Well, the stands were built on time, the registration desk was primed and ready and all the great staff at the SECC fully briefed: off we went! Even the weather was playing its part in keeping delegates dry - at least on the way in!
The Rt Hon Alistair Darling led us off with a semi-humorous, semi-serious and semi-charming personal view on the financial crisis and its aftermath. Yes, three ‘semis’ but everyone knows treasurers can’t count! (That’s a joke of course, everyone knows treasurers do nothing but count...). The Scottish referendum question came up and unsurprisingly Darling suggested it would be odd for Scotland to put up barriers to its largest export market – but he didn’t discount the possibility. When the ACT comes back to Scotland will we all need passports?
I am always greatly impressed by people giving entertaining, clever and detailed presentations without notes. So, take a bow, Karen Ward, Senior Global Economist, HSBC, for a tour de force about what the world might look like in 2050. Of course, some in the room were shrugging their shoulders – they might not make it past Thursday night! – but oddly enough, dear old Blighty comes out rather well in Ward’s analysis! (With or without Scotland she didn’t say!)
Track sessions and workshops followed and so did the crowds. Whatever we might say about this conference, the real thirst for knowledge, shared experience and learning is very evident in the attendances and the participation of our audience. Honestly, it makes it worthwhile.
Evening drinks in the exhibition hall are in full swing as I write – which might beg the question – but I also want to say there’s a really good feel about this conference already.
Big day tomorrow though!
