Welcome to our final edition of 2018 and first of 2019. We are at that stage in the year when our calendars become heavily committed, not least with the ACT's own programme of events. Front of my mind is the recent ACT Forum and Annual Dinner. The forum, which brought together senior treasury professionals, gave delegates a chance to examine in detail the political and regulatory turbulence that never seems to abate and which affects treasurers wherever they are in the world. In-depth discussions on Brexit, cybersecurity, the evolving technology scene and the demise of Libor took place, as we record in our report on page 12. Later that day, more than 1,500 guests converged on the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, for the excellent ACT Annual Dinner to exchange news and views with friends and colleagues, and share great food and wine. After-dinner entertainment from the inimitable Sandi Toksvig will live long in the memory, and it can only be a point of great satisfaction that the ACT's charity partner, Hand in Hand, far exceeded its fundraising target for the evening, bringing in more than £60,000 via a silent auction and raffle. Hand in Hand is an international charity that provides training and assistance to those living in poverty as they launch businesses, support themselves and employ others. Funds raised at the Annual Dinner will help the charity establish an ACT village in Kenya and provide financial and entrepreneurial training for more than 390 people - a highly productive day all round. These are not the only recent ACT events we record in this edition. We report on the Asia Treasury Leaders' Forum on page 11 and from page 26 we celebrate the success of this year's Middle East Treasury Awards winners. Staying on the subject of high achievers, on page 16 we profile Yazzy Tanjutco Moya, corporate treasurer at LA talent agency Creative Artists Agency and a former treasurer at Save the Children. In a career spanning 30 years, Moya has moved from continent to continent and from one industry sector to another. Fully committed to giving her all in whichever role or setting she finds herself, it is her experiences as CFO of Save the Children Japan that are most inspiring, as she witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, while dedicating herself to setting up an infrastructure that would deliver funds and aid. At this time of year, we ask treasury professionals to look up from their desks to give us their read on key challenges. Their thoughts on some of today's thornier issues can be found on page 22. Finally, we're honoured to be able to include a Christmas message from the ACT's ethical adviser, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who reflects on page 46, on the issues that keep us awake at night. I hope you enjoy the issue. -Liz Loxton, editor of The Treasurer
