It is always hard to follow a great, but Simon Hassan, Chair of the 2004 Success Forum to be held in Auckland next July, is more than quietly confident next year’s event will be the best yet.

‘Over the last few years each Success Forum has set a new standard, but we have no doubt at all that this we are going to raise the bar again in Auckland’, he said. ‘Our committed and cretive committee is developing a superb business and social programme, and the whole experience is guaranteed to be one you will never forget.

Brand new venue

‘The brand new Sky City Convention Centre, opening only a month or two before the event, will be a fantastic venue. The only conference venue in the country with literally everything on site: accomodation, catering, state of the art technology, and entertainment areas – all right in the heart of New Zealand’s largest city.

Gala carnival night

‘For many the ket event will be the gala night. This time we will have a carnival / street party theme – an even that will be electric with excitement. As you arrive a dazzling jumble of carnival and street performers will entertain and impress you with amazing and daring feats – and as you let your hair down with new and old friends a selection of Dixie bands will keep the air buzzing.

‘You’ll be able to try your hand, your eye: and your courage in a range of classic carnival activities. Meanwhile you feast on a huge selection of exotic foods – with your favourite beverages. Latino dancers will titivate the crowd, and if you fancy a twirl, you’ll get the chance! Later there will be dancing for eveyone, and of course, prizes.

Business sessions

‘In addition to an outstanding collection of platform presenters (we told you about them in our last article), there will again be five concurrent workshop (or ‘business session’) streams, allowing your to pick and choose between up top 35 different options over the two and a half days of the conference.

‘Not only are these business sessions being planned by pratitioners, but each one will be personally reviewed in advance by the coordinator, giving us the greatest possible confidence that the content and style of presentation of each will be relevent and useful. You can be sure of taking home some really valuable idea from Auckland in 2004’, Simon Hassan said.

The team for 2004

Auckland has assembled an enthusiastic, creative and committed team – a balance of age and youth, make and female, and risk and investment backgrounds.

The committee consists of five practitioners, plus Marg Craig of The Conference Team, and Phillip Matthews our CEO. Each practitioner is overseeing one stream of the business sessions. Cecilia Farrow and Katrina Denize (risk specialists) are coordinating the Risk and Advanced Risk streams.

Clair MacPherson-Jones and Tracee Crammond (investment specialists) are looking after the Investment and Advanced Investment streams, and Simon Hassan (Board member) is looking after the fifth stream, called Best Practice.

The Conference Team have been looking after the overall organisation and coordiation of our annual conference for some years now, while Phillip Matthews is responsible for sponsorship, financial control, and an important link to the FPIA national office.

Keen interest from sponsors

‘Success Forum 2004 is the premium event for fund managers, insurance companies and other suppliers, and many have already turned their keen interest. At the time of writing it looks as if all sponsorship slots will be taken – not to mention every square centimetre of the generous exhibition hall’, said CEO Phillip Matthews.

‘Success Forum 2004 looks like living up to the high expectations of the taltented Auckland committee. It will be a must for anyone who are serious about working in the financial services area.’

Take advantage of lower cost earlybird registration – a form is enclosed with this Adviser magazine, or your can download one from the website at www.fpia.org.nz/events_reg.htm. Register and pay by 27th February to qualify for a reduced fee.