What are the most significant challenges facing Payroll professionals today?

Increasing complexity with limited resource, industry talent & skill shortages, data quality issues, transformation fatigue & demonstrating strategic value. 

What excites you most about participating in Reward & Payroll Summit this year? 

Giving back knowledge, education & Experience alongside industry experts for a rounded view. 

Which session or theme are you most looking forward to, and why? 

Doing More with Less: Maximising Reward and Payroll Impact Within Constrained Budgets. It’s the undercurrent of everything in a non profit making business critical function - learning how to use what you have to go further in efficiencies will drive strategic leadership. 

What’s a common misconception people have about Insourcing vs Outsourcing, and how does your session challenge that? 

That outsourcing saves money (and accountability) & insourcing gives you control. 

How does Insourcing vs Outsourcing connect to broader organisational strategy or business performance? 

• Transformation & Agility 
• Business commercials / cost
• Employee experience
• Talent management & Skillset Capabilities
• Risk & Compliance appetite

What do you hope attendees will take away from your session at Reward & Payroll Summit?   

How to step by step approach strategic analysis of whether insourcing or outsourcing is the right model for my business

Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in Payroll over the next 2–3 years? 

• Real time processing & visibility / transparency Intelligent agents (AI) answering complex queries in system, faster issue resolutions
• Improved data quality & automated validation pre payroll
• Workforce intelligence lead by payroll
• Auto control monitoring & consistent audit readiness 

One thing you’re hoping to learn from other speakers at the summit? 

• What can I apply?
• What’s easy that brings effective and efficient results I don’t need to spend loads of money and time on?
• What risks & Issues should I be aware of?
• What does success actually look like?
• What trends are shaping the industry over the next 3-5 years?

Coffee or tea before your big session at the Summit?

Peppermint tea pls 🙂

Find out more about Lara’s session, Insourcing vs Outsourcing: The New Shift in Payroll Operating Models, and everything else on offer at The Reward and Payroll Summit 2026 - Click here to find out more