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• ICON Next Step 2025: On Demand

  • Start
    01 March 2026
  • End
    28 February 2027
  • Location
    Online

  Register

  Designed specifically for junior marketers, ICON’s six-session Next Step program equips the next generation of B2B professionals with the practical skills needed to succeed in the professional services sector. Now available on demand as a five-session series, the program enables early-stage marketers to access the content at their own pace, complete with the accompanying handbook and learning tools.

  The Next Step program offers a comprehensive learning experience with five webinars and one in-person networking event.

  Here are some of the key highlights:

  • Comprehensive Learning Tools: Each session is accompanied by Learning & Development tools and checklists to support your growth beyond the program.
  • Access to Senior Leaders: Gain invaluable insights from senior leaders in the professional services industry.
  • Community Support: Connect with a community of peers and experienced professionals who can support you throughout your career journey.

  THE ON-DEMAND PROGRAM

  1. Session 2: Master clear messaging: revisiting key concepts in corporate communication
  2. Session 3: Unleashing your leadership potential: Crafting your unique style
  3. Session 4: How to plan & manage your career
  4. Session 5: How to build a professional online and offline presence and personal brand
  5. Session 6: What I wish I’d known

  For full session information, visit our Next Step page. 

  
  

  ICON Next Step proudly sponsored by:

  

  
  

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• Fast Track 2026: Full Program

  • Start
    22 March 2026
  • End
    30 June 2026
  • Location
    Various

  Register

  Fast Track is a seven-part development program for mid-career marketing, business development and communications professionals in professional services who are ready to operate with greater confidence, influence and impact.

  The program is designed for professionals who are confident in their role and looking to step up. Fast Track focuses on executive presence, strategic influence, leading people and navigating complex, partner-led environments. It is practical, applied and grounded in the realities of professional services firms, with clear links to growth, client outcomes and firm priorities.

  Delivered through a mix of 90-minute in-person and online sessions, each module builds on the last. The program runs from Apirl through to June, allowing participants to develop capability progressively while applying learning to live work and real challenges.

  Program structure: 

  The Fast Track program includes seven connected sessions, designed to be experienced as a complete series. The Getting to Know you session is available to full-series participants only. 

  1. Getting to Know You
     Melbourne:  26 March, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
     Sydney:  31 March, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
     Online:  2 April, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
  2. Leadership Fast Track: Elevate Your Presence, Influence and Impact
     24 April, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
  3. Leadership Pathways: Avenues to Become an Influencer and Leader
     30 April, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
     
  4. Relationship Management Excellence: Engaging with Diverse Stakeholders to Deliver Value
     12 May, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
     
  5. AI Skills to Boost Creativity and Impact
     29 May, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
     
  6. Promotion Pathways: Mentoring, Training, Skills Development and Strategic Networking
     9 June, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
     
  7. What I Wish I’d Known
     16 June, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
     

  Pricing for the full series:
  ICON Members, $490 | Non-Members, $690. 

  For full session information, visit our Fast Track page. 

  ICON Fast Track is proudly sponsored by:

  

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• ICON Webinar: AI, pricing and the strategic role of marketing and BD

  • When
    22 April 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:00
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/4l4SQZi
  • Spaces left
    213

  Register

  As AI tools become embedded in professional services delivery, marketing and business development teams are increasingly drawn into conversations about pricing, value and positioning. These are often areas they do not control directly, yet they significantly influence how clients perceive value and how firms protect growth.

  Clients may assume that if AI reduces time, fees should fall. Firms know the picture is more complex.

  In this 45-minute webinar, Dr Carl Bezuidenhout explores how AI is influencing pricing and value conversations in legal and accounting firms, and what that means for those working at the intersection of partners, pricing and clients.

  Drawing on sector research and market examples, the session will examine:

  • Why reduced time does not define value

  • What is actually changing in terms of the identity of firms

  • How the traditional hours × rate logic is being questioned

  • How value drivers are shifting toward scrutiny, governance, defensibility and professional judgement

  • The risk of commoditisation when AI is framed purely as speed, and how this can obscure deeper value around confidence, oversight and accountability

  • How client-side AI adoption is altering competitive dynamics 

  The session will close with practical steps that Marketing and BD leaders can take to influence the value discussion, reframe proposals, and support stronger client outcomes and firm growth.

  This is not a technical session about AI tools. It is a commercial discussion about value, trust and competitive positioning in an AI-influenced market.

  Participants will leave with sharper language, clearer framing and practical actions they can apply immediately.

  Speaker:

  

  Dr Carl Bezuidenhout

  Dr Carl Bezuidenhout is a business development and marketing leader with almost 20 years’ experience in professional services. He has held senior roles in law and accounting firms, leading growth initiatives, strengthening client engagement, fostering partner collaboration and embedding data-informed decision-making.

  Carl is Chair of the Advisory Board Centre in NSW. His doctoral research examined the influence of AI on professional services firms. In this webinar, he brings together research and industry experience to offer practical, commercially grounded insights for marketing and BD leaders.

  Event Details:

  Date: 22 April 2026

  Times: 

  1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: Adelaide

  3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:00 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  Price:

  Members: Free | Non-Members: AUD90.00.

  PM Forum Members: Activate your reciprocal membership. Once confirmed (usually within 2 business days), you’ll be able to register for ICON events.

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• ICON Fast Track: Leadership Pathways, Avenues to Becoming an Influencer and Leader

  • When
    24 April 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:30
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/4tV3QMU
  • Spaces left
    270

  Register

  Effective executive leadership is demonstrated in everyday interactions. This highly practical session builds the capability to lead individuals and teams with clarity, accountability and confidence, whether or not you have direct reports. The pathways to leadership are varied and nuanced.

  
  

  We begin with a short introduction and icebreaker before exploring what leadership means in practice, including Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership. Participants will reflect on the type of leader they are today and the type of leader they want to become as expectations increase.

  
  

  Drawing on Hawkins’ work on high performing teams, we examine what top teams consistently do well and how leaders create the conditions for trust, alignment and performance. Participants will then craft a clear leadership vision and begin developing a practical team charter to guide behaviours and expectations.

  
  

  The session moves into essential influence skills, with applied practice throughout. This includes coaching skills grounded in psychological safety, deep listening and the GROW model, a coaching style of delegation, how to give feedback that lands, and how to set effective leadership boundaries. We also address sustainable leadership, including managing energy and avoiding burnout in high demand environments.

  
  

  The session closes with clear action steps to embed learning into daily practice.

  
  

  You will leave with:

  • A defined leadership vision
  • A draft team charter
  • Practical coaching and delegation tools
  • A simple framework for giving effective feedback
  • Clear personal action steps to strengthen your leadership impact

  
  

  Speaker:

  

  Trevor Smith

  The Orchard Partnership

  Trevor is an ICF Master Certified Coach and EMCC-accredited executive coach, facilitator and trainer. He works alongside individuals, teams and businesses to support the achievement of their personal, professional and corporate goals.

  
  

  With over 30 years of international business and leadership experience across Europe and Asia, and based in Hong Kong for more than two decades, he works with CEOs, senior executives, leadership teams and emerging talent to strengthen leadership capability, navigate change and achieve strategic goals.

  
  

  Formerly a member of the Executive Management Team at Standard Life (Asia), Trevor brings C-suite experience and frontline commercial expertise to his coaching. He has accumulated over 4,000 coaching hours across industries including financial services, government, legal, technology and media. He also holds certifications in applied neuroscience, narrative coaching, team coaching and a range of psychometric tools including MBTI® and Hogan Assessments.

  
  

  Event Details:

  
  

  Date: 24 April 2026

  Times:

  13:00 pm - 14:30 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 14:00 pm: Adelaide

  15:00 pm - 16:30 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  
  

  Price:

  Individual Sessions: Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160*
  Full Series:  Members: $490 | Non-Members: $690

  Full series registrants will automatically be added to this event.

  * All prices in AUD.

  ICON thanks our sponsor

  

  Show details
• ICON VIC: Designs Speaks First

  • When
    29 April 2026
  •  
    12:20 - 13:30
  • Location
    Grant Thornton, Collins Square, Tower 5, Level 22, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3008
  • Spaces left
    42

  Register

  Design Speaks First is an ICON event for the pitch doctors, bids bashers and proposal teams - we know you're out there.

  This seminar outlines to professional services marketing/BD teams why design and layout aren’t “cosmetic” extras in new business proposals. Instead, good design can leverage your proposal into a prospective clients final shortlist.

  Poorly designed proposals can be confusing, hard to read, and fail to communicate key messages, meaning strong content can be overlooked or wasted. The session explains how evaluators typically skim first, then read, so a clear visual approach and heirarchy reduces cognitive load and helps decision‑makers find what matters quickly.

  Panellist:

  Janine Morice
  Creative Director, BrandOps Creative
  

  Janine Morice is a senior creative director and design leader with a career spanning professional services, not-for-profits, NGOs and government sectors, amongst other industries.

  Having led national corporate design teams, Janine has delivered rebrands for prominent professional services firms, template systems for universities and political organisations, and has consulted to federal government in both a visual and strategic design capacity.

  In 2022, after years of employment, Janine founded BrandOps Creative, partnering with purposeful organisations to deliver brand, design and Microsoft template solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and beautiful.

  Moderator:

  
  

  Damian Garthwaite
  Manager, Markets & Growth – Private Equity, VC and M&A Australia, Ashurst

  Damian started his career as an advertising creative, working with brands such as Roadshow Films, Warner Bros., The Body Shop, Ralph Lauren, Best Buy and many others in agency and in-house creative and design roles in the UK, Canada and Australia.

  After over ten years in marketing and business development roles in local and global legal and accounting firms, he is just as passionate about the importance and impact of good design in our proposals and capability statements.

  Event Details:

  Date: Wednesday, 29 April 2026

  Time: 12:20 pm – 13:30 pm

  Location: Grant Thornton, Collins Square, Tower 5, Level 22, 727 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3008

  Price:
  Members: $40.00 | Non‑members: $90.00

  ICON thanks our event sponsor: 

  

  Show details
• Fast Track 2026: Leadership Fast Track - Elevate Your Presence, Influence and Impact

  • When
    30 April 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:30
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/4sBEbb9
  • Spaces left
    269

  Register

  Shifting from a trusted functional role to strategic leadership requires a different type of presence and influence.

  This 90 minute session focuses on how you shift your mindset to show up more strategically, communicate with clarity under pressure, and contribute effectively as expectations increase when stepping into more senior roles.  

  Drawing on real world examples, discussion and insights from a panel of experienced leaders Cheryl Lee, Toni Borthwick and Cristina Piccoli, the session explores how to frame recommendations that resonate with partners and navigate internal dynamics with greater confidence. We will also touch on visibility, sponsorship and perception, grounded in practical, lived experience.

  Through case studies, breakout discussions and panellists Q&A, attendees will learn how leaders have developed their own business cases, navigated transitions to senior leadership and influenced outcomes.

  As part of the session, you will receive templates for:

  • A personal leadership positioning statement
  • An influence and sponsorship map
  • A easy-to-follow plan for increasing profile

  Facilitator:

  Cheryl Lee

  Executive Coach; Fractional M&BD Leader 

  Cheryl is an accredited Executive Coach and fractional M&BD leader with over 13 years of legal business development experience in regional roles based out of Singapore and Hong Kong. Prior to legal BD, she worked in B2C marketing and events for clients including Lane Crawford, Shanghai Tang and CLSA. 

  She currently sits on the boards of ICON APAC and the International Coaching Federation (HK Chapter). 

  Speakers:

  Cristina Piccioli

  Head of Business Development - Products, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer

  Cristina Piccioli is a senior legal industry leader with deep expertise in business development and growth strategy. Based in Sydney, she leads business development across a broad product portfolio at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, spanning disputes, competition and employment, and works closely with partners and teams to drive market growth, sharpen client strategy and enable cross‑practice collaboration.

  Cristina brings a rare mix of legal and commercial experience, having practised as a banking and finance lawyer in Sydney, Milan and Singapore before transitioning into senior business development roles at Linklaters and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. A Certified Ontological Coach (ICF Level 2), she is known for her strategic mindset and coaching capability, supporting lawyers and professionals to navigate complexity, build strong client relationships and lead with clarity, confidence and purpose.

  Event Details:

  Date: 30 April 2026

  Times: 

  13:00 pm - 14:30 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 14:00 pm: Adelaide

  15:00 pm - 16:30 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  Price*:

  Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160

  * All prices in AUD

  
  

  ICON thanks our sponsor

  
  

  Show details
• ICON SA : Building influence across stakeholders

  • When
    30 April 2026
  •  
    16:00 - 17:30
  • Location
    GHD, Level 4, 211 Victoria Square, Adelaide, SA, 5000
  • Spaces left
    39

  Register

  Professionals at every level want to build influence - to see their ideas gain traction, resonate with decision-makers, and ultimately shape outcomes. Yet the path to doing this isn’t always straightforward.

  This session is an experience-led conversation exploring how to build influence across diverse stakeholders. We’ll unpack practical strategies for shaping and positioning ideas so they cut through, connect, and drive action. Expect honest reflections, real-world examples, and actionable approaches.

  Whether you’re stepping into influence in a new role or navigating it at a more senior level, join us to explore what helps ideas land, how influence is built across stakeholders, and stay for some nibbles and networking after.

  Event Details:

  Date: Thursday 30 April

  Time: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

  Location: GHD, Level 4, 211 Victoria Square, Adelaide, SA, 5000

  Price:
  Members: $40.00
  Non‑members: $90.00

  ICON thanks our sponsor

  
  

  Show details
• ICON Lead: Strategy concepts and tools BDMC leaders can use to contribute to, and lead, firm strategy.

  • When
    05 May 2026
  •  
    12:30 - 14:00
  • Spaces left
    300

  Register

  In this online workshop Joel will outline key strategy concepts and tools BDMC leaders can use to ensure they are contributing to, and leading, a firm's strategy. These include:

  • Strategic alignment – how aligning the marketplace strategy, brand, operating model, culture and leadership is a foundation for sustainable success.
  • Power mapping – how understanding where and how power is distributed across the firm is critical to strategy formulation and execution.
  • Strategic framing – the art of framing issues and opportunities to derive strategic insight and craft a winning game plan.

  Speaker:

  Joel Barolsky

  Barolsky Advisors

  Joel Barolsky is one of Australia’s top strategy consultants to law, accounting and other advisory firms. He is a specialist adviser to managing partners, executive teams and practice group leaders on issues of strategy, culture, governance, partner remuneration, succession, pricing and capability development. Joel has advised over 100 leading law, accounting and advisory firms. Around 70% of his clients are repeat clients or come directly from referrals from existing relationships.

  Joel is a Principal of Edge International, Managing Director of Barolsky Advisors, a Senior Fellow of the University of Melbourne Law School and Chair of the Managing Partners Forum. He has written over 40 opinion pieces for the Australian Financial Review Legal Affairs section. Previously Joel was head of the strategy practice of Beaton Research & Consulting. 

  Event Details:

  
  

  Date: 29 April 2026

  
  

  Times:
  

  12:30 pm - 2:00 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Adelaide

  2:30 pm - 4:00 pm: New Zealand

  10:30 am - 12:00 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  
  

  Please note this event is held under the Chatham House Rule and will not be recorded.

  Show details
• Fast Track 2026: Relationship Management Excellence - Engaging with Diverse Stakeholders to Deliver Value

  • When
    12 May 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:30
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/4lABSCn
  • Spaces left
    271

  Register

  This session equips participants to collaborate effectively across complex professional services environments. It focuses on understanding the priorities, pressures and success metrics of partners and key internal stakeholders, and aligning your approach accordingly. Participants will learn how to map stakeholder influence, anticipate objections and connect marketing and BD initiatives directly to revenue, profitability and client outcomes. The session includes practical scenarios on navigating partner dynamics and balancing immediate demands with long-term strategic value. Designed to strengthen commercial credibility and cross-firm alignment, this session sharpens participants' ability to drive outcomes without formal authority.
  Participants will leave with:
  

  • A stakeholder engagement planning framework
  • A practical influence pathway map
  • A business case template to secure faster decisions and approval

  Facilitator:

  Kate Stephens

  Head of Clients, HPX Group

  Kate is Head of Clients at HPX Group, where she leads client engagement initiatives across the Group's portfolio of businesses, including law firm Hamilton Locke and managed services provider Source.

  With expertise in stakeholder engagement, business development, and cross-functional leadership, Kate partners with leadership teams to drive client growth initiatives across complex, multi-stakeholder environments. She works with a diverse range of stakeholders (from C-suite to operational teams), each with their own definition of success, and takes pride in finding the common ground that moves relationships and outcomes forward.

  A dual citizen with experience spanning both the legal industry and engineering sector, Kate brings a client-centric and commercially grounded perspective to relationship management. She is passionate about building meaningful client relationships and delivering business outcomes through strategic BD and marketing.

  Speakers: 

  Kylie Pepper

  Association Director, Client & Strategy, AECOM

  
  

  Kylie Pepper is an Associate Director, Client and Strategy, AECOM(Building and Places, ANZ), focused on helping design-led engineering businesses grow with purpose.

  With over a decade of experience across business development, marketing and client engagement, she specialises in developing and delivering strategies aligned to organisational growth objectives. She brings a strong ability to align market opportunities with business priorities and capability, with a focus on sector-led planning, strategic partnerships, and building meaningful client relationships that deliver long-term impact.

  She works across regions, sectors and disciplines to align priorities with broader growth objectives, strengthening market positioning and embedding a focused, client-led approach to how teams go to market.

  She thrives in environments where growth depends on clarity, collaboration and bold thinking, bringing a systems mindset and a deep understanding of the built environment.

  Melissa Mooney
  BD Market Lead Australia, A&O Shearman

  Melissa Mooney is BD Market Lead – Australia at A&O Shearman, where she leads the firm’s business development and markets agenda nationally. She is a senior business development and client relationship leader with deep experience across client, sector and practice‑based growth in professional services.

  Melissa has spent more than 13 years in senior client relationship and BD leadership roles, designing and delivering initiatives that drive sustainable client growth, strengthen priority relationships and support firm‑wide change. Her experience spans leading firms including Allens, Herbert Smith Freehills, Spruson & Ferguson and King & Wood Mallesons, working closely with partners across financial services, M&A, technology, and disputes. 

  She is known for her pragmatic, client‑focused approach and her ability engage diverse stakeholder groups to align strategy with execution and deliver meaningful outcomes for both clients and the business.

  Event Details:

  Date: 12 May 2026

  Times: 

  13:00 pm - 14:30 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 14:00 pm: Adelaide

  15:00 pm - 16:30 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  Price:

  Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160*

  
  

  Full series registrants will automatically be added to this event. 
  

  * All prices in AUD. 

  
  

  ICON thanks our sponsor

  
  

  Show details
• Fast Track 2026: AI Skills to Boost Creativity and Impact

  • When
    29 May 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:30
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/4bgvwET
  • Spaces left
    270

  Register

  This hands-on session shows how to use AI as a strategic accelerator for marketing and business development, moving beyond experimentation to measurable impact.

  Participants will learn how to craft high-quality prompts, streamline workflows and embed AI into pursuits, campaigns and thought leadership processes. The session focuses on identifying what to automate, what to enhance and how to maintain professional judgement through human-in-the-loop safeguards.

  You will also explore governance considerations, risk management and how to position yourself as a credible AI champion within your firm.

  You will leave with:

  • An AI-enhanced workflow for a live marketing or BD initiative
  • A curated prompt library aligned to common tasks
  • A simple impact-tracking framework to measure efficiency and strategic contribution

  Speakers:

  
  

  Catherine Toms

  AI Growth Academy - Cofounder

  Catherine is an AI expert, educator, and strategic consultant with over 25 years’ experience leading digital transformation and growth for global and national brands.

  A former digital strategist and CMO, she combines the commercial, technical, and human sides of AI adoption helping teams shift how they think and work, not just implement new tools.

  She serves on industry and government advisory boards, including the FSO AI Advisory Group and supporting NAIC on national AI adoption strategies.

  Stephen Toms

  AI Growth Academy - Cofounder

  Steve has 25 years’ experience across education and digital, helping businesses grow through smarter strategy, marketing, and AI adoption.

  He’s worked with global brands including Adobe and Salesforce, advising hundreds of teams on safe and effective AI for growth.

  A former General Assembly global instructor who has trained over 10,000 students, Steve is known for making AI practical, accessible, and immediately actionable, leaving audiences with clarity, confidence, and strategies that deliver results fast.

  Event Details:

  Date: 29 May 2026

  Times: 

  13:00 pm - 14:30 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 14:00 pm: Adelaide

  15:00 pm - 16:30 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  Price:

  Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160*

  
  

  Full series registrants will automatically be added to this event. 
  

  * All prices in AUD. 

  
  

  ICON thanks our sponsor

  
  

  Show details
• Fast Track 2026: Promotion Pathways - Mentoring, Training, Skills Development and Strategic Networking

  • When
    09 June 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:30
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/4bUdQ15
  • Spaces left
    271

  Register

  Sustained progression requires intentional development. This session helps participants design a structured growth plan that aligns personal ambition with firm priorities.

  You will clarify the difference between mentoring, coaching and sponsorship, and learn how to secure each with a clear value exchange. The session also explores targeted capability building, thought leadership positioning and purposeful networking across sectors and client ecosystems.

  The focus is on building long-term visibility, credibility and momentum beyond the program itself.

  You will leave with:

  • A six-month professional development roadmap
  • A strategic relationship-building plan
  • A practical reflection and accountability cadence

  Facilitator:

  Charles Handley
  Director, Dalton Handley

  Charles Handley is a seasoned career adviser and recruiter. He is trusted by hundreds of talented marketers in professional services to enhance their careers, and various world class firms to bring them talent. With over 15 years of experience specialising in marketing, business development, and communications recruitment roles within the professional services sector in Australia, he has a deep understanding both client and candidate needs has established him as a respected and connected recruiter across the Asia Pacific.

  Speakers:

  
  

  Daniel Quinn,
  Chief Marketing Officer, Gilbert + Tobin

  Daniel Quinn is the Chief Marketing Officer at Gilbert + Tobin, where he leads the firm’s client relationship management, business development and marketing functions. Since joining G+T, he has focused on building a high-performing, collaborative team that delivers meaningful client impact and drives the firm’s growth agenda in a competitive legal market.

  With more than 20 years’ experience in business development, client relationship management and marketing, Daniel has held senior roles across international professional services organisations in Australia and the UK including Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and A&O Shearman. His expertise lies in aligning brand, client and business strategy to position firms for sustainable growth and deeper client engagement.

  Ryoko Nekoto-Bird

  Senior Japan Lead, Bird & Bird

  Ryoko Nekoto‑Bird is Senior Japan Lead at Bird & Bird, with more than 10 years of experience in international business development, supporting Japanese companies in their Japan outbound expansion across APC, Europe and the Nordics. Her work sits at the intersection of client visibility, strategic relationship building, and long‑term network development—both within firms and across external ecosystems. She regularly collaborates with investment promotion agencies and professional associations, including the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to design platforms that enable sustained professional and commercial growth.

  Event Details:

  Date: 9 June 2026

  Times: 

  13:00 pm - 14:30 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 14:00 pm: Adelaide

  15:00 pm - 16:30 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  Price:

  Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160*

  
  

  Full series registrants will automatically be added to this event. 
  

  * All prices in AUD. 

  
  

  ICON thanks our sponsor

  
  

  Show details
• Fast Track 2026: What I Wish I'd Known

  • When
    16 June 2026
  •  
    13:00 - 14:30
  • Location
    https://bit.ly/41bpFux
  • Spaces left
    271

  Register

  Our members' perrenial favourite: Get the benefit of years of experience without having to do the hard yards. This practical panel discussion brings together seasoned professionals to share what they wish they’d known at pivotal moments in their careers — the successes, the missteps, and the lessons learned along the way.

  This in-depth conversation will explore modern avenues of leadership and how to define growth when traditional career ladders narrow or bottleneck. Is leadership still the goal, or are there other meaningful ways to progress and build influence? Our panellists will also share candid perspectives on the value of further study (including MBAs) and whether it’s genuinely helped them advance.

  You’ll walk away with practical tips on negotiating progression within your current firm, positioning yourself externally for a step up, and sharpening your CV and approach to market — plus plenty of real-world advice to help you navigate the next stage of your career with confidence.

  Facilitator:

  Charles Handley
  Director, Dalton Handley

  Charles Handley is a seasoned career adviser and recruiter. He is trusted by hundreds of talented marketers in professional services to enhance their careers, and various world class firms to bring them talent. With over 15 years of experience specialising in marketing, business development, and communications recruitment roles within the professional services sector in Australia, he has a deep understanding both client and candidate needs has established him as a respected and connected recruiter across the Asia Pacific.

  Speakers:

  
  

  Rory Grant

  Chief Growth Officer, Squiz

  Rory Grant works at the intersection of professional services, technology, and growth strategy. As former Co‑Chief Marketing Officer at Gilbert + Tobin, he led marketing and business development through major digital transformation, helping a knowledge-driven firm adapt to changing client expectations.

  Now Chief Growth Officer at Squiz, Rory partners with professional services, higher education, and government organisations to deliver digital platforms that boost engagement, unlock insights, and enable marketing and BD teams to move faster, prove ROI, and adapt to AI-driven change.

  
  

  Emma Hansen

  Head of Marketing, Sydney and Newcastle, PKF

  Emma is a senior marketing and brand leader with extensive experience in professional services. She currently serves as Head of Marketing at PKF – Australia, where she leads the firm’s national marketing strategy, driving brand growth, adviser positioning, and strategic business development initiatives across the network.

  Throughout her career, Emma has played a pivotal role in shaping compelling brand narratives and building high-performing, collaborative teams. Known for her ability to see both the big picture and the unique strengths of individuals, she works closely with leaders to articulate what sets them apart in a competitive market.

  With a strong interest in leadership, team performance, and inclusive culture, Emma is an active contributor to PKF’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and Impact initiatives. She is passionate about elevating others, strengthening client connections, and helping professional services firms stand out with clarity and confidence.

  Kim Wiegand,
  Founder, Julip Advisory

  With over 22 years of global experience in professional services, Kim Wiegand is a strategic growth and client experience advisor specialising in transformational leadership, operational capability uplift, and sustainable revenue expansion. Her career spans leadership roles across major law and accounting firms, where she has built high-performing teams, advised Boards, and reshaped firm-wide growth agendas. Her core strength lies in translating strategic ambition into operational reality. Specifically coaching senior leaders, optimising client engagement models, and embedding firm-wide frameworks that drive commercial outcomes. Kim brings a commercial mindset, a passion for people development, and deep expertise across business development, client experience, and organisational transformation.

  Jayson Williams
  Head of Marketing & Business Development, Asia at DLA Piper

  Jayson Williams leads marketing and business development across Asia at DLA Piper, working closely with partners to drive client growth, strengthen market positioning and deliver high-impact campaigns across the region.

  He brings over a decade of experience across international law firms, including senior roles at DLA Piper, Deacons and Clifford Chance. His background spans strategic client development, sector growth initiatives and major bids across Asia Pacific. Known for his client-focused approach, Jayson combines commercial thinking with a practical delivery mindset and is particularly strong at turning ideas into action and building engaged, high-performing teams.

  Event Details:

  Date: 16 June 2026

  Times: 

  13:00 pm - 14:30 pm: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

  12:30 pm - 14:00 pm: Adelaide

  15:00 pm - 16:30 pm: New Zealand

  11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Perth, Hong Kong, Singapore

  Price:

  Members: $100 | Non-Members: $160*

  
  

  Full series registrants will automatically be added to this event. 
  

  * All prices in AUD. 

  
  

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