This year we are thrilled to introduce our keynote speaker Sandy Gall CBE, former ITN News presenter.  Sandy has been in pursuit of the truth about Afghanistan.  The result of more than 100 interviews with Afghan politicians, ordinary people, and British, American and European diplomats and soliders.  Join us for an insight into the War Against the Taliban and discover why it all went wrong in Afghanistan.  

 ‘What emerges most sharply... is Sandy Gall's love for these people, his pain on behalf of their devastated country - a remarkable story’ Doris Lessing

We'll also be hearing from Caroline Spellman, DEFRA in an exclusive interview by Barbara Sturgeon.  The ticket price includes exclusive VIP Members Passes for the entire day at the show.  Please contact us for further information and to reserve your place.

IoD Kent
Tel: +44 (0)1795 435918
Email: iod.kent@iod.com
Website: www.iod.com/kent
Twitter: @IoDkent

Join IoD Kent and members for an effective alternative breakfast – where networking is on the menu.  Meet with like minded business people who are serious about growing their business. 

Networking is an effective way of raising your company’s profile and promoting your services and products.  At IoD Kent we are dedicated to facilitate and support your success, we will produce an event booklet containing all the companies attending, with relevant contact details as well as a brief description of the services provided with a short promo about your company and you are welcome to bring your own literature to share with the group.

This is an excellent opportunity to maximise exposure and swap business cards with potential customers and suppliers before enjoying a full English breakfast.  Places are strictly limited, so if you’d like to join us please book now.

Deborah Cameron

Kent Branch Manager

Institute of Directors, Newton House, Winch Road, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8EF

Tel: +44 (0)1795 435918

Email: debbie.cameron@iod.com

Website: www.iod.com/kent

Bookings are welcome from teams or individuals as we\'ll team people together - test your general knowledge... how much trivia does one entrepreneur need to be crowed champion? Who knows, but join us and help discover our very own Egg Heads!

Please book early...

IoD Kent
Newton House, Winch Road, Kent Science Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8EF
Tel: +44 (0)1795 435918
Email: iod.kent@iod.com
Website: www.iod.com/kent
Twitter: @IoDkent

Have you considered the most effective ways of generating international sales leads and business opportunities?  This Forum, sponsored by HSBC, has been designed for you to tap into international markets.  If you are already trading internationally, these discussions will help you to develop markets further.

In terms of strategic UK and international business planning, many businesses are finding it difficult to decide where the demand for growth will be coming from.  Economic data and trends are notoriously difficult to interpret, particularly with weak growth in the UK economy, the Eurozone debt crisis, and varying patterns of global trade.

To make sense of the larger economic picture, we are therefore delighted that our speaker is the Head of Economics for HSBC UK Commercial Banking, Mark Berrisford-Smith.  Mark is an engaging presenter, and he will undoubtedly help us to understand the outlook for the UK economy more clearly, and how we can move from stagnation to much needed sustainable recovery.

As all International Business Forum meetings, this will be an interactive session aimed at giving all  participants the opportunity to engage in a discussion on key issues.

The International Business Forum, chaired by Olga D’Silva, Head of Zên Languages, is intended as an open discussion among people who are thinking of taking their first steps, or currently trade overseas and are looking for new foreign markets and new opportunities. Expert speakers help us explore specific areas of interest in more detail.  The objective is to facilitate introductions and bring like-minded professionals together around a table to discuss opportunities on the international markets and how to take advantage of them.

The venue for the International Business Forum moves to various locations around Kent, and this month our venue host is Eastwell Manor, a country house destination for business and leisure.

Price includes a buffet lunch. By design places are strictly limited, so if you’d like to join us, please book now.

The county hosts a diverse range of family businesses, many of who turn over income running into the tens of millions of pounds each year. If you look behind the corporate façade of our high streets, you will see that it is passionate people in family businesses that are keeping our town centres and rural communities alive.

If you run a Family Business then this event is not to be missed. In association with Family Business Place, join us and other family businesses from all spectrums of the economy, varying in size, turnover and ambition. But all with one thing in common; a responsibility as stewards of their family business until it is passed to the next generation.

Join us to hear from Jonathan Neame who is responsible for the Shepherd Neame Brewery – Britain’s oldest brewer along with a number of other high profile Family Businesses. Please book now if you would like to join us for this unique event and meet with other Family Businesses.

IoD Kent
Tel: +44 (0)1795 435918
Email: iod.kent@iod.com
Website: www.iod.com/kent
Twitter: @IoDkent

Duncan Lawrie’s origins lie in British East India, where two Scottish merchants, Alexander Lawrie and Walter Duncan, travelled to India in the 1860s to make their fortunes in, amongst other things, tea. Named after Camellia sinensis, the botanical name for the tea bush, Duncan Lawrie’s parent group, Camelia Plc, still has interests in tea today and is one of the largest non-government owned tea producers in the world. 

Following our AMM join us for an exclusive insight into Wrotham Place with its interesting and eclectic collection of art and antiques and enjoy a tutored tea tasting, guided tour of the gardens and sumptuous buffet on the sun terrace. This is an excellent opportunity to invite clients and loved ones to a truly wonderful evening where English heritage meets Indian art. 

Please book now if you are keen to experience this unique event as places are limited.

IoD Kent
Tel: +44 (0)1795 435918
Email: iod.kent@iod.com
Website: www.iod.com/kent
Twitter: @IoDkent

Open to members, and non-members, the Forum offers a 90 minute fast flowing insight into how a business can improve its communication with key audiences, in this instance, through the media.

The IoD Marketing Forum is aimed at owner managers and senior directors, as well as in-house marketing directors. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what works when it comes to marketing and provide thought-provoking discussion.

Price include breakfast.  By design places are strictly limited, so if you’d like to join us, please book now.

IoD Kent
Tel: +44 (0)1795 435918
Email: iod.kent@iod.com
Website: www.iod.com/kent
Twitter: @IoDkent

Born in Sevenoaks, Bob Ogley is a former editor of The Sevenoaks Chronicle, and was a journalist for more than 30 years before he left his newspaper to concentrate on writing books and giving talks. He is a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio Kent.

His life changed with the publication of his first book, In The Wake of the Hurricane, which sold more than 250,000 copies and remained in the top ten bestseller list for eight months.  He has travelled extensively in pursuit of information and photographs and is in great demand from organisations across the south-east to tell his unique story.

Many of Bob’s 22 books have been county bestsellers, including Biggin on The Bump, the story of RAF Biggin Hill; Kent at War and The Kent Weather Book. 

His books and talks have raised more than £108,000 for local charities throughout the county.

During the Battle of Britain the pilots used Hawkinge as a forward base. The V1 flying bombs (doodlebugs) were launched from ramps in Pas de Calais  and thousands passed over East Kent (or were shot down) on their way to  London.  Those indiscriminate, short-lived but lethal weapons brought terror to Kent in 1944-5. It is a story, not only of devastation and drama, but of courage, resourcefulness, luck and even humour.

The Public Lecture is FREE to attend but advance booking is essential. 

Please contact jane.seaman@canterbury.ac.uk or ring 01303 760600.