ACCA Financial Services Panel invites you to join them for an important and relevant session on the topic of ‘Charities: Opportunities and Challenges for 2021’. This session will be a panel discussion hosted by AACA Financial Services Panel Chair, Maura O’Neill, who will be joined by guest speakers Liz Hughes, CEO of Charities Institute Ireland, Niamh Callaghan, Partner leading the Corporate Charities team at Mason Hayes & Curran, and Brian Flavin, Senior Equity Analyst in Goodbody, a certified ESG specialist who applies ESG investing techniques to charity portfolios.
To learn more about or panel speakers, please see below.
Liz Hughes, CEO of Charities Institute Ireland (Cii)
Cii’s goal is to enhance the impact that can be made by charities and not for profits for people, communities, and society. Cii works with charities who aspire to the highest levels of professionalism in relation to governance, fundraising, and financial reporting.
Liz has over 20 years’ experience in developing and delivering strategy across a variety of sectors including not for profit, accountancy, law, and IT. Prior to joining Cii, Liz led the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in Ireland and Europe where she was responsible for key recruitment, conversion, and retention strategies. During her time with ACCA, Liz led a comprehensive review of corporate governance structures which resulted in more transparent, diverse, and accountable membership committees. Liz is secretary and a committee member of the International Women’s Forum (Ireland) and a trustee of the Irish Online Giving Foundation.
Niamh Callaghan, Partner at Mason Hayes & Curran
Niamh is a partner and leads the Corporate Charities team at Mason Hayes & Curran where she advises charities, not-for-profits, and social enterprises on a wide range of charity, corporate, restructuring and compliance issues. As well as advising on the full range of activities carried out by charities and social enterprises. Niamh’s areas of focus include establishing new and changing existing legal and constitutional structures for clients in those sectors.
Niamh advises her clients on their compliance with the Charities Act 2009, Companies Act 2014, governance codes, fundraising principles, HSE compliance codes, and service arrangements.
Niamh is on the board of a charity and so is very familiar with the demands placed on charity trustees and charities. Niamh was a member of the first Consultative Panel to the Charities Regulator and is a regular contributor to seminars and e-zines in which she shares her experiences with the sector.
Brian Flavin, Senior Equity Analyst in Goodbody Wealth Management (GBSWM)
Brian Flavin, Senior Equity Analyst in Goodbody Wealth Management (GBSWM) since 2007 and is a member of Goodbody’s Equity and Asset Allocation Committees. His key area of focus is Sustainability Investing, including integrating ESG factors into the investment process.
Brian has over 25 years’ experience in international business, venture capital investment, and investment research, during which time he has chaired the equity and asset allocation committees at Goodbody, managed two venture capital funds prior to that and served as a non-executive director on the boards of several private companies in Ireland.
Brian is a member of Chartered Accountants Ireland, a qualified life and business coach, and holds a certificate in ESG investing from the CFA Institute UK.