banner image

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.

Filter by:

Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026, 12:00 - 12:50
Design and strategy
Employee engagement
4.5 Leaders Lounge: Equity Planning in a Volatile World

Mitan Patel, FGE, Fidelity (UK)
Sean Trotman, FGE, Deloitte  (US)
Jennifer Thomas, FGE, ServiceNow  (US)
Eaton Williamson, Seagate Technologies (US) 

Global
BREAKOUT IV

In today’s fast-changing global landscape, equity planning is more complex than ever. This panel brings together senior leaders from multiple regions to discuss how they approach strategic equity planning in the face of uncertainty—regulatory shifts, workforce mobility, and market volatility. Through real-world scenarios, the panelists will share their approaches to balancing risk, innovation, and long-term talent alignment.

The session will simulate a “war room” environment: the moderator presents challenging scenarios, and panelists debate strategic responses while sharing lessons learned. Fellows in the audience will have the opportunity to weigh in and discuss how they might approach each situation.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • How to design flexible equity programs that can adapt to regulatory, economic, and political changes.
  • Strategic approaches to keep key talent engaged in volatile markets.
  • Panelists analyze hypothetical equity challenges—e.g., sudden cross-border regulatory change, a major M&A, or market disruption.
LOCATION:
JW Grand Salon 5
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
O
Wednesday, 22 Apr 2026, 12:00 - 12:50
Data and business intelligence
Design and strategy
4.6 The EO Index: Driving Shareholder Value and Employee Wealth

Stan Feldman, Work to Own (US)
Lennart Wenzel, University of Göttingen (DE)
Jonathan Wachtel, Work to Own (US)

Global
BREAKOUT IV

Broad-based employee ownership (BBEO) isn’t just good for employees—it drives real shareholder value. Work to Own is pioneering the Employee Ownership (EO) Index, using AI to measure and optimize BBEO across 1,500 U.S. public companies. This session explores how data-driven insights link employee ownership to firm performance and provide companies with actionable strategies to scale equity ownership effectively.

Join the experts to learn how AI overcomes data gaps, discover research-backed connections between BBEO and shareholder returns, and see how a quantitative model can help companies design equity programs that boost engagement, retention, and long-term growth.
KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Learn how AI and analytics create a data-driven standard for employee ownership.
  • See research showing companies with higher BBEO outperform peers.
  • Use the EO Index and models to design and communicate programs that benefit employees and shareholders alike.
LOCATION:
401
CPA CREDIT:
Field of Study:
Specialized Knowledge
Level:
I
Thursday, 17 Sep 2026, 14:40 - 15:30
4.1 Unlocking the Full Value of Equity Compensation

Anca Ciorga, UBS
Vicky Phrydas, FGE, UBS
Issuer TBC

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Executive plans
Stock options
USA
BREAKOUT IV

Many employees struggle to understand how equity awards contribute to their long-term financial well-being, leading to lower engagement and missed opportunities to maximize program value. Drawing on insights from an exclusive survey of share plan participants, this session explores how employees perceive and engage with equity compensation, the barriers that influence participation, and practical strategies to strengthen communication, financial education, and overall employee engagement.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

  • Identify the key factors that influence employee understanding, participation, and engagement with equity compensation programs.
  • Describe common behavioral and knowledge barriers that limit employees' ability to recognize and maximize the value of their equity awards.
  • Evaluate practical communication and financial education strategies that improve employee engagement and support long-term financial well-being.


 

Thursday, 17 Sep 2026, 14:40 - 15:30
4.2 Why Equity Data Integrity Matters to the Board

Marc Tipton, Stock & Option Solutions by Allshares
Jacqueline Read, Stock & Option Solutions by Allshares
Oscar Contreras, Lucid Motors



 

All plan types
USA
BREAKOUT IV

Reliable equity compensation data underpins effective governance, financial reporting, and board confidence. This session explores how organizations strengthen data quality, internal controls, and audit readiness to reduce operational risk and position equity administration as a trusted governance function.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify common sources of data quality and control risk within equity compensation administration.
  • Assess governance and internal control practices that improve audit readiness and reporting accuracy.
  • Evaluate approaches for strengthening board confidence through effective equity data management and oversight.
Thursday, 17 Sep 2026, 14:40 - 15:30
4.3 Executive Trading Readiness

Erika Rivera, Morgan Stanley at Work
Carly Griffin, Morgan Stanely at Work
Dave Reider, CoreWeave

All plan types
USA
BREAKOUT IV

Managing executive equity transactions requires careful planning, regulatory compliance, and effective risk management throughout the corporate lifecycle. This session examines current market practices, SEC requirements, liquidity planning strategies, and reporting obligations to help organizations support executives before and after public company events.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Identify regulatory requirements governing executive share transactions, including Rule 144 and Rule 10b5-1 trading plans.
  • Evaluate liquidity planning strategies that address executive stock concentration and financial planning considerations.
  • Describe reporting obligations and governance practices that support compliant executive trading activities.
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2023, 14:00 - 14:50
Trending now
INCENTIVISING LEADERSHIP IN A GLOBAL TALENT MARKET

SPEAKERS: Katie Kenny, Deloitte LLP, Ian Dawson, Deloitte LLP

Global
BREAKOUT V

This session will focus on the challenges faced by listed companies when competing for and negotiating board talent in a global market. As businesses aim to attract and retain leaders who can drive success in a rapidly shifting external landscape, the session will provide insights into the specific challenges encountered in the global market.

Attendees will learn:

  • Best practices from a CEO's perspective in attracting and retaining leaders
  • Equity's role in negotiating during the hiring process, executive compensation, and senior leader retention
  • Investors' expectations of executive compensation and talent
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2023, 14:00 - 14:50
Trending now
IPO JOURNEY HINDSIGHT: INSIGHTS, TIPS, AND EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATION

SPEAKERS: Chris Dohrmann, Global Shares (US), Matthew Neuman, Aramco (SA)

Global
BREAKOUT V

Learn from the IPO experiences of three issuers in this insightful panel discussion who each consider what they would do differently if they had their time again.

Join them as they delve into their valuable insights, tips, and the challenges they encountered throughout their IPO journeys. Through real-life examples, they will explore the lessons learned and mistakes made, providing valuable knowledge to enhance the smooth execution of future IPOs.

Attendees will learn:

  • Real-Life IPO Insights: Gain valuable perspectives from prominent business leaders who have undergone the IPO process, sharing their experiences, challenges, and key takeaways.
  • Getting Stock Plans IPO-Ready: Discover best practices and strategies for preparing your stock plans for an IPO, ensuring compliance, transparency, and effectiveness during the transition.
  • Employee Communication Tips: Learn effective communication strategies to engage and inform employees during the IPO journey, fostering a sense of ownership and understanding.
Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 14:10 - 15:10
Legal and regulatory
5.1 MINDING THE (GENDER PAY) GAP: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE EUROPEAN PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE

Jennifer Granado Aranzana, Linklaters LLP
Yukiko Hitzelberger-Kijima, Linklaters LLP

Cash deferral
Choice plans
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Global
BREAKOUT V

The Pay Transparency Directive in the EU is a significant step towards achieving equal pay and reducing the gender pay gap. Companies operating within the EU must adapt their pay structures and policies to ensure compliance and promote a more equitable work environment.

Join this session as the expert panel explores the practical implications of this directive and unveil strategies for fostering transparency and equity. Master the intricacies of the Pay Transparency Directive and equip yourself with the knowledge to promote pay equality and transparency in your organization.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Directive insights: Gain a deep understanding of the European directive on pay transparency, covering vital aspects such as information rights, reporting obligations, enforcement mechanisms, compensation practices, and potential sanctions.
  • National law variations: Discover the key differences between the directive and current national laws in Germany, the UK, France, and Belgium, ensuring compliance in diverse legal landscapes.
  • Effective employee engagement: Receive valuable tips on skillfully managing employee requests related to pay transparency and equal pay, fostering a collaborative and equitable work environment.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Business Law
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.

Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 14:10 - 15:10
Communications
5.2 REVOLUTIONIZING EQUITY COMPENSATION COMMUNICATION: INSIGHTS FROM FINTECH

Carmen Egermann, KPMG AG
Brittmarie Kronqvist Merino, Global Shares - a J.P. Morgan company
Priyanka Ojha, Klarna
Rafaella Apuzzo, Klarna
 

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Global
BREAKOUT V

In an era of information overload, participants can become overwhelmed with information and employee equity communication that relies on traditional methods such as brochures and emails is often rendered ineffective.

In the fast-paced world of FinTech where engaging customer communication is the norm, learning from FinTech's strategies can transform your equity compensation communication, regardless of your industry.

This panel promises to leave attendees inspired and equipped to adapt modern FinTech approaches and external influences to enhance their equity compensation communications. Join our experts for an invigorating exploration of innovative communication strategies.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Innovative engagement: Learn from Klarna's Slack channel and onboarding approach and the importance of visually appealing graphic designs for effective employee engagement.
  • Modern learning: Explore the benefits of concise, engaging methods like videos, webinars, and podcasts.
  • Tech integration: Discover in-app, AI-driven solutions and strategies for inclusive communication, catering to all generations.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Communications and Marketing
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.