European members’ come together in Amsterdam

The European regional conference, held in Amsterdam on 15-17 June, was a resounding success, attracting over 90 delegates and guests.

On the first day, our keynote speaker, Thimon de Jong, delivered a thought-provoking session titled "Future Human Behaviour -Navigating Crisis!" His insightful presentation equipped delegates with strategies to maintain mental agility, enhance leadership skills, improve client services, foster effective collaboration internally and externally, and strengthen decision-making abilities. Delegates left the session with actionable takeaways to empower their organisations to thrive amidst change.

Following an update on Morison Global by CEO, Kenny Young, Thimon returned to moderate a panel discussion on talent retention strategies and practices. Joining Thimon on stage were panellists Claire Le Meur, Group Communication manager at Fifty Bees, Pieter van Stempvoort, HR Director at DHW International, and Jonas Derycke, Partner at Van Havermaet. The panel delved into the topic of talent management and retention, offering insights and practical tips based on their knowledge and experiences.

We had the privilege to welcome Antonis Diolas, Head of Audit and Assurance at ACCA, who provided an overview of his latest publication, "Sustainability Assurance – Rising to the Challenge." Antonis discussed the current global landscape of sustainability reporting and assurance, highlighting the key challenges faced by practitioners in meeting the increasing demand for sustainability assurance from investors.

To close day one delegates and companions enjoyed a memorable dinner at De Koepelkerk, with great food, music and dancing.

We were delighted to have Zoe Thompson from Phoenix coaching join the conference on day two to deliver a highly valuable session on managing stress, overwhelm, and burnout. This topic resonated with all attendees, providing insights on recognising burnout symptoms, engaging in conversations related to burnout, and implementing practical strategies to alleviate chronic stress and overwhelm. Participants also received actionable recommendations they could implement.

The afternoon was focused on networking while exploring the city. Following a treasure map, participants had the opportunity to explore both popular landmarks and lesser-known hidden gems of Amsterdam – followed by some well earned refreshments! To round off a successful conference, we all enjoyed a relaxing canal cruise and dinner at Hotel de Goudfazant, providing a final opportunity for delegates to spend valuable time networking in relaxed surroundings.

We’d like to thank all the speakers who contributed to the success of our European conference, and a special thank you to our conference host firms, DHW International and Hoek en Blok, for their invaluable support in organising and planning the event.

We’d also like to share our appreciation to all of our members and invited guests who participated, and we eagerly anticipate reconnecting with our European members next year!