Also see the Programme, Session Synopses and Sponsors & Exhibitors or go back to the main conference page.
Keynote Speaker: Claire McColgan CBE, Liverpool City Council
(Sponsored by Bristow & Sutor)
Claire is the Director of Culture, Major Events & Tourism at Liverpool City Council. A creative entrepreneur, she oversees a portfolio of services that includes City Halls, Liverpool Film Office, UNESCO City of Music, Marketing Liverpool and Culture Liverpool.
With a career spanning thirty years, she is an expert in culturally led regeneration – creating and implementing innovative programmes that influence strategic policy and deliver lasting transformation. As an international speaker and trusted advisor, she supports cities across the world in developing narratives that strengthen and grow the visitor economy through a cultural lens.
Claire has been central to campaigns of global media interest, heading European Capital of Culture in 2008 and leading the national Events Research Programme in 2021, which saw Liverpool host the first club night and festival during the pandemic.
In 2022, she headed up the Neighbourhoods Directorate, where she managed a budget of £130m and helped navigate teams, upwards of 1,400 staff, through a period of significant change.
Her work has been integral to reigniting the global reputation of Liverpool. Adept at collaborating, influencing and bringing people together, Claire’s advocacy will go far to safeguard this accolade.
In 2023, Claire delivered the most successful Eurovision ever on behalf of Ukraine, providing a legacy for the UK. A data led approach to change making underpins the foundation of her work. This is particularly exemplified in her commissioning of five research projects around Eurovision. The results highlighted the lasting impact of Eurovision on the economy and the significant role culture has on communities.
She continues to be the strategic cultural lead with many partners – DCMS, ACE, British Council and BBC – and is currently a non-executive board member for Visit Isle of Man and The Carnegie Trust and deputy chair for the UK City of Culture Competition 2025.
In 2009 Claire was awarded an MBE for her role in Capital of Culture, and later in 2022 awarded a CBE in recognition of her achievement and services to culture and arts.
Regulatory Keynote: Alison Walters, Financial Conduct Authority
Alison Walters, Director of Consumer Finance at the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), is responsible for the supervision and policy of consumer credit firms.
Alison has worked at the FCA (and its predecessor the Financial Services Authority) for more than 25 years and worked on strategic, policy and supervisory issues across general insurance, Payments and retail and wholesale banking sectors and Enforcement.
Breakout 1a: The Future of Credit Information: Better Data for Better Life Chances
(Sponsored by Experian)
Chair: Mick McAteer, Registry Trust
Mick McAteer is an experienced advocate for economic and social justice. His work focuses on three areas: economic and social justice and rights; financial system reform; and the role of technology and data in society, particularly on how finance/ data/ technology intersects.
He is founder and Co-Director of The Financial Inclusion Centre, a UK not-for-profit policy and research group. The Centre’s mission is to promote a financial system and markets that works for the environment, real economy, and society. He is a director of Action for Financial Inclusion (AfFI), a community interest company set up to turn policy ideas for promoting financial inclusion into action.
He is Chair of non-profit Registry Trust which operates the Register of Judgments for the Ministry of Justice, a board member of the Irish Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, a board member of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (CCNI), and on the Bank of England’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Engagement Forum.
Previously, he was Chair of the anti-poverty charity Z2K, and Deputy Chair of the Consumer Council of Northern Ireland. He was a member of the UK Regulators Network (UKRN) Expert Panel. He was also an FSA/FCA board member.
At EU level, he was Chair of the European Commission’s Financial Services User Group (FSUG) which advises the European Commission and other EU policymakers on matters relating to financial markets and affecting financial users.
He was with Which? (the UK’s most influential consumer group and largest consumer group in Europe) for 13 years and formulated the organisation’s policy on financial services. He led the work on exposing major scandals such as pensions, mortgage endowment and PPI mis-selling, and work on reform of pensions, insurance, and banking industries. Prior to this, he worked for five years for two major fund management firms in the City of London.
He was a board member of the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) Professional Oversight Board, a non-executive director of The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS), and a board member of ShareAction (the movement for Responsible Investment), and board member of CARITAS (Westminster).
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Breakout 1b: From Confusion to Crisis: Tackling Misinformation to Prevent Consumer Harm
Chair: tbc
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Speakers:Amy Collins, Rundles
Amy Collins is Managing Director at Rundles and brings extensive experience in successful leadership and a deep commitment to ethical enforcement and client service. With a career spanning over two decades in the industry, Amy has held a variety of operational, client management, and leadership roles, giving her a comprehensive understanding of both customer experience and business strategy.
In her current role, Amy is responsible for:
Amy is especially proud of the people at Rundles, considering the long tenure of most staff as one of the company’s greatest achievements. She believes that the loyalty and dedication of the team are a testament to Rundles’ supportive culture and collaborative spirit.
Amy’s leadership has contributed to Rundles’ reputation for high standards and ethical practice. She is currently President of CIVEA (the Civil Enforcement Association) evidencing her commitment to raising standards and strengthening trust within the industry.
Daniel Calcott, The Digital DRA
Daniel Calcott is Chief Executive Officer of The Digital DRA, the UK’s first FCA-authorised Debt Resolution Agency. With a background in marketing and a career built within the debt industry, Daniel recognised the need for a fundamentally different approach to debt recovery, one focused on engagement, support and resolution rather than traditional collection methods. Under his leadership, The Digital DRA has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing debt agencies, helping accelerate the shift from debt collection to debt resolution through innovation, technology and customer-first design. Daniel is passionate about improving customer engagement, challenging outdated perceptions and raising standards across the industry.
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When Difference Costs More: Tackling the Structural Premium on Marginalised Groups
Chair: tbc
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Speakers:Muna Yassin MBE, Rooted Finance
Muna has over 20 years’ experience in financial inclusion services. She is the CEO of Rooted Finance, a London-based specialist debt advice Charity. Rooted Finance provides bespoke on-to-one support for London’s Diverse Ethnic Communities helping them manage financial distress, multiple debts, and work towards financial wellbeing and resilience. In March 2021 she was appointed to the VCSE Advisory Panel convened by VCSE Crown Representative, Claire Dove. In June 2021, Muna was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and was awarded an MBE for charitable Financial Services to Disadvantaged People during Covid-19.
She has a particular interest in reducing financial inequalities and increasing economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities – with a focus on minoritised communities and women. In August 2025, Muna joined the Board of the Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG). She’s previously served as a Trustee of Toynbee Hall, and on the Board of Women Advancing Microfinance UK (WAMUK).
Graham Whitham, Resolve Poverty
Graham is the founder and CEO of Resolve Poverty. He leads the organisation, setting the strategic direction and leading on organisational sustainability and governance. Graham shares responsibility for management of our activities and external engagements with the senior leadership team. Graham is a regular contributor to national debates on living standards and the economy. He regularly speaks in national, regional and local media on behalf of Resolve Poverty.
Prior to founding Resolve Poverty, Graham worked for Save the Children as a Senior Policy Advisor for seven years, leading a number of policy and campaign projects focusing on poverty in the UK. During this time Graham successfully influenced policy in Westminster and in the devolved nations. Graham then spent two years in a similar role at Oxfam, helping to strengthen Oxfam’s work on economic inequality.
Rebecca Deegan, Fair by Design
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Breakout 2a: Regulation Reset: Creating a Credit Market that Works for All
Chair: Jason Wassell, Consumer Credit Trade Association (CCTA)
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Speakers:Dr Anita Lifen Zhao, Swansea University
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Breakout 2b: MALG Members Friday Forum LIVE
No agenda, no speakers. This is one for everyone to get involved in!
Speakers:Using AI & Tech to Widen Access to Debt Advice for the Most Excluded Groups
(Sponsored by Wyser)
Chair: Mark Pearce, Wyser
Mark Pearce is the Founder and CEO of Wyser. After more than 30 years leading innovation, AI and digital transformation, he founded Wyser following personal experiences that highlighted just how difficult it can be to access the right support when people need it most. That experience shaped a simple belief: technology should strengthen human expertise and make essential services more accessible, not more complex.
Today, Mark combines decades of experience building enterprise AI products with a deep commitment to helping organisations reduce administrative burden, improve consistency and give frontline professionals more time for the people they support.
Under Mark’s leadership, Wyser has become a trusted research and technology partner across the advice sector. Most recently, Wyser was the research and delivery partner for the Money Advice Liaison Group Safe and Effective Generative AI in Regulated Debt Advice project, funded by the Money and Pensions Service Debt Advice Transformation Fund. Published in 2026, the research established one of the sector’s first evidence bases for the safe use of generative AI in regulated debt advice, alongside a practical Safe Use Framework to support responsible adoption. Mark is passionate about helping organisations adopt AI thoughtfully, ensuring technology enhances professional judgement while improving outcomes for both advisers and the people they support.
Speakers:Matt Dronfield, Toynbee Hall
Matt Dronfield is Interim Chief Executive of Toynbee Hall, one of the UK’s longest-established anti-poverty charities and home to the world’s oldest continuously running free legal advice centre. Rooted in London’s East End, Toynbee Hall works nationally to tackle poverty and inequality through advice, research, policy and innovation.
Matt was appointed Interim Chief Executive in 2026, following seven years at Toynbee Hall, including as Director of Advice Services. Its work includes Debt Free Advice, one of London’s largest regulated debt advice partnerships, and Macmillan Money & More, supporting people affected by cancer with specialist money, welfare benefits and debt advice. Together, these services help tens of thousands of people each year to improve their financial wellbeing and access the support
they need.
Matt has more than 15 years’ experience leading financial inclusion and advice services, with a particular focus on service transformation, digital innovation and widening access for people facing complex disadvantage. Toynbee Hall and Debt Free Advice have been recognised nationally for innovation in debt advice, including the 2026 Institute of Money Advisers Innovation & Impact Award for Adviser Intelligence.
Drawing on practical experience of deploying technology in regulated advice services, Matt believes AI should strengthen human expertise, widen access to trusted advice and help reach people who would otherwise remain excluded from support.
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