Speakers

William Watling, Product Director, Capita Financial Software

William joined Capita in May 2008. He is the Business Development Director for Capita Financial Software, a company that was created when Capita acquired Synaptic Systems, Webline and Quay Software. He is the creator of Synaptic Comparator, developing the idea with help from the platforms and large distributors, initiated from his experience in Capita's Wealth & Distribution Services division that launched Bankhall's Portavista white labelled platform. He's been closely associated with the UK development of platforms since early Cofunds days with Sam Jenson and Andy Creak. He has a deep experience of both IFA distribution and financial services technology derived over the last 22 years, having managed teams of broker consultants for Commercial Union, started Assureweb with DBS, been distribution technology product manager with CMG Microlex and held senior management roles with FIS the international software company providing admin systems to product providers around the world. He's FPC, part AFPC qualified and was Chairman of the West Midlands LIA. He therefore brings practical experience based knowledge of IFAs to the development of new technology to help IFAs survive and thrive post RDR. In what little spare time he has he's a keen photographer, F1 (McLaren) fan, field sportsman and dedicated family man.

Holly Mackay, Managing Director, The Platforum

Holly has been working with fund distribution platforms for over 10 years and her experience spans the Australian, UK and continental European markets. Holly is Managing Director of The Platforum, which she founded in February 2007. The Platforum provides consultancy, research and events to the financial services sector.

Sophie Fiori, Marketing and Membership Director, Association of Independent Financial Advisers (AIFA)

Sophie Fiori joined AIFA in June 2009 and is Marketing & Membership Director for AIFA. She has bought with her a wealth of industry experience having specialised in Financial Services marketing since her career began. Sophie looks after the day to day running of AIFA with a focus on member services and information and membership development. An experienced marketer with cross disciplinary skills she has an intricate understanding of the industry.

Mark Thelwell, AT8

Mark has spent almost 30 years in banking, financial services and industry related IT companies carrying out roles in sales and marketing, regulation and IT. He was responsible for creating an end-to-end paperless e-commerce sales process in 1997 that was built and delivered in less than 90 days. He then went on to manage the direct distribution merger team between AXA and Sun Life. Mark joined Focus in 1998 in order to help raise first stage VC.

He worked as Operations Director, Managing Director and latterly as Chief Operating Officer. During this time, Mark helped Focus to raise two rounds of VC funding before floating the Company on the London Stock Exchange with an AIM listing. Focus developed an outstanding client base with most of the top 20 Insurance providers using Focus' patented data capture software and Point of Sale (POS) solutions. He has experience of developing international partnerships along with company acquisitions and divestments. Mark left Focus in 2006 in order to set up AT8 Group with Mark Loosmore and Nigel Smith. AT8 has established itself as a niche e-commerce and business consultancy with a range of product provider, distributor and IT clients. Mark is also non-executive Chairman of Omnii Solutions and is part of a midlands based Angel Investment Network.

Mark is a clear incisive thinker who thrives on new challenges and is able to assist strategic board development as well as understanding how to leverage operational effectiveness. As a member of the IOD, Mark is committed to professional director development and board responsibility and has obtained the Diploma in Company Direction as part of the process of gaining Chartered Director status.

London

Verona Smith, Head of Proposition, Cofunds

Verona has extensive knowledge of the wrap and platform market having gained a wealth of experience working in both London and Sydney. Verona was previously a Vice President at Australian BT Funds Management Group where she oversaw the development of their wrap platform. Since moving to the UK in 2003 she has also held roles with American Express and Legal & General. Verona joined Cofunds in 2007 as Head of Proposition, focussing on evolving Cofunds' innovative, market leading propositions, products and services.

Norwich

Malcolm Murray, Head of Marketing, Transact

Malcolm joined Transact at the beginning of 2001 bringing many years experience and contacts with the IFA community. In the past Malcolm has been involved with four start-ups - Hambro Life (1971), Albert E Sharp FS Ltd (1983), Foster & Braithwaite Inv. Ltd (1990) and finally, Transact.

London

John Porteous FPFS CFP FCSI - Head of Distribution, Banking and Financial Services (UK) Group, Macquarie Bank International Limited

A senior member of the Macquarie Banking and Financial Services UK management team, John has strong credentials in the advice space as a former chairman of SOFA and board director of the IFP. He has considerable experience in the financial planning sector both in a client facing capacity and as a senior board member of an AIM listed IFA and national professional services firm. A regular presenter on planning and practice management, John is a able to offer a number of perspectives on scaling the financial planning process and building a compelling value proposition.

Coventry

Phil Ralli, Senior Marketing Manager, Aviva

Phil is Senior Marketing Manager with Aviva, where he is responsible for platform strategy and development. He led marketing and proposition build during the establishment of the new Aviva Wrap proposition which went live in January 2009, and was also responsible for delivering the marketing campaign to promote new IFA registrations for Aviva Wrap in January 2010. During his 4 years at Aviva Phil has also taken a key role in the governance of the platform proposition.

Prior to this, Phil has had over 24 years experience in Financial Services, including periods at Axa as Branch Manager and Key Account Manager in their IFA channel, and Development Manager defining Axa's approach to de-polarisation. He also worked for the DBS IFA network, running the network's marketing department, establishing their service proposition for directly regulated IFAs, and then as Head of DBS non-regulated Protection Services subsidiary.

Phil lives in Harrogate, North Yorkshire with his wife and 2 children. He is a keen sportsman playing league cricket for Harrogate CC, as well as table tennis and cycling, and he is a loyal and patient follower of Liverpool Football Club.

Warrington

Paul O'Neill, Regional Sales Manager, Fidelity FundsNetwork

Paul joined FundsNetwork in 2007 and has responsibility for the sales development of FundsNetwork platform business in the North West of England. Paul has had over 25 years experience in financial services. His previous roles have involved working both as a Client Adviser and as a Sales Development Manager with some of the UK leading life assurance companies. He has a vast depth of knowledge in the life and pensions arena with experience of working in specialist sales such as an offshore specialist with Scottish Equitable International and time with specialist pension provider, Rowanmoor Pensions. Having been part of the team that helped develop the AXA Wealth Management proposition, Paul joined FundsNetwork to use his experience and develop FundsNetwork wide range of platform based products.

Edinburgh

Barry Neilson, Business Development Director, Nucleus

Barry joined Nucleus in January 2010 to build their regional business development team and oversee the IFA account management function. With over twenty years financial services experience, all in the IFA sector, he latterly held a number of senior sales and proposition roles at F&C Investments including managing the relationships with the wraps and fund supermarkets. Barry was also the architect behind the innovative F&C Lifestyle funds, the first risk profile linked range of funds to be launched in the IFA sector and has considerable experience in assisting IFA firms to re-engineer their client investment proposition.