DFK International is excited to offer our first in-person conference for 2023.The conference will be at the well-appointed Vienna Marriott and will offer our members the chance to network and learn while spending time in one of Europe’s most enchanting cities. The conference is comprised of two parts, the Annual EMEA Conference and the Emerging Leaders Conference. More information about each can be found below. 

Please note that registration has now closed.

Changes and cancellations were possible until 11th Jan 2023. Any cancellations after this will incur a charge. 

Keynote Speakers

 

 

Session Topics

Tax Seminar:
 
At each regional and global conference, all delegates interested in tax matters are invited to attend the Tax Seminar held during the day of the evening Welcome Reception. The purpose of the Tax Seminar is for members of the Tax Committee and its sub-committees to share knowledge about current tax topics affecting their region but also how it reflects from a global perspective. A specific agenda is developed by the Committee for each conference. The Tax Seminar is typically DFK’s most popular event among our tax professionals. To view the full agenda, click here.

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Business Development:  

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This is an opportunity for delegates to share information about their firm’s business development activities, develop insight about best practices among the group, and explore opportunities in developing cross border engagements. The session will be facilitated by Caterina Zagalo, Head of Communications & Market Relations at DFK Portugal in Lisbon.  

Recruiting and Retention:  

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This is an opportunity for delegates to share information about their firm’s recruiting and retention programs, develop insight about best practices among the group. The session will be facilitated by James White, Director & Principal at Brown Butler Chartered Accountants in Leeds.

Francophone Group:  

An informal group of Francophone members will reconnect to discuss activities happening in their respective firms and countries. This session will be facilitated by Paul Grosjean, Managing Director of Conseils Associés in Paris.

Middle East & North Africa Group:
This session is for our delegates from the Middle East and North Africa. The purpose is for members in the region to discuss opportunities to collaborate within the DFK structure, possibly leading to the formation of DFK-MENA. This session will be facilitated by Arvind Malia, Partner at N.R. Doshi & Partners in Dubai. 

Guest Speaker, Ken Norman:

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Magicians use misdirection to distract you from what it is they are doing! You miss things possibly because you are not looking for them, or are distracted. In this entertaining session, Ken Norman challenges you to think about what opportunities you might miss if you allow yourself to be distracted. He will encourage you to think about what it is you want from the conference and to make plans to ensure you that get what you want from your time away from the office… assuming, that is, you know what it is you're looking for. 

Guest Speaker, Prof Dr Thomas P. Müller: 

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Have no fear of fear itself: searching for traces of sense and nonsense, without allowing fear to excessively dominate our lives.

The last terrifying sabre-toothed tiger to have leapt from the bushes and torn us to shreds, killing us within seconds, actually died out thousands of years ago. And yet – across the history of mankind, never has there been as much fear as there is today: the fear of losing your job, money worries, a loss of social status or online friends, perhaps even the possibility of losing recognition of ourselves entirely. But why is this? The relationship between inadequate communication and fear has been proven. However, more profound analysis is required into circumstances in which healthy fears can also be life-sustaining. Thus, it is important to understand that bravery does not come from not feeling fear at all, but rather from acknowledging one’s own fears and taking control over them. Create the space necessary to deal with authentic fears, but dismiss those that appear to be superfluous – in the area of occupational healthcare, every company would surely find it worthwhile to adopt this approach for its employees. 

 Breakout Sessions & Workshop Groups:

Delegates have selected the breakout sessions and workshops during the registration period. Capacity may be limited.
 

Thomas Müller Workshop "Crisis situations and their psychological laws" :  

This session is a follow up to Dr. Müller’s keynote address in the general conference.  

Crises and complex challenges, especially if they occur over a long period of time, have their own laws. Anyone who is able to recognize those laws and is able to apply them, has the opportunity to grow from all kinds of intense situations. However, anyone who falls into certain traps will fail. A vital role in understanding crises is the knowledge of the distribution of one's own self-esteem through feedback at work, in the private life and especially through actions and decisions that affect one's own "ego". How much "ego" does a person need and how much of it is necessary to cope with a personal, emotional, or psychological crisis? The lecture by Dr. Thomas Müller is not only about learning from those people who have proven themselves time and time again in all kinds of crises but also about pointing out certain mistakes people tend to do during times of hardship and struggle. Specific laws of criminal psychology can give us clear guidelines to know what someone should and should not do in these kinds of situations.

Central and Eastern European Group:  

This session is for our delegates from Central and Eastern Europe. The purpose is for members in the region to discuss opportunities to collaborate within the DFK structure, possibly leading to the formation of a formal DFK Central & Eastern Europe Group. This session will be facilitated by Miloš Mitrić, Managing Partner at Pozitiviti Group in Belgrade.
 
Sub-Saharan Africa Group:  

This session is for our delegates from Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose is for members in the region to discuss opportunities to collaborate within the DFK structure, possibly leading to the formation of DFK-Africa. This session will be facilitated by Liz Matimu, Partner at KKCO East Africa in Nairobi.

Xero Technology Insight-Security and service delivery in 2023:
This workshop will be hosted by representatives from our Platinum Sponsor Xero for those interested in best practices and other developments in the Xero platform.

Emerging Leaders

The Emerging Leaders part of the conference is aimed at new partners or senior managers of our member firms. The program is designed to provide skills to enable our emerging leaders to foster relationships with clients and colleagues alike. It will also offer practical training such as account planning and pattern analysis to better equip them in their profession.

The Emerging Leaders conference will be presented by Peter Kane, previously Head of Business Development for Deloitte in South West England

 

Peter’s sessions will run over the course of the two days and will cover a range business relationship topics:

Day 1
•    Introductions and buyer behaviour
•    The power of trust
•    Deeper client understanding
•    Stronger, more profitable relationships
•    Delivering the firm
 
Day 2 
•    How to positively persuade clients and colleagues in a fast-changing world
•    Why persuasive ability is key in today’s working world
•    Why a 2020 approach is not fit for 2023 and beyond
•    Practically using persuasion

Social Events

After lunch on Thursday afternoon, our delegates and accompanying guests will participate in a Tram tour of world famous Viennese landmarks and sites. The tour will start at Schwarzenbergplatz, one of Vienna’s most famous squares and will include the Embassy district Cimetière Saint Marc (Mozart's final resting place), Musikverein, the Church of St. Charles, the State Opera House, the Imperial Palace and other landmarks. 

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The Thursday dinner for all conference delegates and their accompanying guests will will be held at the tradition-steeped “Mayer am Pfarrplatz” winery, known as the epitome of Viennese Heuriger culture. The winery has been producing the best Viennese wines since 1683. Ludwig van Beethoven lived here while working on his Symphony No. 9.

As part of Viennese Heuriger tradition diners will enjoy an extensive hot and cold buffet with homemade seasonal specialities and typical Viennese dishes whilst sipping Viennese wine.

Accompanying Guest Activities

On Thursday morning all accompanying guests will have the opportunity to participate in a strudel baking event planned exclusively for DFK. After lunch on Thursday afternoon, annual conference delegates and accompanying guests will participate in a Tram tour of world famous Viennese landmarks and sites. The tour will start at Schwarzenbergplatz, one of Vienna’s most famous squares and will include the Embassy district, Cimetière Saint Marc (Mozart’s final resting place), Musikverein, the Church of St. Charles, the State Opera House, the Imperial Palace and other landmarks. 

The Thursday dinner for all attendees and their accompanying guests will be held at the tradition-steeped “Mayer am Pfarrplatz” winery, known as the epitome of Viennese Heuriger culture. The winery has been producing the best Viennese wines since 1683. Ludwig van Beethoven lived here while working on his Symphony No. 9. In keeping with Viennese Heuriger tradition, diners will enjoy an extensive hot and cold buffet with homemade seasonal specialities and typical Viennese dishes whilst sipping Viennese wine.
 

 

 

Delegate Directory

Name Company
Mr Thomas Adcock Carter Backer Winter LLP
Steve Amigone BRC
Mark Ashfield HB&O
Eline Averink Alfa Accountants en Adviseurs
Mr Warren Baker Wilson Wright LLP
Claire Barnes Carter Backer Winter LLP
Joel Berg Cederblads Revisionsbyrå AB
Emma Bird Wilson Wright LLP
Mr. Benjamin Bohlmann Marcum LLP
Ms Anne Brady Crowleys DFK
Jonathan Selwyn Brownson Royce Peeling Green Group
Stephan Brune BTS Brune Timmer Schlüter PartG mbB
Caroline Cassidy DFK International
Mr Sanat Chitale M P Chitale & Co., Chartered Accountants
Ms Sandy Cochrane Carter Backer Winter
Mrs Helen Coombes HB&O Ltd
Roberto Corciulo IC&PARTNERS SPA
Adam Cramer Wilson Wright LLP
Andrea Cruz Bernard Robinson & Company
Biljana Cvijanović Pozitiviti DFK
Doctor Giulio de Nitto Studio de Nitto
Demetris Demetriou Demetriou & Associates Business Advisers Ltd
Johan Dens juribel bv
Mr. Paolo Dermitzel Studio Fiam SA
Mr Leo Donovan Shaw Gibbs Limited
Maître JENNFER DOUIEB Cabinet Antelis-Veyssade
Will Eckerson DFK USA
Mrs Anelle Eklund Weigle Hummelkläppen i Stockholm AB
Mr. Antoine El Haddad DFK Fiduciaire du Moyen Orient
Matt English Wilson Wright LLP
Dr. David Farrugia DFK Malta
PierGiuseppe Ferri DFK ITALIA
Mr Paul Fiumara DFK Hirn Newey Pty Ltd
Marko Gacevic Pozitiviti DFK
julie GALOPHE FM Richard & associés
Marie Georgi Esche Schumann Commichau
János Girászin Niveus Consulting Group
Donna Gould Crowleys DFK
Mr Mark Green Harrison Beale & Owen Limited
paul GROSJEAN CONSEILS ASSOCIES SA
Stuart Grosvenor HARRISON BEALE & OWEN LIMITED
Sanja Grubic Pozitiviti DFK
Jons Gustafsson Cederblads Revisionsbyrå AB
Magdalena Guzy Wilson Wright LLP
Mr Robert Hampstead Landin Wilcock & Co
Ildikó Hegyes Gyarmathy & Partners
Office Managing Partner Wael Heida AHC
Tom Henshaw Landin Wilcock
Martin Holnthoner Auditreu GmbH
Craig Hughes Brown Butler
Adnan Islam Marcum LLP
Nigel Jacobs Taylor Leibow LLP
Michel Jaggi Fidinter AG
MR Ridwan Jahib SALFORD ASSOCIATES LLP
Narendra Joshi M P CHITALE & CO
Mr Ragunathan Kannan KVA LLP
Mark Kearsley DSG Chartered Accountants
Julia Keszei Gyarmathy & Partners
Susanne Knol - Bongers Alfa Accountants & Advisors
Madeleine Kroon Leufstedt Cederblads Revisionsbyrå AB
Partner Nimrod Kurgat KKCO EAST AFRICA LLP
Thomas Lachera Dr. Broll Schmitt Kaufmann & Partner
Michaela Lamb Carter Backer Winter LLP
Wijnand Luitjes Alfa Accountants
Mahmoud M Sheeha DFK Orbit Bureau
Mr. Jose M. Hinojal BNFIX
ARVIND MALIA N.R DOSHI & PARTNERS
Marijana Markovic Pozitiviti DFK
Laura McCall Wilson Wright LLP
Ms Jessica McLellan Wilson Wright
Mr Xerxes Medora JK Medora PAC
Ben Miller Bennett Thrasher LLP
Aleksandar Milosavljević Pozitiviti DFK
Shane Moloney Crowleys DFK
MRS BPD MARIA MORAGAS BNFIX
Mr. Mario Enrique Morales López BMTC-DFK, S.C.
Andrew Moss DSG
Malin Näsström Hummelkläppen i Stockholm AB
Raquel Neves DFK & Associados
Francesco Nicolini N&CA Nicolini Commercialisti Associati
Peter O’Connell Shaw Gibbs Limited
Sinan Odok Rickenbach & Partner
Roberta Oliveira Zara Adviser Auditores
Miguel Palma DFK & Associados
Augusto Paulino DFK ISP (Portugal)
Ashutosh Pednekar M P Chitale & Co
Ingrid Petersson Cederblads Revisionsbyrå AB
Doctor Giusy Pisanti LEXACTA GLOBAL LEGAL ADVICE
Partner John R. Grummett Taylor Leibow LLP
Natasa Radulovic Pozitiviti DFK
Iacovos Raoukkas DEMETRIOU & ASSOCIATES BUSINESS ADVISERS LTD
Mr Neil Raynsford Langdowns DFK Limited
Arnaud RUDOWSKI GROUPE EXPERIENCE
Ahmad Sheeha DFK Orbit Bureu
DOTTORE COMMERCIALISTA VIGNOLI STEFANO studio Vignoli Stefano
Jamshid Sultani GROUPE EXPERIENCE
Mark Tate Brown Butler
Mrs. Montserrat Teruel Mariné BNFIX PICH TAX LEGAL, S.L.P.
Andrea Toncini studio Maresca e Toncini
Mr Miguel Trapezaris DFK Demetriou Trapezaris Ltd
Mr Kostas Tsoukakis TSOUKAKIS ACCOUNTING SERVICES
Mr Simon Turner HB&O
Matthijs van Dorssen Alfa Accountants en Adviseurs
Mr. Marco Vermin Alfa Accountants en Adviseurs
Marco Vignoli Vignoli Marco
M. Eric VILMINT AGILI(3F)
Mr Roland W. Graf Peters, Schönberger & Partner
Miss Melanie Webb DFK Chancery
Ms Melanie Weist Esche Schümann Commichau
James White Brown Butler
Peter Winter Carter Backer Winter LLP
Cheree Woolcock DFK Benjamin King Money
Catarina Zagalo DFK ISP SA

 

 

The DFK Team

Bill Wright

Bill Wright

Executive Director and CEO

Caroline Cassidy

Caroline Cassidy

Global Executive Officer & Conference Manager

Jani Labuschagne

Jani Labuschagne

Membership Coordinator

 

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