Leadership
The team responsible for the IAB's direction, standards and day-to-day leadership.
Chief Executive Officer
Sarah Palmer is the Chief Executive Officer of the IAB. Appointed CEO in 2024, she is focused on raising professional standards and ensuring bookkeepers and finance professionals are recognised as essential, regulated contributors to the UK and global economy. She founded Women Who Count Ltd in 2009, building it into a renowned and successful bookkeeping practice, and joined the IAB Board in 2017.
Her influence extends globally, with professional networks across Australia, Canada, India and South East Asia, and she is a regular contributor to industry publications on the future of the profession.
Chief Operating Officer
Brady joined the IAB as Chief Operating Officer in 2024. A highly experienced business leader, she refocused her career on Research & Development tax relief in 2013 with the original Breakthrough Funding team, later becoming its Managing Director and overseeing its successful sale to EY in 2020, before leading EY Incentives Limited and the EY Breakthrough team in Kent.
She has developed and delivered externally verified, CPD-accredited training within the accounting industry, and holds a BA (Hons) in Business Administration and French from the University of Bradford.
Director
Louise Stewart is an experienced communications professional at the public affairs and communications agency Cicero/AMO, which largely serves financial services clients. She was previously Director of Communications for the Federation of Small Businesses.
She spent almost twenty years in broadcasting as a political correspondent for BBC News on television and radio, and was recently named one of the most influential people in PR by PR Week's PowerBook.
Director in International Development
Ranjit has been associated with the IAB as Regional Advisor for South Asia since 2006. A social entrepreneur and fifth-generation businessman, he has close to three decades of business experience and over 23 years in transnational education, having owned and managed businesses across the UK, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the Middle East.
He joined the board of IAAP as a Director in 2022, and his company is currently the Chief Representative (South Asia) for Buckinghamshire New University.
Honorary President
Fabian Hamilton MP
Honorary President
Fabian has been a Labour MP for Leeds North East since 1997. Before his election to Parliament, Fabian served for 10 years as a Labour member of Leeds City Council and chaired the Councils Education and Economic Development Committees. Fabian ran his own business for eighteen years and so understands the pressures and needs of entrepreneurs and business people.
International Development
The specialists extending the IAB's reach and standards across the world.
Vice President — East Asia
Dr Eric Li is a DBA graduate of Europort Business School in the Netherlands and Chairman of Beijing Zhongcaihe International Education Technology Group. He is Vice Chairman of the Accountant Branch of the China Association of Chief Financial Officers and a Director of the China Association of Professional Managers.
He serves as the IAB's China Chief Representative and Honorary Member, leading the Institute's development across East Asia.
Chief Examiner
Mike has extensive experience of the UK education system, following a career in mainstream teaching with over twenty years as a headteacher. He now consults for higher and further education organisations internationally on the development of online learning content and quality assurance.
He joined the IAB in October 2023 as Chief Examiner, responsible for the design and regulatory compliance of the qualifications offered, with particular emphasis on assessment material in line with the requirements of Ofqual.
Associate Director — S.E. Asia
Max joined the IAB in 2003 as representative, having previously worked in lecturing and accountancy practice. He has served as a freelance consultant and external advisor to UK and Australian professional organisations and universities, including the Chartered Institute of Securities & Investment and several UK universities.
He now concentrates on expanding the IAB's presence across the Asia Pacific and China, and was recognised by the IAB in 2023 for his commitment to promoting the organisation throughout the region.
Our International Advisory Board brings further global expertise — meet them on our Partnerships and Global Reach page.
The Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers has a new brand.
Our refreshed identity marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter
for us. One that reflects who we are and our ambitions for the future.
Inspired by our heritage, but designed for what comes next,
it represents a more connected and forward-looking IAB.
Join us on our journey.
