Speakers name
Robyn Milstead & Tom Bickle
Robyn is a Tax Director and has built her career specialising in Self-Assessment compliance. In February 2025, she founded Accountants Therapy — a fast-growing WhatsApp community created to give accountants a safe, supportive space to navigate MTD for IT & the wider pressures of modern practice life.
Since launching the group, Robyn has become a leading voice in demystifying MTD IT, reducing stress for accounting professionals, & championing collaboration over competition. She brings practical clarity, humour, and humanity in a world feeling complex.
Tom is a Founder is known for his proactive, supportive approach to clients, helping them harness technology to work smarter & stay ahead. He is an instrumental member of the growing Accountants’ Therapy community & has long been a strong advocate for better MTD education within the agent community.
In recent months, Tom has also spearheaded a series of Freedom of Information requests, pushing for greater transparency and clarity around MTD and its operational realities. His blend of technical insight, curiosity, and genuine commitment to the profession makes him a valued and influential voice.
Tim Palmer
CTA ATT
Tim lectures frequently all over the UK on a wide variety of taxation subjects. He has been presenting such tax lectures for over 30 years now.
Previously, Tim was a senior Tax Manager with Howarth Clark Whitehill LLP, advising on all areas of tax and NIC for the firm to their clients. He was also a member of the tax department of P&O where he specialised in Corporation Tax and the Construction Industry, being involved in the Bovis Construction Industry tax deduction scheme within the P&O Group.
Additionally, Tim has recently written numerous articles in the tax press particularly with regard to his specialist areas of CIS, ‘self-employed status issues’, NIC and PAYE matters, stamp duty land tax, and the tax benefits of businesses switching to electric vehicles.
Tim lectures on most areas of tax, including IR35 and CIS, which are his particular specialties, both in lecturing and in practice.
Simone Hurst
Simone Hurst is an accomplished speaker and VAT consultant of many years standing. She began her VAT career as the youngest ever direct entrant Executive Officer in HM Customs & Excise working as a VAT Inspector before moving on to manage an in-house VAT practice for a firm of accountants in Yorkshire and then working for one of the Big 4 firms. She now runs her own independent VAT practice, and has done for 26 years, dealing with every sort of VAT query you can possibly think of.
David Culley
David has a passion for professional education and development! For 15 years, he has enjoyed supporting people with their continuing professional development by designing teaching programs, authoring content, and providing training both face-to-face and online.
David’s technical expertise in business strategy and management, financial management, and business technology is founded on his fellowships with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Institute of Leadership & Management. This expertise is further enhanced by his career as a business leader and continues to be nourished by his research into how these fields are evolving in the modern business environment.