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:

• Nominating Committee Meeting
• Officers Meeting
• Membership Meeting (JCMs, At-Large Council Members, Regional Coordinators)
• Committee Chairs and Programs Meeting
• Council Meeting

Decisions made at this meeting in Brazil include the following:

• The Council agreed to set aside CA$50,000 from the surplus of the Annual Meeting and Conference in Vancouver for the IPBA Scholarship Program. This will supplement the Japan Fund that is used to support the Scholars now.
• The nominees for Officer and Council positions were approved by the Council. The next step is to present the nominees for ratification at the Annual General Meeting in Hong Kong in May. An official notice will be sent out to all IPBA members in early 2015, but the nominees are:
  
  

  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)

• The Constitution Review Committee was reformed in order to study the contents and make necessary amendments pertaining to the intended future incorporation of the IPBA and other issues as IPBA has changed throughout the years. Members are:
  
  

  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 Steering Committee to make Guidelines for Arbitration Privilege was formed, with JCM for Singapore Francis Xavier leading it. The effort will be supported by council members from around the globe.

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!