Allyson Gibson has extensive experience in the areas of trusts and estate planning and investment (especially foreign direct investment) law – having advised clients ranging from private individuals to publicly listed corporations.

She was called to the Bar of the England and Wales in 1980 and to the Bahamas Bar in 1980. Invested as Her Majesty’s Counsel January 2015, she was the first and is currently the only female Queen's Counsel.

Allyson’s wide experience in Trusts and Estate Planning, Offshore Finance law and Investment law was gleaned from her private practice; representing high net worth individuals in their tax and estate planning matters; advising in relation to Protectors and Family Offices, serving as the first Minister of Financial Services and Investments of the Bahamas (2002-06); and, as a former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affair of The Bahamas (2012-17 and 2006-07).

As the first minister of financial services and investments, she led efforts to pass a compendium of “new product” legislation including both foundations and segregated account companies. Also, with the private sector, the Ministry of Financial Services promulgated and implemented the first ever 5-Year Strategic Plan. She brought the insurance industry and the Regulator together to agree the Domestic Insurance Act, and she commenced the consultation process that led to the External Insurance Act 2009.

Gibson, an Honorary Member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (2013), is a former president of the Nassau Chapter of the Links and a former International President of President of the International Women’s Forum (2009-11) and the Leadership Foundation (2003-05).

Darren Smith is the Head of the Financial Adviser School and joined the Financial Services Sector 24 years ago as a Self Employed Financial Adviser. After spending a career initially in Sales and then Compliance, he went on to develop a number of propositions including launching a new Platform, building a Centralised Investment Proposition for an established Network and brought 2 new Networks into the market whilst developing his own compliance consultancy business. Darren formally joined Old Mutual Wealth in June 2016 after assisting with the acquisition and development of the Financial Adviser School. www.thefaschool.co.uk

Universities Scholar to Nigeria. He developed an area of research expertise with regard to social dynamics in industrialising economies. Guy joined AKG from this background in social research. His initial role being to add social analysis to AKG’s pioneering research into issues such as pension lapse rates, originally produced for the Securities and Investment Board. Following this, Guy moved into AKG’s wider activities, developing and promoting company analysis within the UK financial services industry. As well as overall responsibility for the strategy and the promotion of AKG, Guy maintains involvement in the AKG research and assessment process, including financial strength analysis and ratings

Malcolm Kerr is a Senior Adviser within EY's UK Financial Services division providing advice to the key providers in the life, pensions and retail investment markets and to major intermediaries. Before moving into professional services some 15 years ago, Malcolm held a number of senior executive and board positions in the industry including IFA director at Canada Life(UK), vice-president of MetLife (US) and chairman of Albany International (IOM). EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services with 250,000 staff worldwide. www.ey.com

Patricia Woo is a Partner of Squire Patton Boggs and she co-heads the firm’s Global Family Office Cross-Practice Team. She is a fund, trust and tax lawyer specialising in helping global ultra-high-net-worth families setting up their family offices. Her latest offering is an integral approach to family office which brings together transpersonal psychology and legal aspects of family offices. Patricia is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, Certified Tax Advisor, member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (and its Academy Community) and Certified Islamic Finance Executive.

Paul has 25 years’ industry experience, within the UK and mainland Europe. He has considerable knowledge of both the provision of independent advice and the promotion and distribution of investment funds and financial products. For over 13 years he was a Director of a cross-border IFA business based in southern Europe. He is presently CEO of FEIFA and Secretary General of FECIF, two major European trade associations – the former dedicated to assisting English-speaking advisers across the Continent and the latter representing around 250,000 advisers and intermediaries in domestic markets throughout Europe. In addition he manages a consultancy firm that provides specialist services to investment firms, trust companies and advisory businesses. www.feifa.eu

Philip joined Openwork in September 2011 from F&C Investments, where he had responsibility for the asset manager’s UK retail proposition, and sales and marketing.

Prior to that, Philip was Business Development Director at wrap provider Nucleus Financial Group, which he co-founded in 2006. He had previously been a founder-director of consultancy Abacus Financial Marketing, working with more than 65 life companies, asset managers, IFAs and industry bodies on a variety of strategic and proposition projects.

Philip is responsible for all elements of our marketing communication and PR as well as the development and delivery of our investment propositions through Omnis, our own fund management company.

Rex has over 25 years of experience in the wealth management industry covering life insurance, banking, investment management, trust and the retirement sectors. He is recognised as a pioneer having helped shape the offshore multi asset investment space and the international pension and the tax efficient retirement sectors. Educated to Masters level Rex holds an MSc, from a leading UK business school, together with a range of other academic and professional qualifications including a post graduate diploma in International Tax from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Passionate about his chosen profession, he is regularly quoted in the press and is seen as a thought leader on a range of specialist wealth management topics from trends in the expatriate markets to detailed analysis of the international pension, trust and investment sectors. www.newdawn-consultancy.com

Steve has spent more than 25 years in the financial services sector.

Beginning his career with stockbrokers Wise Speke in Newcastle in 1989 he moved down to their city office in London in 1991. With their take over by Brewin Dolphin Steve became an Assistant Director and worked in London for 12 years in total.

Returning to his North East roots, Steve joined Medibroker in 2003. Specialising in international private medical insurance (iPMI) he works with both individuals and SME’s around the World ensuring they have the best medical insurance plan for their specific needs. A respected expert in iPMI he is often asked to comment on industry issues.