By Marianne Curphey EventsGet with the programme: Here’s what you can expect at AAT Connect8 Oct 2024 Why one speaker anticipates the event will be ”a valuable place to swap ideas, enjoy some blue sky thinking, and catch up with friends.”Next month (November) sees AAT’s biggest member event of the year, a day of inspiration, learning, networking and a real celebration of the AAT community and what makes it special.Located at The Brewery, a vibrant and modern venue in the heart of London, AAT Connect will bring members expert advice on today’s most pertinent topics including career progression, personal branding, sustainability and AI.Experts will be on hand at specialist clinics to provide advice and guidance on tax, practice management, AML, CVs and interviews and on how to make the most of your AAT membership.Connect with your communityEnjoy inspirational talks from leading experts on the subjects that matter most to you, ask your questions in our one to one clinics and connect with your fellow community at the AAT Impact Awards.Book nowPanel sessions will tackle some of the key conversations shaping the industry and cover topics which AAT members have said are the key issues in their careers and professional development today.While it will be a day of expert advice, networking and inspiration, there is also the opportunity to have fun and make new connections. AAT Connect will also celebrate the diversity and excellence of the AAT member community with nine AAT Impact Awards and the Past President Award. The AAT President will be giving a keynote address, and members will enjoy a three-course sit-down lunch.Turbo-charge your career and your professional developmentThe lively panel sessions hosted by AAT expert members cover the key topics which feedback has shown are the most pressing in our industry, including:Career development. Driving, striving and thriving – taking ownership of your career!With a focus on career development the session will specifically delve into strategies, to help accountants add value in their role.Personal branding. Don’t just know your value – show your value: building your personal brand with confidence.The session will aim to inspire you to think about your own personal brand and excel as an AAT member.Sustainability. We can be heroes: The role AAT members can play in promoting sustainability.Accountants can play a leading role in the promotion of sustainability measures, and we will discuss practical steps for integrating sustainability practices.Understanding AI. Let’s reboot – Where are we with AI?The discussion will focus on the opportunities to maximise the benefits for utilising AI effectively, but also address the challenges facing finance professionals and worries some may have on the impact of AI on finance.Meet old friends, and make new connectionsThere is also the opportunity to network with old friends and colleagues and to make new connections at the Members Lounge. It’s the ideal place to grab a coffee, soak in the atmosphere and chat to AAT members, staff and Council.In addition, the Exhibition area enables you to interact with our partners and understand ways they can help you be successful. The AAT awards, hosted by Jess Robinson, an award-winning impressionist, actor, voice artist and classically-trained singer, are a wonderful celebration of the many and diverse achievements within the AAT community.How to drive forward your career and think like a leaderBecky Glover, a passionate and driven finance and business leader, is the host of ourpresentation on career development. She was recently listed as one of ACCA’s inspirational females and was nominated for “Rising Hero in Finance” at the Digital Finance Function awards 2022. In addition to her work as Finance Director, she enjoys speaking about finance leadership.She started in accountancy with an AAT apprenticeship at 17 and progressed rapidly in her career without a university degree. She has built up leadership knowledge from a variety of finance roles and is also the founder of a wine business, which she ran alongside her full-time job. She will be talking about the value of automation and technology in maximising your efficiency, and offering tips on time management, delegation and setting boundaries for personal well-being.“I am really excited to be coming to AAT Connect at the Brewery,” she says. “The venue is amazing, and I am looking forward to meeting other AAT members. There will be a lot of learning on the day, with some great insights, but I am also looking forward to being part of the amazing AAT community.“Sometimes when you are in a senior role it can sometimes feel a bit lonely, so events like this are a valuable place to swap ideas, enjoy some blue sky thinking with other people, and catch up with friends.”Becky’s presentation will cover how to delegate, how to automate tasks and create workflows, and how to communicate effectively.“If you are running a business or in a senior leadership position, then you need to decide what the priorities are, lead the team, and be clear on boundaries,” she says. “I am a passionate leader. I really want the best for the business, and that also means looking after the people in that business, working in the same direction towards a bigger goal.”Be part of the vibrant AAT CommunityA key aim of AAT Connect, alongside professional and personal development, is to celebrate the diverse skills and talents of the people who make up the AAT community.“It is about enabling those valuable connections, building that sense of belonging, and celebrating members,” says Jonathan Stocks, Product Manager at AAT.“All the sessions in the morning have been carefully crafted to focus on the most relevant topics happening right now in careers, personal branding, sustainability and digital and AI,” he says. “All the panel sessions are chaired by council members who bring a wealth of experience.“It is a day to learn, but also to have a cup of coffee, chat to council members, browse the exhibition and enjoy a great meal while celebrating the AAT Impact Awards. We want to recognise and celebrate our members, because they come from such a diverse background and work across practice, industry, public sector, or their own practice.”Becky adds: “It’s such a valuable way to learn, connect, make some great friends and share ideas.” Connect with your community at AAT Connect Marianne Curphey is an award-winning financial writer and columnist, and author of the book How Money Works. She worked as City Editor at The Guardian, deputy editor of Guardian online, and has worked for The Times, Telegraph and BBC.