UK Area Networks for CAs
Local area networks for CAs
The ICAS area networks act as a link between CAs and ICAS, supporting ICAS’ business plan. The networks feed into ICAS’ strategic direction, specifically activity relating to engaging with CAs in geographic areas.
Your local area network represents your views, opinions and provides a platform for providing direct feedback to ICAS.
What the ICAS Area Networks do for you:
- Contribute towards events in your area
- Identify opportunities for you to connect with other CAs
- Share details on the latest ICAS initiatives
- Feedback your views to ICAS
Connect with your local area network
London
Jason Harvie - London Area Network Chair
Jason Harvie joined Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) as an Investment Manager in the Private Markets division in 2015. He is predominantly focused on Private Equity direct co-investments across Europe. The investment strategy is generalist in nature and he is involved with a broad portfolio of assets across industries.
Prior to joining ASI, Jason worked in Mergers & Acquisitions advisory at Energy specialist Investment Bank Simmons & Company, where he qualified as a CA (2012). His primary focus being European oilfield service transactions. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mathematics from The University of St Andrews, is Chair of the ICAS London Area Committee and is an ICAS Financial Services Ambassador.
Lothian and Borders
John Watson - Lothian and Borders Area Network Chair
John Watson joined Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) as an Operating Principal in 2013 and was Chief Commercial Officer of their investment, Edinburgh Airport Limited leading the commercial revenue and capital projects teams until June 2017. John works with a number of GIP investments worldwide and remains Chief Executive Officer of Crosswind Developments Ltd, a new sister company of the airport, established to develop 40 hectares of excess land.
Prior to joining GIP, he was Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group’s Small and Medium Enterprise Lending business where he was tasked with transforming the performance of the $50bn loan book during the 2006 bank liquidity crisis. During that time, John was also a founding Board Director of the Business Growth Fund plc, established to support high growth business with equity investment. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PwC Corporate Finance John, joined 3i plc. He has subsequently held a number of executive and non-executive roles in private equity backed businesses in Europe and the US. With over 20 years of experience, he has a B.Eng. Mechanical Design Engineering and an M.Sc. in IT and Business from University of Glasgow. As well as the serving on the Membership Board of ICAS, John is Vice President of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee of the Saltire Foundation and Non Executive Director of the Institute of Directors.
Glasgow West
Craig Maxwell - Area Network Chair
Craig joined Mazars in 2016 and is an experienced and trusted business adviser with a career spanning more than 17 years working with a varied client base.
As part of the Audit & Assurance team in Scotland and understanding the positive impact strong corporate governance and accurate financial reporting can have on a company, Craig takes great pride in building relationships with business owners and working closely with them to ensure their statutory audit and financial reporting needs are met.
With Mazars offering a comprehensive range of business services, including tax, corporate finance, accounts and outsourcing, personal tax and financial planning to leading businesses and individuals, Craig is supported by a strong network of senior professionals and with a focus on quality personal client service and relationships, he ensures that all our clients business needs are fully met at all times.
Craig trained and qualified in Glasgow with a well-known Scottish independent firm, following which he spent 13 years in Sydney, Australia with a global mid-tier firm. Throughout Craig’s career he has developed a portfolio of work ranging from smaller single entity audits through to the audit of major multinationals including public listed, large international groups, privately owned and owner managed businesses. Craig's experience to date covers industries such as media and entertainment, technology, high street retail, wholesale product distribution and portfolio and funds management.
Grampian
Elizabeth Gammie - Grampian Area Network Chair
Elizabeth Gammie is a Professor of Accounting at the Robert Gordon University where she is Head of the Aberdeen Business School. She trained with Ernst and Whinney in the Aberdeen office and specialised in tax on qualification. She subsequently moved into academia and now has over 25 years’ experience in the Higher Education sector. Over the years she has developed her career by undertaking a part-time PhD, developing a very successful Accounting and Finance under-graduate degree, building a research portfolio, heading up the Department of Accounting and Finance and from 2016 taking on the role as Head of School.
She has been involved with many ICAS Boards and Committees, including various stints on the local Area Committee, chaired the Student Education Committee, sat on the Qualification Board, the TPE Exam Board, the Technical Policy Board and perhaps most notably sat on ICAS Council for 6 years. She currently sits on the International Accounting Education Standards Board, is a Trustee of the ICAS Foundation, a member of the ICAS Audit Committee, a Trustee of the RDA Aberdeen group, a Governor of St Margaret’s School for Girls and chairs the Grampian Area Committee.
Highlands
Peter Mitchell - Highlands Area Network Chair
Peter qualified with Ernst & Whinney (now EY) in Edinburgh in 1979. After qualifying he spent 14 years with Scottish & Newcastle plc in a variety of Head Office roles and finally with T&R Theakston in Yorkshire. During this time he lectured to ICAS students in Internal Audit and was part of the TPC part time education team.
After leaving Scottish & Newcastle in 1994 he was Finance Director for a European Biotechnology company and the European Finance Director for a global records management business. Since returning to Scotland from London in 2002, he has been a part time Finance Director for a number of SME’s across various business sectors and now runs his own consultancy business with current clients spread across the North & East of Scotland. He has served for 10 years on the Highland Area Committee of ICAS and is the current Chair, and he represents the Highlands on ICAS Council and Constitutional Panel.