ICON upcoming events

ICON Next Step 2025: On Demand (01 March 2026)

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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

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

For full session information, visit our Next Step page.

ICON Next Step proudly sponsored by:

Fast Track 2026: Full Program (22 March 2026)

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

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.

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
Leadership Fast Track: Elevate Your Presence, Influence and Impact
24 April, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
Leadership Pathways: Avenues to Become an Influencer and Leader
30 April, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
Relationship Management Excellence: Engaging with Diverse Stakeholders to Deliver Value
12 May, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
AI Skills to Boost Creativity and Impact
29 May, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
Promotion Pathways: Mentoring, Training, Skills Development and Strategic Networking
9 June, 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm AEST
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:

ICON VIC: Designs Speaks First (29 April 2026)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:20:00 GMT

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:

Fast Track 2026: Leadership Fast Track - Elevate Your Presence, Influence and Impact (30 April 2026)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:00:00 GMT

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.

Steven Ng
APAC Associate Director of Leadership & Learning, Baker McKenzie

Steven Ng is the APAC Associate Director of Leadership & Learning at Baker McKenzie, based in Hong Kong. He works closely with lawyers, partners and other leaders across the region as they step into greater responsibility and visibility at different stages of their careers. His work combines leadership training with individual and team coaching and he is an ICF accredited coach.

With over 20 years of experience in professional services firms across the US and Asia, spanning accounting, consulting, and law, and both internal and client facing roles, Steven has seen how presence, influence and impact become increasingly important at more senior stages. He will share perspectives grounded in real organisational contexts and personal experiences rather than abstract theory alone.

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

Fast Track 2026: Relationship Management Excellence - Engaging with Diverse Stakeholders to Deliver Value (12 May 2026)

Tue, 12 May 2026 03:00:00 GMT

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

Speakers:

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.

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

ICON WA: After Work Drinks (13 May 2026)

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:30:00 GMT

Join the ICON WA community for an informal evening with other business development, marketing and communications professionals from across the professional services sector.

ICON WA networking events are all about bringing together the WA professional services BD and marketing community in a relaxed setting to catch up, share ideas and welcome new faces.

Whether you are new to ICON or a regular attendee, we would love to welcome you for an enjoyable evening with the WA professional services BD and marketing community.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: Lil's - 437 Murray Street,Perth

Price:
Members: $65.00
Non‑members: $95.00

Your ticket includes canapés and a welcome drink.

ICON NZ: Marketing, still the highest calling in the land? (14 May 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 05:30:00 GMT

The two purposes of business are marketing and innovation. Everything else – accounting, sales, manufacturing – is a cost.

So says Colenso co-founder, serial entrepreneur and slayer of sacred cows, Mike Hutcheson. His proposition: businesses wither and die because they look in the wrong direction – to the past – instead of focussing on what’s possible in the future.

This event will challenge marketers to take their place at the big table, ensuring marketing drives every important business conversation. It will challenge others in the business to shift their focus to what matters most. And it will place storytelling front and centre of all that makes businesses flourish.

Every ICON member should attend this event. Even better, bring your CFO with you.

Speakers:

Mike Hutcheson
Storyteller, entrepreneur, marketing guru

Mike has a long history of building great marketing businesses, including two of New Zealand’s best known advertising agencies. He is an in-demand speaker on communications strategy, innovation, creativity, advertising and storytelling as a foundation for success. An outspoken advocate for New Zealand business, he is also an inductee into New Zealand’s Marketing Hall of Fame.

Event Details:

Date: 14 May 2026

Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Location: Level 3, GHD Centre, 27 Napier Street, Auckland 1011

Price:

Members: Free | Non‑members: $90.00

ICON thanks our sponsor

ICON CX Series: Leading the Client Experience (19 May 2026)

Tue, 19 May 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Most firms talk about client experience. Fewer embed it.

That shift comes down to influence, not ownership.

Building on his work with firms globally, Strategy, Leadership and Transformation Consultant Peter Johnston will explore how practitioners can shape how people work so that client experience shows up in day-to-day actions across the firm.

This is part of ICON’s broader CX series, focused on how professional services firms are embedding client experience into the way they work. This session will cover:

Embedding CX as a shared responsibility beyond marketing and BD
Moving from good intentions to consistent, repeatable behaviours
Practical ways to build CX accountability into daily practice

Speaker:

Peter Johnston

Strategy, Leadership and Transformation Consultant

Peter Johnston works with organisations to achieve cultural and behavioural shifts to become client-centred. He's run professional consulting teams across Europe, the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand, and now helps founders, owners and CEO's reinvent their organisations. After starting his career as an organisational psychologist, Peter applies behavioural science and research to help senior leaders tackle complex CX problems. Peter's day-to-day work involves collaborative co-design techniques such as client and experience journey mapping to achieve behavioural change.

Coming up in the series:

Session 2: Designing Moments That Matter (July)

Session 3: Views from the Trenches: A CX Leaders Panel (August)

If you would like to build your thinking ahead of this session, Peter’s earlier ICON webinars Client Centric Leadership: The Driving Force Behind Outstanding CX in Professional Services and 5 Surprising Truths about CX in the Professional Service Industry are available in the ICON rewatch library.

Event Details:

Date: 19 May 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 to register.

Fast Track 2026: AI Skills to Boost Creativity and Impact (29 May 2026)

Fri, 29 May 2026 03:00:00 GMT

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

ICON Webinar: Staying Steady - Building Resilience and Credibility in Times of Change (03 June 2026)

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 03:00:00 GMT

Change is constant in professional services. New leadership. Shifting priorities. Technology rollouts. Budget pressure. Client volatility. Or significant personal change that does not pause your workload.

During these periods, expectations remain high even when direction feels fluid. Information may be incomplete. Conversations can be speculative. Confidence can wobble.

We’re also opening this session to Partners and HR teams within member firms, so please feel free to invite colleagues who would benefit.

This session focuses on practical resilience and professional steadiness. Not leadership theory. Not wellbeing platitudes. Practical strategies to help BD, marketing and communications professionals stay credible, manage uncertainty with maturity, and maintain momentum when circumstances are unsettled.

Themes We Will Explore

Understanding uncertainty in professional services

Why ambiguity feels heightened in partnership environments, how it impacts behaviour and decision making, and how to recognise when stress is shaping your response.

Managing information gaps and rumour cycles

How to respond when you do not have all the answers, protect trust without speculating, and handle difficult internal or external questions with professionalism.

Staying credible when priorities shift

How to maintain delivery and confidence while direction evolves, avoid reactive pivots, and align your work to enduring commercial drivers.

Shifting to a contribution mindset

Focusing on what is within your control, showing up as steady and solutions-focused, and using periods of change as opportunities to demonstrate value.

Participants Will Leave With

A resilience self-check tailored to BDMC roles
Practical language frameworks for ambiguous or sensitive situations
A credibility checklist for periods of transition
Clear actions to maintain momentum and professional confidence

Facilitator:

Kate Potter

Head of Employee Experience, HWLE Lawyers

She leads the firm-wide initiatives to enhance employee experience, engagement, and innovation. With a career spanning legal operations, strategic consulting, and design thinking, Kate brings a unique blend of commercial insight and creative problem-solving to the legal sector. Her work focuses on aligning client needs with business strategy, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a culture of collaboration and responsiveness. Kate’s experience across both private practice and consulting gives her a broad perspective on how law firms can evolve to meet the demands of a changing market.

Speakers:

Audrey Bevan
Chief Executive Officer, Accent HR

Audrey Bevan is the Founder of Accent HR, a CIPD Fellow, and an AHRI Fellow with over 15 years of HR leadership experience across Europe and APAC. She specialises in workplace mental health and suicide prevention, helping organisations create psychologically safer cultures and build teams’ confidence in responding to distress, strong emotions, and psychosocial risk. Combining strategic HR expertise with a deeply human approach, Audrey is committed to equipping workplaces to prevent harm, support wellbeing, and foster safer, more compassionate conversations at work.

Peter Fay
Managing Director, Unlocked Potential

Peter is Managing Director of Unlocked Potential. He joined the firm in 2021 after a 20-year career in corporate HR leadership roles with leading organisations such as Citibank, Gartner, Warner Media, and most recently financial services firm, Northern Trust where he served as the Asia Pacific Head of HR and member of the APAC CxO leadership team.

Today, Peter’s clients include Legal and Professional Services firms, Financial Services, Insurance, Technology and Media, Telco and Oil & Gas and his coaching practice spans leadership levels from emerging talent to the leadership levels of global firms. He is a faculty member of a global International Coach Federation (ICF) certification programme and is a mentor coach to both in-training and qualified coaches across the world. Peter also advises professional investors on organisation culture and people and team dynamics in portfolio companies.

Having lived and worked in seven countries and worked with clients across 35 locations, Peter is passionate about diversity and partnering with leaders to cultivate leadership effectiveness.

Peter holds an MBA from Warwick Business School in the UK and is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. He is also a qualified mental health first aid professional.

Event Details:

Date: 3 June 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.

Fast Track 2026: Promotion Pathways - Mentoring, Training, Skills Development and Strategic Networking (09 June 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:00:00 GMT

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

Fast Track 2026: What I Wish I'd Known (16 June 2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 03:00:00 GMT

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

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.

ICON thanks our sponsor