2012 Edinburgh Conference
Delegates from most of the BABC's 23 chapters throughout the US, UK and Canada, came together for the BABC's Annual Transatlantic Business Conference, ‘Developing Transatlantic Relations’, held in Edinburgh from May 15-18, 2012.
Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, hosted a spectacular Gala Dinner at Edinburgh Castle for Conference delegates on May 17: the previous evening, the City of Edinburgh hosted a Welcome Reception at the historic City Chambers.
The Conference, hosted by RBS at its Group Headquarters, addressed a broad range of key issues, including innovation; clean tech; defense/homeland security; cybercrime; data protection; and business/university collaboration. It also included a half-day BAGOL (British-American Group of Lawyers) program, covering issues of particular relevance to the legal community.
In addition to business and industry leaders, speakers included: The Rt Hon Michael Moore MP, Secretary of State for Scotland; The Hon Louis B Susman, US Ambassador to the Court of St James’s; Tom Donohue, President of the US Chamber of Commerce; Nick Baird, CEO of UK Trade and Investment; and The Rt Hon Lord Reid, previously Home Secretary, Defensse Secretary, Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland Secretary in the British Cabinet.
Some Conference participants also took advantage of the program’s offering of a round of golf at Gleneagles (in glorious weather), the day before the Conference started.
"We are delighted that so many BABC members, from throughout the BABC network, took advantage of the opportunity to join us for this Conference, and so expand both their business network and their business learning, as well enjoying the great hospitality and beauty of Edinburgh”, commented Ven Kocaj, President of the BABC and Regional Managing Partner for Deloitte’s Audit Practice in the North Eastern United States.
"The continuing growth in the BABC’s membership, despite the challenging economic times, is a great tribute to the strength of our organization and to the skills and dedication of our volunteer leadership and professional staff throughout North America and the UK”
Iain McMillan, Chairman of the SNABC, added: "We were very pleased to welcome so many delegates from so many BABC chapters to Edinburgh, and are very grateful to them, and especially to all our sponsors and speakers, for their invaluable role in helping us make this Conference so successful."
You can have a look at some of BABC Northern California President Colin Brown's photos here.
Conference sponsors included:
Royal Bank of Scotland, UKTI, Scottish Development International, British Airways, United Airlines, City of Edinburgh Council, Oracle, SAS, Epstein Becker Green, Diageo, The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, Mainstream Renewable Power, IndigoVision, Mills and Reeve, Stirling Associates and CBI Scotland.
Corporate Members
Patron Member
Premier Member
Corporate Member
