Finding people who bring fresh ideas, perspectives, and the right energy isn’t always the hard part, creating places where they’re seen, supported, and able to grow can be just as challenging. Too often, our legacy ways of working unintentionally keep doors closed to those who could make us stronger. This discussion is about how we can all do better. We’ll talk honestly about what gets in the way, what’s working, and how to build a culture where everyone belongs and can see a future for themselves.

• Recognise bias where it hides and change the way you hire

• Create spaces where mentorship and belonging come naturally

• Set goals that hold you accountable, and inspire others to do the same

To close, you will need to define three tangible first moves that you will make to better build a diverse workforce.

AI agents are making financial decisions across your organization right now - approving invoices, flagging exceptions, routing payments - and in most finance functions, nobody can fully explain why. And now CFOs and GBS leaders face a dangerous gap: the speed of automation without the accountability frameworks to back it up. Accounts Payable is where this tension is most palpable, and where the compliance stakes are highest. This session draws on deep AP expertise to examine what accountable AI in finance actually looks like, what your auditors will demand, and how to move fast without breaking things.