Compliance Update Conference

Louise has been continuously involved in training and consultancy since 1987 and is a qualified barrister. She provides advice and assistance to employers through a consultancy company, CompleteHR Ltd, and has assisted with the preparation of many disciplinary and investigation reports. 

Louise has also engaged in CPD training for most of the national accountancy training bodies and district societies in the UK for many years. She is involved in management training, particularly in employment and HR, for many large multinational and national commercial companies. Louise has also published academic papers in refereed journals, chiefly on employment status and corporate manslaughter.

Gemma jointly leads the team responsible for Mercia’s file and compliance reviews, including performing reviews at client sites or remotely. She also lectures on Mercia’s Early Careers Programme and on specialist areas such as charities and academies, ESG and Mercia methodology, as well as advising clients on technical queries.

Gemma joined Mercia from audit practice in January 2021 where she had worked for 13 years, specialising in not-for-profit and charity clients for over a decade. Gemma has a keen interest in academies and sits on several ESFA working groups.

Julia Penny was President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) in 2022/23, having been a non-executive ICAEW Board member since 2017 and Chair of the Board during her year as President. Julia was a member of the ICAEW Council from 2013 until June 2025 and chaired and participated in many ICAEW committees, including the National Technical Advisory Committee. She is also a Technical Adviser to the ICAEW’s Board member on IFAC and an honorary member of CIPFA. She previously sat on the AAT’s Council and Audit Committee.

Outside of this volunteer ICAEW involvement, Julia is a well-known speaker and writer on audit, financial reporting, anti-money laundering and wider issues impacting the profession.

Julia is passionate about audit quality and a well-functioning profession. This includes a sharp focus on improving diversity, developing the use of technology and constantly reflecting on the need for businesses to become sustainable and how the profession can help achieve this.