What a great location to host our 2024 AGM! Prague delivered on so many fronts. Personally, I like the city locations as it gives everyone the opportunity to explore an area without the need for travel, and Prague was so stunning in the spring. I thought the 2023 location was extremely pleasant, but we were a little trapped on site. I also have to say that although I found the staff, venue for the meetings, and food great at the Hilton, they were extremely difficult to deal with from an organisational point of view, and I did raise a formal complaint concerning several issues, one of course being the lack of hot water on day 2.
Hilton Old Town Hotel in Prague
the divisional meetings. Two of the presentations focused on the use of AI in everyday life and commerce and were extremely interesting. We were privileged to see a juggling presenter and an AI voice interpretation of David Edwin-Scott speaking, which were highly entertaining. The presentations are all held within the Members Area in the AGM folder, where you will also find the minutes of all the meetings.
Following on from COVID, we have been trying to get the rotation of people in positions back on track, and this year we had several new appointments within divisions, as well as the new appointment of Sandy Van den Broeck as the ESA Environmental and Social Governance Director. There was also a change in our Chair of the ESA, with Simone Wilson being replaced by John Morton after several years of successfully overseeing the development of the ESA. All the people and positions can be seen here.
I’d like to thank all those who have helped, presented, and made the event possible, and a big thank you particularly to Temac, an ESA member for many years who are based just outside Prague, for helping throughout. It was a great pleasure to meet so many people and friends, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Mark Neal,
Secretary General of the ESA