The second day of a two day conference rarely mirrors the first. Who will come back, who will come along for just the one day, will there be a different lunch?
Most importantly have we got the timings spot on, the right mix of speakers and networking time? Will there be different cake at coffee time?!! (Yes, yes, more food!)
Worry as we do, we needn't have done. Yes a few people decided that one day of treasury was enough but nearly 50 other people who weren't with us on day one walked through the door looking for our mix of work, interaction and networking. I would call that a real success! And what did they hear?
Well, maybe we shouldn't have started with regulation - a necessary evil if ever there was one - but that didn't dampen too many spirits. The looming spectre of Basel III was present and correct however. Treasurers are nothing if not resilient though and presentations and debate on trade finance, the oil and gas sector and liquidity management were lively and informative. A two part session on how wonderful treasurers are, balanced by a CFO telling us how to make relationships count closed out the conference.
Looking back over 5 years of this conference tells us how far and how fast we and the profession in the region have travelled. We have some long standing commercial supporters who have become our friends (yes, Alex, that's you), we have become a fixture in the calendar and we think we have made a difference to the lives of more than a few finance and treasury professionals across the region.
Is there more to do? Yes, of course. Are we going to give it our best shot? Yes, of course. Are we going to enjoy every minute? Yes, of course. We're the ACT that's what we do!
