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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.

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Wednesday, 18 Sep 2024, 14:30 - 15:20
2.2 - Trivia Extravaganza and Hot Topics Round-Up

David Lanka, Bank of America
Rob Miceli, Bank of America
Tara Hagen, FGE, Global Tax Network
Carrie Kovac, Elastic

USA
BREAKOUT II

Get ready for an engaging update from the world of global stock plan administration! This session combines learning with friendly competition, offering a chance to explore the latest trends in global equity through an interactive trivia game.

Compete with fellow equity administrators in a fun, thought-provoking challenge.

Test your knowledge on key topics, stay ahead of industry changes, and refine your strategies—all while enjoying the contest and competing for prizes and bragging rights!

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Global tax, mobility management and compliance essentials
  • Touch on valuable GEO resources including the Global Share Plans Ranking Study and the 2024 Global Equity Insights Study
  • Delve into tax withholding practices, new country-specific regulation, 83(b) elections,accounting nuances, valuation and financial reporting strategies
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024, 13:10 - 14:00
Legal and regulatory
2.1 Preparing for the EU's Pay Transparency Directive: 'A Roadmap for Share Plan Professionals'

Liz Pierson, Deloitte
Kathryn Dooks, Deloitte
Rosemary Lemon, Hays

Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK and Channel Islands
BREAKOUT II

Are you ready for the future of pay transparency? Prepare for the future of pay transparency with our session on the EU's upcoming 'Pay Transparency Directive.' Set to roll out by June 2026, this legislation will affect all member states. Discover what this means for share plan professionals and gain insights on navigating the challenges ahead.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Understand the implications of the EU's 'Pay Transparency Directive' for share plan professionals
  • Identify key challenges and considerations for complying with the new legislation
  • Receive a roadmap to help plan and ensure compliance with the directive.
LOCATION:
Partnership 1
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
A
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024, 13:10 - 14:00
Data and business intelligence
2.2 GEIS 2024: Leveraging AI and Emerging Trends in Global Equity Compensation

Mitan Patel, FGE, Fidelity
Danyle Anderson, FGE,  Bank of America
David Voggeser, hkp////group
Marcus McEvoy, Computershare

 

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Global
UK and Channel Islands
BREAKOUT II

Join this session to uncover the latest trends in global share plans with highlights from the 12th annual Global Equity Insights Survey (GEIS) 2024. This unique survey reveals crucial insights into how companies worldwide use equity, focusing on Long Term Incentives (LTIs), Share Purchase Plans (SPPs), and talent.

The panel will also explore survey findings on how companies are harnessing the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for their equity compensation strategies, showcasing real-world applications and best practices.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Discover the latest trends in global share plans from the 2024 Global Equity Insights Survey, including LTIs and SPPs
  • Gain insights into how AI is revolutionising equity compensation strategies
  • Learn best practices and emerging trends in equity-based compensation to apply in your company
LOCATION:
Partnership 2
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024, 13:10 - 14:00
Legal and regulatory
2.3 Global Hotspots: Lessons Learned from a Global Rollout

Suzannah Crookes, Tapestry Compliance
Chris Fallon, Tapestry Compliance
Julie Shepherd, FGE, Sage Group plc
Hayley Stock, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc
 

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
Global
BREAKOUT II

Navigating legal and tax compliance for new or existing plans can be daunting. Join our panel of experienced issuers and advisors as we spotlight three key compliance hotspots: securities laws, foreign exchange, and translations. Experts from Tapestry will guide you on prioritising compliance efforts this year and tackling challenges in hotspot countries. Hear from Sage and Rolls-Royce about their experiences with global expansion.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Learn where to focus your compliance efforts for the biggest impact
  • Discover strategies for managing securities laws, foreign exchange, and translations
  • Gain insights from Sage and Rolls-Royce on overcoming key issues in global expansion




     
LOCATION:
Partnership 3
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Business Law
Level:
O
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024, 13:10 - 14:00
Design and strategy
2.4 Leveraging Employee Share Plans: Insights from FTSE Companies

Elliot Alexander, Computershare
Ian Gassner, Weir Group PLC
Shahena Sultana, Vistry Group PLC

Executive plans
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock options
UK and Channel Islands
BREAKOUT II

Employee share plans play a critical role in fostering employee engagement, retention, and alignment with business objectives. In this panel session, we will explore how leading FTSE companies have implemented and adapted their employee share plans to suit their unique business strategies. Join us as industry experts discuss their real-world experiences, challenges, and key takeaways from designing and managing these initiatives.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Gain insights into how different FTSE companies structure their employee share plans to reflect their organizational goals and cultures.
  • Understand common obstacles faced during implementation and management of employee share plans, and explore strategies to overcome them.
  • Learn how employee share plans are leveraged to reinforce company values, drive business performance, and support long-term strategic objectives.
LOCATION:
Affiliation Hub 1
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 13 Nov 2024, 13:10 - 14:00
Operational effectiveness
2.5 Mastering Share Sourcing and Sales: Strategies for Effective Employee Share Plans

Ghal Supple, Equiniti
Tom McCulloch, Equiniti
Ben McCarthy, Linklaters
Robert Lyons, Marks and Spencer

Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Global
Greater China
Hong Kong
Israel
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK and Channel Islands
USA
BREAKOUT II

Setting up an employee share plan involves crucial decisions about sourcing shares and managing sales effectively. Join Ghal and Tom from EQ's Corporate Dealing team, Ben McCarthy from Linklaters and Rob Lyons from M&S as they share their extensive experience in this area.  They’ll cover current trends in sourcing shares, looking at new issue or market purchase, along with key considerations for an issuer and their finance team.  Discover strategies for hedging, managing large share sales and using the Employee Benefit Trust to your advantage. There will be focus on the recent changes to dilution limits in the Investment Association’s Principles of Remuneration.

KEY LEARNINGS:

  • Learn strategies for sourcing shares, planning in advance for your share plan vesting whilst managing headroom and dilution limits.
  • Understand how an issuer can use various approaches across their share plan grants to keep their finance team and employees happy.
  • Discover effective liquidity management techniques to ensure an orderly market at vesting.
LOCATION:
Affiliation Hub 2
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Monday, 28 Apr 2025, 16:00 - 17:00
2.1 Successfully Sharing Success: A Guide to Effective Equity Plan Rollouts

Lorna Parkin, Tapestry Compliance
Hayley Stock, Rolls-Royce
Chrissie Davis, Eximia
Dominic Harrison, Equiniti

Czech Republic
BREAKOUT II

Rolls-Royce has introduced share ownership to its global workforce across 30 countries for the first time, launching with a free share award to help employees become shareholders. This initiative was followed by a share purchase and matching plan, offering employees flexible participation options. The focus on clear communication and seamless enrolment has been key to the plan's success.

In this session, join representatives from Rolls-Royce, plan administrator EQ, legal advisors from Tapestry, and communications experts from Eximia as they discuss the design and implementation of this ground-breaking program. They’ll share insights on their objectives, strategies for overcoming challenges, and lessons learned along the way.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

- Discover the approach to designing an inclusive global equity plan with multiple participation options to cater to diverse employee needs.

- Learn how clear communication and easy enrolment were crucial for the success of the global share plan rollout.

- Gain insights on what worked, what could be improved, and how to apply these lessons to future global equity initiatives.

LOCATION:
Palmovka 1
Monday, 28 Apr 2025, 16:00 - 17:00
2.2 Bohemian Trends In Global Equity Compensation

Marlene Zobayan, Rutlen Assosicates 
Andrea Kagan, NVIDIA
Leann Balbona, FGE, KPMG
Sandra Sussman, FGE, Industry Expert
Shane Hughes, Walmart

Czech Republic
BREAKOUT II

Since its establishment in 1993, the Czech Republic has seen significant changes in equity compensation. Our panelists, who began their careers around that time, will discuss the evolution of accounting, tax, and regulatory legislation, and their impact on common equity plan practices. We will also explore how employee expectations and corporate practices have evolved. The session will conclude with a look at current and future trends, including the effects of the global talent war, technological advancements, and corporate ownership on equity compensation.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

- Understanding the global evolution of equity compensation and its regulatory impacts.

- Exploring how employee expectations and corporate practices have shaped equity plans.

- Considering the future of equity compensation in light of global talent trends and technological changes.

LOCATION:
Palmovka 2
Monday, 28 Apr 2025, 16:00 - 17:00
2.3 Excellence in Global Share Plans: Blueprints for DE&I (JPM)

Sarah Fearnley, J.P. Morgan Workplace Solutions
Erina Costantini, Prysmian
Lucia Bartolini, Prysmian
GEO Award Winning Issuer TBC

Czech Republic
BREAKOUT II
LOCATION:
Palmovka 3