November 30, 2021

INAA AGM 2021: Event Round-Up

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On 17 November 2021, some members from the INAA network travelled to Frankfurt, Germany, for the Annual General Meeting. The beautiful, historic city of Frankfurt was the perfect place to welcome back our members after a difficult year of no face-to-face events.

Guests were treated to an agenda jam-packed with expert-led talks, helpful workshops and downtime to explore the city. For those who were unable to attend, we’ve rounded up some of the highlights from the event in this article. Continue reading to find out more about the INAA AGM 2021.

Day One: Beginning on a High Note

On Wednesday, guests were given the opportunity to discover the dynamic Frankfurt skyline on a unique tour. Dotted throughout the city are breathtaking skyscrapers that tower above the other buildings — a truly captivating sight.

At the end of the tour, we admired the view of the entire city from the impressive vantage point of the 200m high Main Tower — the 4th tallest building in Germany! Once back down to earth, we officially opened our AGM with a glorious reception and dinner at the luxurious Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof hotel.

Day Two: Mixing Business with Pleasure

Day two kicked off with a warm welcome from Ed Turner, INAA Chairman, followed by an interesting talk held by Dirc Fröschen on how to do business in Germany.

 

We then headed into a workshop session hosted by Helio Vogas, Risk Expert and Leadership speaker. In a year where risks were seemingly everywhere, Helio Vogas walked us through important lessons we could take away from the pandemic. Attendees received valuable insights on new leadership techniques, better business practices, and more effective ways accounting firms can embrace tech to become resilient in the long term.

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While many appreciate the value that technology can bring a firm, it’s vital to understand the risks and how to mitigate them — and who better to educate us on the matter than Robert McClure and David Palmer from expert cyber security firm Paratus. These two specialists organised an interactive session for guests, placing them at the centre of a ransomware attack. Attendees used the opportunity to reflect on their own operating procedures for greater security in their firms.

As part of the day’s activities, guests had the chance to visit the Städel Museum, where a special Rembrandt exhibition was on display. Later, at 7 pm, guests joined two leading economists, Christian St Etienne and Dr Ulrich Kater, to learn more about their perspectives on the global economic outlook and ask any burning questions they had.

We rounded off the day with a grand sit-down dinner at the Restaurant Opéra. This year’s gala dinner was particularly special. It was a time to celebrate being together again and enjoy the grandeur that many of us missed over the past 18 months — and enjoy some delicious food at the same time!

Day Three: From Mount Everest’s Summit to Frankfurt’s Old Town

On Friday, guests were treated to an inspirational presentation by Cathy O’Dowd, a motivational speaker and, incidentally, the first woman to reach Mount Everest’s summit from both sides. Attendees were captivated as Cathy offered a heartfelt exploration of what it takes to tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges head-on.

The rest of the day was filled with other fun social activities, with the charming Christmas market making a lasting impression on everyone.

Guests also got to experience the ‘real’ Frankfurt with a stunning tour of the ‘new’ old town that was rebuilt from 2012-2018 and restored to its pre-war beauty. We also stopped off at the colourful local market to buy all the traditional ingredients to make Grüne Sauce, Frankfurt’s signature dish.

Day Four: A Tour to Top Things Off

On Saturday, everyone had the option to experience the culinary delights of the Rhine Valley on a stunning tour. Armed with their hiking shoes and a sense of adventure, we headed off to discover the picturesque villages the Valley had to offer. Then, we reached the Johannisberg Castle, where a delightful wine-tasting session was held.

Another stunning castle called Vollrads Castle was the backdrop to an exquisite lunch. We topped the day off with a visit to the famous Eberbach Monastery — a stunning feat of Romanesque architecture.

Needless to say, the AGM event was a roaring success — and just what many of us needed after a difficult couple of years apart. Although technology has worked wonders for keeping everyone connected, it’s no replacement for in-person events like this one.

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We understand that the pandemic isn’t over yet, and it’s of the utmost importance to remain vigilant and cautious to ensure more face-to-face events in the future. We would therefore like to thank all those who attended the AGM for abiding by government guidelines with respect to the coronavirus situation.

We are already looking forward to the next AGM, and we hope you are too.

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