AFCEA UK Southern AGM 2011– Chapter President’s Report

As ever this has been a busy year for the Chapter with our Security & Resilience theme attracting the usual firmament of star speakers. Who can forget, for instance, our opening speaker for the season?!  Boris Hakenov, the head of Computer Network Attack, Communistan who terrified us with his analysis – and demonstration – of western CIS vulnerabilities.  We were honoured also to have as our speaker at our Corporate evening in March, Maj Gen Tim Inshaw, the head of DE&S ISS. Unusually, though, our programme was affected badly by the weather over the winter and speaker’s bereavements which forced two postponements and reduced our overall number of meetings to six (6).

I am delighted to report that the Chapter’s continued efforts have been recognised by AFCEA International with the award of Model Chapter of the Year – we are not alone in this, however!

As you will hear from the Treasurer, we are in a very sound financial position but I must emphasise that we are a not for profit organisation. We therefore keep our attendance costs as low as we prudently can.  Any excess income – over and above our working capital buffer – goes primarily to the AFCEA Academic Trust. We also make small donations to H4H and the Gwenilli Trust, in major part as a ‘quid pro quo’ to the military establishments that host some of our meetings.

Whilst on the subject of the Academic Trust, which under the Charity Commissioners is entirely independent of AFCEA itself, in addition to awarding prizes to the top students of all 3 services on key military CIS courses. [I happen also to be a Trustee of the AT and Tom Moncur is the Secretary], we now also present a prize to RCDS – a course for the most able senior officers from around the world, usually going on to field rank or indeed president of some countries!  Additionally, the CIO  has also asked if the AT would consider sponsoring prizes for excellence within the CISR delivery community and the AT is presently considering this.

Membership has remained steady and we have now taken the renewal process back from HQ to make it a far more personal affair.  The Secretary, Mark Ellis, and I have recently completely revised the mailing list but this is a perennial task so if you are not getting mail shots then please talk to us in the margins tonight.  Similarly, if you know of anyone who you think might be interested in AFCEA then let us know and we’ll include them.

Your Committee has reviewed our focus for the forthcoming season and produced a new set of Aims.  Chief amongst these 12 aims are running a successful Symposium and constructing an appealing programme for 11/12 season.

The Symposium on 16th November 2011 at the MWS is on the theme of the Single UK Information Environment (SUKIE) and I have already secured Major General Jonathan Shaw as one of our keynote speakers.  It promises to be a challenging topic and should provoke a lot of thought and discussion. AFCEA International CEO, Kent Schneider, and the AFCEA Europe General Manager, Maj Gen Peter Treche, will also be in attendance.

The wider programme is on the screen. (see separate page) Subject to confirmation, I hope you’ll agree that there are come tantalising topics to attract members to spend an evening away from doing the ironing ….

I have put some copies of the new Aims and draft programme for the forthcoming season on the table at the front for you to take away with you if you wish. Details of the programme and reports on meetings can also be found in our newsletter and on the website.

Penultimately now onto Committee matters. The Secretary will formally conduct the election of officials in a moment. We intend, however, to refresh one third of the Committee at the end of this coming season.  Volunteers are therefore sought and I am writing to CEOs/MDs to encourage them to put forward some of their people for this.  Serving military are also extremely important. I would be grateful if you could give this some thought.

Finally, I must ask you to join me in thanking your committee for their unstinting efforts and good humour over the year. Without them none of all this would happen.