BEI Weekly Update - 9th January 2026

Dear Members and Friends,

First of all, warmest wishes from all of us at BEI for a very happy and successful New Year. I hope you managed some time off over the holiday.  As someone who has spent quite a few Christmases, at home and abroad, “on duty”, I was grateful this year for a relaxing break - but I’m sure not everyone will have been so fortunate.

We’ll certainly all need plenty of energy for the year ahead which just a few days in has already sprung surprises on us. If we’re honest, we should accept that the developments of the past few days have confirmed trends which have been there for some time. It wasn’t easy before, but the world’s getting even tougher and more competitive; the so-called “rules-based international order” doesn’t look like the way we’re going; a retreat to sovereignty and national preference will increasingly dominate. The assumptions on which our analyses and (dare I say) careers have been built no longer apply.

Whatever comes next out of the US, China, Russia or the rest of the world, return to business as usual isn’t a sensible route map for anyone. Perhaps the UK, with a full library of national myths about our historic role in the world, has a tougher job ahead than some others in adapting to the new reality. As the geopolitical firmament - and our place within it - are up for grabs, we need to look to all the assets we have - including the international reach of our companies and organisations like those who are part of BEI - to enable the UK to succeed. With change, there is always opportunity.

At BEI we have, as they say, hit the ground running, finalising arrangements for a number of events in the coming days.  We have an exciting education programme around BETT 2026, which is taking place from 21-23 January. More on this below.

With the changing geopolitical and geoeconomic climate in mind, we have in the works a number of timely briefing sessions. On the trade front, ‘Unlocking Free Trade Agreements and CPTPP in Practice’ on 27 January in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will explore the opportunities for UK businesses in service sectors to benefit from the recent tranche of bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) which the UK has concluded with key trading partners. The session will provide an overview of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and how it supports UK business and will also touch on other important FTAs which are in place or coming down the line. Register here.

Turning to the climate agenda, on 22 January we will be discussing outcomes and insights from COP30 in Belém. Our speakers will help participants unpack the outcomes of November's negotiations by reflecting on their experiences in Belém, sharing key takeaways and exploring how COP30 may shape future climate and sustainability efforts. Register here.

We are finalising our international development programme for this quarter and are planning a number of events in February; details and dates very soon. The next of these will be a session on the multifaceted potential of AI to support international development work. Watch this space.

As I mentioned, we are looking forward to a busy schedule around BETT UK in the week after next, once again involving a wide range of international partners. We start with a Roundtable with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education of Indonesia on 19 January from 11:30 - 14:00. This in-person event will offer members the opportunity to explore active projects in Indonesia’s primary education sector and engage at first hand with decisionmakers. The discussion will focus on policy reform, in particular education assessment, quality assurance, framework AI and coding and digitisation.

Next on Monday 19 January from 14:00 - 15:30 we look forward to welcoming back to BEI the delegation from the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat, led by the Director, Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, for a roundtable and update on their priorities.

In the evening of Monday 19 January, I hope you will be able to join us as we turn our attention to Central Asia. First, from 18:00 - 19:00 we will celebrate the signing of important MoUs between UK organisations and higher education institutions from Kazakhstan in the presence of Kazakhastan’s Minister of Higher Education and Science.

This will immediately be followed by a reception from 19:00 - 20:30 with key education stakeholders from across Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Mongolia, which should be an excellent opportunity to continue conversations from BETT or elsewhere in a relaxed setting.

We will be inviting BEI education members to register for these events very soon, so please save the date and keep a lookout for invitations arriving in your inbox. For any further help, please get in touch with us at events@britishexpertise.org or direct to your usual contacts.Whether your plan is to enjoy the snow or avoid the storms (or both), my best wishes for the weekend ahead.

David Landsman

Executive Chair  

British Expertise International

Event Recordings and Resources:

(Member access only)‍

• 10th December 2025 - Integrating Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into Education Systems
• 2nd December 2025 - Working with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• 4th November 2025 - India - Water Resilience
• 23rd October 2025 - Trade and Investment Opportunities in the British Overseas Territories
• 18th September 2025 - Infrastructure Opportunities in South Africa
• 16th September 2025 - Meet UKEF: Asia and the Middle-East

Upcoming BEI Events:

• 15th January 2026 12:00 – 13:00 GMT: Water Resilience Working Group - The UK has a distinctive offer and world-leading expertise in sustainable and climate-resilient water services. This group, in partnership with UK government, IFIs and other key stakeholders, aims to define that offer and leverage it to increase exports.‍
• 19th January 2026 11:30 – 14:00 GMT: Roundtable with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Indonesia - This in-person event will offer our members a valuable opportunity to explore active projects in Indonesia’s primary education sector and engage directly with decision-makers. The discussion will focus on policy reform, with particular interest in education assessment, quality assurance, framework AI and coding, and learning digitalisation. Please note registration for this event is invitation only.‍
• 19th January 2026 14:00 – 15:30 GMT: Roundtable with Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat - We are delighted to host a roundtable with Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat on Education priorities and upcoming opportunities in the region with Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat. Please note registration for this event is invitation only.‍
• 19th January 2026 16:00 – 19:00 GMT: Roundtable and Reception with H.E. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan - We are delighted to host a roundtable on Higher Education priorities and opportunities in Kazakhstan with H.E. Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, followed by a reception and MoU signings between a number of Higher Education Institutions. Please note registration for this event is invitation only.‍
• 22nd January 2026 10:00 – 11:30 GMT: COP30 Insights - As policy makers, investors and the wider business community continue to assess the lasting significance of COP30, our speakers will help participants unpack the outcomes of November's negotiations by reflecting on their experiences in Belém, sharing key takeaways and exploring how COP30 may shape future climate and sustainability efforts.‍
• 27th January 2026 10:00 – 11:30 GMT: Unlocking Free Trade Agreements and CPTPP in Practice - This session, hosted in partnership with the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT), will explore opportunities for UK businesses exporting services as a result of a number of recent bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTA’s) between the UK and its key partners. The session will provide an overview of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and how it supports UK business.‍
• 19th February 2026 12:00 – 13:00 GMT: Water Resilience Working Group - The UK has a distinctive offer and world-leading expertise in sustainable and climate-resilient water services. This group, in partnership with UK government, IFIs and other key stakeholders, aims to define that offer and leverage it to increase exports.

Register for an upcoming event →

News & Articles:

• Yearly review: Strategy International 2025 Yearbook by Strategy International
• Article: 2025 Christmas Message from British Expertise International
• Report: From Strategy to Delivery: What New Zealand Can Learn from the UK Infrastructure System from Infrastructure New Zealand
• Written evidence: Future of UK aid and development assistance from British Expertise International
• Communique: UK and Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council 2025: communiqué from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Article: Infrastructure as Legacy: UK Perspectives on Strategic Delivery and Innovation by Sasha Barnes and Sofia Pennacchietti
• Press Release: Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council Business Engagement Session from British Expertise International
• Article: Why Water is Everyone’s Business: A UK Perspective on Global Water Challenges by Evie Ramsay
• Article: Ukraine’s Recovery – Mobilising Private Sector Engagement by Sasha Barnes
• Article: Global Energy Landscapes: Key Takeaways and Insights by Sofia Pennacchietti
• Press Release: Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, South Africa, Mr Dean Macpherson at British Expertise International (BEI) from British Expertise International
• Article: Shaping the Future of the Higher Education Sector by Evie Ramsay
• Article: With FCDO slashing budgets, where will UK NGOs turn for funding? from DevEx
• Report: Water Resilience - Unlocking local and global benefits through collaboration (Second Edition) by British Expertise International & Water Resilience Working Group
• Report: Systems Strengthening: The UK Education providers’ contribution to the global education systems by British Expertise International & Education Working Group
• Report: Beyond Boundaries: The Role of UK-Based Organisations in Advancing Global Gender Equality and Social Inclusion by British Expertise International and its members delivering GESI

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