From September 24 through September 30, 2014, the Mid-Year Council Meeting and Regional Conferences were held in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Council members took in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Brazil during the "down" time, and many came earlier or stayed on after the business events to enjoy what Brazil has to offer.
Each year the IPBA Council meets in the spring in the days just prior to the Annual Meeting and Conference, and in the fall for the Mid-Year Council Meeting and Regional Conference. The IPBA Council Meetings consist of:
Decisions made at this meeting in Brazil include the following:
Officers Vice President: Denis McNamara Deputy Secretary-General: Caroline Berube Deputy Program Coordinator: Jose Cochingyan III Jursidictional Council Members Australia: Bruce Lloyd (renewal of term) Canada: Robert Quon (renewal of term) Japan: Ryosuke Ito (renewal of term) Pakistan: Badaruddin Vellani (renewal of term) USA: Keith Phillips |
At-Large Council Members Latin America: Shin Jae Kim (renewal of term) Osaka: Hiroe Toyoshima (renewal of term) China: Yunchuan Jing (renewal of term) Regional Coordinator Asia Pacific: Michael Butler (renewal of term) Middle East: Richard Briggs (renewal of term) |
Ravi Nath (Chair) Bill Scott (Vice-Chair) Alan Fujimoto (Member) Miyuki Ishiguro (Member) Caroline Berube (Member) |
Sumeet Kachwaya (Member) Yap Wai Ming (Member and Convenor) Kuniya Hamada (Advisor) Mark Shklov (Advisor) |
A Speakers' Dinner was held the night before the Regional Conference at the Restaurant Capim Santo.
The first of two Regional Conferences featured five different panels of experts from around the world.
The Nominating Committee works year-round to choose appropriate candidates to fill Officer and other Council Member positions. The Committee consists of: Past President from two years prior; Immediate Past President; President; and Secretary-General. The Committee Coordinator and Deputy also play a large part in gathering nominees for Committee Chair and Vice-Chair positions. Deputy Officers participate in the discussion as "observers".
Nominating Committee Members and Observers to the process included: Sylvette Tankiang, Committee Coordinator; Huen Wong, President-Elect; William Scott, President; Masafumi Kodama, Deputy Committee Coordinator; Yap Wai Ming, Secretary-General; Miyuki Ishiguro, Deputy Secretary-General.
A Welcome Reception was held in Rio de Janeiro at the Casa de Arte e Cultura Julieta de Serpa.
Council members and invited guests gathered at the Churrascaria Fodo de Chão Restaurant.
The two regional seminars focused on "Global Inclusion of Latin America", and were well-attended. Delegates praised the quality of the semianr content and speakers.
The keynote speaker in Rio de Janeiro was Minister Ellen Gracie Northfleet (pictured at right with IPBA Officers). Don't miss the interview with her in the December 2014 IPBA Journal!