As 2021 recedes into memory, it’s natural to look back on a year that for most people was a mixed bag of steps forward toward normality accompanied by setbacks along the way. For the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT), certainly, the end of a year that demanded resilience and adaptability offered an opportunity to celebrate a landmark in the journey back to normal service.
London’s Leonardo City Hotel was the venue for the ACT’s first live conference since the arrival of COVID-19. For those who attended the Working Capital Conference in London on 8 December, the day offered not only time to refresh technical knowledge, but also a chance to share a space with colleagues and friends once again. The timing, just before the Omicron variant took hold, was fortuitous.
As one delegate said, “It’s the first event I’ve been to in such a long time, and it was great to be back.”
Chaired by ACT associate policy & technical director Naresh Aggarwal, the Working Capital Conference once again shed a revealing light on the issues facing treasurers in a world of shifting challenges. From the increasing threat posed by inflation, the need to embed sustainability in all aspects of operations, growing pressures on supply chains and the urgent need to adopt digitisation and automation – 2022 promises to once again test treasurers’ mettle on a number of fronts.
Indeed, keynote speaker James Waud, managing director, head of banks and transaction services at NatWest, pointed out to the audience that the challenges aren’t going away: “They’re all linked – and to understand one, you need to understand them all.”
Delegates were able then to listen to a range of eminent speakers – economists, treasurers, technologists and others serving the professions – outline how they believe the post-COVID-19 landscape will continue to evolve in 2022. There will be a more comprehensive write-up of the conference in the next issue of The Treasurer.
So, what does it all mean for the ACT? Well, the Working Capital Conference was the first of a number of live events that will return over the course of the coming year, COVID-19 permitting. The main ACT Annual Conference is set to return to Liverpool on 10 and 11 May, but before that there are a number of in-person events to look forward to, the first of which takes place in Dubai on 16 February when ACT Middle East: Treasury > Technology > Together will bring together the region's corporate treasury and finance professionals to discuss the latest in treasury technology.
Following on from that, the ACT is planning for the Cash Management Conference to be held in London, with dates to be confirmed dependent on the current COVID-19 situation in the UK. Then, on 31 March 31, the annual ACT Deals of the Year Awards make their return to real life at One Great George Street in London.
The Awards celebrate the art of the deal and shine a light on the work being done in treasury teams in the UK and beyond, showcasing the strategic and tactical skills that many inside the profession sometimes take for granted; the Deals of the Year Awards are a chance to celebrate the excellence in our ranks.
Meanwhile, look out for our continuing series of webinars that will run throughout the year, covering everything from cross-border cash management to the joys of learning in later life.
The first members’ webinar is scheduled for 18 January when Third Age Trust chief executive Sam Mauger joins ACT CEO Caroline Stockman to discuss the opportunities that open up to those nearing retirement. Then, on 19 January, we ask ‘Is crossing new currency borders a jump too far for Asian banks’ cash and liquidity management?’ in a webinar presented in association with Finastra.
The year 2022 should – we hope – begin to resemble a more ‘normal’ year, where treasurers can again gather at events in the UK and beyond to share their experiences and network with their peers.
For now, though, we’d like to wish our members a happy, safe and prosperous new year.
Christian Doherty is the editor of The Treasurer
