Dear Members and Friends,
As I write, a number of BEI members are in Baku for COP29. This year’s discussions will clearly be overshadowed by the election of Donald Trump in the US. There are likely to be few surprises around his position on climate, but the second-order impacts on other countries’ climate and energy policies will take longer to emerge, despite no doubt many brave words and some (probably limited) commitments at Baku. All will need to adjust to the new reality: the proof will come in the form of practical policies reflecting each country’s approach to the balance between climate imperatives and international commitments on the one hand, energy security and domestic policy on the other. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was one of the few major global leaders to attend and made an ambitious commitment for the UK, the domestic implications of which are likely to remain contested. We will be holding an online event on the outcomes of COP 29 on 5 December, where we will be joined by the British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, HE Fergus Auld, as well as a number of BEI members who will discuss their impressions from the meeting and their thoughts on the way forward.
Meanwhile, a number of our members have recently returned from the biodiversity COP16 and yesterday we hosted a panel on its (mixed) outcomes. A recording of what was definitely a lively discussion will be on our website next week.
Returning to what’s happening across the Atlantic, our recent session with USAID, which took place before the US election, provided an opportunity to reflect on the potential changes to US international development priorities following a Trump victory. Again, the ripples will go well beyond Washington DC with implications for other donors and, indeed, the companies and organisations who are part of BEI. As we engage with the evolution of the UK’s development policy in the light of the new UK Government and the ongoing Shafik review, this is clearly another dimension we will have to take into account.
By way of good news closer to home, I am delighted that over the past few months we have been able to welcome a number of new members across the range of BEI’s sectors: Concern Worldwide (UK); Connected Places Catapult; Development Pathways; IOD PARC; McComb Partnership; MetaMetrics; NLA International; and People in Need UK (PIN UK). They will already be well known to many of our members; some have already spoken at BEI events or are already on the programme. We look forward to working with them all. At the same time, I’d like to congratulate three BEI members on their recent rebranding: Hodder, now Hachette Learning; KSI Education now Aldates Global Education; and Tribal Education is now Etio Global.
Looking forward, on 26 November we will host a panel discussion on education opportunities in South-East Asia, with speakers including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri, Minister of Education at the Malaysian High Commission; and Dao Thi Hong, First Secretary at the Embassy of Viet Nam. They will be joined by ASEAN education attachés from other London-based Embassies, to explore opportunities for the UK in TVET and higher education partnerships in this dynamic region. Acumen’s Cecilia Pereira-Yates and TMF Group’s Ed Dixon will offer their perspectives on internationalisation and business development, with an emphasis on the potential for UK engagement in markets where innovation, skills development and educational reform are driving growth.
For your weekend reading, please look out for our GESI report case studies on LinkedIn. In the second edition of the report, we have added case studies from some recently-joined BEI members, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading.
Also, BEI Member Accenture Development Partnerships, in collaboration with CARE International UK, has this week published a report, “AI and the Global South: Making AI more ethical and effective through inclusive participation | CARE International UK” which amplifies voices from civil society on AI’s impact and future. This report highlights how we can make the most of opportunities to ensure that local communities are active participants in the design, deployment, use and governance of AI.
Finally, Turner and Townsend have shared the latest content from their series on transforming performance in major programmes focusing on Driving Commercial Performance'. In this panel, Director of Programme Advisory Richard Wood spoke with three industry leaders on the main enablers of commercial performance in major programmes.
I’m spending my weekend in Switzerland participating in what has turned out to be a very timely series of discussions on global challenges, on which I’ll share more next week. Wherever you’re spending your weekend, my best wishes,
David Landsman
Executive Chairman
British Expertise International
Recordings of recent past events:
- 8th October 2024: Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- 23rd October 2024: Argentina - Market Opportunity Overview
- 5th November 2024: Caribbean Development Bank: Education and Social Inclusion
- 6th November 2024: FCDO Development Director - Nigeria
Key events coming up include the following:
- 26th November 2024 09:00 – 10:30 GMT: India – Opportunities in Disaster Risk Resilience - Weather related disasters such as extreme heat, droughts and massive flooding are increasing in frequency and intensity in India. Ahead of a DBT trade mission, explore key opportunities in various aspects of Disaster Risk Resilience in the Indian market.
- 26th November 2024 14:00 – 16:00 GMT: Leveraging the Further Education and Skills Agenda in the South East Asia Region - This event will bring together a panel of experts on Education in South East Asia, to discuss leveraging the further education and skills agenda in the region. The panel will explore the importance of TVET and Higher Education in enhancing innovation and economic impact in South East Asia, as well as the role of international education and the wider benefits to local and global communities.
- 27th November 2024 15:00 – 16:15 GMT: AI in Digital Assessment - Join us online for our November Education Working Group which will focus on AI in Digital Assessment, with a panel of members from MetaMetrics, QAA and Rosetta Stone.
- 28th November 2024 09:00 – 10:15 GMT: Working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia - This online event on Working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia will feature a panel of BEI members sharing their experiences of working with DFAT. The panel of existing suppliers to DFAT and former colleagues who worked as part of Australian Aid will share tips and tricks on how to win contracts, how to prepare for funding from DFAT, and the challenges organisations may encounter suppliers.
- 3rd December 2024 09:30 – 10:30 GMT: India Education Deep Dive with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) - Join us for a webinar deep dive into education opportunities in India led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). The DBT Education team in India will provide us with an overview and insights into the key education sector opportunities available for British businesses, advice on cultural understanding, and tips for navigating the Indian market.
- 5th December 2024 10:00 – 11:30 GMT: COP29 Outcomes - As COP29 approaches in Baku, Azerbaijan, policy makers, investors and the business community are all looking forward to the negotiations’ outcomes. To help BEI members unpack COP29’s outcomes, our speakers will discuss their experiences at COP29, their main takeaways, and their hopes for the future.
- 27th February 2025 16:00 – 19:00 GMT: Climate Change Networking Evening - Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation, potential new partnerships and the chance to meet with members of our Climate Change Working Group. Our keynote speaker this time is Andy Blackhall, Managing Director of WRc. Andy will reflect on his career and his hopes for the future.
- Early 2025 - Date TBA: FCDO Development Director: Sierra Leone - Join us as we host Alex MacLean, Development Director in Sierra Leone for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), who will present FCDO’s development strategy, programming and pipeline of opportunities in Sierra Leone. Alex will also be joined by sector directors from the British Embassy in Sierra Leone for the Q&A part of the session.
External Events:
- 19th November 2024 14:00 – 15:00 GMT: Safeguarding Leads Network - A one-hour session co-hosted by CHS Alliance and the Safeguarding Leads Network, showcasing the Harmonised Reporting Scheme (HRS)—a simple yet powerful platform designed to help businesses easily report on SEAH incidents, comply with donor requirements, and uncover trends in sexual misconduct. Click here to register.
- 25th November 2024 10:45 – 13:00 GST: Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Mission – Meet the Buyer Event - The UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade, are bringing a trade delegation of approximately 60 UK companies to the UAE from 24-29 November 2024 to participate in a Sustainable Infrastructure and Energy Mission, which will coincide with the Big 5 Global in Dubai and the RAK Energy Summit in Ras Al Khaimah. As part of an in-market activity, there is a Meet the Buyer event to enable the delegation to engage with local UAE companies and present their products and services, many of which will be completely new to the market. For more information, please email Bashira Meah via bashira.meah@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
- 11th December 2024: Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA) Uganda - London Investment Mission. Investors, accelerators and ecosystem players are invited to attend a special event in London. This event is designed to bridge the gap between innovative climate mitigation and adaptation projects and the investment needed to bring them to life, pairing project pitches with sessions on scaling investment in East Africa. You will have the opportunity to engage with six Ugandan projects offering innovative solutions to critical challenges around climate mitigation and adaptation across different sectors: energy, e-mobility, agriculture, and affordable waste management. You can register here.
- May 7th & 8th 2025: Global Leakage Summit - The premier event for the international leakage community to listen, learn, and build relationships, tackling the toughest challenges together. Join presenters and panelists from leading UK and international water companies, and explore the latest technologies, data innovations, and software solutions from our exhibitors. In the face of climate change and record-high global investment in leakage management, this two-day conference promises a world-class knowledge-sharing program and invaluable networking opportunities.
Member News:
- The latest instalment of Turner and Townsend's series ‘Transforming performance of major programmes’, their Director of Programme Advisory Richard Wood, spoke with three industry leaders on the main enablers of commercial performance in major programmes.
- BEI Member Accenture Development Partnerships, in collaboration with CARE International UK, has this week published a report, “AI and the Global South: Making AI more ethical and effective through inclusive participation | CARE International UK”, which amplifies voices from Global South civil society on AI’s impact and future. There are opportunities ahead to make sure Global South communities are participants in the design, deployment, use and governance of AI.
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