Big Picture Theatre agenda
Welcome to the Big Picture Theatre, sponsored by HSBC UK. The Big Picture Theatre is a cinema-style stage where the industry’s leading stars debate and dissect the hottest topics in commercial finance.
We’ve got something for everyone with our 2026 blockbuster conference agenda, so be sure to save sessions to ‘My Agenda’ in the NACFB Expo app.
See you there - popcorn at the ready...
10:30 - 10:40
Speaker
The Opening Credits
The NACFB Expo 2026 curtain-raise. Jim opens the conference theatre with a look ahead to the packed agenda for the day, as well as some of the key initiatives on the trade body’s horizon.
Starring:
Jim Higginbotham, CEO, NACFB
10:40 - 11:00
Speaker
The Full Frame
Shanika Amarasekara, CEO of the Finance & Leasing Association, opens the programme with a keynote on the current state of commercial finance and what may lie ahead. She will consider transparency, redress, changing product dynamics and the renewed alignment between the FLA and NACFB in raising standards and supporting better outcomes.
Starring:
Shanika Amarasekara, CEO, FLA
11:00 - 11:25
Speaker
The State of Play
Following her appearance at the NACFB’s Intermediary Market Briefing in February, Emma Wilks returns to the stage to reassess the economic landscape in light of a rapidly shifting global environment. Since then, the outlook has been shaped by renewed geopolitical instability, evolving tariff tensions, and changing interest rate expectations. In this session, Emma will explore how these developments are influencing the operating environment for UK SMEs, lenders, and brokers alike - and what they could mean for funding demand, risk appetite, and decision-making across the intermediary market.
Starring:
Emma Wilks, Economist, HSBC UK
11:30 - 11:55
Panel
The Funding Trap
As pressure builds on UK SMEs, more businesses are turning to fast, short-term funding to manage cashflow - but at what point does emergency finance become an unsustainable debt cycle? This solutions-led session explores the rise of high-cost lending, loan stacking, and repeat refinancing, asking what brokers, lenders, platforms, and policymakers can do to identify risk earlier, improve borrower outcomes, and prevent SMEs from becoming trapped by the finance meant to support them.
Moderated by:
Jim Higginbotham, CEO, NACFB
Starring
Colin Goldstein, CCO, iwoca
Rachel Needs, Senior Programme Manager, Responsible Finance
Haydn Thomas, CEO, Cornerstone
12:00 - 12:25
Panel
The Waiting Game
Valuation delays can turn viable deals into frustrated clients, missed deadlines, and lost momentum. This practical session brings together valuers, lenders, and industry voices to explore where the process breaks down, how red flags are identified, what role automation can play, and how brokers can better manage expectations, information flow, and deal progression.
Moderated by:
Jayne Follows, Head of Real Estate Finance, Cambridge & Counties Bank
Starring:
Andrew Murdoch, Valuation Panel Director, VAS
Roger Morris, Group Distribution Director, Chetwood
Miranda Khadr, CEO, Provide Finance
Stephen Henman, Managing Director, Method Valuation UK
12:30 - 12:55
Panel
The Sectoral Story
In this session, HSBC brings together sector specialists from across healthcare, agriculture, and international trade to offer a joined-up view of SME finance beyond individual products. Rather than focusing on specific facilities, this discussion will explore the underlying dynamics shaping each sector — from cashflow cycles and risk profiles to growth pressures and global exposure. Drawing on real-world insight, the panel will highlight how brokers can better identify sector-specific needs, ask sharper questions, and structure more appropriate funding solutions for their clients.
Moderated by:
Ian Coulson, Head of Commercial Brokerage, HSBC UK
Starring:
Danielle Hook, Head of Healthcare, HSBC UK
Craig Durnell, Regional Director GTS, HSBC UK
Martin Hanson, Head of Agriculture, HSBC UK
13:00 - 13:25
Fireside chat
The Shape of Things to Come
As technology accelerates, the role of the broker is being reshaped in real time. Automation, AI, embedded finance, and platform-led distribution are challenging traditional intermediation - raising a fundamental question: where does the broker add value in a more direct, digital world? This session explores the evolving identity of the broker, the blurred lines between broker and lender, and the risk - or reality - of disintermediation. The panel will examine how firms can adapt, where human expertise still matters most, and what the next generation of broking could, and should, look like.
Moderated by:
Christian Roelofs, CEO, Finativ
Starring:
Katrin Herrling, Founder & CEO, FXE Technologies
Richard Huston, CEO & Co-Founder, Vamos
13:30 - 13:55
Panel
The Reality Check
What does the market look like from the other side of the table? This session brings the voice of business owners into the room - cutting through data and distribution models to focus on the lived reality of running a business in today’s environment. From cashflow pressure and rising costs to funding access and decision speed, the discussion will explore what businesses actually need right now - and whether the finance ecosystem is responding in the right way. A grounded, honest conversation about demand, disconnects, and what better support really looks like in practice.
Moderated by:
Martin McTague, National Chair, Federation of Small Businesses
Starring:
Shiona Davies, Director, Ipsos
14:00 - 14:25
Speaker
The Good, The Bad and The Compliant
Compliance doesn’t need to be complex, but the pressure points facing firms are becoming harder to ignore. In this focussed session, Sarah Cunningham will share insight, steer and practical guidance for both brokers and lenders, drawing on her observations from across the market over the past year. From recurring assurance issues and disclosure challenges to record-keeping, broker agreements, lender expectations and emerging conduct risks, Sarah will unpack the trends keeping compliance teams busy - and what firms can do now to stay on the front foot.
Starring:
Sarah Cunningham, Head of Compliance, NACFB
14:30 - 15:00
Panel
Who owns the Client?
In a complex referral economy, access to the client is shaped by brokers, lenders, accountants, introducers, networks, and platforms.
This closing session explores the evolving nature of client ownership, the enduring tension between brokers and lenders, and how influence, control, and trust are being reshaped across an increasingly connected market.
Moderated by:
Kieran Jones, Head of Communications and Advocacy, NACFB
Starring:
Angela Norman, Managing Director, YBS Commercial Mortgages
John Phillipou, Managing Director of SME Lending, Paragon Bank
Martin James, Director, Crystal Business Finance
Rachael Raymond, Head of Broker, Funding Circle
