GEO VIRTUAL 2023 - SESSIONS
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ABOUT GEO VIRTUAL
SESSIONS

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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Tuesday, 21 Apr 2026, 14:45 - 15:35
Design and strategy
Employee engagement
Finance, tax and accounting
2.6 A Tax-Qualified Trio: Benefits and Tradeoffs of Tax-Advantaged Plans in the UK, Israel, and France

Hannah Needle, FGE, Tapestry (UK)
Alexis Despres, Banque Transatlantique (FR)
Odelia Pollak, IBI Capital (IS)
 

France
Israel
UK and Channel Islands
BREAKOUT II

Tax-qualified equity plans can feel daunting to implement and manage across different countries—but when used strategically, they can offer meaningful advantages for both employers and employees. In this session, local experts from France, Israel, and the UK will share practical insights into the benefits, challenges, and success factors of tax-advantaged equity plans in their respective regions.
 

Recognizing that tax-qualified plans aren’t always the right fit, the discussion will also explore alternative approaches to encouraging employee equity participation when these plans are not viable. Attendees will gain a balanced, real-world perspective on how to evaluate options, manage complexity, and design equity programs that align with local regulations and workforce needs.
 

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn the key benefits, structures, and compliance considerations for tax-advantaged equity plans in France, Israel, and the UK.
  • Identify scenarios where tax-qualified plans may not be appropriate and explore alternative strategies to promote employee equity participation.
  • Gain practical strategies for navigating tax and legal risks, working across cultures and time zones, and ensuring compliance in European and global equity programs.
LOCATION:
401
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Tax
Level:
I
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Thursday, 17 Sep 2026, 10:20 - 11:10
2.1 Global Share Plans Through a Season of Change

Lindsay Minnis, Baker McKenzie
Tessa Patti, Marsh McLennan

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Restricted shares
Stock options
USA
BREAKOUT II

Global share plans continue to evolve as organizations respond to changing tax, legal, and regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions. Drawing on practical experiences from multinational issuers operating in markets including Argentina, China, Israel, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam, this session explores how organizations are adapting their compliance and governance strategies while maintaining consistent employee experiences.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify key regulatory and compliance developments affecting multinational share plans across major global markets.
  • Evaluate governance and administration approaches that support consistent compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Assess practical strategies for managing regulatory change while maintaining effective global equity programs.
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Thursday, 17 Sep 2026, 10:20 - 11:10
2.2 The Three A's of Modern Equity Administration

Rob Williams, KPMG
Craig Rubino, Morgan Stanley at Work
Issuer TBC

Equity deferral
Performance shares
Restricted shares
USA
BREAKOUT II

Artificial intelligence, automation, and data accuracy are reshaping the way organizations administer equity compensation. Through practical issuer case studies, this session explores how technology can improve operational efficiency, automate complex processes, and enhance the experience for both participants and equity administration teams while maintaining appropriate controls.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify opportunities to apply AI and automation within equity administration processes.
  • Evaluate technology solutions that improve efficiency, accuracy, and participant experience across complex administrative scenarios.
  • Assess governance considerations that support the responsible implementation of automated equity administration processes.
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Thursday, 17 Sep 2026, 10:20 - 11:10
2.3 Demonstrating the Value of Broad-Based Equity Ownership

Stanley Feldman, Work to Own 
Jonathan Wachtel, Work to Own

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
BREAKOUT II

Growing research continues to examine the relationship between broad-based equity ownership and long-term business performance. This session reviews new empirical findings, explores the role of AI in large-scale research analysis, and discusses how organizations can present evidence-based business cases for expanding employee equity ownership.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Summarize research findings on the relationship between broad-based equity ownership and shareholder value.
  • Describe how AI-supported research methods can improve the collection and analysis of equity compensation data.
  • Evaluate evidence-based approaches for presenting the business case for broad-based equity ownership to senior leadership.
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Tuesday, 22 Sep 2026, 14:45 - 15:35
Case Study
2.1 When Mobility Backfires: Protecting Incentives From Becoming Distractions

Marlene Zobayan, FGE, Rutlen Associates LLC
Lori Serrano, FGE, Service Titan
Veena Bhatia, FGE, Atlassian

Cash deferral
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
BREAKOUT II

Equity awards are designed to motivate and reward employees, but when participants cross borders, the same awards can create unexpected tax liabilities, compliance challenges, and administrative complexity. This session examines common mobility scenarios where equity incentives can become an unintended burden for employees and employers. It explores practical policy and planning approaches for anticipating cross-border issues, managing tax and regulatory exposure, and helping equity awards remain effective and competitive for a globally mobile workforce.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

  • Identify mobility scenarios that can create unexpected tax, regulatory, and administrative consequences for equity plan participants.
  • Assess how cross-border tax obligations can affect the value and effectiveness of equity incentives for mobile employees.
  • Evaluate policy and planning approaches that reduce mobility-related risk while maintaining competitive and effective equity awards.
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Tuesday, 22 Sep 2026, 14:45 - 15:35
Design and strategy
2.2 Equity in Motion During Organizational Change

Jorge Martin, J.P. Morgan Workplace Solutions
Issuer TBC

BREAKOUT II

Organizational change can place significant pressure on equity programs, from restructurings and global expansion to acquisitions, carve-outs, and rapid growth. This session explores how organizations maintain data integrity, governance, and participant confidence while adapting equity administration processes during periods of structural change.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify operational and governance risks that arise during organizational restructuring and business transformation.
  • Evaluate administration practices that maintain accurate equity records and participant communications throughout periods of change.
  • Assess governance frameworks that support business continuity while managing evolving organizational structures
    .
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Thursday, 8 Jun 2023, 16:00 - 16:50
Trending now
ENHANCING THE PERCEIVED VALUE OF EQUITY AWARDS

SPEAKERS: Tommy Swindle, FGE, UBS (US), Dean Baylor, Applied Materials (US)

Global
BREAKOUT III

In the face of ongoing stock market uncertainty and persistent high inflation, the perceived value of equity awards for equity plan participants has taken a hit, marking a significant departure from the long-standing upward trend.

This expert panel highlights how employers can play a crucial role in helping plan participants fully comprehend and appreciate the value of their equity compensation and unlock the potential of their equity awards.

Don't miss this enlightening session, where we provide actionable insights that will not only position employers as leaders during these uncertain times but also enable them to attract and retain top-tier talent.

Attendees will learn:

  • The importance of employee education in understanding equity compensation.
  • Effective communication strategies to convey the value of equity awards.
  • How providing access to personalized financial advice is crucial for optimizing equity compensation.
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Thursday, 8 Jun 2023, 16:00 - 16:50
Case Study
GOING IPO: THE WORK CONTINUES

SPEAKERS: Ramon Dominguez, Lucid Motors, Chris Dohrmann, Global Shares - a J.P. Morgan company

Global
BREAKOUT III

Public event readiness focuses on the actions leading up to the ‘Big Day’. But what happens after that day comes and goes?

This session provides advice on how to avoid an IPO hangover. The panel of experts will cover the items that tend to get lost in the shuffle or deferred in the frantic run up to the public event.

Attendees will learn:

  • The key milestones and steps you can take now to guarantee a pain free transaction
  • Which administrative tasks, controls and communications are essential to succeed
  • How to identify the key stakeholders and how best to communicate with them
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Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 11:00 - 12:00
Legal and regulatory
3.1 DIGITAL NOMADS: EQUITY AWARDS AND THE ALTERNATIVE WORKFORCE

Ludmilla Maurer, Baker McKenzie
Lindsay Minnis, Baker McKenzie

 

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

Discover the evolving landscape of global talent acquisition in this insightful session, where the expert panel unravel the complexities of hiring talent from around the world.

Attendees will access a comprehensive overview of countries where granting equity awards to consultant employees remains particularly challenging. Attend this panel to equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate the global talent landscape effectively, regardless of where your talent is based.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Navigating work arrangements: Understand the shift towards flexible work arrangements, including remote work, consulting, and employment through Professional Employer Organizations/Employers of Record. Learn why even large companies are exploring these options.
  • Legal and tax implications: Gain valuable insights into the diverse tax and legal considerations associated with equity awards, depending on the employment arrangement. Explore how multinational companies have successfully managed these challenges.
  • Documentation and communication: Delve into the differences in communicating and documenting equity awards based on the specific work arrangement. Get practical guidance on ensuring compliance and clarity in various scenarios.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Personell/HR
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group live
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit: 1.0 credits

Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

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