The Iraq Britain Business Council will host its annual summer retreat at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park, between 6^th and 8^th July this year. Cumberland Lodge is a unique royal think tank that encourages discussion on issues of national and international significance with the aim of stimulating constructive dialogue, shared ideas and insightful learning.

The keynote speaker for Friday the 6^th will be Mrs Sarah Akbar, CEO of OiLSERV, co-founder of Kuwait Energy, member of the Kuwait Supreme Council for Planning and Development, as well being a receiver of the ‘Leader in Energy’ award in 2009, becoming the first and only woman leader in the Oil & Gas industry in the Middle East.

The title of the conference is ‘Iraq: Domestic Expectations & Geopolitical Aspirations’ and this year’s programme includes a range of exciting sessions on: the Present Situation in Iraq, Iraq in a Regional Perspective, China and Iraq, IMF view on Iraq and Partnerships between British and Iraqi universities.

There will also be round table discussions with Mr Dara Rasheed, Deputy Minister for Construction, Housing and Public Municipalities and Deputy Head of Refaato, Dr Abdul Kariem Al Faisal, Chairman of the PM’s Advisory Commission as well as Dr Abdul Razzaq Al-Issa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Dr Salah Hadi Saleh Alhashim, Director General for Scholarships, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The round table discussions will facilitate in-depth discussions for members of the IBBC with senior figures of the Iraqi Government, involved directly in the future economic policy and reconstruction planning of Iraq.

Agenda & Speakers

 

Session 1: Present Situation in Iraq

Chair: Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne 

Dr Barham Salih MP, Coalition for Democracy, Jon Wilks CMG (tbc), HM Ambassador to Iraq, Dr Renad Mansour, Research Fellow, Chatham House, Professor Toby Dodge, Director Middle East Centre, LSE

 

Session 2: Iraq in a Regional Perspective

Chair: Dr Renad Mansour, Research Fellow, Chatham House

                    Sara Akbar, CEO Oil Serve Kuwait

 

Session 3: China and Iraq

Chair: Botan Osman, Managing Director, Restrata

Raffaello Pantucci, Director of International Security Studies, RUSI

 

Session 4: IMF view on Iraq

Chair: Gavin Wishart, Board Member, IBBC

Gavin Gray, Mission Chief for Iraq, IMF

 

Session 5: Partnerships between British and Iraqi Universities

Chair: Dr Victoria Lindsay, Director British Council Iraq

Professor Obay Al Dewachi, President of Mosul University, Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor, Northampton University, Professor Mohammed Al Uzri, Honorary Professor with Social and Epidemiological Psychiatry Research Group, Leicester University, Professor John Strachan, Vice Chancellor, Bath Spa University

 

The Conference will also feature speeches from:

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, President IBBC – The Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Iraq, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan

Canon Dr Edmund Newell, Principal, Cumberland Lodge

Mr Nazar Mirajan Mohammed, Minister Plenipotentiary, Iraqi Embassy

Dr Mohammed Jasim, Director of Mosul University Library

 

Over the years, we have discovered that the setting in Windsor is conducive to very thoughtful deliberations, which can lead to influential results. The relaxed and informal atmosphere, combined with first class facilities and preeminent experts in the field of business, politics and education, make the whole occasion valuable and informative to everyone who is involved with and cares about Iraq.

 

Registration is still open to representatives from IBBC member companies. To register your participation please email [email protected] or phone 0207 222 7100.