Speaking ahead of his keynote at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) Annual Conference in London on 5 November, which is open to the wider business community to attend, Mr Peake shared how lessons from space exploration can help businesses make smarter decisions.

“We have to be experts at what we do. There is no substitute for intimate knowledge of what you’re doing – that goes for any sector,” he said. “The more you can learn about your business, the more resilient you will be and the more you’ll understand the risks and when to take them.”

ICAS is reinforcing this principle in its own field through the relaunch of its syllabus, refreshed to embed core business skills and align accountancy education with the demands of a changing world. The updated programme equips chartered accountants not only with financial acumen, but the tools required to become future leaders in business.

Mr Peake also cautioned that the UK risks falling behind its global counterparts if it doesn’t foster a growth mindset and support innovation in emerging sectors such as the fast-expanding space economy.

“If we don’t offer an environment in which innovative companies can thrive, we’ll miss out on the opportunities of the future,” he said. “Government, like individuals, should cultivate a growth mindset. What this government wants is growth - and space is probably the most rapidly growing sector we have globally at the moment.”

Mr Peake’s message mirrors the themes that will be explored at ICAS’ hybrid conference in London, with the event bringing together business leaders, policy makers and Chartered Accountants from a range of sectors to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping tomorrow. The programme includes panels tackling the future of finance and business, AI-driven ethical leadership, and sustainability.

Mr Peake will close the event with the delivery of a keynote. He offered a preview of the fascinating stories that can be expected in his speech by drawing on his experiences with both NASA and SpaceX to highlight how different approaches to risk can drive progress.

“NASA’s Artemis II mission to orbit the Moon is scheduled for no later than April 2026, with Artemis III aiming to land people the following year,” Mr Peake said. “Their philosophy is that it can’t fail. 

“By contrast, Elon Musk is happy to go fast, make mistakes and learn, and by doing so, he builds up huge trust and reliability over time. Both mindsets can deliver success, but they are completely different approaches. That agility of mindset is really important, and we do that well in the space industry.” 
 
Attendees will also hear insights from several other high-profile speakers confirmed for the event, including Nick Fry, former CEO and co-owner of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 and non-executive director at McLaren Applied; Dame Wendy Hall, adviser to the UK government and international bodies, including the United Nations, on AI; and entrepreneurship expert Susie Warran-Smith, with more still to be announced.

ICAS CEO Bruce Cartwright CA said the Annual Conference, open to both ICAS members and non-members, marks a major milestone for the global organisation.  

He said: “Leading with themes like ethical leadership, AI and sustainability, we’re showing that Chartered Accountants do more than work with numbers – they help shape global business.

“We have an incredible line-up of speakers and panellists already confirmed, and the event promises to be a day of fresh thinking, real connections, and bold ideas that will shape the future of our profession.”

To find out more and book a place at the ICAS Annual Conference 2025 visit icas.com.