Growing your practice: future proofing with AI

Billie Mcloughlin, Practice Consultant, Innovation Training
Billie Mcloughlin is a practice consultant with Innovation Training, helping clients maximise their potential, through optimising the framework around their team, technology and processes. She has 13 years’ experience in professional practice, including acting as cloud champion and internal business development lead.

Eriona Bajrakurtaj, Managing Director, Major’s Accounts & Co Ltd
Eriona is a Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant with ACCA, UK Practitioners Network Panel member and Oxford University Graduate, a Global Top 50 Women In Accounting, Judge of the Digital Disruptors Awards and mentor to aspiring and practising accountants. Eriona's strengths lay in digital transformation for accountants using the latest technologies.

Heather Smith FCCA, Anise Consulting
Celebrating 20 years in business, Australian-based Heather Smith FCCA, FCA, is an accountant and storyteller. She chairs ACCA's Global SME Forum, is an innovation ambassador for CA ANZ, and participates in the local Public Practice Forum. Named by USA's Accounting Today as one of 21 influential figures in the industry, Heather educates the community about accounting technology through her podcast, newsletter, and community. She’s authored ten business books and writes the technology column for Acuity Magazine and is obsessed with how effective automation and integration can produce timely clean data, to surface information for brave, fast data-informed decision making.

Aleksandra Zaronina-Kirillova, Head of SME Insights, ACCA
Aleksandra Zaronina-Kirillova is head of SME insights at ACCA. She develops research and advises on policy issues for ACCA related to SME/SMP. Having previously worked for SMEs in pharmaceutical, transport and hospitality sectors, Aleksandra has hands on understanding of the needs and realities of the SME/SMP world.

Dato' Lock Peng Kuan FCCA, Managing Partner, Baker Tilly
Dato’ Lock Peng Kuan, is the managing partner in audit & assurance at Baker Tilly Malaysia and a partner at Baker Tilly Cambodia. Dato’ Lock graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and finance from Middlesex University, London. He is a fellow member of ACCA, a Chartered Accountant of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants, a member of the ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountants and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia. He is an approved auditor in Malaysia, a registered auditor with Audit Oversight Board in Malaysia, a CPA with Kampuchea Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors as well as an approved Foreign Auditor with the Securities Commission and Exchange of Thailand.