Alison Hughes is a Director in KPMG UK’s Reward Services practice with more than 25 years of experience of employee incentive matters. She advises clients on the tax, regulatory, design, market practice and corporate governance aspects of incentive arrangements with a particular focus on global share plans. She has worked for a wide range of UK and global clients both privately owned and listed. Prior to joining KPMG she worked as a solicitor advising in the corporate tax department of an international law firm.

Mala Patel is a Senior Associate in the Employee Incentives practice at international law firm CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang. Mala assists a full range of clients from start-ups to listed global companies and private equity houses, advising on the design and implementation of all types of cash and equity-based employee incentive arrangements and providing tax and compliance advice. Mala also advises clients on the impact of takeovers and investments on share plans, assistance with operating employee benefit trusts and implementing tax advantaged share plan arrangements.

Mala is a clear and strategic thinker, consistently delivering commercially attuned advice that goes beyond the legal framework to consider broader business implications. Her ability to ask the right questions and anticipate “what if” scenarios ensures that her guidance is both practical and forward-looking.

Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, Mala spent nearly 15 years in industry as a brand manager for a number of consumer goods brands. As a second-career lawyer, Mala brings a wealth of prior experience and a fresh, valuable perspective to employee share plans.

Lucy Anderson is the Head of Growth and Client Solutions at Howells, with nearly 20 years of experience in stockbroking, including the past 9 focused on employee share plans. Her background in broking gives her a distinctive perspective, enabling her to understand client needs beyond technology and deliver solutions that create real impact.

Passionate about the role of equity in engaging and motivating employees, Lucy works with clients to provide solutions that not only meet corporate objectives but also help participants appreciate the value of becoming shareholders. She is equally committed to supporting employees after vesting, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to make the most of their equity.

Lucy draws on her extensive industry experience and strong professional network to provide clients with bespoke, practical solutions tailored to their goals. Known for her collaborative approach, she combines strategic insight with a deep understanding of how share plans work in practice.

Beyond her role at Howells, Lucy co-founded a networking group focused on developing the next generation of share plan professionals, encouraging knowledge-sharing and growth within the industry.

Dan is an ICSA certified share plan professional who has worked within the share plans industry for almost 16 years. He started his career in one of the largest global share plan administrators, working in a variety of share plan roles over a nearly 10-year period, before moving to the issuer side. He now supports Sage’s Share Plan Director as the Share Plan Programme Manager, through the management and delivery of Sage’s global share plan events across both their discretionary and all-employee suite of plans.