Allow me to share with you some information aimed at triggering your interest for this flagship IBA event, which goes from strength to strength every year.
On the programmatic side, the quality of the sessions, organised by the officers and leaders of more than 70 committees and fora within our Association, are of an unparalleled calibre. These sessions deepen our knowledge in our respective practice areas and perhaps more importantly, open our minds to other matters which are not part of our day-to-day work, expanding our vision and realising how topics connect amongst themselves. Moreover, these sessions are 'the tool' for the business development portion of the Annual Conference as they provide the chance to network with colleagues from around the globe in a diverse professional setting.
If the quality, the number (more than 200) and the diversity of topics are not enough, some extraordinary discussions will take place during the Showcase sessions held by each area of our Association: the Bar Issues Commission showcase - beneficial ownership, the Legal Practice Division showcase - digital assets and the future of financial services, the Section on Public and Professional Interest - creating great pro bono programmes and the IBA's Human Rights Institute showcase - femicide, murder and other crimes against women - a social crisis, a drama which is unfortunately so relevant in Mexico and in other parts of the world.
However, allow me to begin at the beginning. We want to wow you with our Opening Ceremony, on Sunday 15 September, which will feature the first-ever IBA Impact Award presentation. This award recognises a significant and positive contribution made to society by an individual or organisation in the legal field. Itis our duty as the most influential international legal association to give visibility to such extraordinary contributions. Subsequently, you will be impressed by our keynote speaker, Dr Ernesto Zedillo, former president of Mexico, who will address the audience and participate in a questions and answers session with delegates.
We shall have special Morning Keynote Address sessions running from Monday 16 - Thursday 19 September, with which the IBA will continue to raise the speakers bar. Nando Parrado, survivor of the 1972 air crash in Los Andes at the Monday 9 September session 'Achieving the impossible' will be our first guest. The session will deal with resilience, team building, supporting leaders and becoming a leader and facing unpredictable ethical challenges.
On Tuesday 17 September, at the session 'A world without lawyers?' the findings of the recently published landmark IBA report on the social and economic impact of the legal profession will be discussed, with inspiring legal leaders including David W Rivkin, Lord Peter Goldsmith, Tshepo Shabangu, Stéphane Brabant, Peter Bartlett, Lady Helena Kennedy of the Shaws and Víctor Oléa as well as a representative of McKinsey and Co.
On Wednesday 18 September, we shall learn from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Rigoberta Menchú Tum of her work in the defence of indigenous people rights and the power of cultural diversity.
Thursday 19 September is the day reserved to present you with a new IBA report: 'The future is now: AI & the law'. For this, we will have as keynote speaker, the Project Director Marc Rotenberg, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for AI and Digital Policy, alongside speakers from all parts of the Association who have contributed to this amazing joint effort.
If your interest in international topics is not yet satisfied, we also offer during the lunch break special guests in conversation with the IBA's Executive Director, Dr Mark Ellis including Ambassador John J Sullivan, the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Andriy Kostin and Liev Schreiber.
The Presidential and 'conversations with' sessions are, for the first time, open not only to delegates but also to their registered guests, as these may be of interest to the community of non-legal guests.
Regarding the social element of our Annual Conference, there will of course be committee and division lunches and dinners, as well as receptions offered by our delegates to you. The first splash will be the Opening Party, which immediately follows the Opening Ceremony, both being held at the same venue. It will be an outstanding celebration of Mexican culture, music and gastronomy. In addition, the Conference's Host Committee will generously hold a reception for all delegates and registered guests. The six-day event will culminate in the Closing Party, which is being held at one of the most beautiful locations I know in Mexico City, the Convent of San Hipolito. It is pure magic.
At any of such events, we shall toast to the success of the Mexico City Annual Conference- the most special IBA conference ever!
I look forward to meeting you at the IBA annual conference in Mexico City in September.
Kindest regards,
Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama
