Dideoluwa Akinsanya is the Founder and CEO of CheckFacts Services Limited, a leading background check company in Nigeria. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, an MSc in Forensic Accounting and Criminal Investigations, and professional certifications as a Certified Professional Forensic Accountant (ICFA, Canada) and Certified Investigative and Forensic Accountant (FAII, Nigeria).

With over a decade of experience in ethical background screening, she is known for her thought leadership, white papers, and mentoring of younger professionals. Dideoluwa is passionate about building Africa’s presence in the global background screening industry and driving ethical standards across the continent.

 

Mark Best is Chief Corporate Development Officer at The Citation Group, a leading international provider of compliance and operational management solutions and software, primarily for small and medium-sized companies.

At Citation, Mark has acquired and integrated 20 acquisitions in the UK, Canada and Australia. This has included creation of a multi-product UK Verification Division by acquiring and bringing together uCheck and Disclosure Services (DBS) and TrustID (Identity & Right to Work checking), serving 40,000 clients.

Mark has an MBA from INSEAD and a BA from Harvard University, USA, and lives in London, UK.

Emma is a partner working on data and online safety compliance at international firm Bird & Bird LLP.

She works with a wide variety of organisations, and co-heads the firm's HR Data initiative on employment and privacy law collaboration. Her and the firm's work in this area regularly covers employee monitoring technologies, background screening initiatives, equality and diversity, data subject access rights and, of course, the implementation and assessment of AI tools.

The firm has recently launched the latest edition of its guide to the EU AI Act, and a multi-country Guide on Background Checks, looking at pre-employment screening.

Martin is the Executive Director of SP Index and right2socials brands - UK based platforms delivering social media screening and supporting young people to take control of their digital identity and future career opportunities.

With a passion for digital responsibility, employability, and online safety, Martin works closely with schools, colleges, universities, and employers to educate on how their online presence can impact jobs, apprenticeships, and further education.

Partnering with industry leaders and screening specialists, Martin empowers youngsters to understand social media checks, manage their online footprint, and build a positive digital reputation, turning social media risk into a career advantage.

I am an Account Director at Prospects Hedd, where I have spent the past six years supporting organisations with secure and reliable education background checks. I work closely with credential evaluators, employers and screening agencies across the globe, helping them verify academic qualifications and ensure graduates are vetted accurately and efficiently.

Through collaboration with professional bodies and our network of UK university partners, I support the development of trusted verification processes that strengthen the integrity of academic credentials. My work focuses on helping the background screening industry access efficient, secure verification methods within the UK Higher Education sector.

David is the CEO of PeopleCheck having founded the business in 2003. David is a recognised expert in the screening sector who has built and led companies in Asia, US and UK. He is committed to setting best practices and delivering excellence in user experience and intuitive innovation across all sectors. He is the co-author of two books which focus on performing people-based-due diligence within financial services: The Private Equity Practitioners Manual, 2001 and Strategies for Successful Acquisitions in the UK, 2003. David is the past Chair of the European PBSA Council and a former Director of the PBSA Global Board.

Sally is the International Account Manager at Verifdiploma, where she works with global partners to enhance trust and transparency in academic credential verifications.

She is also Chair Elect of the PBSA Europe and Africa Council and Co-Chair of the Education and Innovation Committee, helping to advance industry standards and drive forward-thinking initiatives across the sector.

David Liddle is an widely recognised author, chief executive and thought leader in people, culture, leadership and conflict resolution. He is the founder and CEO of The TCM Group, an award-winning business consultancy specialising in mediation, investigation, leadership development and culture transformation.

David is president of the People and Culture Institute and editor-in-chief of The People Leader. He is the author of Managing Conflict, Transformational Culture and People and Culture, which has received exemplary reviews. His work focuses on putting the human back into human resources and helping organisations build values-led and high-performing cultures rooted in trust, justice and purpose.

As Managing Director of both uCheck and Trust ID, Jack’s focus is on bringing exceptional services to Citation customers. Before joining uCheck, Jack was the MD of Computershare Communication Services, managing teams across the UK, Germany, and South Africa.

Jack was integral to the Trust ID acquisition by Citation in 2025 and is now leading the integration of both business, driven by the aim to bring together our market leading expertise in Right to Work, Identity and DBS checks to our 75,000 clients.

Matt is a Director at Due Diligence Checking, a leading provider of background screening services, based in the UK. With over 20 years of experience in sales, an engineering background, and more than 14 years in screening and compliance, he takes a practical, solutions-focused approach. Matt is dedicated to simplifying complex requirements and turning them into clear, real-world solutions that support client needs.

With a 30+ year career spanning recruitment, HR and learning & development across Asia-Pacific before moving to Europe, where Anton held senior leadership roles at Control Risks Screening, before going on to lead global background check and client due diligence for one of the world’s largest banks for over a decade.

Since founding Background Check Advisory in 2023, Anton has partnered across geography and industries to enhance hiring integrity & reduce reputational risk.

He is a strong advocate for raising industry standards, collaborating with employers and workforce partners on emerging challenges including ethical AI use, hiring fraud and bias reduction in recruitment.

Michael brings over 35 years of senior leadership experience, with a proven record of success in managing background screening businesses. Firms include FPR Limited, Kroll Background Screening (EMEA), The Risk Advisory Group and most recently Credence Background Screening (now Certn UK). Michael now works as an independent consultant.

Michael was involved with the PBSA for many years, having served as regional Chair and involved in a number of committees, including the PBSA Leadership Development Committee.

Michael is a long-standing member of the Institute of Professional Investigators (MIPI) and is an Associate Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).