Over 90 IBBC members and associates attended this year’s best attended Cumberland Lodge retreat.

The retreat began with a welcome evening reception, where guests were warmly welcomed by H.E. Dr Saleh Al-Tamimi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the UK, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, President of IBBC, Mr Abir Burhan, Director of Al Burhan Gourp, and Mr Fergus Drake OBE, Principal of Cumberland Lodge who delivered opening remarks and welcomed members, associates and distinguished guests to the retreat.

For the following day, top speakers included the Chairman of the Iraqi Prime Ministers advisory commission Dr Yousif Khalaf Yousif Al-Dunainawi, who spoke for two hours on government matters over two panels, Dr Neil Quilliam and Dr Renad Mansour of Chatham House, Mr David Hunt FCDO, and Professor Frank Gunter of Lehigh University who all discussed the present situation in Iraq. We were also pleased to welcome Ms. Lara Hampshire, UK Director of Trade and Investment in Iraq.

Dr Yousif clearly outlined the three key priorities for the new government and Prime Minister: Economic empowerment, bring all militia under state control, fight corruption under the law, and reform of institutions. Within these priorities there are subgroup and initiatives, but the PM is determined to enact reforms, strengthen the state and root out corruption and bad practices. Digital transformation will play a leading part in these initiatives across all ministries. It won’t be easy, and Iraq will expect resistance as they confront ingrained human behaviours, but unless they do, the future will be challenging.

The Government will deploy data in their argument in the quest for modernisation and reform and seek to establish digital sovereignty, data centres and AI capabilities that can leapfrog Iraq from its legacy bureaucracy. He revealed a new ministerial position is imminent.

The panels went on to discuss electoral reform and challenges, the need to create jobs for 330,000 young people coming on to the market each year, that only the private sector can create. The ray of hope is that young Iraqi people have a more secular modern outlook and will increasingly replace the old regime politicians, which may enable Iraq to move away from religious block voting.

Other panels included Dr Lina Khatib of Chatham House, Mr Hoz Khaznadar of Gulf Interstate Engineering and Dr Norman Ricklefs of Namea Group. They discussed Iraq, the US and the region.

In a new departure, Mr Mounzer Nahza, Chair of the SBBC Executive Committee, hosted a panel on the opportunities in Syria, with Mr Fadi Sarkis of Sarkis & Associates, Mr Karim Ayoub Agha of AAG and Mr Sakher Altoun of Altoun Group. The discussion highlighted Syrians’ determination to invest in reconstruction, and the country’s potential as a regional logistics hub linking to Iraq. Speakers cited tourism, power and transport opportunities, supported by PPPs, tax incentives and a stronger legal framework, alongside a competitive skilled workforce and reforms in private education and digitalisation.

Basra Gas Company won and was presented the 2026 Rasmi Al Jabri Award for Business Excellence, presented by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne and Zaid al-Jabri. Mr Marfa Al Asady, Deputy Managing Director of Basrah Gas Company, collected it on behalf of the company. Founded by the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC) in 2021 in honour of its late founding member and former Vice Chairman, Engineer Rasmi Al Jabri, the annual award recognises Iraqi businesses that show strong Iraqi leadership, the highest standards of business practice, long-term investment in their people and commitment to the wider community. Basra Gas Company was recognised for its outstanding business performance, its investment in domestic gas supply for power generation, its environmental progress in reducing gas flaring and adopting solar power, and its development of Iraqi talent.

Later in the afternoon, IBBC Education Advisor Professor Mohammed Al-Uzri facilitated scholarship agreements between the Iraqi Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED) and the Universities of Leeds and Aberdeen. Professor Dr Hamid Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Committee for Education Development (HCED), signed two scholarship agreements with the University of Leeds and the University of Aberdeen, creating new opportunities for Iraqi students to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK. The signing was attended and witnessed by Dr. Yousif Khalaf al-Dunainawi, Chairman of the Prime Ministers Advisory Commission (PMAC), IBBC President, Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne and H.E Dr. Saleh Al-Tamimi, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the UK

This ceremony was followed by the Education panel chaired by Professor Mohammed Al Uzri which went on to outline what IBBC educational members are doing in Iraq with contributions from Mr. Stephen North of Newcastle University, Dr. Yaseen Abbas, President of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and Raed Mahmoud of SABIS. Discussions covered both developments in Iraqi Higher Education as well as schools, specifically international schools run by IBBC members, SABIS and Stirling Education

The delegates attended two dinners, with distinguished speakers: Ms Nathalie von Taaffe, SBBC Advisory Council member and former Barclays global compliance and security director, who educated us all on the dangers of AI and cyber to business security, but and the opportunities if we manage it well. The next evening Brigadier James Ellery entertained us all with stories stretching back to his time with Lord Louis Mountbatten, to his exploits in Africa, Iraq and for the UN, as part of his new book due in November.

IBBC would like to thank Al Burhan Group, whose generosity enabled the event as sole sponsors.