banner image

A FIRST-CLASS VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Billy Billingham
BILLY BILLINGHAM MBE

Decorated Military Leader. Bodyguard. Best-Selling Author. TV Personality. Speaker.

There is not much Billy Billingham MBE QCB can't do!

With more than 20 years of military leadership, including executing strategic operations in places including Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, and Africa, Billy has experienced what it takes to be mentally tough.

As a result of his bravery, he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery and MBE by Queen Elizabeth II.

Join Billy as he brings his experiences to GEO's audience to educate and enthral those seeking how to combat challenges and hardships the SAS way!

INSIGHTFUL AND INSPIRING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Access on-demand recordings.of the event's 20 live sessions that span six subject tracks and 30 'Best of Edinburgh' highest-rated sessions from GEO's 24th Annual Conference.

Filter by:

Tuesday, 29 Apr 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
Data and business intelligence
3.1 Global Equity Insights Survey 2025: Trends Shaping Equity Compensation

GEIS Sponsor Panel

All plan types
Global
BREAKOUT III

This session presents a first look of key findings from the Global Equity Insights Survey (GEIS) 2025, offering a comprehensive overview of current trends in global equity compensation. It focuses on Long-Term Incentives (LTIs), Share Purchase Plans (SPPs), Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, restructuring impacts, and the growing importance of Human Capital Management (HCM) Reporting and Equal Pay initiatives.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Understand how companies are adapting equity programs to remain competitive in a changing market landscape, with a trend towards more flexible designs and expanded employee participation.
  • Explore how AI is transforming equity management, from improving planning accuracy to enhancing employee engagement and ensuring regulatory compliance. Is this a repeat of the other session? Perhaps they can focus on other findings?
  • Learn how HCM Reporting and Equal Pay initiatives are influencing equity program design, reflecting a broader trend towards greater corporate accountability and fairness.
LOCATION:
Palmovka 1
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Tuesday, 29 Apr 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
Data and business intelligence
3.2 Stock Based Compensation and Driving Perceived Value with your Early Career Workforce

Christy Browning, Dell (US)
Sandy Shurin, Deloitte (US)
Jane Darlington, Deloitte  (US)
 

Global
BREAKOUT III

Stock-based compensation is a powerful tool for attracting and retaining top talent, but are we truly measuring its return on investment through the lens of key talent objectives?

In this first-of-its-kind survey, Deloitte surveyed nearly 1,750 early-career and diverse employees to uncover the personal narratives and demographic identities influencing their participation in these programs. The findings highlight the critical need for employers to align their stock-based compensation offerings with their talent goals and to approach program design with flexibility, acknowledging the diverse backgrounds of early-career and underrepresented employees.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn how early-career and diverse employees view stock-based compensation and how these perspectives shape participation.
  • Gain actionable insights on how Dell is aligning its compensation programs with specific talent objectives to maximize impact.
  • Walk away with practical takeaways on how to adjust your stock-based compensation programs to better meet the needs of your workforce.
LOCATION:
Palmovka 2
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Tuesday, 29 Apr 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
Finance, tax and accounting
3.3 Global and Mobile 101 - Fundamentals of Global Tax and Mobility for Equity Plans

Leann Balbona, FGE, KPMG (US)
AmyLynn Flood, FGE, Vialto Partners (US)
Cathy Goonetilleke, EY (US)
Mark Miller, Deloitte (US)
Darren Smith, Morgan Stanely at Work (US)
 

Global
BREAKOUT III

Join senior experts from all the Big 4 accounting firms for an interactive roundtable on managing tax compliance for global equity plans. In this session, speakers, moderators, and participants will explore key considerations in tax mobility, the essential elements of a well-administered global plan, and the challenges faced when managing equity compensation for a mobile workforce.

Attendees will gain practical strategies to enhance their international tax processes and ensure compliance with equity administration responsibilities.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Best practices for tax compliance in global equity plans.
  • Lessons learned from managing tax compliance across borders.
  • Emerging market trends and future expectations in equity compensation.
LOCATION:
Palmovka 3
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Tax
Level:
O
Tuesday, 29 Apr 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
Legal and regulatory
3.4 Navigating Employment Law Challenges in Global Share Plans

Sophie Boucher, Palo Alto Networks (US)
Katja Haferer, Baker McKenzie (DE)
Sinead Kelly, Baker McKenzie (US) 
Eaton Williamson, Seagate Technologies (US)
 

Global
BREAKOUT III

Operating a global equity plan in a way that meets the company's incentive and retention goals while complying with a myriad of laws can be challenging, especially when factoring in employment law considerations on a global basis.

This session explores how companies can effectively manage these challenges, both from a legal perspective and in practice, focusing on the latest developments and best practices globally related to termination of employment and retirement, leave of absence, restrictive covenants, clawback enforceability and more.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn best practices for managing equity awards during voluntary and involuntary terminations, ensuring compliance and retention goals are met.
  • Understand how different types of leave—such as maternity, medical, or military—affect equity compensation and how to adapt plans accordingly.
  • Explore strategies for implementing enforceable clawback policies and effectively navigating non-compete and non-solicitation agreements in a global context.
LOCATION:
Palmovka 4
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Business Law
Level:
I
Tuesday, 29 Apr 2025, 11:00 - 12:00
Global perspectives on equity classics
3.5 Battle of the Plans: UK and Europe v US

Megan Hunt, Samsara (US)
Tom Parker, Tapestry Compliance (US)
Elena Petrou, Aviva (US)
Chris Potash, Harter Secrest & Emery (US)

UK and Channel Islands
USA
BREAKOUT III

Join expert speakers from Tapestry, HSE (US counsel), Aviva (UK), and Samsara (US) as they discuss their diverse approaches to designing equity compensation plans for a global workforce.

From global matching plans to employee stock purchase plans (ESPP), this session will provide insights into creating effective equity plans that drive employee ownership and engagement across different cultures and regions.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn how to design equity compensation plans that work across global workforces.
  • Discover innovative approaches to employee ownership and enhancing plan understanding.
  • Explore strategies for ensuring compliance and best practices when expanding or exiting from markets.
LOCATION:
Karlin 4
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
I
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025, 13:30 - 14:30
3.1 Going Global with Your Share Plans: What to Know Before You Go!

Peter Ahern, Ledgy
Gabbi Stopp, FGE, Ledgy
Valentin Kiselak, Endeavour Mining

Choice plans
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock options
Global
BREAKOUT III

Expanding your share plans beyond your home country involves a complex set of considerations. This UK issuer case study will explore the practical and strategic issues that arise when taking plans global, from platform capabilities (languages, currencies) and plan design readiness to policy alignment, instrument functionality, and cross-border implications. Additional topics include service centre relocation, 409A valuations, and extending equity further down the corporate hierarchy. Attendees will gain insights into the challenges, risks, and best practices for ensuring a smooth, compliant, and effective international expansion of share plans.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Critical operational and design considerations when extending plans to new countries or regions. 
  • How cross-border factors, such as service centre moves and local regulations, impact plan implementation. 
  • Strategies to ensure equity plans support broader corporate goals, including extending participation down the hierarchy.
LOCATION:
Monument
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025, 13:30 - 14:30
3.2 The Equity Code: Fuelling Global AI Scale-Ups

Erika Andersson, Allshares
Harald Johansson, Allshares
 

Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock options
Global
BREAKOUT III

AI scale-ups are scaling globally at an unprecedented speed, making traditional equity incentive models outdated. In this hyper-competitive environment, companies must design cross-border equity strategies from day one, treating employees as partners to win the war for talent. This keynote moves beyond theory, drawing on Nordic client engagements to share practical insights and a clear framework of “Do’s and Don’ts” for equity incentives. Attendees will explore real-world examples of what works—and what doesn’t—equipping leaders to build strategies that align employees, drive sustained motivation, and create a durable competitive advantage in the AI-driven economy.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • How to design equity incentives for global, fast-scaling AI companies from the first hire. 
  • Practical “Do’s and Don’ts” for crafting a modern equity story that motivates and engages employees. 
  • Strategies to align talent with business goals, fostering retention, motivation, and long-term competitive advantage.
LOCATION:
Fenchurch
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025, 13:30 - 14:30
3.3 Going Global: Practical Considerations When Operating a Cross-Border Sharesave Plan

Sarah Fearnley, J.P. Morgan Workplace Solutions
Tejal Sanghrajka, Standard Chartered 
Matthew Hunter, Tapestry 
 

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock options
Global
UK and Channel Islands
BREAKOUT III

Operating a global share plan comes with a unique set of challenges, from regulatory and tax compliance to cultural differences across jurisdictions. In this panel discussion, Standard Chartered will share how they developed a preparation strategy and successfully introduced their Sharesave plan to employees worldwide. Attendees will gain practical insights into the realities of administering a global Sharesave, including the complexities involved and the tangible benefits that make the effort worthwhile.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • How regulatory and tax obligations vary across jurisdictions and the implications for global plan administration. 
  • The full scope of administrative complexity when operating a global Sharesave. 
  • The importance of tailoring communication and education strategies to different regional audiences.
LOCATION:
Lombard
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2025, 13:30 - 14:30
3.4 Share-Friendly Nations: What Makes a Country a Leader in Equity Programs

Amy Reback, GEO
Hannah Needle, FGE, Tapestry Compliance 
Alison Hughes, KPMG
Matt Connor, FGE, Lucid Motors

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Global
UK and Channel Islands
BREAKOUT III

Global Share Plan Ranking Report, which evaluates the “share friendliness” of 30+ countries. Developed in collaboration with leading experts in the design, implementation, and administration of employee share schemes, the report examines operating environments, adoption rates, and employee participation levels. Attendees will discover which countries lead the way in fostering employee share plans and learn how these practices can drive organizational growth while enhancing employee prosperity.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Insights into the global landscape of employee share schemes and which countries are leading the way.
  • How operating environments, adoption, and participation rates influence the success of share plans.
  • Practical takeaways for leveraging international best practices to enhance your own equity programs.
LOCATION:
Mintster Forum
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O