PKF Global Emerging Leaders Gathering 2025
More than 100 friends and colleagues from all corners of our global community reunited in Phuket, Thailand from 3 to 5 September 2025 for our inaugural PKF Global Emerging Leaders Gathering.
Designed for PKF professionals at all levels, this event gave our aspiring leaders the unique opportunity to develop their skills, deepen connections with peers across borders and learn best practices for team management and client experience.
The relationship between happiness and success
We were delighted to welcome Declan Edwards, happiness researcher and founder of the award-winning social enterprise BU Happiness College, as our keynote speaker. Declan delivered an insightful keynote, exploring why happiness is a critical driver of higher performance, resilience and effective leadership. Delegates gained an understanding of the three connections of happiness – connection to self, to others and to meaning and purpose – and learned how these connections are essential for building strong networks and communities.
Declan’s deep dive into the skills and science of happiness continued with a hands-on masterclass entitled ‘Goal Setting for a Happy and Successful Career’. This highly interactive workshop equipped participants with practical tools to set and achieve goals to support their professional success and personal fulfilment. Highlighting the importance of aligning goals with an individual’s values, strengths and purpose, the session empowered delegates to develop an actionable plan for their career growth.
Promoting cross-border collaboration
Several sessions during the event focused on maximising cross-border opportunities for our members. During our presentation on what it means to be part of the PKF Global network, speakers outlined how PKF member firms can leverage the strength and expertise of our global community to elevate their capabilities and global reach. Further sessions on multi-firm proposals and client engagements covered the processes and guidance we have in place to ensure seamless service delivery across multiple territories.
Celebrating our culture and leadership
Another key theme centred on our unique PKF culture. Our session on cross-cultural leadership explored the opportunities and challenges of operating across diverse global locations. Partners from PKF-CAP, PKF Hong Kong and PKF Rubiks outlined strategies to enhance and maintain our unified, collaborative and inclusive culture.
This topic was revisited during the final agenda session, ‘Living the PKF Culture’, a celebration of the culture that unites our 24,000 professionals across the globe. We heard first-hand how our member firms have cultivated a truly global culture that embeds quality, embraces innovation and champions community projects.
Belong together
Our event culminated with some friendly competition in the form of an exciting team-building exercise: the Amazing Race. Teams competed against each other, completing games and challenges on the beach. Participants developed their personal connections, built trust and networked with peers during this fun and engaging activity.
Thank you
Thank you to our members, speakers, event organisers and everyone else who contributed to this fantastic event. Special thanks to the partners and staff at PKF Thailand and PKF Nuobello for welcoming us to the beautiful island of Phuket.
Event feedback
Mari-Louise Kotze, Chief Operating Officer at PKF Octagon, said, ‘The Emerging Leaders Gathering had something very special, difficult to put into words. To see up-and-coming leaders from the different PKF firms coming together to interact, learn and connect was inspiring. The questions in the sessions were so insightful that, as a presenter, not only could we talk deeply on topics like AI and innovation cultures, but we also learnt from the delegates! It was wonderful to learn from such engaged participants.’
Papa Bathie Gueye, Managing Partner at our Senegalese member firm PKF Rubiks, said, ‘As the renowned management consultant and author Peter Drucker once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” These words resonate with this training as we shape our future leaders, take meaningful steps to achieve our goals and drive innovation within the industry.’
PKF-CAP Managing Partner and AsPac Vice Chair Eng Kian Lee said, ‘This gathering felt like a catalytic moment – where diverse minds realigned under shared purpose to form something brilliant and enduring: a PKF diamond of leadership, vision and connection. The energy this week shows the bright future of PKF, and I’m excited to see how our talents will continue to shine on the global stage.’
Are you interested in joining a global community that unites, empowers and supports its members around the world? Find out more about PKF Global membership here.
