the good people the finance sector employs and the great work they do.

Paul is a keen runner and enthusiastic footballer, rather average in both!

Biography:

Peter qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Newcastle office of Coopers & Lybrand before joining The Financial Training Company in 1988 � now known as Kaplan Financial.

Whilst the majority of Peter's time has been spent training students in the North East of England, he has trained students throughout the UK as well as Cyprus, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Peter is still actively involved in training students on the ACA, ACCA, ATT and CIMA accounting qualifications as well as being responsible for the Newcastle centre.

Biography:

Peter McCusker is deputy business editor at the Journal. Peter, a former Durham district reporter for The Journal, returned to the paper in 2007 after a four-and-a-half year spell as news editor of the Hartlepool Mail.

He is treasurer and board member of the Denton Young Peoples Project in west Newcastle, a community initiative designed to improve the lives of the people of Denton

Biography:

After qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1989, Richard was appointed training manager with Price Waterhouse in Newcastle. Richard joined Newcastle Business School in 1993 as a Senior Lecturer specialising in financial management and was promoted to Principal Lecturer in 2003 and then to Professor in 2009.

As principal lecturer, he was initially responsible for postgraduate student affairs to enhance the student learning experience. Following on from that Richard became a member of The Newcastle Business School research management team and was responsible for cross school research development and managing the PhD programme which included the successful inception and management of a Graduate Tutor programme. Now, as Professor in Accounting, Richard is responsible for the academic leadership of the Accounting subject area.

Richard was included in Northumbria�s RAE (2008) submission and his main research interests examine the role of business in society in the areas of corporate philanthropy, social and environmental disclosure and fair trade. Richard has received funding from ACCA in relation to the usefulness of voluntary disclosure narrative and from the Nuffield foundation in relation to corporate philanthropy in the building society sector.

Biography:

Roland has been involved in over100 corporate finance transactions over the last 23 years. He was until recently a director of AiM listed Lupus Capital plc successfully raising £330m for two acquisitions and leading the refinancing of £150m debt in 2009. He formed his own corporate finance house in January 2005 following 9 years "Big 4" corporate finance advisory, latterly as Corporate Finance Director. Prior to this, he spent 5 years as a venture capitalist and was a director of several VC backed companies. He then became CEO of an IP commercialisation company and raised and managed a technology seed fund. He was responsible for concluding some 20 corporate license agreements with licensees including Zeneca Bioscience, Biokit, 3M and Cookson Group. Roland also worked for BP in the oil, gas and chemicals industry in production and commercial positions. He manages a group of HNWI investors chaired by Bryan Sanderson which has made several investments in the NE including Business Impact (UK) where he is a director. His contact base spans venture capitalists, bankers, brokers, shell sponsors, directors of large and small corporates and a host of other professionals and entrepreneurs.

Biography:

Simon Pallett read Modern History at Oxford and trained as a Chartered Accountant with Spicer and Pegler in Manchester qualifying in 1979. He came to Newcastle in 1980 to work for Northern Arts as Finance Officer, leaving in 1988 as Assistant Director (Finance and Administration) to take up a career in higher education at the then Newcastle Polytechnic teaching financial management. In 1993 he joined Newcastle University and has served as Degree Programme Director for the accounting degrees, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Business School and is currently Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Biography:

Steven Mason, 45, Director of Resources, Northumberland County Council, covering Finance, ICT and Property Services. Appointed to this new role within the new Unitary Authority bringing together the Services previously provided by the former County Council and six District Councils.

Former Director of Finance with responsibility for Finance, ICT and Asset Management having been appointed in December 2002.

Prior to this as Chief Executive of North Durham Healthcare Trust, Steven led the massive transfer of health services into Durham's new �97 million University Hospital. He joined the Trust as Finance Director in 1996 and was appointed Chief Executive in August 2001, having been Acting Chief Executive since February 2001, when his predecessor retired.

Steven is a Member of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA). He has previously worked as an accountant with BT and was Deputy Finance Director at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) Newcastle.

Steven was born in North Shields, is married to Helen, has five sons and lives in Ponteland. Away from the workplace he enjoys caravanning, walking, swimming and cycling and is Treasurer of Ponteland Amateur Swimming Club.

Steven is the Deputy Chairman of the Northumbria University Audit Committee and a member of the Baltic Audit Committee.

Biography:

Steve was born in the North East and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Newcastle office of Thomson McLintock (now KPMG).

He is an experienced Finance Director having held that position in different industry sectors, including House building with Leech Homes and George Wimpey, and manufacturing.

Steve enjoys walking, cycling and watching Rugby Union.