Dear Members and Friends,
I always enjoy (of course) meeting both members and stakeholders who tell me that they not only receive but read our newsletter every week. I’m have heard occasionally that it can be quite long: I hope at least it’s clear and that our forthcoming events are well signposted for those who want to sign up. My excuse is that there’s a lot going on at BEI and this week is no exception.
We continued our Meet the Ambassador series with two speakers covering two large and very important markets for our members: HE Anthony Phillipson, High Commissioner to South Africa, as well as a session with Harjinder Kang, HM Trade Commissioner for South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner to Western India. We will be planning other sessions with Heads of Mission when they visit London over the coming months: I’ve recently been taking orders from members and will do my best to deliver!
Our headline event in Grafton Street this week was the launch of the latest, substantially revised, edition of our Water Resilience report, Water Resilience - Unlocking local and global benefits through collaboration. Drawing on the insights in the report, our speakers – from FCDO, Tetra Tech International Development, Climate Sense, Pegasys and WRc – tackled the complex challenges of water resilience from regional disparities to funding gaps and explored potential solutions and future opportunities. Highlighting the significance of interconnectedness and collaboration, the discussion emphasised the power of a multi-sector approach in championing water stewardship, aligning local and global strategies and repositioning water as a vital engine for economic growth, as well as the role blended finance can play in supporting future programmes. Completing the report is very much the beginning of the process rather than the end, as we look to use it as the basis for deep dives with interested Governments, development banks and others. If you have ideas about where we can usefully promote British expertise in the sector, please get in touch.
Although events are a visible part of what we do, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. Behind the scenes, we continue to support members in identifying opportunities and navigating challenges. International development is facing real pressures, but both our members and the FCDO show strong appetite for fresh thinking to ensure the UK’s continued impact. Encouragingly, there’s renewed enthusiasm for collaboration between government and delivery partners – essential in today’s constrained budget environment. We’ll continue to feed into these important conversations. This week, we were delighted to host Helen King, Economic Development & Partnerships Director at the FCDO, who spoke on Modern Economic Development Partnerships. Her insights reflected the Directorate’s vital role in unlocking trade, investment, and private sector-led growth that supports UK foreign and development policy goals.
Another important aspect of what goes on under the bonnet at BEI, and across the Strategy International Group, is the support we receive from our Advisory Board. The Board which brings together which exceptional experience from across business, academia, government and geopolitics provides us with valuable insights and connections for our work supporting all our members. You can read more about the Advisory Board, here – look out for one or two more names soon!
Next week, I’m looking once again to welcoming a top level ADB delegation during their now annual UK roadshow. The attention which the ADB gives to its programme in the UK sends a clear signal of their keenness to work with more British companies and organisations. It’s good to see that next week’s programme will go into the depth on key sectors and programmes which will make this possible.
Back at Grafton Street on Thursday next week, BFPG is hosting “Navigating the Crossroads: North Macedonia’s Role in Euro Atlantic Security and Regional Stability” from 13:30 – 15:30 BST in collaboration with the Embassy of North Macedonia. North Macedonia's Foreign Minister H.E. Timcho Mucunski will discuss his country's role as an active contributor to the collective security and democratic resilience of the Euro-Atlantic family. Please RSVP to max@britishexpertise.org as soon as possible to reserve a place. Hot on the heels of this event is the launch (at One Birdcage Walk) of BFPG's Annual Public Opinion Survey; do contact Eliza.Keogh@bfpg.co.uk if you would like to attend.
Our colleagues at Future Leaders Group this week welcomed Karen Booth, CFO of Blenheim Palace & Estate, to their FLG alumni summer reception. Karen shared her unconventional path to the top, shaped by global roles and bold career moves, reminding us that leadership journeys are rarely linear. Her key takeaways on cultivating decisiveness, humility and belief in oneself very much resonated with those who were able to join us. FLG’s personal development programme is designed to help emerging leaders build confidence in who they are and to navigate the complexities of leadership with clarity and purpose. If your organisation has an interest in leadership development for succession planning, please contact Elizabeth Beroud at elizabeth@futureleadersgroup.uk. You can also explore more about the programme on the FLG website or LinkedIn page.
To end on a personal note, I’m particularly pleased to be chairing a session at our day with the ADB on innovations in digital infrastructure, which will highlight the incredible impact new technologies – and more broadly new ways of thinking about the challenges we face – can bring to the development agenda. I had the opportunity to hear more about the potential during a brief visit this week to the ESG Meet Blockchain Summit in Lugano, Switzerland. One initiative, which I personally support, is the 70% campaign, to change the lives of the 70% of the world’s population who don’t enjoy formalised property rights. Get this right and the impact of many other interventions will undoubtedly be multiplied. If you have a chance over the weekend, do take a look.
With best wishes for the weekend ahead,
David Landsman
Executive Chairman
British Expertise International
Recordings of recent past events:
- 5th June 2025: Intersection of Climate Change and Social Security
- 10th June 2025: International Finance Corporation (IFC): Working Upstream
- 10th June 2025: Public-Private Partnerships in the Philippines
- 19th June 2025: Navigating Risks and Opportunities in Ukraine
- 26th June 2025: Blended Finance as a Catalyst for Systems Change
Key events coming up include the following:
- 14th July 2025 10:30 – 19:00 BST: ADB Roadshow: Applying British Solutions for Asian Growth and Development - Join us at Arup’s offices (80 Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QS) as British Expertise International host a senior delegation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as part of the 2025 ADB UK Roadshow programme. The UK Roadshow aims to connect the ADB with the latest UK expertise, technologies and solutions that can drive Asia’s growth and development
- 15th July 2025 11:00 – 12:30 BST: Meet UKEF – Africa & LATAC - This virtual event will offer UK organisations a valuable opportunity to explore UKEF's diverse offerings, engage directly with UKEF stakeholders and gain key insights on pipelines in Africa and LATAC.
- 15th July 2025 15:00-16:30 BST: Meet the Ambassadors: Caribbean - Join us virtually as we welcome His Majesty’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana & the Dominican Republic.
- 22nd July 2025 11:00 – 12:30 BST: Opportunities in Morocco – Meet the UK Trade Envoy to Morocco, Ben Coleman MP - Join us for an in-depth discussion with the UK Trade Envoy to Morocco, Ben Coleman MP. This roundtable event will provide the Trade Envoy with the opportunity to engage with UK companies with an interest in Morocco, and provide a platform for UK organisations to discuss opportunities and barriers to entry.
External Events and Reports:
- 16th July 2025: ADB Roadshow – Applying UK Solutions to Asian Growth and Development with a focus on Energy and AFNR on Wednesday, 16 July in Edinburgh. If you are interested in registering for this event, please use the following link.
- 17th July 2025: Navigating the Crossroads: North Macedonia’s Role in Euro Atlantic Security and Regional Stability from 13:30 - 15:30 BST in collaboration with the Embassy of North Macedonia and The British Foreign Policy Group. North Macedonia's Foreign Minister H.E. Timcho Mucunski will discuss his country's role as an active contributor to the collective security and democratic resilience of the Euro-Atlantic family. Please RSVP to max@britishexpertise.org as soon as possible to reserve a place.
- 17th July 2025: Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy with The British Foreign Policy Group from 16:30 – 18:30 at One Birdcage Walk - Since 2019, BFPG has produced a survey annually, focusing on Britons’ perceptions of the key foreign policy issues of the day. This year’s report includes striking findings about support for UK-EU relations, defence spending, President Trump, and much more besides. The event will open with a one-hour panel discussion among leading experts and officials and will be followed by a networking reception. RSVP to eliza.keogh@bfpg.co.uk if you would like to attend.
- 18th July 2025: Applying UK Health Solutions for Asian Growth and Development on Friday, 18 July in Cardiff. If you are interested in registering for this event, please use the following link.
- 25– 26th August 2025: World Women Entrepreneurs Forum (WWEF), Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - The World Women Entrepreneurs Forum (WWEF) emerges in response to this urgent need—to not only celebrate the progress made, but to challenge the systems that limit it. Held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, under the theme Inspire, Impact, Invest, the Forum will serve as a global platform to uplift women entrepreneurs by fostering connection, capacity, and capital. It will bring together leaders, changemakers, investors, and advocates to co-create an ecosystem where womenled businesses thrive and transform economies.
- 3rd – 5th September 2025: KazBuild 2025, Kazakhstan: Stand booking is now open for international exhibitors at KazBuild exhibition in Kazakhstan - the largest international building and interiors exhibition in Kazakhstan, annually welcoming over 7,000 specialist trade visitors to the show. KazBuild will be held 3-5 September 2025 in Almaty, the biggest city of Kazakhstan. Held since 1994, the exhibition showcases the latest products, services, technologies, and projects available on the market, and provides a key platform for governmental and building industry professionals to exchange experiences, establish cooperation and share the latest industry developments. Please contact Mrs. Tatyana Borodikhina by email: tatyana.borodikhina@exhibitions-conferences.com to learn more about how KazBuild can help to establish your business in Kazakhstan.
- 27th September – 2nd October 2025 - Save the date for the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025, set to take place in Singapore. This landmark event will be the 20th edition of the globally recognized science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programme’s World Finals and the first under its new branding, following the transition from its previous name, F1 in Schools. Developed to introduce students to STEM subjects through the creation of a miniature F1 car, STEM RACING (Formerly F1 in Schools) is an educational project designed for teachers, informed by engineers, and endorsed by F1.
- 28th – 31st October 2025: AME Trade - 15th edition of Africa PPP in Windhoek, Namibia - Africa PPP 2025 is the longest running infrastructure finance, investment, and partnership summit, focused on increasing private sector participation in infrastructure development through viable PPPs and innovative financing mechanisms, for a sustainable economic growth. The event is organized with the support of Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and the Ministry of Works and Transport of Namibia at the prestigious Hilton Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia. Africa PPP includes two-days Conference, one day masterclass on Project Preparation and one day Touristic and/or Technical Tours.
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