On Tuesday 13 May 2008 the ifs School of Finance returned to the prestigious setting of London’s Guildhall for its annual Chairman’s Dinner. Several hundred senior figures from the worlds of education and financial services, as well as a number of leading MPs and peers, gathered to discuss industry developments at this black-tie event held in sumptuous surroundings.
Gavin Shreeve, Chief Executive of the ifs School of Finance, opened the evening by highlighting the unique partnership agreement between the ifs School of Finance and the School of Management at the University of Surrey – to offer a combined academic and professional qualification in financial services.
The Dual Award will combine a BSc (Hons) in Financial Services Management from the University of Surrey with the professional Associateship (Aifs) of the ifs School of Finance.
The Chief Executive‘s address was followed by speeches from Max Taylor and Professor Bob O‘Keefe of the University of Surrey, after which guests dined on an exquisite five-course meal.
Dinner was followed by an address from the Chairman of the ifs, Donald Brydon FCIB CBE. As well as providing a number of enlightening anecdotes, Brydon drew attention to the imminent QAA decision on whether to recommend the award of taught degree awarding powers to the ifs School of Finance – a key milestone in the development of the ifs as an international business school for and about finance. The Chairman concluded by praising all ifs staff as ‘dedicated, high quality, hard working and successful’.
Guest speaker Sir James Crosby, knighted in 2006 for his services to the financial services industry, commenced his speech by stating that the ifs School of Finance has made tremendous progress through the changes it has made in recent years: ‘Change that can only be admired, with a real purpose, not just in raising standards within the financial services industry but in changes tackling the financial capability agenda.’
In a well-received speech, laced with self-deprecating remarks and anecdotes, Crosby recounted his career progression, including his experiences as Chief Executive of HBOS and his current role as Deputy Chairman of the FSA.
The 2008 Chairman’s Dinner was perhaps most accurately summarised by Gavin Shreeve, who commented:
‘It was great to be back in familiar surroundings at the Guildhall. The response, both to the evening and to the ifs School of Finance, really was superb. It is a very strong advertisement for the kind of organisation we are; dedicated to quality in everything we do.’
