It is ultimately responsible for the stewardship and strategic direction of the ACT and accountable to the members. Day-to-day management is delegated to the Chief Executive and, through the Chief Executive, to the Executive team.
Council consists of four Officers (President, Deputy President, Vice President and Immediate Past President) and up to six other elected members, as well as the Chief Executive and up to four co-opted members. i.e. a maximum of 15 Council members. In any year the term for Officers and elected members commences on 1 May.
The full list of Council members for 1 May 2023 - 30 April 2024 is shown below. Further information about Council, panels and other groups is set out in the council terms of reference.
Annette Spencer was appointed Chief Executive of the Association of Corporate Treasurers in September 2023. She previously held senior roles at membership associations The Investment Association and The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, and her earlier career was spent in communications, policy and marketing roles in financial and professional services, including at a number of FTSE 100 companies.
Non-Executive Director, Southern Water
Please provide a brief description of your career
I qualified as an accountant and had many different roles in finance. I was in a senior role in BG Group (Director of Corporate Finance) when I realised that the job that I really wanted was Group Treasurer. In order to give myself a chance of getting there I took both the AMCT and MCT exams and when I was qualified, I succeeded in getting the role that I really wanted: Group Treasurer of Lattice Group and then became Group Treasurer of National Grid, spending about 15 years in that role. I now have a “plural” career working as a non-executive director at five companies where I chair four audit & risk committees, a responsible business (ESG) committee and a credit committee.
What do you like about working in treasury/with treasurers?
Without a doubt, Group Treasurer was the best job that I ever had. It is stimulating, demanding and allows you to make a real positive difference to the business. It also allows you to work with a very wide range of fantastic people.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I only got the best job that I ever had thanks to the ACT. I would like to use this opportunity to give something back to the ACT.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It is the only place where you can get the training, development and network that you need to do your job effectively.
What three words describe you?
Thoughtful, supportive, challenging.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
When something goes wrong (and it will), address it immediately: it won’t go away.
Group Treasurer, Peabody
Please provide a brief description of your career
Not-for-profit housing association treasurer with early career in private sector audit and corporate banking. Other roles included magistracy, charity trusteeships and board memberships.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Thinking ahead.
Numbers combining with strategy to deliver the organisation’s mission.
Measurable targets.
Stretching corporate and personal goals.
Professional relationships.
Succeeding through others.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
ACT professional exams, formal learning and informal peer group networking are a great way to keep up with the complexity and challenge of treasury and corporate financing profession.
What three words describe you?
Curious*
Hopeful
Grounded
*in a good way
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Try again.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
With Pakistani heritage, UAE upbringing and grown up time in London, I have three distinct social circles.
Group Treasurer, Sky Group
Please provide a brief description of your career
My corporate treasury career began in 1995 in the factory office of a heavy industry manufacturer, York International. I moved to Germany for my next treasury role which was at adidas AG. It enabled me to gain valuable international experiences during the four years I spent at the adidas global HQ. I moved back to England to work in a variety of treasury roles at First Choice Holidays plc and TUI Travel plc. For the past 12 years I have been a Group Treasurer, first with TUI Travel, and currently with Sky where I have been the Group Treasurer for the past 8 years.
What do you like about working in treasury?
The thing I like most is the variety. No two days are the same, and the interaction with different internal and external stakeholder keeps the job always interesting.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
Gain a better understanding and appreciation of how the ACT and the Council operates, and the challenges they face. I’d like to help promote the work of the ACT, and to provide my support and assistance to the SLT. To be useful in whatever way that I can.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It’s the place to go to for all things treasury. You deepen your treasury knowledge and advance your career via the ACT qualifications. The great events and forums offered are also a fantastic source of treasury knowledge and they are great opportunities to build your treasury network.
What 3 words best describe you?
Straightforward, reliable, amiable.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I’m originally from Bristol and my family tell me I’m stuck in the 80s because they say most of my reference points come from the 80s – particularly music and football.
Global Head of Treasury (Group Treasurer), Straumann Group
Please provide a brief description of your career
Over the last 25 years, my Executive career has included roles focused on treasury, finance, investor relations, risk and sustainability across a broad range of sectors including manufacturing, engineering, defence and professional services.
What do you like about working in treasury?
In treasury, I like the fact no one day is ever the same and I meet a great variety of internal and external stakeholders. Furthermore, as a Treasurer, I can add tangible value to the entire company.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I plan to use my experience to support the Chief Executive and wider leadership team to continue guiding the treasury profession, not only for today but for future generations. Each organisation is as unique as the individuals it employs and we must equip treasury professionals to be equally as diverse and agile.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT is an invaluable resource for treasury professionals at every stage of their career. It provides excellence in industry training, helping members to develop their skills, their career and their networks.
Global Head of Treasury, AMS
Please provide a brief description of your career
I started my career in treasury straight after graduating from my MBA, worked myself up through the ranks over the past 17+ years: Analyst, Manager, Deputy Treasurer and now Global Head of Treasury for AMS. My experience is international (France, Germany, Canada and now UK) and spreads over a range of industries from FTSE-listed multinationals, private equity firms to not-for-profits.
What do you like about working in treasury?
I love the diverse nature of treasury. Every day is different, so never a dull moment! Also, recent events of failures at high profile banks highlight the importance of treasury’s key role in the context of financial risk management.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I believe that the ACT is a fantastic organisation and as a younger international female treasurer, I think I am closer to the next generation’s aspirations, as well as trends which will shape the future of the profession. My goals are to help the ACT’s Executive and Senior Leadership Team: by ensuring the association consolidates its financial recovery post-pandemic, grows by increasing membership base and revenue from events, remains relevant/attractive in its offering, stimulates interaction with members and continues to augment membership benefits.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
In my view, if your goal is to have a career in treasury, then an ACT qualification is a must, and taking on an active role in the ACT community will help build your professional network in the field, to learn faster and to leverage the skills of more experienced treasury professionals.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t procrastinate and if a challenge seems too overwhelming at first, tackle it in manageable phases.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
My first treasury role was with the Salvation Army where my responsibilities included managing donations that sometimes included gold bullions or live horses.
Various Non-Executive Director appointments
Please provide a brief description of your career
I have held a variety of executive roles at the ACT between 2006 & 2020 in member engagement, publishing, commercial development and treasury research. In addition I continue to moderate and chair treasury, corporate finance and global trade finance events in the UK, Middle East, continental Europe and Asia, representing the treasury voice in a private capacity as an independent treasury specialist.
My corporate treasury and finance career (1982-2006) included roles in major public corporates in the UK and Germany. I qualified for the MCT / Advanced Diploma with the ACT in 1994 and was made an ACT Fellow in 2000 and Honorary Fellow in 2021. Prior to treasury, I qualified at the Chartered Institute of Bankers in 1986 (working at Lloyds Bank, 1982-1986).
What do you like about working in treasury?
The dynamism, the access to the whole business, the need to think both operationally and strategically and to know that the lifeblood of a business passes through treasury.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
To help promote the association and the role of treasury as a profession especially via public engagement.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
To enhance their careers via qualifications, to enhance their profession and to help shape professional standards.
What 3 words best describe you?
Loyal, inquiring, social..
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Always make sure that the numbers add up!
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
There is nowhere in the world I’d rather be than at Lord’s, on a sunny day, watching Middlesex play cricket.
Consultant, Bicton Associates
Please provide a brief description of your career
After completing my degree in Engineering, Economics and Management, I entered the City as an investment analyst covering the food manufacturing sector. Although I thought I’d done my research to discover my dream job, the reality proved me wildly wrong. Slightly disillusioned, I applied for a job as a foreign exchange dealer at a corporate just to get out of the City. Much to my surprise, I actually enjoyed it and that was the start of my career in treasury. After three years I left to join George Wimpey PLC as Assistant Treasurer and then five years later Meggitt PLC, initially as Group Treasurer and finally as Head of Treasury & Tax.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Many aspects – the variety of the work, being at the centre of the organisation with the ability to have a real impact, and interacting with like-minded professionals both internally and externally.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
First secure its future following the impact of COVID on its finances. Then I would like to hear the views of others before setting my own goals.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It uniquely represents the profession and therefore involvement is a prerequisite for anyone wishing to make a career within treasury.
What three words describe you?
Thoughtful, intelligent, pragmatic.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given.
You don’t really know what a job is like until you’ve done it – sadly learnt from bitter experience rather than advice.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Was born stateless.
Group Treasurer, Dept Agency, London
Please provide a brief description of your career
I studied law at Liverpool University, then became a qualified accountant with Deloitte.
Law and accountancy careers did not resonate with me. Fortunately, treasury came to my rescue. So I completed two more sets of ACT exams (which really helped my treasury career) when I was at a manufacturing company – Delta plc.
Since then I have worked for large global listed corporates - Cable & Wireless plc, Inmarsat plc, UBM plc, Capita plc and more recently private equity owned companies Survitec and DEPT Agency.
I have been a trustee for five different charities; Better Bankside (Business Investment District), The Independent Cinema Office (“ICO”), a Critical Friend at UP Projects (public art), The Architectural Association (“AA”, higher education) and The World Land trust (saving global habitats). I have chaired the finance, audit and risk committees at the AA and ICO. As a Council member I have experience of good governance encompassing varied issues.
What do you like about working in treasury?
I like the variety of work, being well connected with all parts of the business, working with global colleagues and the challenges that arise working in different countries. Also promoting the company externally to external parties – lenders, credit agencies etc. The opportunities that arise to learn new skills such as corporate insurance, pension liability management and accounts receivables management.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
With a new Chief Executive, a new strategy and managing legacy Covid issues it is a very interesting time to join but with challenges. My role is to support the ACT senior leadership team on strategy and any opportunities or challenges as they arise.
In particular it would be great to help on longer term financial resilience, furthering diversity and the vibrancy of the organisation.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT provides a great resource throughout your treasury career from education, networking, advice and support, keeping informed on current topics and trends as well as socialising at the events such as the Annual Conference and Dinner.
There are many ways to get involved. I have found such roles expand my knowledge and experience and have made me more effective in my treasury roles.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t procrastinate and embrace the challenge and you will likely succeed.
Regional Treasurer, MEA, Pakistan and Turkey, Nestle
Please provide a brief description of your career
My career spans 18 years in finance and accounting with 14 years in treasury managing challenging and dynamic markets within Africa, Middle East, Pakistan and Turkey. The scope has enabled me to work with diverse teams and stakeholders which has been very rewarding.
What do you like about working in treasury?
What I really love about treasury is that every day is different. You pick up the newspaper in the morning or switch on the TV or the tablet and right away your work for the day begins. This forces you to stay on top of what’s going on in the world. And then, it’s about bringing it down to what is happening within the organisation and being able to add value to the business operations. I also love the aspect of working with internal and external stakeholders and the fact that those relationships connect dots and add value to the business in a dynamic and tangible way.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I am excited to contribute to the strategy and decisions of ACT to deliver on its core purpose of supporting its members and the treasury profession. I’m also looking forward to bringing diversity in the decision-making process to help strengthen the global appeal of ACT especially within Middle East and Africa.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
From education, through qualifications, to career progression and maturity, through networking opportunities and events, members can benefit at every stage in their profession from the value proposition ACT offers. I would encourage every treasurer to be involved with ACT so we can together build the profession to be ready to meet the needs of organisations today and for the challenges of the future.
What 3 words best describe you?
Assertive (Passion), Resourceful, Fun.
What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
In relation to continuous learning, a former boss once advised me to pursue professional studies because “Your education is like your briefcase. You fill it up and then when you're ready, you pick it up and go and wherever you go, you carry it along”.
My advice: Aim high! The sky is no longer the limit, even space is now a tourist destination!
Senior Treasury Manager, Group Treasury, National Grid
Please provide a brief description of your career
I was fortunate to land a role in treasury immediately after graduating from University. I joined the Corporate Treasury team at Heathrow Airport when it was going through a large refinancing and securitisation project which meant I was in at the deep end right from the beginning. It was here I studied for my ACT qualifications. I then joined National Grid and have just celebrated my 10-year anniversary at the company. Although I have spent most of my career working in the funding and derivatives aspect of treasury, I have also focussed on core risk and operations.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Treasury is so fundamental to any business which allows you to see the direct impact of your own work, and it is very satisfying to know you are making a difference.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
During the pandemic over the past two years, I have found personal development has easily slipped to the bottom of my priority list, and I wonder how many other treasurers feel the same. So I am hoping to reignite the importance of personal development for others, not just for myself, and the ACT is a perfect place to start.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT can offer so much. There is endless learning available, and on top of that there is such a broad range of people that you can meet in treasury across all industries. The networking can be endless.
What three words describe you?
Honest, approachable and diligent.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given.
Be patient, and always take time to take a step back. Instant reactions are often not thought through, and whatever the situation whether you take 5 mins, a day or a week, it can make a difference.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
I had a talent for gymnastics when I was younger, and not only did it help teach me to be disciplined, resilient and a team player but I was also lucky to be able to travel around Europe and America at such a young age.
Partner, Headland Communications
Before joining Headland Communications I was a Partner at Brunswick, the critical issues and communications firm. I led the global Campaign Planning offer; building long term reputation campaigns for companies across markets and sectors.
I worked for over 20 years in advertising as a Planner, responsible for creating brand and communications strategies. I have worked at TBWA/ London, part of Omnicom, on brands such as Apple, Mars, News International, Strongbow, and Thomas Cook as well as on the 2001 General Election campaign for the Labour party. I joined WPP’s J Walter Thompson in 2004, working as the lead global planner on a series of WPP’s multinational corporate clients: Vodafone, Nokia, Shell and HSBC.
I was co-opted to Council in 2015, to provide a different perspective and skills-set, most notably in branding and communication.
What do you like about working in treasury or with treasurers?
I don’t work with treasurers or treasury – but find that I can provide a different viewpoint and set of skills to Council and the ACT.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT is run by committed, expert staff for the benefit of treasurers and treasury. As an underappreciated but increasingly important profession, treasurers can benefit themselves and their profession by getting involved.
What 3 words best describe you?
Impatient. Creative. Foody.
Public Cloud Lead, Morgan Stanley
Please provide a brief description of your career
After studying Computer and Management Sciences at the University of Hull, I went straight into software engineering within London’s Financial Services sector. Over the years I have worked across most systems used to support and enable the Investment Management and Investment banking businesses. These include financial reporting, business intelligence, portfolio management, trading platforms, compliance tools, firm wide collaboration solutions and more recently portfolio risk. The last few years have seen my role become as much about building high performing agile teams, as product management and technical architecture. With the advent of Cloud and AI – it’s never been more exciting!
What do you like about working in treasury?
As a co-opted Council member, I am totally new to treasury. Everything I have learnt so far is fascinating and I’m only just beginning.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
As an “outsider” to treasury I am hoping to bring a unique perspective to the Council and help contribute however I can. When I leave the Council I want to ensure it is even stronger and more successful than when I joined, and that I contributed to that outcome.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It is in the interest of all members to be active in the ACT in some, or any, form. From networking and meeting likeminded smart people, to the superb training opportunities to improve yourselves, there are just some of the many reasons for members to get involved.
What 3 words best describe you?
Hardworking, Driven and Energetic.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Early in my career someone told me “Don’t complain about something, unless you want to fix it”. This lead me to be much more deliberate on what I focus my energy on and understand how I add value.
