Taking (back) control of working capital

What truly drives successful working capital programmes? An ACT and Women in Working Capital panel tackles the question on 10 September

One of the most important priorities for finance leaders today is taking greater control of working capital in an increasingly complex and uncertain business environment. Treasurers and CFOs are under growing pressure to do more with existing resources. As funding remains more expensive and economic uncertainty persists, companies are placing renewed focus on working capital as a source of liquidity, resilience and value creation.

On 10 September 2026, I am moderating a panel at an Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) event, run in collaboration with Women in Working Capital (WWC), for treasury practitioners and finance professionals from across the working capital ecosystem.

Joining me in what should be an insightful discussion are Carol Thurnheer FCT, senior manager/regional treasurer at Haleon, Kemi Bolarin FCT, head of treasury at GXO Logistics, and Sophia Karanicholas, director at Deloitte Value Creation Services. We’ll be bringing together corporate treasury, operational transformation and financing perspectives to examine:

• What truly drives successful working capital programmes
• Why many organisations struggle to deliver sustainable improvement
• How businesses can balance operational change with financing solutions to unlock value.

What to expect

Rather than focusing solely on the traditional levers of receivables, payables and inventory, the conversation will address the broader questions of ownership, governance, culture and leadership that often determine whether working capital initiatives succeed or fail. Panellists will share practical experiences from large-scale programmes, discuss lessons learned from projects that underperformed as well as those that exceeded expectations, and explore how financing can support, rather than substitute for, meaningful operational transformation.

The session will conclude with practical takeaways and personal reflections from the panel, offering attendees tangible insights they can apply within their own organisations. As working capital moves higher on corporate agendas amid economic uncertainty, supply chain disruption and evolving funding markets, this event aims to provide treasury and finance professionals with an opportunity to hear candid perspectives from leaders who have been at the forefront of driving change.

The panel discussion will be followed by networking drinks, giving attendees the opportunity to continue the conversation with peers and industry leaders from across the treasury and working capital community.

In partnership with the ACT, this event reflects a shared commitment to fostering industry dialogue, promoting diverse perspectives and advancing best practice in working capital management – a highly relevant topic for many corporates. The event is hosted by FIS Working Capital Finance (formerly Demica), a long-standing provider of working capital finance solutions to corporates globally. It will take place on 10 September 2026 at the FIS offices in the City of London. Please register here.

About the author

Shikha Kalra is working capital finance specialist at FIS and co-founder of Women in Working Capital – a global community of women across treasury, trade finance, banking, advisory and corporate finance.