Vienna Conference 2023

 

 

 

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:  

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:  

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:

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: 

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.

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

 

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. 

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.

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.