Recently I attended the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Leadership Conference reception co-hosted by TheCityUK, with the support of Fenchurch Advisory Partners. The reception brought together senior members of the Coalition Government, including the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the Rt. Hon. William Hague MP, with business leaders from the financial and professional services sector, academia and wider communities. 

The focus was on international trade and leadership and the vital roles they have in supporting the UK economy along with opportunities for investing in areas of growth in a global market. Of course this is a crucial area for AIA members and through their roles within practice or commerce the international market has been and remains crucial to business.

The FCO Leadership Conference brings together major players in Britain's foreign affairs and trade, building Britain's prosperity by increasing exports and investment, opening markets, ensuring access to resources, and promoting sustainable global growth. The FCO Leadership Conference is one of the most important dates in the FCO's diary and is an opportunity for their heads of missions, FCO Ministers and FCO Board Members to share views and set agendas for the coming year.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a worldwide network of embassies and consulates, employing over 14,000 people in nearly 270 diplomatic offices. They work with international organisations to promote British interests and global security, including the EU, NATO, the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the Commonwealth.

TheCityUK's purpose is to promote the competitiveness of UK financial services – to make the UK the best place in the world to establish and grow a financial services business and, in turn, to maximise the sector's contribution to the UK economy.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to bring together many varied people, with a wide range of interests, and support the important work TheCityUK undertakes in conjunction with the FCO to promote British trade abroad.