Press Releases
November 2010
Essex Accountant Gains Global Insight
A partner at Essex-based accountancy firm Rickard Keen recently returned from a conference in South Africa, where he was given an insight into the latest economic trends both on the continent and around the world.
Alan Worsdale was attending the annual conference of MGI, a global alliance of auditing, accounting and consulting firms which support each other by providing expert local advice and commercial knowledge to fellow members and their clients, of which Rickard Keen is a member.
The event took place from October 13 to 15 in Cape Town, South Africa, providing an opportunity for representatives from a wide cross section of countries to share knowledge and ideas, and get to know each other a little better.
The delegates also heard from guest speakers who talked about issues ranging from interpreting client feedback and strategic planning to the surprising similarities between the operations of an African tribe and a modern business!
Alan said: “The meeting in Cape Town was probably the best MGI meeting I have attended with the organisation and attention to detail second to none, and with truly international and inspirational speakers.
“The main speaker on the first day was Quinton Coetzee who is a television presenter, conservationist and bush craft specialist. He presented for an hour, making comparisons between an African tribe and a modern business. One of the first comments he made was that each day the tribe are either hunters or being hunted. He also stressed the point that team work was vital for survival and that people need to take initiative and just get on a do things if they need doing even if it may not be ‘their job’.
“The principal external speaker on the second day was Clem Sunter who was a past Chairman and CEO of Anglo American Mining Corporation. His presentation was about scenario planning and drawing comparison between a hedgehog which goes in a straight line with just one goal in mind and a fox which adapts to situations as they change. He has written several books on this theme and while I was in South Africa I purchased and read two of them.
“These conferences are a great opportunity for us to network with members from other countries and reinforce the international expertise we are able to offer our clients.”
For more information contact Rickard Keen on 01702 347771 or visit www.rickardkeen.com.