PwC Diwali Event with Alpesh Patel

PwC Hindu Network in conjuction with the India Interest Group put on a colourful Diwali event on Monday. Tasty food followed by bollywood dance by two employees went down a treat. This was followed by a meaningful speech by Graham Ward CBE, one of PwC senior partners and also someone who spends 5-6 weeks in India each year as part of his role with the UK India Business Council.

The Guest of Honour was Alpesh Patel, of Praefinium International Asset Management Company. Alpesh is a very funny guy having heard him speak before (he hosted the charity auction for UnLtd India event earlier this year at Mishcon De Reya). He spoke about G20 Economics in a manner that President Bush would understand... (you had to be there!).

Alpesh is well known in the financial world, he has been a regular columnist in the FT and Asian Voice. He is a "Deal Maker" for sourcing high value investments in India on behalf of the UK Government. He has a passion for India that was inspiring!

Also in attendence was Arvind Chopra, Head of the India Interest Group and also Partner responsible for bringing Abdul Kalam, ex-President of India over to PwC. (You can guess what clients he works on... Tata's, Reliance etc!) Interesting to get his insights on the future of Indian economy in the face of this global crisis.. and it wasn't optimistic.

Chain Reaction... Connect, Collaborate & Commit

On Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 November 2008, a combined total of over 700 people came together in one massive tent (and a few tent rooms) to invoke a conversation on social change, combined with opportunity for constructive collaboration and action.

Chain Reaction is a first in the sense that such an event brought together the Third Sector (Volunteers, NGOs, Social Entrepreneurs), Government, Corpororations, Private Sector and young people. (See the website for a lot more information about speakers/attendees).

Community Links was the organisation who created this event with a whole host of other partnerships. The main reason I was actually excited about this event was the chance to engage with two of the speakers... Sir Richard Branson and Sri Nipun Mehta. And guess what - both of them couldnt make it!! Nipun had visa issues and Branson.. well, probably got caught up on some global deal!

The line-up was actually impressive even without the above two. Who else was there?

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, MP Peter Mandelson, Dragons Peter Jones and James Caan, Mark Thompson (Director General of BBC) in addition to the following:

Jeremy Gilley, Founder of Peace One Day
Its about the small things that make a difference... this message is what Jeremy decided to apply to global suffering from violence. His anger in the situation spurred this actor to take on a journey around the world to film "Peace One Day" to articulate the message of having one day of peace. Hearing the stories about the impact was powerful... for example, Afganistan military agreeing not to harm UN aid delivering much needed medical injections to millions of children.
(Watch the trailer - VERY good!)

Some of his comments:
"Music was a great driver for change"
"you can see images of people being displaced, living in poverty but to experience first hand it totally different"

Chris Grant (14a Conversations) who was comparing during the day with humour and energy, described the process of social change/entrepreneurism as being not like a ladder, but rather a climbing frame - its not linear or rigid. Its messy.

Quote: "There is not power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about" Margaret Wheatly

Steve Howard, MD of Business in the Community (BitC)
Adam Criozer, CEO of Royal Mail
Jane Tewson CBE, Co-founder of Comic Relief
Tim Smit, CEO and founder of Eden Project
Prof David Grayson, Prof of Social Responsibility Cranfield University

Sophi Tranchell, MD Divine Chocolate (thanks for the delicious free samples all day!)

Sally Begbie, International President of Globalhand

John Bird, Founder of the Big Issue

Jess Search, CEO Channel4 BritDoc

Jelani Erskine, LIVE magazine

Brendon Riley, CEO IBM UK

Ian Tuckett, CEO and Founder of Coin Street Community

David Robinson OBE, Community Links, PM Council on Social Action Leader

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Founder and Director, Global Oneness Project
Eugenie Harvey, Co-Founder, We Are What We Do
Fiona Rawes, Director, Heart of the City
Mike Foster, MP Third Sector
Richard Hardie, Vice-Chair of UBS

Madhu and Meghna from MAM

Something I once heard comes to mind at this point - the power of associations. To be around the kind of people you admire, surround yourself with role models you aspire to be like and people who bring out that which energises you. Chain Reaction left me soaked with inspiration and a certain confidence from seeing others with a similar burning desire to make a difference... actually go out there and make that difference.

Thank you Chain Reaction.

Pramal

PS - to add more from my notes to above speakers when I get round to it!