Celebrating Success: Highlights From The APA Conference 2024.

Hello, LinkedIn Lovelies,

My brain has been in overdrive since the big day and I am thrilled to share the highlights from our APA Conference 2024! It was a full day packed with networking, insightful speakers, engaging panels, workshops and hands-on experience. With nearly 500 attendees; including new faces, old friends, partners, influencers, and the APA team. The event was a resounding success... Dare I say our best one yet?

A Personal Note

I wanted to start my newsletter off with a personal note. I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support and positive feedback I received from the community about my new role on LinkedIn and the content I’m creating. As someone with a...vibrant? Personality, I initially worried that my voice might not resonate with others or that people weren't particularly interested in what I had to say. However, the conference opened my eyes in the most inspiring way!

I am still struggling to express how immensely validating it was, when people I didn’t recognize came up to me, sharing how much they enjoy my blogs and posts. It felt amazing to know that my words are making an impact. The wonderful AP community has not only welcomed me with open arms but inspired me and reignited my motivation. Because of this experience, I now feel empowered to take the next step and share my very first newsletter! (gulps)

Thank you all for your amazing support; you’ve truly encouraged me to keep pushing forward!

Event Day Highlights

What an incredible conference! It was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to reconnect and build new relationships. Seeing such a diverse group of professionals come together to share knowledge and unique experiences truly inspired us all. Hays'Commitment to Well-Being was a truly outstanding intuitive, the brilliant Karen Young FCICM came up with the idea, that instead of putting money into merchandise, Hays pledged to donate to charity for each delegate who completes a brief, confidential survey on well-being and work-life balance! all the donations go to one of our Keynote speaker Alex Staniforth 's charity Mind Over Mountains

So far, Hays has raised ￡300, but we know many more voices deserve to be heard! Only about a third of the people on the day have completed the survey. Karen has shared with me that Hays will be keeping the survey open until the end of this week, which gives us a chance to make an even greater impact together.

Please take just a few moments to fill it out and play your part in this meaningful cause. Your input matters, and by participating, you're helping to spread positivity and support to those in need. Together, we can make a difference! https://cx.hays.com/s3/Investing-in-Your-Wellbeing-Rather-Than-Merch

Workshop Session

All four of our fantastic workshops were packed to the brim, buzzing with engagement and insightful questions from attendees. The Bottomline panel stood out as a true highlight, brimming with valuable industry insights that left participants inspired.

Esker UK & Northern Europe Also held an interactive Q&A session, allowing delegates to submit their questions live, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas. Below are some of the questions that didn’t get answered on the day:

• How would you respond to the common misconception that automation is brought into a company to reduce team numbers/task force? At Esker, we don’t believe in trading off people and automation. Skilled team members are essential to any Accounts Payable (AP) process and should be supported and elevated by technology such as artificial intelligence. Automation helps elevate valued staff within AP by improving job satisfaction, keeping them engaged, and allowing them to focus on more value-adding tasks.
• Are the workflows customizable by end users once set-up is done? Yes. At Esker, we facilitate as much in-house customization as possible. Our training allows you to educate ‘Super-Users’ who can customize the system as needed, including workflows, dashboards, and KPIs.
• How easy is it to set up the reports you showed so they are specific to the CFO, FD, etc.? Is there an extra cost to implement? There is no limit on user access to the dashboards. These are fully customizable by end users to display relevant information.
• Does an AP automation solution move a business away from 3-way matching with the approvals flows? Esker’s 3-way match verification automatically checks for corresponding POs and goods receipts when a PO-related invoice arrives. If no exception is detected, touchless processing can create the invoice for payment without user validation. Non-PO invoices can undergo multi-level review, coding, and approval. Workflows can be customized based on relevant metrics and exceptions.

Keynote Speakers

Our keynote speakers, Alex and Penny Mallory, were nothing short of inspirational, providing us with motivation and the strength to overcome challenges. They shared insights on how to tackle both personal and professional obstacles, reminding us that our toughest days often lead to deeper self-discovery. Their talks left us all feeling empowered.

I was moved to tears by both presentations. Alex emphasized that kindness and gratitude can illuminate our path, especially during times when we may feel lost. One takeaway I wrote down was a statistic from Alex's Charity. 85% of the things we worry about never actually come to pass. It's important to filter the voices in our heads, distinguishing between what is helpful and what is a hindrance.

Penny reminded us that our low days and tough moments serve as the foundation for change. The obstacles we face and overcome shape who we are and help us shine. She urged us to be committed, to be strong, and to be ourselves. In her talk, she referenced Charles Darwin's insight: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one that is most adaptable to change." and I am sure this message resonated deeply with a room full of people who must adapt and evolve daily.

Gala & Awards Dinner

The day concluded with a glamorous awards dinner, celebrating the achievements within our community. With 17 awards and over 350 nominations, the evening was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our members. The atmosphere was electric, completely different from the day’s events, filled with energy and excitement.

A special highlight of the evening was our founder, Jamie Radford, and Stewart Griffiths APAM from our influencer community doing pushups on stage to raise funds for cancer research. Their efforts were a fantastic display of commitment and community spirit, adding a memorable and heartfelt moment to the night.

Congratulations to all of those who were, nominated, shortlisted and finalists these awards are so deserved with a special congratulations to our Solutions Partner of the Year Documation Software Ltd I was honoured to sit at their table for the evening and to see you win first-hand after your years of support and commitment to not only the APA and its community but to your Environmental efforts.

APA Team’s Efforts

As I round up the day, I also want to extend a huge thank you to the APA team for their fantastic efforts in organizing and executing such a successful event. Your dedication and hard work are unmatched, to be a part of this team is to be a part of something special and made this conference a remarkable experience for everyone involved.

Thank you to Rebecca Dwyer who orchestrated the whole event from start to finish. A true event mastermind. You always go above and beyond.

Thank you to Carly Cuthbert who has given me, Becky and all of us at the APA unwavering support and mentoring, pushing us and believing in us. The Heart of the APA.

Kat Moy, APAM Who's curated all the educational content, speakers, and panellists. Your hard work and dedication absolutely shone.

Jamie Radford Who started this organisation and the reason we are where we are today. Giving us a space and all of us a chance to shine again.

Kostas George Nichols LLB (Hons.) For your dedication and care for the community. Making sure each delegate gets spoken to and how they are finding the day. You are Magic.

Last but certainly not least our fantastic Accounts Payable Association Marketing team James Pether Bryony Saletes Studio Up North

This collaboration really elevated this year's conference to the next level. Record award nominations and attendees... all wouldn't have been possible without your hard work it is so appreciated and the photos we have gotten already speak for themselves! Bryony you worked tremendously to ensure this conference was a smash. You really should be so proud of what was achieved.

Celebrating Our Community

Of course, I couldn't finish this newsletter without another big thank you to you. The APA community. We are incredibly thankful and proud to see you grow and come together, both professionally and personally. The APA Conference 2024 was not just an event; it was a monumental gathering of the brightest minds in Accounts Payable. As the largest Accounts Payable conference in Europe, it showcased the brilliance of this profession and the collective drive to innovate and excel. Together, we are shaping the future of Accounts Payable, and we couldn’t be more excited for what’s to come.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making the APA Conference 2024 a memorable event. We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Kindest regards

Your APA PA, Paige ?