A leading figure at PricewaterhouseCoopers gave Lancaster University Management School students a steer on the challenges that lie ahead in their business careers.

PwC Chief Digital Officer and board member Jon Andrews delivered the Assaf Lennon Memorial Lecture to first-year undergraduates, entitled ‘New World New Skills’.

It is the fourth year Mr Andrews has given the lecture, and this year he focused on the need for future workers to develop their agility, resilience and bravery for the future technological challenges of the global economy.

In a wide-ranging presentation, he reflected on the history and contemporary challenges of accounting, the technological demands of the RAF (where he serves as a part time captain) and the algorithms required to follow his favourite football team Liverpool FC around the globe while pursuing his passion for wildlife photography.

Course convener Dr Anthony Hesketh said: “Jon has yet again offered a masterclass to our students which will not just be relevant to their studies and early management careers but stand them in good stead for years to come.

“It builds the managerial acumen we encourage in our very capable and enthusiastic students. Our students have heard from Jon and PwC, along with other executives from Accenture, EY and IBM, enabling them in the first few weeks of their university lives to see what the best looks like.

“They have seen the summit in front of them and have been inspired to aim for a similar trajectory themselves.”

The lecture is held in memory of Assaf Lennon, a senior management consultant with PwC and long-time friend and contributor to Lancaster University.

Assaf’s parents, David and Vicky Lennon, attended the lecture and presented the PwC Annual Essay Prize to undergraduate Evelyn Schwab. A former journalist at the Financial Times, David again commented on the high and inspiring standard of the writing by LUMS first year students.

PwC Annual Essay Prize winner Evelyn Schwab