Well, that was a day! From opening bell to the closing clink of ice in a well deserved pre-prandial, more than 370 delegates, exhibitors and sponsors had a thoroughly engaging, entertaining and treasury rich day of debate, discussion and real economy learning.
Apart from the conference theme of 'capitalising on change', your correspondent got a definite sense that treasury in the Middle East is ready to lead. Not simply in a narrow financial sense - although that in itself is a challenge - but in a wider business sense in which treasury is an integral part of growing and developing economic activity.
This is reinforced not only by the increasing range of senior positions held by treasurers across all business sectors but also by younger aspiring individuals, the treasurers of tomorrow. More encouraging still is the presence of young men and women from national communities across the region seeing treasury as an exciting and modern approach to financial management. Rising student numbers and interest in ACT qualifications bears out that observation.
When the ACTME conference began 5 years ago, there were only two track sessions, one on Operational treasury and one on Strategic treasury. This year, we have had six covering trade, cash, technology, strategy, funding and regulation and there is demand for more. We will certainly try and fill that demand but it points to a much more nuanced approach being taken by the audience to managing their treasury issues. We have also had some very searching and challenging questioning from the floor of each discussion which has kept our presenters on their toes!
Day two also promises much provided the morning Dubai traffic doesn't get in everyone's way so watch this space! Keep an eye also on the ACT social media sites for live updates, photos and more from the conference.
