Xerocon London 2026: 14 sessions to look out for

What do award-winning journalist Louis Theroux, comedian and actress Sindhu Vee, and restaurateur and former host of The Great British Bake Off Dame Prue Leith DBE, all have in common?

They’re all special guests at this year’s Xerocon London

They’ll be joined by dozens of speakers across 60+ sessions at Olympia London in West Kensington from 8–9 July 2026.

Here is a curated list of must-see sessions to get your planning started.

Day 1: Wednesday, 8 July

Accrual Intentions: What I learned from building the world's first 100% AI accounting firm

Time: 12pm

Presenter: Alexis Kingsbury, Accrual Intentions (A.I.) Accountants

In 2025, Alexis hired eleven AI colleagues, gave them job titles, personalities and responsibilities, and then spent six months finding out whether they could actually run a firm. In this session, he’ll share what worked, what failed, and how to prepare your firm for the future of AI in accounting.

Why your brain thinks 4am is a great time for tax planning

Time: 12:45pm

Presenter: Della Hudson, Minerva Accountants

Does a 4am cortisol spike sound familiar? In this session, Della will explore why entrepreneurial stress rewires sleep patterns and exactly what you can do about it. You'll leave with a clearer understanding of your own stress responses and practical tools to protect your wellbeing without sacrificing performance.

Special guest: Jill Scott MBE

Time: 1.30pm

Presenter: Jill Scott MBE, former English professional footballer

Jill Scott MBE is a former English professional footballer, with over 16 years of experience as a Lioness and player in the Women’s Super League. In this session, Jill will bring inspiring lessons on resilience, teamwork, and performing at your best.

Special guest: Nina Schick

Time: 2.15pm

Presenter: Nina Schick, Tamang Ventures

Nina Schick is a sovereign AI strategist, author, and business owner. Her strategic framework is engaged by institutions operating at the highest levels of global decision-making, including NATO and the US Army. As AI becomes a utility, Nina is focused on the most consequential question of today: what happens when the price of intelligence falls to zero?

The big picture: Understanding the economic and tech trends shaping the future

Time: 3.45pm

Presenters: 

• James Bergin, Xero

• Louise Southall, Xero

Between AI headlines and conflicting economic forecasts, it's hard to know what to actually pay attention to. Led by Xero’s Futurist and Economist, this session is designed to zoom out and tackle the trends and big questions shaping the future for small businesses and the accountants who serve them.

Day 2: Thursday, 9 July

Special guest: Louis Theroux

Time: 10.10am

Presenter: Louis Theroux, journalist, broadcaster and author

Louis Theroux is a genre-defining documentary presenter best known for producing immersive documentaries that explore the controversial and complex aspects of the human condition. Expect captivating tales and lessons from his several decades long career.

Special guest: Dame Prue Leith DBE

Time: 10.55am

Presenter: Dame Prue Leith DBE, restaurateur, broadcaster, author and chef

Over nearly 60 years, Dame Prue Leith DBE has risen to the top of the British food scene. She has seen huge success as a business owner, restaurateur, TV cook, food journalist and author. She’s also been a leading figure in campaigns to improve food in schools and hospitals. Looking at her journey, Prue will share how she has embraced creativity and stayed resilient through decades of industry change.

Should bookkeepers fear the rise of the robots?

Time: 12pm

Presenter: Rosie Berridge, Accountability Edinburgh

With 61% of accounting professionals believing that bookkeeping is the function most likely to be affected by AI, it isn’t surprising that many bookkeepers are facing somewhat of an identity crisis. Rosie will share how she turned fear into purpose, and why the bookkeepers who thrive will be the ones who lean into AI and automation rather than resist it.

£0 to £1 million in 2 years: The real inside goss on the numbers, process and people

Time: 12.45pm

Presenter: Stuart Hurst, Cloud 10 Accounting

Stuart Hurst is putting his actual numbers—margins, P&L, the lot—on stage for everyone to see. No smoke and mirrors, just an honest account of what worked, what spectacularly didn't and what it really takes to scale rapidly. You'll leave with a clearer picture of what healthy margins can look like in practice, plus real takeaways you can implement in your own firm.

Special guest: Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE

Time: 1pm

Presenter: Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, social entrepreneur, author, podcaster and speaker

Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE is a prodigy in every sense of the word. At 11 years of age, she was the youngest girl ever to pass A-level computing, and was just 20 years old when she received her Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford. Today, she brings bold ideas, fresh perspective and innovation expertise to help shape the future of work, and an inspiring vision for a more diverse and balanced science and tech community.

Xero: The linchpin for an acquisitive firm

Time: 1.30pm

Presenter: Sam Rumens, Streets

Growing through acquisition creates a standardisation challenge, and Streets is solving it with Xero at the centre. Sam shares how his team is using Xero to create consistency across data, processing, and reporting.

Special guest: Chelsea Pottenger

Time: 2pm

Presenter: Chelsea Pottenger, EQMinds

Chelsea Pottenger is an Australian mental health educator, author, and keynote speaker. Her company, EQ MINDS, was created to educate and empower people to prioritise and care for their mental health. Chelsea is on a mission to get businesses to prioritise their employees' mental health, so expect tangible and practical takeaways from this session.

Courageous conversations: Your most undervalued profit driver

Time: 2.15pm

Presenter: Michele Capel, Think Smart People

Avoiding difficult conversations doesn't make problems disappear—it makes them expensive. Michele will unpack the real business cost of silence, from disengagement to avoidable turnover, and introduce practical frameworks like Radical Candor to help you balance challenge with care. You'll leave with simple, actionable tools to have better conversations that strengthen accountability, improve performance and build healthier teams.

Special guest: Simon Curran

Time: 3pm

Presenter: Simon Curran, Rokt & All Blacks Performance Labs

Simon has spent the last decade discovering what truly separates the best from the rest. He’s worked alongside the men’s New Zealand national rugby union team (the All Blacks), Formula One garages, surgical theatres, symphony orchestras, special forces units, and the boardrooms of some of the fastest-growing companies on the planet. In his session, he will share insights on leadership and high performance from these teams and organisations.

See you in London

Amongst these exciting sessions, Xero will be debuting the Xero Experience Lab, where they invite you to test real prototypes at always-on stations and share feedback. The Karbon team is so excited to see you there, so remember to stop by the exhibitor floor to say hi