Plenary One

POWER UP PERFORMANCE

FORMULA ONE

CONGRESS DAY ONE, WED 27 NOVEMBER - EARN UP TO 1.5 CPD HOURS

Formula 1 stands for excellence. It is a technology business underpinned by a sport; one which is highly regulated and constantly changing. Standing still is not an option. To achieve success, you must build a team able to see opportunity in every change and keen to embrace and adopt new technology to drive high-performance.

We're delighted to welcome to Congress, Formula 1 Team Manager Mark Gallagher and Formula 1 Analyst and specialist commentator Bernie Collins.

Looking outside financial services but drawing parallels, Mark will eloquently share his insights and expertise on how to drive value and achieve sustained success. He provides a unique perspective on how to transform your business, put clients first, and build a high-performing team and culture.

Bernie will share how, by analysing data, she and her team could make informed decisions to push the car to its limits, and why F1 teams create an environment within which teams use their combined talents to problem solve and create highly innovative solutions to drive a competitive advantage.

You will walk away from this riveting session with the understanding of what the meaning of success is in both the F1 environment and how to apply this in the advice business world.

To close this session, FAAA CEO Sarah Abood will provide an overview of the new FAAA strategic vision and an update on the important projects delivered by the FAAA in 2024 and planned for 2025.

Your Keynote Speakers

Mark Gallagher
F1 team manager and co-author of “The Future Business Formula”

During the course of a 40 year career Mark Gallagher has held senior roles in the high performance environment of Formula 1 motor racing. Today he is an author, broadcaster and industry analyst who continues to work with drivers and teams at the forefront of this global sport. He is also a renowned public speaker and since 1998 has provided keynote presentations and insights to organisations world wide.

Mark’s executive management career in Formula 1 included more than a decade on the management board of the successful Jordan Grand Prix team, running the world famous Cosworth engine business and helping establish the commercial arm of Red Bull Racing. Mark has been a member of the technical working groups within the sport’s governing body, the FIA, tasked with tackling challenges including environmental sustainability and safety, the latter being central to the sport’s regulatory environment.

He has written four books, Grand Prix - The Last 25 Years (WH Smith, 1999) and two editions of The Business of Winning (Kogan Page, 2014) with a fully revised, 2nd edition published in October 2021. His fourth book The Future Business Formula, co-authored with business coach Adrian Stalham, was published in May 2023. Mark also collaborated with David Coulthard on his Sunday Times Best Seller The Winning Formula (Blink Publishing, 2018). Between 2005 and 2010 Mark was a consultant to Pixar on its CARS and CARS 2 movies.

Bernie Collins
F1 Analyst and Author

With over a decade’s experience at the forefront of Formula 1, Bernie Collins is an accomplished strategy engineer, most recently employed as Head of Race Strategy for the Aston Martin Formula 1 team. During her career she has held senior strategy and performance engineering roles, playing a central role in the teams she has worked for.

After graduating in 2009, Bernie secured a place on the McLaren Formula 1 racing team’s graduate trainee programme. In 2012, Bernie was promoted to the role of performance engineer and went on to serve as race engineer for the United Autosports GT team in 2013. Bernie’s big break came in late 2013 when she was offered a temporary role as McLaren’s primary performance engineer in Formula 1. Following this, she was offered the full-time position for the 2014 season, working closely with 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button.

Bernie became the Head of Race Strategy for the Aston Martin F1 Team in August 2020. The role saw her leading race strategy, guiding the team and its drivers as they sought to maximise the championship points achieved at each Grand Prix.In 2023, Bernie joined the Sky Sports F1 broadcasting team, her race strategy expertise adding significant depth to the channel’s coverage. She also contributes to Formula 1’s official website and digital channels, providing detailed insights on race strategy and helping fans to understand the complexity of decisions made during Grands Prix. Selected as one of the Forbes ‘30 under 30’ young rising stars of manufacturing for the Make It in Great Britain campaign, Bernie has also been named in The Manufacturer’s Top 100 UK Role Models list.

Sarah Abood
Chief Executive Officer, FAAA

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience working in the financial services industry and she is a passionate advocate for financial planning.Sarah has a deep understanding of the financial planning profession, and the demands of running a financial planning practice. This was gained from her nine years as CEO of Profile Financial Services, a privately-owned and self-licensed financial planning firm and FPA Professional Practice.

Prior to commencing as FAAA CEO, Sarah held the position of chief operating officer at HOPE Housing Funds Management. She has also worked in senior change and transformation, and marketing roles for some of Australia’s leading financial institutions. Sarah holds a BA from the University of Sydney, an MBA from Macquarie University (MGSM) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

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