Who's Who
Meet the team helping the Alliance grow stronger
What do a Transylvanian tomato grower, a Michelin-star restaurant chef and a national sparring champion have in common? We all work at Praxity, a talented and eclectic team dedicated to improving the experience of our participant firms around the world. The 15-strong team brings together specialists from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, each committed to Empowering Business Globally.
Graeme Gordon
CEO
Graeme is responsible for strategic overview. A chartered accountant and former officer in the Royal Navy, he has steered Praxity to No.1 position in the IAB world rankings, 13 years of consecutive growth and record global revenues of US$6.38 billion in 2019.
Making a difference
Graeme has extensive knowledge of who’s who across participant firms and an understanding of each firms’ strategic needs. He describes himself as an “historical knowledge repository”. He has broad international experience including in Europe, Russia, North America, the Far East, the Indian Sub-Continent and the Middle East. “I have just become Master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. As part of this, I will run a half marathon and row 160 miles from ‘Source to City’ along the entire length of the River Thames in aid of 5 charities.”
Helen Jennings
Chief Operating Officer
A qualified accountant, Helen joined Praxity over ten years ago to help the Board execute planned activities to achieve agreed strategies. She has a background in auditing at BDO and has held financial controller roles in industry.
Making a difference
Helen looks after the quality of firms, carrying out all the Tri-Annual Assessments and assessing new members. She ensures the smooth running of Praxity’s Executive Office and manages HR, secondments and accounts. Helen also heads up the conference and business development teams. “I have two gorgeous girls aged 7 and 9, and we love theme parks, movies and walks with our dog Roxy. Before the kids, I loved exploring and you could find me bungee-jumping from Ben Nevis in New Zealand, touring in camper vans, cuddling koalas in Oz and being chased by penguins in Simons Town in South Africa, to name but a few.”
Deborah Poulter (Debs)
Head of Business Development
Debs manages the business development and marketing team. Her role includes promoting the Praxity brand, creating marketing campaigns to raise awareness throughout the Alliance, and maintaining the website and CRM system. She also works with Event Managers to help ensure Praxity conferences run smoothly while managing the CPE process for delegates.
Making a difference
Debs is passionate about Praxity and its success. Having worked for the Alliance for nearly ten years she has a strong knowledge of the member firms and their people. She is adept at making connections and solving delegate challenges at conferences and day to day within the Alliance. “Health and fitness, my daughter Charlotte, partner Dan and our bulldog Louis – make my world complete. I’ve run 12 marathons, countless half-marathons and one ultra-marathon, and never miss a HIIT session at the gym, burpees make my day!”
Becky Belanger
International Project Manager
Becky helps member firms collaborate globally. She develops and manages initiatives across multiple service lines for firms across the Alliance. In addition, she coordinates with the various working groups and participant firm leadership to assist in Praxity developments.
Making a difference
Becky has a key role in helping keep member firms connected and informed. She compiles Praxity’s Covid-19 guide on government support for G20 nations, coordinates webinars and Praxity committee-based projects, and connects individuals within the Alliance. She urges members to “reach out to me with ideas or feedback on the organisation”. “The most daring thing I’ve done is hang-gliding in Interlaken Switzerland. I went tandem with a guide and I figured there would be an instructional video when we got to the top of the mountain. I was shocked to find out the instructions were, ‘Run as fast as you can and whatever you do… do not slow down!’. The views were worth it though!”
Nora Olteanu
Conferences & Events Manager
Nora works with Lani to organise conferences for member firms’ senior managers and partners. This includes sourcing and booking venues, negotiating contracts, managing registrations and delegates’ requirements, and attending and running the conferences.
Making a difference
Praxity conferences allow delegates to network, both face to face and online. Our events help delegates connect with colleagues across the firms and from around the world. Delegates find out new information about the industry and how they can collaborate better within the firms to serve their clients’ international needs. “I am from Romania, born in Transylvania. I’m passionate about animals and in my spare time I am volunteering at a local wildlife sanctuary. I recently started growing my own tomatoes which is a great achievement for me as most times I struggle keeping plants alive!”
Lani Jefferies
Conferences & Events Manager
Lani works with Nora to organise conferences for member firms’ senior managers and partners. This includes sourcing and booking venues, negotiating contracts, managing registrations and delegates’ requirements, and attending and running the conferences.
Making a difference
Praxity conferences allow delegates to network, both face to face and online. Our events help delegates connect with colleagues across the firms and from around the world. Delegates find out new information about the industry and how they can collaborate better within the firms to serve their clients’ international needs. “Outside of Praxity, I am kept busy with my two young daughters, aged 3 and 5. I love to travel and experience different cultures and once travelled around the world for six months, visiting 14 different countries. I also like to read, socialise with friends and go to the gym.”
Georgia Barnes-Pilcher
Executive Assistant
Georgia provides administrative support to Praxity’s CEO Graeme Gordon, COO Helen Jennings and the rest of the Executive Office team. She assists member firms and the Management Board/Governing Council with their enquiries.
Making a difference
Georgia helps ensure the successful operation of the daily activities of the Executive Office team. She makes sure enquiries are dealt with accurately and promptly to support the smooth running of the Alliance as a whole. “I have a passion for interior design having previously worked for a world-famous architectural practice and I have recently undertaken a complete home makeover project in my spare time.”
Natalie Giles
Financial Controller
A chartered accountant, Natalie works with Tanisha to make sure Praxity’s accounts function operates efficiently. Natalie has overall responsibility for the accounts team, ensuring payment of suppliers and staff on time. She prepares monthly management accounts and reports to compare budgets and forecasts for the management team and the Board.
Making a difference
Through the preparation of organised records and accounts, Natalie and Tanisha answer financial questions quickly and precisely. By generating accurate and timely invoicing, the accounts team helps firms manage their cash forecasts. “I love cooking and have once prepared a dish in London’s Petrus Michelin star restaurant managed by renowned British chef Gordon Ramsey.”
Tanisha Mittee
Accountant
Tanisha works with Natalie to prepare the monthly management accounts. She helps ensure financial operations are running smoothly, and provides relevant information for VAT returns to be submitted. She also builds and maintains relationships with suppliers, ensuring swift payment of invoices.
Making a difference
Through the preparation of organised records and accounts, Tanisha and Natalie answer financial questions quickly and precisely. By generating accurate and timely invoicing, the accounts team helps member firms manage their cash forecasts. “I am currently undertaking my ACCA. I’m also a 1st Dan blackbelt in kickboxing and hold a level one in football coaching.”
Emma Levick
Marketing Executive
Emma works on website management, content management, email campaigns and the CRM system. She helps the conference team with digital set up and maintenance, and assists Debs with the management of new digital-based projects.
Making a difference
Emma helps Praxity member firms with their user experience of the website, adding features which benefit firms and drive engagement. She keeps members informed and engaged with marketing campaigns and by uploading news and insight on to the website. “I once spent three months in Vietnam motorbiking around the country from the very southern tip all the way to the Chinese border. I had never been on a motorbike before when I bought my bike in Ho Chi Minh so it was a huge learning curve but so much fun.”
Jack Lloyd
Graphic Designer
Jack manages Praxity’s visual identity, online and in print, and maintains our brand guidelines. He designs HUBLite magazine, the ‘Alert’ email platform as well as conference collateral, reports and social media posts. He also works on special projects such as the Covid-19 resource guide.
Making a difference
Jack draws on eight years’ experience working on many different areas of business to develop the best look for our products, services and brand. This includes developing visuals that complement member firms’ existing branding such as a PowerPoint ‘deck’ to help boost sales pitches. “I love finding new and exciting ways to see the world. I devour most forms of art and I’m quite fond of jazz. I’ve dabbled in brewing and have made some very awful beer but it has given me a new found appreciation for how hard it is to get a good drink.”
Jamie Large
Business Development & Marketing Administrator
Jamie maintains our social media platforms. He posts engaging content, sends out weekly marketing campaigns to member firms and responds to any inbound traffic. He also works on projects such as podcasts, webinars, updating the Praxity website, uploading articles, blog posts and sending out weekly managing partner interview campaigns.
Making a difference
Jamie helps gain exposure for member firms by sending out weekly interviews and adding in any articles for the alerts campaign which is sent out every Monday. He helps with member queries such as logins for the website, webinar interest, membership enquiries and subscriptions to the online marketing platform ‘dotdigital’. “I have a black belt in Taekwondo and was once a national champion for sparring, the training form used by many combat sports. I’m originally from Brisbane, Australia, and I moved to London in 2019.”
Meet our freelancers
The Praxity team relies on extra support from writing and design specialists for added value
Ian Lavis
Freelance Content Writer
Ian writes compelling marketing content and insightful articles for publication online and in print. He interviews leading industry experts and works with directors and creatives to produce news and features on the latest developments in the Alliance, the accountancy profession and global business.
Making a difference
Ian’s topical articles are crafted to promote a deeper understanding on the biggest challenges facing companies and their employees including Covid-19 responses, digital transformation, sustainability and inclusion. His goal is to create thoughtful, engaging content to help accounting firms, and their clients, stay one step ahead. “When I’m not writing, I teach English to people around the world including a Turkish film star, Brazilian broadcaster, Latvian MEP, Saudi Arabian lawyer and Russian finance manager. I’m also into mountain biking in the forest, photography and modernist architecture.”
Sarah Willington
Freelance Content Writer
Sarah finds that all important hook to hang a story, article or marketing campaign off. She helps develop and convey strategic messaging, creating fresh and appealing content that resonates with member firms and their clients.
Making a difference
Sarah works with firms to pinpoint key messages. She develops insightful resources that showcases member firms’ expertise and industry prowess. She recently interviewed Managing Partners and CEOs to reveal the true impact of the humanitarian, economic, health and political status of the crisis in their territory so firms better understand future opportunities. “From the school of ‘tell it how it is’, I am an art loving, theatre going, crystal fanatic, mountain loving, hopeless animal devotee. I’m a recent running (or more accurately jogging) convert and completed my first half marathon last year at Disney Paris, dressed as Pocahontas.”
Hannah Dawson
Freelance Designer
Hannah creates, develops and implements clean, smart and effective designs for digital and print based projects. She works with attention to the finer details to visually enhance all content and resources for internal and external use while remaining in line with the Praxity brand.
Making a difference
Having worked in-house for five years before going freelance, Hannah has a very clear understanding of the Praxity brand, the services Praxity provides, and what member firms need in terms of design and communication materials. She showcases the value of being part of the Alliance by creating visually appealing collateral that boosts engagement. “I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie – the best thing so far was either jumping out of a plane in Australia or swimming with sharks. I also used to be a competitive swimmer and completed 10,000 metres freestyle at London’s international sports centre at Crystal Palace.”