The Power of Financial Storytelling: Transforming Data into Strategic Insights for Integrated Performance Management (Berlin, Germany)

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, turning financial data into clear, strategic narratives is essential. Join us in Berlin for an evening focused on how financial storytelling can drive integrated performance management and smarter decision-making.

This exclusive event brings together senior finance professionals and thought leaders to explore key themes, exchange ideas, and connect with peers leading innovation and growth

What you’ll gain:

• Strategic insights on managing complexity through integrated performance management.
• Practical guidance on using storytelling to make financial data more accessible and impactful.
• Thought leadership from distinguished speakers and industry experts.
• High-value networking with influential leaders and decision-makers.

Agenda:

18:00 – Registration
18:30 – Welcome address: Ilka Hartmann, Managing Director, BCCG, and Jakub Bejnarowicz, Regional Director for Europe, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA)
18:40 – Keynote speech: Michaela Peisger, Global CAO & CFO, KPMG
19:00 – Presentation “The Power of Financial Storytelling: Transforming Data into Strategic Insights for Integrated Performance Management”: Peter Spencer FCMA, CGMA, Associate Technical Director, AICPA & CIMA
19:20 – Moderated panel discussion. Moderator: Peter Spencer FCMA, CGMA

Panelists:

• Michaela Peisger, Global CAO & CFO, KPMG
• Saira Demmer, CEO, SF Recruitment
• Bjoern Blank ACMA, CGMA, CFO and Managing Director, Infineon Hungary
• Mardi McBrien, Senior Director, Enhancing Transparency, Corporate Performance & Accountability, WBCSD
• Raymond Gann MA,  ACMA, CGMA, Interim Finance and Controlling Manager

20:05 – Q&A session and closing remarks
20:15 – Reception and networking

Location

Steigenberger Hotel am Kanzleramt
Ella-Trebe-Straße 5, 10557 Berlin, Germany

Partners

Speakers

Michaela Peisger, Global CAO & CFO, KPMG
Michaela is the Global Chief Administrative Officer and Global Chief Financial Officer for KPMG International and sits on the Global Management Team. During her career with KPMG, Michaela has served a wide variety of both privately held and publicly traded clients, primarily in the IT, manufacturing, media, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries. She has advised clients in the United States and Germany during her career and has a wide range of knowledge in finance, tax, relocation, mergers, and more.

Saira Demmer, CEO SF Recruitment
Saira is CEO at SF Recruitment, a recruitment firm specialising in Finance, Technology & Engineering. Saira joined in 2020 having previously been UK CEO and CFO at Ignata where she played a key role in building the group to over £50m of Turnover today. Her knowledge of recruitment and talent solutions was honed during six years spent in Deloitte’s M&A strategy team, where she was involved in over 40 buy side and sell side transactions. Saira is passionate about employee engagement and since joining SF has transformed the business through a new people-centric business model, tripling the size of the business in 3 years and increasing employee productivity and reward by over 60%.

Peter Spence FCMA, CGMA, Associate Technical Director, AICPA & CIMA
Peter is Associate Technical Director- Management Accounting on the research team at the Association of Certified Professional Accountants (Association). His main interests are performance management, cost-competitiveness, and strategy execution. In particular, how an organisation’s culture, its people and management information can drive decision-making and business success. Peter has worked with a range of organisations in both the public and private sector in financial leadership and consultancy roles and more recently in CIMA on projects to improve the valuation and measurement of organisational performance.

Jakub Bejnarowicz, Regional Director, Europe, Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA & CIMA)
Responsible for creating and executing AICPA & CIMA’s development strategy and educational activities in the region. Supports recruitment and training strategies for employers hiring management accounting professionals and implements plans for the professional development of CGMA designation holders (Chartered Global Management Accountants), finance professionals, and business leaders. Committed to championing the profession’s role in sustainability and value creation.

Bjoern Blank ACMA, CGMA, CFO and Managing Director, Infineon Hungary
Bjoern is a seasoned finance executive with over 15 years of international experience with a focus on driving business growth and optimization. Currently, he serves as CFO and MD of Infineon Hungary and was previously based at Infineon’s head office in Munich as VP Finance FP&A Automotive. With a strong background in strategic planning, commercial decision-making, and financial management, Bjoern has held various leadership positions in multinational companies, including Shell and Yazaki Europe. His expertise spans multiple industries, including automotive, industrial, and energy, and he has worked and lived in various countries, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, the UK, the Philippines and Malawi.

Mardi McBrien, Senior Director, Enhancing Transparency, Corporate Performance & Accountability, WBCSD
Mardi McBrien is a distinguished leader in sustainability and sustainable finance. She serves as Senior Director for Corporate Performance and Accountability Initiatives at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Previously, Mardi led global efforts in corporate reporting through positions such as Chief of Strategic Affairs and Capacity Building at the IFRS Foundation, where she directed capacity building activities for the ISSB. As Managing Director of the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB), she was instrumental in developing the inaugural global framework for investor-focused climate and sustainability reporting, contributing significantly to initiatives like the TCFD, TNFD, and the formation of the International Sustainability Standards Board. Her career includes experience in environmental advocacy, public policy, and cross-sector collaboration.

Ilka Hartmann, Managing Director, British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG)
Since April 2020 Ilka Hartmann has been Managing Director of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG). Prior to this, the qualified banker and banking specialist worked for Commerzbank AG for 30 years, in Bremen, Frankfurt am Main and, since 1994, in Berlin. As a specialist for national and international economic and governmental relations, she established the International Counter in Berlin and managed it until 2003. Thereafter, she represented Commerzbank’s interests with relation to politics, ministries and embassies in the liaison office until 2020. During this time, she founded and cultivated numerous networks, such as Campus of Excellence, Get Connected, SHE VIP, SHeconomy and is a supporter of the WunderNova Women’s Summer and Think Festival. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Female Leaders Summit, the Königswinter Conference Steering Committee and member of the executive committee of the Interessengemeinschaft Deutsche Luftwaffe e.V. (German Air Force Association).

Raymond Gann MA (Hist), ACMA, CGMA, Interim Finance and Controlling Manager
With 50 years of association with CIMA (he joined as a student in 1975 when it was still ICMA), Raymond has spent his working life at the sharp end of finance and controlling. Born to a German mother and a British Army father, he grew up mostly outside the UK and has only worked there for three of the last forty plus years. After reading History at Aberdeen University, he moved to Germany in 1978, qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1984, and has since held senior financial roles in 13 countries for US, Swedish and UK multinationals as well as privately owned German companies. Since 2014 he has specialised in interim management – parachuting into organisations to bring calm and sort out complex financial processes.