CPDStore

Damon Rands CISSP is a cyber security expert, with over 30 years in the Information security industry. Having worked in development, support and installation he has helped companies across the globe build secure systems and implement best practices to protect their intellectual property and private information. Damon is the founder of PureCyber, who have recently been named “Most Innovative Cyber Security Company in the UK”, “Best International Cyber Security Consultancy Firm in the UK” and named as the highest placed cyber security organisation in the UK Fast Growth Index 2024. Headquartered in UK and operating in over 85 countries, Damon leads a team of fifty employees who are cyber experts with a broad spectrum of specialist knowledge of the latest trends, technologies, and attack vectors. PureCyber work with a diverse range of businesses in the UK and internationally offering a unique mix of services across the three key pillars of security: Offensive, Defensive and Governance providing businesses with a single point solution for their cyber security needs. Damon is a member of several advisory boards across education and government, helping shape cyber resilience and education standards for the nation.

I’m a Chartered Accountant, Sustainability Consultant, Lecturer, and Speaker with international experience helping finance and audit teams integrate sustainability and climate risk into business strategy, risk, and reporting, with a strong focus on ISSB, TNFD, UK-CFD, and CSRD readiness.

After senior roles at KPMG and MHA (Baker Tilly UK), I now work independently, supporting businesses to turn sustainability frameworks into practical, credible tools for audit readiness, risk assessments, and long-term value creation. I’ve presented at venues including ExCeL London and the House of Lords, sharing practical insights on climate risk, strategy, and reporting.

Alongside my technical work, I also advocate for wellbeing and high performance in the profession, sharing my own journey of rebuilding energy and resilience through mindset, weightlifting, and cellular health.

As a head of Strategic Solutions at OmniPro, Lindsay’s focus is on helping practices achieve on-going best practice compliance, providing in-house training and technical assistance in audit and financial reporting.

Lindsay is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Accountants Ireland. She trained with KPMG in Johannesburg and specialised in external audit of financial services companies. She then spent six years lecturing audit and financial reporting to under-grad and post-grad students at Rhodes University in South Africa before moving to Ireland and returning to practice in a small, and then a medium sized firm where she was an audit manager. She is passionate about combining her academic and practice backgrounds to provide technical information in a useful and practical way.

Outside of her accounting qualifications Lindsay holds a PGDiploma in Higher Education from Rhodes University, an MBA from Trinity College Dublin and a Diploma in Forensic Accounting from Chartered Accountants Ireland.

Nick Elston is one of the highest-profile and leading Inspirational Speakers on the Lived Experience of Mental Health.

In life, we can either let our adversities, our challenges, define us negatively for the rest of our lives…or…we can choose for it to forge something beautiful, something powerful – something that never would have existed without you going through your ‘stuff’ in the first place.

Described as a ‘BIG man, BIG heart, BIG story & BRUTAL honesty!’, ‘Utterly inspirational, absolutely engaging!’ and ’10/10 – a Speaking Masterclass!’ – Nick shares his experiences of Mental Illness, Mental Ill-Health & Breakdown worldwide – through his powerful, inspiring, engaging & emotional talks.

Most importantly, Nick shares his ‘Lived Experience’ through insights, tools, tips and techniques on how to manage Anxiety in Life, in Business – to implement immediately.

Alan Sellers has been an accredited Executive Coach for 26 years, helping practices in the financial and legal sectors succeed. He is an established blockchain and digital asset influencer. Alan is the official blockchain and crypto specialist for the London Chamber of Commerce, and the only cryptocurrency and blockchain expert on the Institute of Directors Fintech and Finance Group. His TikTok account provides educational content about cryptocurrency and has over 3.7m views. As Founder of Your Crypto Coach Limited Alan’s vision is to educate as many people as possible about the exciting world of blockchain and crypto in a ‘sound, practical and safe’ way. “Blockchain is how the internet was 30 years ago. I’m not sure people realise what an enormous impact this amazing technology will have on all aspects of their lives. I’ve made it my mission to educate them in a safe and secure way”

Grace Hardy started her accounting practice 'Hardy Accounting' at 21 years old after gaining her qualification during her apprenticeship. She has grown her platform and scaled her business using organic social media marketing. She started the 'Unconventional Podcast' to help Gen Z learn accounting, marketing and how to start a business. Hardy now advocates for financial education and speaks about her journey to inspire other young people to start their own businesses.

Margaret began her career in hospitality management and operated in a number of hotels around the South of England before moving to the North East in her early 20’s. From there she moved into the field of recruitment where she worked with Manpower for 3 years covering a range of disciplines. A change of environment when Margaret took a post with a radio station selling advertising before a move into professional services where she spent 20 years as the marketing manager with a leading regional firm. Starting this role in 1998 was at a time when marketing in accounting firms was quite new and it presented a wonderful range of challenges and opportunities. Margaret developed the role, established & supported commercial relationships, introduced processes and made the department a key selling aspect of the firm by introducing a telemarketing function.

The department grew and this cascaded throughout the firm. An exciting marketing led culture was established and results were achieved through communication internally, service focus and putting in systems to track activity and outcomes.

Throughout her career, Margaret has been involved in relationship building, the development of processes, the joining of people and opportunities as well as passionately bringing a sense of focus towards customer service and the associated rewards.

In 2017, the button was born! Margaret set up her own business with a focus on marketing planning. The vision was to highlight the role of a marketing plan in a business so that business owners could access the very process required to make a difference. Now with an accredited training programme and award winning technology solution, Margaret and her team are striving forward and reaching out to new markets. On a personal note, Margaret enjoys music where she is a singer with a local band, loves time with her children, walking around North Yorkshire as well as a good chat over a cuppa with friends.

Professor Kathy Daniels runs her own consultancy, advising, writing and speaking about employment law. She regularly presents for a number of organisations including the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Kathy started her career working in HR, and became Head of HR in a large manufacturing company in the West Midlands. She worked at Aston University in Birmingham for several years, latterly being both Professor and Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor (Engagement), and since retiring from the University has been made an Honorary Professor. She has written a number of books about Human Resources and Higher Education, and has written an employment law textbook which is in its seventh edition. She is a Lay Member of the Employment Tribunal, sitting in Birmingham and an Independent Panel Member of the West Midlands Police Misconduct Board.

Roger Knecht is president of Universal Accounting Center, a post-secondary school for accounting professionals. With over 20 years of marketing, sales, HR & operations experience, Roger Knecht has helped thousands of business owners work ON their businesses to increase revenue, improve profits and build value. His strong work ethic and collaborative style delivers reliable, high-quality results for business owners.

Roger hosts, Building the Premier Accounting Firm, a podcast that keeps accounting professionals on the cutting edge of the industry offering quality bookkeeping, accounting and tax services. He hosts discussions with some of the accounting world’s best minds and shares actionable insights for firms.

Roger is the author of “Your Strategic Accountant” and “Your Profit & Growth Expert”, each written to help business owners understand what they can expect from the accounting profession.

Universal Accounting provides accounting professionals with the training, certifications, coaching, and support they need to become Profit and Growth Experts for their clients.

If you want to have the premier accounting firm in your area contact Roger and his team at 801-265-3777 or visit them online at www.universalaccounting.com