Registration has begun for IBBC’s Spring Conference, which will be held on 27-28 April 2016. Jointly sponsored IBBC members Shell (main sponsor), Restrata and Al Iraqia Money Transfer, the first day of the conference will be held at Mansion House, the official residence and office of The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Jeffrey Evans. It will commence at 9:00am and conclude at 6:00pm.

Day 2 will be hosted by Shell at the Shell Centre, which is located on London’s South Bank, on 28 April from 9:30–3:00pm. Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, IBBC’s Executive Chairman and the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Iraq, will chair both days of the conference.

The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Iraq in Transition’. A number of highly distinguished speakers have been secured for the first day of the event, including Helena Morrissey CBE, CEO of Newton Investment Management and Founder of the 30 Percent Club; Louis Taylor, CEO of UK Export Finance; and Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, Former UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment. We are awaiting confirmation from representatives from the Iraqi and UK governments.

Other notable guests who will join the conference line-up include Ilya Bourtman, Vice President Communications and External Affairs, BP Middle East; Angelique Lecorps, Senior Consultant – Strategic Risk Advisory, G4S; Captain Bill Chalmers, General Manager Iraq, Gulftainer; Vikas Handa, Regional Managing Director, Weir Group; Professor John Strachan, Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise, Dean of Graduate College, Bath Spa University; and Faheem Ahamed, CEO, Lapis Communications (Moby Group).

Four diverse and dynamic sessions are planned for Day 1 of the conference. Chaired by IBBC’s Associate Director Alastair Niven LVO OBE, a session titled ‘Improving Human Capital: Public and Private Sectors’ will kick off the conference. Helena Morrissey has been confirmed as keynote speaker of this session.

Lord Green will chair the second session of the day on the topic of ‘Trade and Finance Update: Banking, Export and Import, Duties and Customs’. Following a lunch for delegates, Vikas Handa will chair a panel on ‘Oil and Gas: Project Finance/Downstream Developments’, while Professor John Strachan will chair the final session of Day 1 of the conference, ‘Media, Technology and Communications’.

A reception and dinner hosted by Baroness Nicholson will take place at the nearby Vintners’ Hall, one of London’s premier function venues.

Day 2 of the conference will focus on small- and medium-sized businesses. More details about the half-day event at Shell Centre will be announced shortly.

At the conclusion of Day 2 of the conference, a delegation of Iraqi businessmen will travel to Bath to visit Bath Spa University, Business West and local businesses to exchange ideas and explore potential partnerships.

For more information or to register for IBBC’s Spring Conference, click here. Members are entitled to one complimentary ticket per company. Additional tickets to both conference days and the dinner are available for representatives from IBBC member companies at a discounted rate. Limited seats are also available for non-members.