DFK International

To round off our keynote speaker announcements, we are delighted to welcome Fred Fox to the Vancouver conference.

Fred Fox was there when his brother Terry set out on the Marathon of Hope in April 1980 - one of the most extraordinary and enduring stories in Canadian history. He joined Terry on the road that summer and witnessed firsthand as Canadians rallied behind his brother's mission.

That experience shaped a lifetime of commitment. Fred went on to lead the Terry Fox Foundation's British Columbia and Yukon Office and later served at the National Office as Manager of Supporter Relations. He speaks at events across Canada and around the world, sharing his personal story of growing up with Terry and the remarkable legacy that continues to grow, with over $1 billion raised for cancer research to date.

We are looking forward to welcoming Fred to Vancouver for what promises to be a truly memorable session.

Introducing our next keynote speaker at the Vancouver conference: Matthew Blank!

Matthew is President of Chronemic Consulting and a business development strategist with over 20 years of experience helping professional service firms grow. Named 2024 Speaker of the Year by NACE, he brings real-world insight drawn from his time on the senior leadership team at Friedman LLP as Director of Business Development - and a proven ability to make complex concepts both memorable and immediately applicable.

Audiences leave his sessions inspired and equipped with practical tools they can put to work straight away and we can't wait for the DFK community to experience this firsthand.

Registration closes on Monday 15 June so remember to secure your place: https://dfk.glueup.com/event/dfk-international-annual-global-conference-2026-173622/

Technology is reshaping the accounting profession at pace and the firms that get ahead will be those with the right strategy to harness it.

We are excited to welcome Donny Shimamoto to our Vancouver conference as another of our keynote speakers.

Donny is the founder and Managing Director of IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC, an advisory-focused CPA firm specialising in innovation acceleration and business transformation. He is also the Inspiration Architect for the Center for Accounting Transformation, a think tank dedicated to guiding accountants, auditors and tax practitioners through the changes shaping the future of the profession.

An internationally recognised thought leader in accounting technology, IT risk management and performance management, Donny has been named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today every year from 2017 to 2025, a Top 200 CPA in America by Forbes in 2025 and has been recognised as a Top Thought Leader in Public Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor since 2012.

The Vancouver conference will be an exceptional few days. Register now to be a part of it: https://dfk.glueup.com/event/dfk-international-annual-global-conference-2026-173622/

When clients understand your work, they trust it more. The Accounting Services Group's next session is built around exactly that.

'Client Education and Engagement: Turning Bookkeeping into a Strategic Partnership' takes place this Wednesday 3 June at 9am & 3pm GMT.

Join us to explore how educating and engaging clients can transform bookkeeping from a compliance function into a vital part of their business decision-making - and how that shift builds stronger, more valued client relationships.

Register now: https://forms.office.com/e/F33Xrkitys

How do firms in professional services better support the women in their teams? DFK IWIL's upcoming webinar puts that question front and centre.

'Balancing Act: Navigating Work-Life Demands in Professional Services' takes place on 2 June 2026 at 9am & 3pm GMT.

Join us to explore the pressures facing women in accountancy and how progressive firms are responding with healthier, more flexible approaches to career development.

Register now: https://forms.office.com/e/qAjRA1PAHR

The traditional partnership model is under pressure and the firms that will thrive are those willing to rethink it.

That is the challenge Brian Blaha will be putting to delegates at our Vancouver conference in July.

A former Chief Growth Officer and seasoned CPA firm leader, Brian now advises firms and private equity groups on organisational alignment, M&A strategy and scalable growth. He serves as Chair of the Illinois CPA Society and sits on the AICPA Council.

His keynote makes the case for moving beyond income distribution and towards enterprise value creation: a model that funds growth from within, rewards leadership, retains capital for investment in technology and AI, and creates genuine equity opportunities for the next generation of leaders. All without selling control.

If the future of your firm is on your agenda, this is a session you will not want to miss. Register now for the Vancouver conference:
https://dfk.glueup.com/event/dfk-international-annual-global-conference-2026-173622/

If you have been considering applying for the Global Connect Leadership Academy, now is the time to act - applications close this Friday, 29 May!

The Academy is a joint initiative between DFK International and MSI Global Alliance, and a fantastic opportunity for ambitious DFK professionals to invest in their leadership development. The programme combines virtual sessions in late 2026 with a two-day in-person conference in Prague in January 2027, bringing together like-minded professionals from across our member firms worldwide for an immersive leadership experience.

Places are limited - if you would like to find out more, click on the link below:
https://dfk.com/future-conferences/global-connect-leadership-academy-2026-27.html

Great organisations are built on great teams - and great teams are built on trust, communication and the ability to navigate complexity together.

We are delighted to introduce Amy Beth Kessinger as a keynote speaker at our Vancouver conference. An award-winning educator, ICF-accredited coach and conflict resolution practitioner, Amy has spent more than 25 years helping organisations strengthen the cultures, relationships and leadership pipelines that drive genuine high performance.

She holds a Master's in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies and has worked with some of the world's leading organisations, including Microsoft, Duke University, Blue Cross Blue Shield and the American Financial Services Association's Leadership Program. Known for her dynamic, experiential approach, she turns complex interpersonal challenges into practical tools that teams can apply immediately.

Don't miss the opportunity to hear Amy speak in Vancouver. Register now via the link below:
https://dfk.glueup.com/event/dfk-international-annual-global-conference-2026-173622/

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Preet Banerjee as a keynote speaker at our Global Conference in Vancouver this July!

One of Canada's most recognised voices on personal finance, Dr. Banerjee brings a remarkable background to everything he does - from neuroscientist to aspiring race driver to behavioural finance expert. For a decade he served as a financial panelist on CBC's The National, and today he is a partner at Wealthscope Portfolio Analytics, founder of fintech startup MoneyGaps, a Globe and Mail columnist, a weekly contributor to Newstalk 1010, and the author of three books. His YouTube channel has grown to over 125,000 subscribers.

Dr. Banerjee holds a doctorate of business administration from Henley Business School, where his research focused on the value of financial advice, as well as a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and a Master of Science in business and management research.

At the conference, he will draw on his research and industry experience to examine behavioural finance and economics through a commercial lens, offering a compelling perspective for those shaping financial strategy and client outcomes.

Dr. Banerjee is just one of the exceptional speakers joining us in Vancouver. Register now to secure your place: https://dfk.glueup.com/event/dfk-international-annual-global-conference-2026-173622/

We are delighted to announce the launch of the Global Connect Leadership Academy - a new joint initiative with MSI Global Alliance, created to develop the next generation of leaders across our member firms worldwide.

The Academy is a selective, application-only programme bringing together ambitious professionals for an immersive leadership experience - combining virtual sessions in late 2026 with a two-day in-person conference in Prague in January 2027.

Applications are now open and close on 29 May. For more information and to apply, click on the link below:
https://dfk.com/future-conferences/global-connect-leadership-academy-2026-27.html