You are invited to an exclusive event organised by pro.manchester and Manchester Digital. This event is free of charge and refreshments will be provided.

Many digital businesses are small and young and built on imagination. Accounting and financial professionals can help such businesses avoid the pitfalls as they grow. But the focus is often on protecting and investing in an idea, creating and growing a company that will have value, whereas digital entrepreneurs may be more interested in getting to market quickly, collaborating and sharing the idea before moving on to the next project. Are these views compatible? Do they even speak the same language? And what can the professional sector learn from the new digital business culture?

The discussion  will be chaired by Michael Taylor and an expert panel will debate the issues, with the audience, in a lively, informative and entertaining session.

Panel -

Michael Taylor - Chair

Michael Taylor is the editor of North West Business Insider and the editorial director of Insider Media, the Manchester-based publishing and events company.  He was educated at Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Morecambe College and Manchester University. He has been a business journalist since 1989, having initially worked for the entertainment press in Australia. After a long journey through London working on a variety of magazines covering the TV and film business, in 2000 he moved back to his native North West to take up his position as the editor of Manchester-based business magazine Insider.

Louise Highton

Louise started her career in accounting at THR Chartered accountants in 1993. She spent 4 years in the Accounts department before specialising in tax.Louise qualified as a certified accountant in 1998, becoming the Tax Group Manager in 1999 responsible for the management of the tax team and was appointed a Director of Montpelier Chartered Accountants in 2008

Mike Ryan

Mike is a highly successful entrepreneur and digital futurist. He eats lives and breathes technology and has helped many large organisations on their future IT strategy. As secretary of Manchester Digital and committed futurologist he frequently speaks for the digital sector and is committed to seeing an unprecedented growth and success of Manchester as a leading place for technology led life in the coming decades.

Fran Whittle

Fran has worked for KPMG for 12 years specialising in Retail, Media and Technology, having previously led the Information and Communications team in KPMG’s Manchester office.  Fran advises clients, from recent start up through to PLCs, on a range of business and accounting issues and provides access to KPMG’s wide range of services.

Nina Mack

Nina Mack is the MD of Manchester-based digital agency, Worship Digital. She has over 10 years’ experien ce in web and digital marketing and has successfully delivered many large website projects for a wide range of organisations in that time.

Steve Livingston

Steve is a keen supporter of the north west digital, media and creative sector in which he advises clients from start-ups through to fast-growth owner managed and international businesses. He is passionate about helping north west digital businesses access latest tax and business planning ideas and has worked closely with local initiatives to develop tailor-made tax and accountancy packages aimed specifically at digital and tech businesses of all sizes.