ACT Annual Conference 2019
Our arrival in Manchester this week has seen the City (geddit?) lay on an open-top bus parade. For the ACT's 40th birthday? Well, not exactly for the ACT but there's definitely some glamour in the air!
On the ground though we're getting ready for a conference which I think has more focus on technology and business disruption than any I can remember. Someone clever (not me) once said that uncertainty is the frontier between risk and reward. As treasurers, it's our job to help our organisations cross over from one side to the other.
The conference also sees the launch of the 2019 'Business of Treasury' report and you'll not be surprised that it too has a major focus on the impact of tech and automation of the future of treasury and treasurers. The bigger picture is that the challenges to the development of the profession have never been greater, but neither have been the opportunities.
A bursting-at-the-seams exhibition will be ready and over 100 expert speakers are practising their lines and plenty of tea and coffee to keep you going!
It's still my view though that even in a busy world there's no substitute to listening, debating and learning from your fellow professionals and all those who make our industry tick.
The ACT team is on parade at our Hub ready for your questions, comments or just a chat over a brew about careers, exams, or anything else that takes your fancy!
And, in case you didn't know - where have you been? - it's the ACT's 40th birthday this year and we'll be celebrating at this year's gala dinner at the end of day one. Should be fun!
As usual your correspondent will be doing his best during the conference to keep things humming along from the stage and it remains as much of a privilege and pleasure as ever to be entrusted (or is that encrusted?) with the role. Oh and are you sitting comfortably? For a few years now we've been switching our conference up and down the M62 between Liverpool and Manchester. Both have been wonderful hosts but change is in the air... keep your eyes peeled is all I can say!