There was no chance of nodding off during an endless array of indeterminate speakers. Some words used to describe previous Evolution events are: inspiring, insightful, sociable, fascinating, positive, friendly, innovative.
With a variety of panels, presentations, fireside chats and some little surprises in between, Evolution blended insightful thoughts from some of the industry’s key pioneers with the opportunity to brain storm with peers and, as is our way at Verve, we had fun doing it!
Missed out on #Evolution2023? Check out our highlights!
Our highlights
A range of hotshots from the Verve team.
Our visual scribes captured the day perfectly.
Jill Scott joined us as our keynote speaker.
Celebrating our Verve Award winners.
Breaking news
Did you catch our keynote?!
Straight back from Australia where she was an official pundit for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, ex England Lioness, Queen of the Jungle and business owner herself – Jill Scott MBE – was our official keynote motivational speaker! Cue the applause…
Check out our highlights to find out more!
The speakers
An eclectic mix of lively panels, insightful fireside chats and empowering presentations, covering the most topical subjects in and around our industry.
Session lead
Abraham Okusanya
Founder and CEO,
Timeline
After a stint at RBS, Abraham ran a consultancy that served financial firms including Aviva, AJ Bell, and Transact. He came to the conclusion that the way the industry does retirement planning and portfolio management sucked so he created Timeline to help change that. He authored Beyond The 4% Rule, has written several industry papers and delivered talks to the FCA, ABI, PFS and financial professionals at conferences around the world.
Session lead
Andrew Storey
Group Innovations Director,
EV
Andrew Storey is Group Innovation Director of EV. He provides a unique combination of actuarial, technical and user experience skills to design and deliver innovative planning and suitability solutions for financial guidance, digital and face-to-face advice. Andrew has experience in delivery from design, specification, testing and client management.
Having started his career as an actuarial consultant at PWC, Andrew has over 25 years of experience in pensions, investments and IT solutions and an extensive knowledge of retirement income planning. Previously, he was responsible for designing and delivering system efficiency and data quality at a large outsourcing firm. Whilst a Stakeholder Manager at pensions actuarial consultancy Barnes & Sherwood, he passed the Financial Planning Certificate and has an in-depth understanding of the advice process. Andrew holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from City University London and a Diploma in Management from Reading University.
Having started his career as an actuarial consultant at PWC, Andrew has over 25 years of experience in pensions, investments and IT solutions and an extensive knowledge of retirement income planning. Previously, he was responsible for designing and delivering system efficiency and data quality at a large outsourcing firm. Whilst a Stakeholder Manager at pensions actuarial consultancy Barnes & Sherwood, he passed the Financial Planning Certificate and has an in-depth understanding of the advice process. Andrew holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from City University London and a Diploma in Management from Reading University.
HOST
Cathi Harrison
Founder and CEO,
The Verve Group
Launching an outsourced paraplanning service in 2009, Cathi unwittingly embarked on the journey that would result in The Verve Group we know and love today. With a passion for financial services and for breaking the mould, she uses her extensive experience, knowledge and qualifications to keep pushing new boundaries in a quest to help the industry evolve.
Panelist
Clare Moffat
Head of Technical and Marketing Compliance, Royal London
Clare qualified as a lawyer and Notary Public in September 2002 and is a member of the Law Society of Scotland and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Post qualification Clare spent five years at Aegon Scottish Equitable in the legal department before moving to Pinsent Masons LLP in November 2007. While at Pinsent Masons, Clare acted for many different pension providers before moving to Prudential for over six years and ended up leading the pensions side of the external facing technical team. Clare joined Royal London in April 2018 and leads a team of specialists as well as presenting, writing articles and developing adviser facing content.
Panelist
Dan Marsh
Head of Adviser Accelerator, VP Corporate Development, Octopus
Dan’s spent the last 9 years with the Octopus Group focused on helping advisers solve complicated client problems and scale their businesses. Over that time he founded an Equity Release lender focused on UHNW individuals and buy-to-let portfolios, a wealth manager and the adviser accelerator which provides funding, technology and operational expertise to advisers looking to scale their businesses.
Currently, Dan heads up Corporate Development for Octopus Money and works with the founders of group businesses to help them scale.
Panelist
Emilie Bellet
Founder and CEO,
Vestpod
Founder and CEO of Vestpod, author of bestseller You’re Not Broke, You’re Pre-Rich and host of The Wallet podcast. Emilie Bellet is a leading personal finance and investing expert and a global champion for female financial empowerment. She spent the first part of her career working in private equity.
awards HOST
Jamie Sutherland
Comedian, Podcaster, and Corporate Events Host
Jamie is a former financial adviser and bank manager, he has now taken to new horizons and headed into the world of stand up comedy. His anecdotes range from humble beginnings as a teller in a bustling bank to taking his first brave steps onto the comedy stage. Jamie's journey will leave you both disbelief and in fits of laughter. After navigating the complexities of the credit crunch in the banking industry, he gives a comedic insight into what was really going on behind closed doors.
HOST
Jo Campbell
Chief Operations Officer,
The Verve Group
Having been with the group since 2011, initially as a paraplanner, Jo knows the ins and outs of the business like no other. Her focus is on helping to build scale and maintain the incredible service and client focus that was the main factor of success in the early years while ensuring the team continue to thrive and evolve themselves.
Fireside Chat
Joseph Twigg
CEO,
Aveni
Joseph Twigg is CEO of Aveni, an award-winning, Edinburgh based Regtech company specialising in AI-driven risk assurance solutions.
Prior to founding the company Joseph spent 15 years working in the Investment Industry in Edinburgh and London, laterally as the Head of Strategy and Business Management for Aberdeen Standard Investments. Joseph holds post graduate qualifications from Stanford University in Strategy & Risk Management, an Executive MBA from the University of Edinburgh, a BSc in Biotechnology & Applied Genetics and several certifications in investment and finance.
Panelist
John Somerville
Director of Financial Services, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
John has been involved in Regulated Financial Services for the last 30 years and has worked as a Financial Adviser, Regional Manager and Business Development Manager for leading financial services companies such as Aviva, AXA, and Legal and General. John was previously the Regulated Learning and Development Manager at Nationwide Building Society and prior to this was a Regulated Learning and Development Consultant at Intrinsic Financial Services, now Quilter. For the last 5 years, John has taken great pride in helping the next generation of Mortgage and Financial Advice Professionals achieve their qualification ambitions at LIBF and fulfil a vital role in the UK Financial Services Profession.
HOST
Kim Binks
Chief Commercial Officer,
The Verve Group
Having been with us since 2015, Kim has been integral in taking a small outsourced paraplanning firm and developing it into the multi-discipline, multi-service business that it is today. She does this through her insightful knowledge of financial advice and firms, understanding what advisers need and helping ensure we are able to support and deliver what's required.
Panelist
Nicola Flannigan
Consultant,
Altus Consulting
Nicola has been working in financial services for over 20 years, with a particular focus on retail investment platforms. Prior to joining Altus, Nicola worked for a few large wrap platform providers whom she held various roles ranging from operations, change management and propositional development. Nicola’s real passion and ambition is making financial services accessible and understandable to everyone, with a real focus on education and development.
HOST
Natalie Bell
Chief Engagement Officer,
The Verve Group
Coming from a creative agency background, Natalie joined the team back in 2017 with a shared vision to build and grow something completely fresh to evolve financial services. Using her brand and marketing expertise, as well as her qualifications in coaching and motivational behaviour, she's responsible for telling our story and engaging audiences - internally and externally - in the Verve way!
Panelist
Sarika Dhanjal
Head of Advice Quality,
Progeny
Sarika Dhanjal is Head of Advice Quality at Progeny, a B Corp Certified professional services group, where she is responsible for Progeny’s financial planner support and oversight, identifying training areas through discussions and file assessment. She has been with Progeny since July 2021, initially overseeing the Adviser Academy. Having previously worked at adviser support group, Tenet, as the Head of Training and Mentoring, Sarika boasts a wealth of experience supporting advisers through their induction and learning journey.
Fireside Chat
Tessa Lee
Managing Director,
moneyinfo
With more than twenty years’ experience working in financial advice and fintech, Tess joined moneyinfo in 2010 and took over as Managing Director in 2016. She loves tech and is passionate about delivering well-designed solutions to advice firms big and small. Her belief that our people and our clients must be at the very heart of what we do informs her approach to software delivery and supporting clients in the roll-out and adoption of moneyinfo.
With thanks to our event partners.
12:00 Registration & Lunch
Join us for a bite to eat once you’ve registered and make your way around the exhibition area to check out the start ups and small businesses who are a key part of the financial services evolution.
12:45 Hey. Hi. Hello and Welcome
From Cathi Harrison, CEO & Founder, The Verve Group.
13:00 Panel: A different approach to financial education
Hosted by Hayley Rabbets, The Verve Foundation. Joined by Emilie Bellet (Vestpod), John Somerville (LIBF), Sarika Dhanjal (Progeny Wealth)
Hot Shot
13:35 Presentation: The Future of Financial Planning: A Spectrum of Digital Possibilities
With Andrew Storey (EV).
Hot Shot
14:15 Fireside: The future of fintech
Hosted by Cathi Harrison. Joined by Tessa Lee (moneyinfo).
14:35 Refreshment Break
Time for a quick break.
Hot Shot
15:00 Presentation: Running a business
With Abraham Okusanya (Timeline).
15:35 Panel: Mind the advice gap
Hosted by Hayley Rabbets. Joined by Dan Marsh (Octopus), Clare Moffat (Royal London), Nicola Flannigan (Altus Consulting)
Hot Shot
16:10 Fireside: Humans + Tech = the perfect formula?
Hosted by Cathi Harrison. Joined by Joseph Twigg (Aveni)
17:00 Keynote motivational speaker
Jill Scott MBE – Ex-Lioness, motivational speaker and business owner.
17:45 Closing comments and meet and greet
A chance to meet our keynote speaker.
18:00 Awards Drinks Reception
Join us for a drink before The Verve Awards.
19:00 The Verve Awards
Join us as we announce the winners.
20:00 Bye. See ya. Cheerio.
Thanks for joining us! Time to head home…
Dress code is business casual.
The Vibe of the day
Evolution is an event like no other.
A finance event with a difference. Come to learn. To be inspired. But also, to work together to create real action and change.
Evolution has been designed to bring together the brightest minds in finance, to share ideas and to actively support the evolution of financial services.
Have a browse through the site to see some of our speakers, make sure you see who’s shortlisted for an award, and discover our incredible keynote speaker this year!
