The ACT’s Policy & Technical team’s top picks for the ACT Annual Conference taking place in Liverpool on 15-16 May 2018.
1) Brexit
Day 1, 10:00
Prominently on the agenda as the very first session of the conference, the ACT events team either decided not to waste time addressing the elephant in the room, or to get over with it quickly. Either way, this opening keynote promises to be an interesting start to the event: Sir Ivan Rogers, former UK Permanent Representative to the EU and one of the best-informed voices on UK-EU relations, will share his inside knowledge on Brexit negotiations and future outcomes for corporate Britain.
2) Benchmark reform
Day 2, 09:00
There has been a lot of talk around changing benchmarks with much remaining unclear. Is LIBOR really going to disappear and what would the implications for corporate treasurers be? Sarah John from the Bank of England will join us in the morning of day two for a presentation on the Bank’s view and a Q&A session with the audience. Keep your event app ready to submit questions.
3) Future-proofing cash management
Day 1, 11:45
This year, Deutsche Bank’s track session includes three mini case studies from Vodafone, CBRE and Moneycorp. On the topic of ‘future-proofing your cash management’, the three corporate speakers Graham Taylor, Catherine Porter and Nick Haslehurst will provide insights into their companies’ cash management structures and how they ensure they stay fit for purpose.
4) The Treasury Fringe
In the afternoons of day 1 and 2
While not strictly a conference session, the “Treasury Fringe” is definitely one of the highlights on this year’s agenda. The Fringe features 20 break-out sessions to choose from ranging from soft skills to robotic process automation (RPA) and IFRS16. You get to attend three of the sessions, so make sure to take a look at the programme ahead of the conference and pick the sessions most relevant to you.
5) Embracing digital treasury
Day 2, 11:45
As in previous years, Citi will continue the discussion on FX risk management with a strong focus on the future of treasury: it’s all centred around the digital impact on FX risk management and more broadly, the treasury function. Citi has got Frances Hinden (Vice President at Shell International) on board with a case study on Shell’s digital treasury aspirations constituting the main part of this track. Definitely one not to miss!
6) Pecha-Kucha
In the afternoons of day 1 and 2
Pecha-Kucha, meaning “chit chat” in Japanese, is actually anything but casual chit chat: following a strict presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each, speakers from a wide variety of companies (from NatWest to fintech start-ups) will pitch their treasury solutions in quick-fire presentations. With slides set on timer and advancing automatically, this could finally force those vendors to keep it short and get to the point!
7) Social Highlight at Liverpool Cathedral
The evening of day one
Again, not strictly speaking a session, but definitely unmissable! In the stunning surroundings of the world’s fifth biggest Cathedral, more than 800 treasury professionals will sit down to a three-course gala dinner and live music ensuring no one leaves day one of the conference hungry or bored. Dinner in the Cathedral has been a highlight of past ACT Liverpool annual conferences and rumour has it there will be an afterparty nearby too…
Click here for more information about the conference.
