We returned to The Lowry for a second successive year because of its great location and its excellent food and service, which must be why Jose Mourinho likes it so much. It was great to welcome around 90 guests to the event, a pleasing increase on the number of attendees in 2017.
As a way of encouraging our younger members in the region, we have recently introduced awards for outstanding success in examinations. Well done to all. See full list below.
The audience enjoyed an excellent after-dinner speech by Justin Webb, BBC journalist and newsreader. After serving as BBC North America editor, he joined the team of presenters on Radio 4’s influential Today programme. He now spends his time grilling the great and the good and those making the day’s headlines. Justin entertained and informed us for half an hour and then took so many questions from the audience that we ran out of time and had to cut him off.
There were two nominated charities on the night, representing ‘home’ and ‘overseas’: ‘Lifeshare’ and ‘A little bit of HOPE’ respectively. Both were generously supported, receiving around £500 plus gift aid in donations, split between the two.
Lifeshare is a voluntary organisation established to help meet the needs of homeless and vulnerable people in Manchester and Salford. Volunteers help people living on the streets to secure suitable accommodation, support them in maintaining their tenancies and help them to access initiatives that carry their lives forward.
A little bit of HOPE is a small charity with the vision of nurturing hope in the Butaleja District of Uganda by enabling people to overcome the practical challenges that prevent them reaching their full potential. The charity’s work covers areas such as education and training, sanitation and micro-finance.
Some of the top table guests were: John Young, agent, north west, Bank of England; Julie Radcliffe, president, Manchester branch, Institute of Chartered Accountants; Ian Wiseman, vice chairman, Manchester branch, STEP; David Elton, Chartered MCSI, partner, Investment Management Castlefield; Izzy Elton, trustee, A little bit of HOPE; Judy Vickers, operations manager, Lifeshare.
Many thanks to Richard Bennett, CISI regional director; and Rob Williams, CISI business development manager, from CISI HQ. Above all, thanks to Bree Joyce, CISI regional events executive, for organising the event and for dealing with the late dramas. It was an excellent night which confirmed that the CISI is thriving in Manchester.
Our sponsors on the night were AXA, BlackRock, First Trust, M&G Investments and T. Rowe Price. As ever, we are very grateful for their support, without which the evening would not go ahead. If you would like to support future dinners, please contact bree.joyce@cisi.org.
Award categories and winners
Applied Wealth Management
Matthew Burgess MCSI, Tilney
Corporate Finance Strategy & Advice
Peter Smith, Park Place Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Techniques & Theory
Tim Elliot ACSI, Palletways Group
Pension Transfers & Planning Advice
John Cunliffe CFP™ Chartered MCSI, Edison Consulting
Advanced Global Securities Operations
Mwalimu Jona Rukudzo Shirehwa, Marlborough Fund Managers
Committee Award for Most Promising Newcomer
Andrew Leach, Coutts & Co
Committee Award for Exceptional Client Service
Alison Newall, Chartered MCSI, Castlefield Partners