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 five other elected members, as well as the Chief Executive and up to four co-opted members. i.e. a maximum of 14 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 2022 - 30 April 2023 is shown below.
Further information about Council, panels and other groups is set out in the council terms of reference.
Caroline Stockmann has been Chief Executive of the Association of Corporate Treasurers since February 2017.
Prior to that Caroline held the position of Chief Financial Officer at The British Council, the UK’s largest charity, and before that at Save the Children International. She has 25 years’ experience in senior finance, commercial and strategic posts at a number of commercial organisations including Novartis Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), Cadbury Schweppes, Granada plc and Unilever/ Bestfoods (Thailand, Netherlands and UK). Much of her working life has been spent overseas.
Caroline trained with KPMG and is a Fellow (FCA) of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). She has an ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting and has filled numerous roles on boards over the years, some current roles including being a member of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, Deputy Chair of the European Association of Corporate Treasurers and the International Group of Treasury Associations, as well as President of the National Association of Corporate Treasurers (US). Caroline is a linguist, musician, trained coach and passionate bell ringer, and is married with two children. Check out her weekly podcasts at www.treasurers.org/strategic-insights-podcasts
Managing Director, Head of Treasury Advisory UK & Ireland, Redbridge Debt and Treasury Advisory
Having completed my degree in Economics from Cambridge University, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Financial Services Audit of a Big 4 accountancy firm in London. I then moved to Cyprus as an Audit and Advisory partner in a local firm. Most of my advisory work was in Finance and Treasury so in 2004 I qualified with the ACT in order to broaden my horizons. In 2007, I returned to London and have since been advising FTSE 350 and global corporates in key areas of treasury as well as performing numerous secondments in senior treasury roles.
What do you like about working with treasurers?
Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of a treasury function which in my view is the life-blood of the organisation.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
Provide a fresh perspective in promoting and supporting our profession and the ACT to the recognition they deserve.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
To become an integral part of a community of like-minded individuals who can support each other in developing their careers and promoting the profession.
What 3 words best describe you?
Personable, principled and driven.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Sleep well at night so that you glow during the day.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am a professionally trained coffee barista and roaster!
Group Treasurer, Page Group
Please provide a brief description of your career
I am a treasury professional with 20 years’ experience across various sectors including multi-nationals, NFP and large government departments both here in the UK and Australia. As Group Treasurer for PageGroup plc. currently I manage not only the treasury function but also the insurance and sanctions programmes across 36 countries. I co-share investor relations and have recently taken on the responsibility of sustainability.
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 an excellence in industry training, helping members to develop their skills, their career and their networks.
Director of Treasury Operations, London Stock Exchange Group
I started my career at British American Tobacco as a Finance trainee within their graduate programme. I discovered Treasury during my traineeship, and joined their Treasury Front Office team after the programme. I then spent a few years in Risk Management / Front Office roles within several multinational companies, as well as a few years within PwC's Finance Consulting team, before deciding that Corporate Treasury would be my career path and seeking roles that would develop my responsibilities, and my technical and leadership skills.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Having worked primarily in risk management roles, I obviously enjoy understanding financial market dynamics and assessing their impact on the organisation now and in the future. But the business partnering aspect of my roles is the most rewarding, as I can effectively support the business achieve its strategic objectives through advice and guidance on how to best manage its risk. The Treasury world is constantly changing and I know that I will have an entertaining and challenging career path for many years to come.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Supporting the ACT is an excellent way to contribute to an organisation outside of the workplace, whilst being able to offer professional skills that are valued and add value. It is also a great way to network and find out what your peers are doing, how they may be approaching similar challenges within their organisation. The world of treasury changes constantly - organisations themselves, technology, products, regulations - and having a good network within the ACT's varied membership is an excellent way to stay on top of these changes.
What three words describe you?
Dedicated, dependable, optimistic.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
I received this piece of advice during my consulting days, but I think it also greatly applies to the world of a corporate treasurer (and anyone within the workplace for that matter). "Tell your audience a story. When you have a message to convey (work presentation, pitch, report etc), make sure to check that your objectives are clear, and your arguments are concise and well-articulated, so that your audience comes on a journey with you."
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
I am a keen amateur of fine wines and have passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications, levels 2 and 3, in the last few years. Doing the WSET qualifications has been a fantastic way to learn about all aspects of wine-making and wine-tasting, but has also allowed me to meet some other wine fanatics who are now great friends.
Director of Group Treasury, Canary Wharf Group
I started my Treasury career when I moved to London from Washington, DC in summer 2009 and began working at a consulting firm as a Tax & Treasury Analyst. Following this, I joined a privately owned international industrial commodities group as a Treasury Manager. In 2015, keen to get experience in a larger, public company, I joined Capita’s Treasury team as the Treasury Integration Manager and co-head of Middle Office. However, when the opportunity was presented to join Logicor as Assistant Treasurer in 2016, I accepted the offer knowing it would be an extremely challenging but rewarding role to build the function from the ground up, and in 2018, I was promoted to Group Treasurer. In 2022 I moved to Canary Wharf Group, where I am Director of Group Treasury.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Treasury provides a dynamic, stimulating and fast paced environment which suits my personality well. With constantly changing markets, regulations and technology, Treasurers have the opportunity to continually acquire new knowledge for their Treasury arsenal, making each day interesting. We also have the benefit of working with various internal and external stakeholders which brings a commercial and human element to the job – it’s not all about the numbers.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
Throughout my involvement with the ACT and the Future Leaders in Treasury working group, I’ve always enjoyed creating and implementing events and programmes for members and students. With my new role on Council, I would like to take a more strategic role and work together to shape the future of the ACT. The strategies that are implemented now will affect how the organisation functions and how our members are supported in years to come. During my tenure on council I would like to help the ACT achieve significantly increased engagement across all levels of our membership.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
It’s important to get involved with the ACT as you truly get out what you put in. The more involvement we have from Treasury professionals, the stronger the organisation will be in all facets. Our collective knowledge and collaboration of our members enables positive change within the profession. As members of the Association we all benefit from the ACT’s strength and continued development.
What 3 words best describe you?
Approachable, Industrious, Adaptable.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Don’t give up what you want most in your career for what you want now. Work hard, play the long game and focus on your ultimate goal.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Before I entered the world of Treasury, I was an Archaeologist and Classicist!
Director of Group Treasury, Tax and Risk, Pepco Group
Please provide a brief description of your career
Although I studied engineering at university, I went straight into finance with an external audit role, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa.
Moving over to the UK in 2004, I held a number of very interesting roles in internal audit, management accounting, technical IFRS conversions and then found treasury operations at Toyota Financial Services, and Anglo American.
I then moved to SABMiller and again had the fortune of having very different roles from TMS implementation and regional treasury centre rollouts to group treasury controller and then European & corporate treasurer – these roles gave me many amazing experiences across eight years and six continents. As part of the acquisition of SABMiller, I moved to Asahi International and setup the group treasury function, and then a group financial shared services which also involved recruiting great new talent, and travelling / meeting people from around the world.
I have recently moved to Pepco Group Limited as Director of Group Treasury, Tax and Risk and am enjoying working on a great project alongside some extremely knowledgeable and talented colleagues and advisors.
What do you like about working in treasury?
Treasury has led to me meeting wonderfully diverse people from different backgrounds and facilitates the dissection of the silos that companies often form to work closely with IT, legal, tax, finance, IA, HR, procurement, marketing and, at SABMiller and Asahi, even brewers.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
I would like to understand the mechanisms / strategies that the ACT has to drive the diversification of the treasury profession and membership away from the historical compositions, and really promote treasury as an amazing career to allow talented individuals to enjoy the same kind of experiences and career progression that my colleagues and I have been able to enjoy, regardless of their backgrounds.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
The ACT is extremely dedicated to the profession, more so than other professional bodies that I have worked with or been members of. They also have amazing resources, qualifications, learning events – and of course the Annual Dinner.
What three words describe you?
Loyal, easy-going, competitive.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Hire people much smarter than you, even if they become your boss someday soon – after all someone has to be your boss… - this was from Philip Learoyd.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
Pre COVID-19, I was still playing competitive Water polo for Guildford Water Polo Club. Being based at the University of Surrey a number of my team members are far less than half my age. What I have lost in speed over the years, I have gained in weight.
Director of Corporate Finance, Optivo
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.
What would you like to achieve during your tenure on Council?
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.
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.
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.
CEO, Coda Societies
I am the CEO of Coda Societies, a firm that builds social and economic infrastructures to promote equity worldwide.
Originally from Paris, France, I pursued my passion for public administration, innovation and social impact in the United States and received a Masters of Public Administration from Cornell University.
I have launched social innovation firms, designed and implemented physical spaces, national and local health care systems, nationwide public administration processes, think tanks, regional economic agendas and labor policies for institutions, corporations and governments in North America, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. My clients include The Center For Progressive Policy (CPP), The Rapid Results Institute, The National Ministry of Planning of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nesta and the National Health System (NHS) of the United Kingdom, The Royal Society for the Arts, and The Africa Center.
I currently reside in New York City.
What do you like about working in treasury or with treasurers?
Across all sectors and industries, finance is foundational. The business decisions finance professionals make have the potential to impact all of society. This is why I appreciate working with treasurers, because they are key stewards of corporations. To best take on the challenges and opportunities of our globalized world, focusing on this node is critical to facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration. Working with treasurers, is therefore, an important part of rendering finance a human component of business.
What would you like to achieve during your time on Council?
During my time on Council, my hope is to contribute to improving the institutional mechanisms that treasurers rely on to best impact their industry. Ultimately, to partner with them as they shape healthy corporations that encourage the innovative thinking that reflects the values of our times. I look forward to applying my multi-sectoral skills to co-create new solutions and opportunities.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Being on the Council is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of a strong community of leaders. I would encourage members to get involved with ACT because it offers important opportunities to exchange with and learn from professionals who hold similar roles, yet have diverse backgrounds and perspectives. These synergies also enable leaders to share best practices, and shape their industries with the most forward-thinking ideas.
What 3 words best describe you?
Inquisitive. Dedicated. Creative.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given?
To use limitations as sources of creativity and that integrity is the best guide of all.
Please tell us something interesting about yourself.
I was trained as a concert pianist in my formative years and have continued my performance studies in the United States.
Retired Dean, Henry Grunfeld Professor of Banking, The London Institute of Banking & Finance
After more than twenty years in a range of banking activities, lastly as the Senior Corporate Finance Officer for the UK at Citigroup, my curiosity led me to complete a PhD in finance. It seemed like teaching would come next, but the last financial crisis drew me into bank regulation first at the UK Financial Services Authority and then the Bank of England. Afterward, I had some involvement with investment management and then finally full-time as a professor and dean. I am now a board member of the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and Kalgera Ltd, a ‘fintech’ focused on protecting the vulnerable in society. How many ways can a person think about finance? It is always changing. I am now enjoying thinking of the treasurer’s point of view. Learning and staying on top of finance have been a lifelong project for me.
What do you like about working with treasurers?
As a banker, I enjoyed building trusted relationships with treasurers. Relationships take time to build, but then can be more than business. Sharing ideas to get better deals was a great feeling. I made some great friends and we worked as partners for a long time. I’ve kept in touch with a few former treasurers long after I left banking and they left treasury. A few deal mementos still grace my academics desk and bring back cherished memories of shared success.
What would you like to achieve during your time on Council?
I would like to see the ACT thrive and hope to help it remain central for treasurers’ knowledge and advancement. I’d also like to see treasury roles gain more recognition in the wider financial education world.
Why should members get involved with the ACT?
Treasury, like many key or core corporate skills, is often overlooked while its professional requirements increase. Working together through the ACT, treasurers can improve the sharing of best practice and raise their own visibility.
What three words best describe you?
Curious, reflective and optimistic.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
‘Speak up if you have something to say’ was the advice from an early boss after a meeting with company senior managers where I didn’t know how to participate. He added that they wouldn’t know how brilliant (a large exaggeration) I was if I didn’t contribute and, more importantly, they probably wouldn’t invite me to another meeting if I wasn’t contributing. To me, this was a critical point in building my self-confidence, realising that I was an accepted part of the team and the realisation that my skills were valued.
Co-Founder, CFTE, CEO, The Disruptive Group et al
