Hundreds of delegates and exhibitors will be heading to Wales for the IFP annual conference 2014 at Celtic Manor, which begins on Monday.
As the build up continues, Mike MacLeod, the IFP's conference and events committee chairman, tells readers what he is most looking forward to and previews the three days.
The start of the 2014 IFP Conference is rapidly approaching and with it comes the acid test question, - will the delegates enjoy it?
As that acid test cannot be answered until after the event so sometimes it is simpler and more useful to ask what will I enjoy at the conference?
For starters I really enjoy the venue. Celtic Manor is a great place to spend a few days with friends so why not with 500+ of them. For me having plenty to do away from conference (Spa, pool etc), good quality rooms for delegates and speakers plus spaces to hide away for a private chat makes this the best venue the IFP have used to date.
The organising committee have quite deliberately shaken up the agenda and format this year. We have placed more emphasis on the opening day and made the opening speaker slot one of the conference highlights. We have also gone for fewer and longer breakout sessions, introduced a 'Conference App' and made the gala dinner an awards dinner. These changes are intended to be in line with the conference theme of 'Keep It Real' and giving the attendees improved value for their time and money.
The conference opens with Doug Carter speaking on the topic of 'clients forever' and that talk will set the context, and set the performance bar, for the remainder of the conference. As such it is the session that I am most keen to hear and hope it will be exceptionally well received. After that there is a raft of great sessions over the next two days, ending with the intriguing Shaa Wasmund, so no delegate need find themselves bored.
It has been a privilege to serve on the Conference & Events Committee for the last four years and this year my role is as chairman. The role of the committee is to help the small and dynamic IFP Events team, headed up by the marvellous Katherine Morgans, create and stage an appropriate range of training opportunities for the IFP members and to also make suggestions for speakers.
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During the conference the committee members will be judging the exhibition stands with the two awards (innovation and education) in mind so we will be looking to sweep the stands clear of goodies. Last year the chair person was seen raiding the sweetie shop – only for her children of course.
I am less easily swayed. However, if there is a Scotch whisky theme on any of the stands there is a fair chance that they may win one of the awards on offer. Have fun, whatever your preferences are.