First of all, rumours circulating about members of the ACT team and their relationship with alcoholic beverages after the gala evening can be completely denied. At least until the tabloids get the pictures! For those of us with a more, ahem, sober disposition, Friday-day three-offered yet more great evidence of the widening scope of treasury responsibility.
For the past couple of years, Friday sessions have been aimed at particular aspects of doing the job. However, don’t be fooled into thinking these are dry, technical or even too narrowly focussed. A management development session produced great audience interaction, although one delegate was careful to suggest his question about managing upwards was “hypothetical....based on reality”!
The hardy perennial of bank relationships was given its customary airing and it’s no surprise that three little letters, KYC, are still the bane of a treasurer’s life. Funnily enough, there are never any regulators listening in.
Another Friday tradition (well for a few years anyway) is brunch and this year there was the intriguing addition of a pick-me-up ‘wheatgrass shot’. Nope, me neither, but they were delicious and probably did me some good!
The closing plenary session of the conference is always hard to judge. Delegates want to be challenged and in some ways, entertained. I think we were spot on this year.
A sustainability panel – ‘what is it & how do I make it work in my organisation?’ – fizzed by. Research shows (in profits and market value) that being a responsible corporate citizen is good for business.
A brilliant stand-up routine from celebrated economist Tim Harford told us that, yes, there are people who are pretty good at economic forecasting. Why? Well, because they challenge themselves and their assumptions and, crucially, change their minds if circumstances shift. Sadly no central bankers in the audience.
Finally, we were thrilled to have our closing address presented by Lady Barbara Judge, Chairman Emeritus of the UK Atomic Energy Authority and Chair of the Institute of Directors. It was a closed session just for the audience, but let’s just say the UKAEA is clearly keen on nuclear being part of the energy solution.
And so as they say, to bed. A brilliant 48 hours of meeting old friends, making new ones, learning so much more about the world and having time to think. I am privileged to Chair ACT conferences and see both sides of the event. It might be the best job in the world.
See you all in Manchester 16-17 May 2017.
[su_box title="Take a peek" box_color="#51284F" radius="1"]To look back over this year’s event, look for @actupdate and #actac16 on Twitter or in the next edition of @thetreasurermag.[/su_box]
