#FridayFive from the Executive Director: 10 April 2026

My hashtag#FridayFive is back (it could be a Friday Fifty on what’s happened over the last few weeks and months), but here’s a highlight of the last few weeks:

1.  World-Class: The British Chambers of Commerce Driving International Trade Conference was excellent, with a panel on Southeast Asia, Lord Jason Stockwood, Andy Haldane and many more great presentations. Thank you to my panel George Freeman FRSA FRGS MP, Winnie, Dario, Nagma. I had a BCC board meeting and super impressed with the new strategy from the team. Haslam and Damian both supported lots of meetings including with UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, meeting Michael Hayman MBE and Sarah Howard MBE, and North East Chamber of Commerce (Michael Dickinson & Jennifer Rycroft). The Chamber network is incredible. 🇬🇧 🗣️ 

2.  Overseas: Britain in South East Asia | BiSEA held our biannual meeting in London. Thank you so much to Simon Lipscomb from Efficio for hosting us. Lots of collaboration, and support. It was also great to meet up with Simon and Jacqui Rock, FCIPS from the APPG for Public Sector Efficiency as we talked about how the Chambers can support the UK’s growth agenda. Thanks to all of my colleagues and congrats to Matt Ryland who has been appointed Chair of BiSEA. 🇸🇬 🌏 

3.  Recent Events: Our Annual Economic Briefing was epic! Michael Buchanan, Steven Okun, Pratik Burman Ray, John Heath and Taimur Baig. Amazing insights, and a macro masterclass for our members. 📈📉

4.  London in buzzing: My trip to the UK was packed. A fintech roundtable with TheCityUK, BCC Board Meeting, Lloyd's lab visit, wonderful trade dinner with Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, Greater Manchester Chamber, UK, GP Bullhound, London & Partners’ Neil Brigden, and Haslam and I met with Teck Hean Ng, Eileen and Abiel to talk bilateral brilliance. It was also excellent to be hosted by Peter Thomas from FCDO and to meet his team. Great to catch up with Steve Firstbrook and Dan Fairweather too. 🤝🤙

5.  Doing Trade: Our Life Sciences Trade Accelerator is powering on. Steven Lynch MBE and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)’s Kenneth Ler hosted a roundtable with Health Sciences Authority. I was also delighted to meet with Natwest’s Søren Nikolajsen, Nicholas Clark and Craig Gray and the regional/sector teams to talk about the accelerator, Singapore and southeast asia. ⚕️🥗

Also, and more importantly, thank you to those of you in my world who have been sensational over the last few months (and given me some epic personal support and memories as well). You know who you are, and I’ll be forever grateful.

Until next week, have a great weekend ahead.