LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | |
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Jo Healey
BABC Executive Director
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Dear Members and friends of BABC,
Spring appears to be finally here and there is a lot going on here at BABC. We continue to work on several events and opportunities for you to network and make new connections.
On April 5th, we held the Penfold’s Wine Masterclass with the Australian American Chamber of Commerce (Photos here) with special thanks to Withers Worldwide for hosting us in their beautiful offices. The event was completely sold out and provided our guests with the opportunity to learn all about Penfold’s wine and their wine-making secrets from down-under. Huge thanks to Charlotte Rawa and Penfolds for your partnership and a very entertaining and informative evening. Thanks also to Carin Rhodes for the delicious “amuse bouche." Learn more about Penfolds wines here.
On April 27th, we held our annual event for British Expats to share updates on international tax, immigration, estate planning and oh what to do with that pension you left behind in the UK. With thanks once again to Withers Worldwide for hosting us and to all our panelists: Anthony Amodei, Spott, Lucey & Wall; Melisss Jaffar, Erickson Immigration Group; Emma Cockerton. Florin Pensions; Marsha Dungog, Withersworldwide; and Moderator Jason Kumpf, Rapyd. If you’d like to be connected with any of the panelists please reach out to me.
May is another busy month. We are almost sold out for the Annual Trivia Quiz at Wingtip on May 16. Only 1 team spot remains (or 4 individuals) so get your skates on if you’d like to join us. The BABC NeXtGen Emerging Leaders Group (formerly the Young Professionals) are hard at work putting together the quiz questions that will test your knowledge on all things UK/US related. Champions will win the Florin Pensions Trophy and there are some great prizes to boot. Thanks in advance to Simon Wistow at Fastly for being our Quiz Master and to Rebecca Murphy, Alyssa Lammers and the Committee for your hard work. Also, thanks to Wingtip for hosting us. BABC members receive a 20% discount on the initiation fee at Wingtip. Log in to your BABC Member Portal to learn more.
On the heels of the Trivia Quiz is our much anticipated event on the hot topic of Artificial Intelligence, May 17 at Venable in downtown San Francisco. The event, presented by our patron member Simmons+Simmons, will uncover the risks and pitfalls of engaging AI as well as the benefits of this fast-growing technology. Our thanks in advance to our panelists Emily Jones and Minesh Tanna of Simmons+Simmons, Marshall Choy from SambaNova, Heather West of Venable and William Cutler from the British-Consulate.
In June, I’m off to London for the BABC Transatlantic Conference in London. This two-day event gathers members from all the BABC Chapters and will cover a myriad of topics and opportunities to connect with a wide range of companies. Learn more here. Also in June, the BABC NeXtGen Emerging leaders group will host their quarterly Happy Hour at Wingtip – June 20th. Sign up here.
Also, we’ve just launched our Golf Tournament to be held at the sunny Crystal Springs Golf Course on Thursday, October 5, 2023. In partnership with the Australian American Chamber of Commerce, this annual gathering of members from both chambers provides companies or individuals with an excellent opportunity to entertain clients or reward employees. Learn more here. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, there are several sponsorship options which include foursomes. Download the sponsorship packet here.
Finally, have you downloaded our new Member App? The app provides easy, one click access to the BABC Member Portal including the Member Directory where you can search for other Members that can help you. You can also use the app to register for events, access the Community Feed, Member-to-Member offers and more. Download to Android Phone. Download to iPhone.
Thank you to all the new and renewing members noted below.
Sincerely,
Jo Healey
Executive Director
BABC Northern California
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LETTER FROM THE BRITISH CONSUL GENERAL | |
Joe White, MBE
Tech Envoy to the US & British Consul General San Francisco
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Dear BABC Members,
Last weekend, we all bore witness to the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in a stunning ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Excitement was in the air in the UK and all around the world as we collectively celebrated the first Coronation in over 70 years. The Coronation Ceremony was rooted in ancient traditions dating back to 1066, while incorporating modern and personal touches that reflect the King’s role today along with his passions: community, diversity, sustainability, and youth.
Around the world, millions tuned into the ceremony (sometimes very early in the morning), gathered together with neighbours as part of the Big Lunch or volunteered in their communities as part of the Big Help Out. Here in San Francisco we hosted our own celebration at the historic Grace Cathedral, where I joined many of you in toasting the beginning of this new Carolean era. The reception featured climate education, locally-sourced and organic drinks and canapes, a viewing of the Coronation ceremony, and a performance by the St. Helena High School Choir. A special thanks to our sponsors Willow on the Green, CyraCom, Sipsmith Gin, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Whittard’s Tea, and Franklin and Sons, who helped make the celebration such a success.
In honour of His Majesty’s lifetime of service – and in conjunction with organizations all across the UK along with all its diplomatic postings – we participated in The Big Help Out on Monday, May 8th. If you were walking around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park that morning, you may have seen a small army of British diplomats laying wood chips, weeding, and landscaping in partnership with San Francisco Parks and Recreation.
I’d like to conclude this letter by echoing the words of His Majesty The King – shortly after the death of Her late Majesty The Queen – as a source of inspiration for us all as we move forward together:
“As The Queen herself did with such unswerving devotion, I too now solemnly pledge myself, throughout the remaining time God grants me, to uphold the Constitutional principles at the heart of our nation.
And wherever you may live in the United Kingdom, or in the Realms and territories across the world, and whatever may be your background or beliefs, I shall endeavour to serve you with loyalty, respect and love, as I have throughout my life.”
Take care,
Joe White MBE
Tech Envoy to the US & British Consul General San Francisco
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A FEW SPOTS REMAIN!
THE GREAT BRITISH-AMERICAN TRIVIA QUIZ
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Excitement is building for our upcoming Annual Trivia Night organized by our NeXtGen EmergingLeaders’ Group. Only a few Team Spots remain available (or join us as an individual and we will place you with others to make a team). The event will be held in the fabulous wine cellar at the world-class Wingtip Club in Downtown San Francisco.
Get your thinking caps on and start swatting up on your US/UK knowledge to compete for your national honor — we'll have rounds of questions catering to all interests! The evening will consist of a spirited competition among teams to win the coveted Florin Pensions | BABC Trophy and some excellent prizes to boot.
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DATE:
TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023
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YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!
DEMYSTIFYING CHATGPT & THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
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A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE — REGISTER TODAY!
Can't make it in-person? We've added a virtual ticket option!*
Join us next Wednesday for an informative session that aims to demystify generative AI including ChatGPT.
At this live event, we will be joined by experts from Simmons & Simmons, the SF British-Consulate, SambaNova and Venable, who will take a deep dive into the current and future state of generative AI (including ChatGPT, GPT-4 and Bard), covering:
* What generative AI means;
* What ChatGPT is and how it works (including its limitations);
* Use cases for generative AI and how companies across the board are using it;
* Ethical and legal issues;
* How generative AI may be regulated (including the EU’s current proposals);
* The risks and opportunities.
We will also discuss the future of generative AI and what we can expect in the next few years.
Fees/Admission:
$25 BABC Members
$50 BABC Non-Members
$15 Virtual Ticket (Zoom link will be sent upon registration)*
Hors D'oeuvres & Beverages included.
To attend BABC events at the member rate, join today! Learn more here.
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DATE:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2023
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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
66th BABC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023
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BABC Members are invited to join us on Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 at Werqwise SF for the 66th Annual General Meeting of the BABC Northern California to vote in the 2023-2025 Board of Directors (ballots will be circulated in due course to members), reflect on the activities of the BABC Northern California over the past year and mix and mingle with your fellow members!
If you are not a member, but would like to join, click here to compare member benefits.
Thank you to our Sponsor, Werqwise, for hosting the event.
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DATE:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 2023
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SAVE THE DATE: 6/20/23
BABC NeXtGen | YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HAPPY HOUR AT WINGTIP
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TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
Join us in the fabulous Wine Cellar at Wingtip — a 21st century interpretation of the classic, members-only, social club — for drinks and appetizers in the company of young professionals from different countries, businesses and industries. This event will provide you with a chance to meet and talk about your careers and businesses, and share tips on life in the Bay Area.
$15 Members; $25 Non-members.
Thank you to our Sponsor Wingtip for hosting the event.
Interested in becoming a BABC NeXtGen Member? Join here!
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DATE:
TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2023
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SAVE THE DATE: 7/19/23
EMERGING LEADERS & YOUNG PROFESSIONALS EUROPEAN SUMMER MIXER
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DATE:
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2023
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SAVE THE DATE: 10/5/23
11th INTERNATIONAL GOLF SCRAMBLE
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Calling all golfers! We're excited to launch our 2023 tournament, this year to be held on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at the beautiful and sunny Crystal Springs Golf Course in Burlingame, with awe-inspiring scenery along the 20-mile Crystal Springs Reservoir.
The Course, which forms part of a 32,000-acre wildlife refuge, was designed by British architect W. Herbert Fowler, a golf-lover who changed the history of course design.
Get your foursomes together and join us for a fun day of golf and networking, or become a sponsor (foursomes included!). There is a cash prize of $20,000 for you Par 3 Hole in One and lots of other prizes to be won as well!
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DATE:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2023
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SPRING EUROPEAN NETWORKING EVENING | |
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We had an incredible time last Wednesday night at the annual European Networking Evening, hosted by our friends at Cooley LLP in Palo Alto. In partnership with the French-American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco and GABA NorCal - German American Business Association, we also welcomed members and guests from many other European Chambers of commerce who came out in force. With a packed venue of over 100 guests, the event was a massive hit.
We would like to extend our thanks to Cooley LLP and their exceptional team for hosting us, and to all of our guests who joined us. Your support and presence made the event a resounding success!
To see all the photos from the event, CLICK HERE.
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What a fabulous and informative event we had on April 26, 2023 at Withersworldwide offices in San Francisco. Our annual Expats Event gave our attendees a chance to have their questions answered from a panel of experts in tax, immigration law, estate planning and UK pensions. Many thanks to our esteemed panelists: Anthony Amodei from Spott, Lucey & Wall; Melisss Jaffar from Erickson Immigration Group; Emma Cockerton from Florin Pensions; Marsha Dungog from Withersworldwide; and Moderator Jason Kumpf from Rapyd.
To see all the photos from the event, CLICK HERE.
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PENFOLDS MASTERCLASS WINE TASTING EVENT | |
Thank you to all who joined us and the Australian American Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday April 5, 2023 for the Penfolds Masterclass🍷Tasting event at at Withersworldwide. We enjoyed a delightful immersion into winemaking, history and…best of all… wine tasting of 7 iconic, 90+ point wines of Penfolds, including the world-famous Grange! | |
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NEW COLUMN:
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
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JOIN THE BAY AREA ECONOMIC COUNCIL ON 5/25/23 AT PIER 9, THE EMBARCADERO | |
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The Bay Area Council Economic Institute and EIT Digital are pleased to invite you to the release of their joint report “The EU-US Technology Relationship in a Changing Global Economic Order." The study addresses the need for closer technology alignment between Europe and the United States in light of increasing global challenges.
The morning’s program will bring together policymakers, technology experts, and industry representatives to discuss the evolving EU-US technology relationship, systemic challenges from Russia and China, and the imperative for closer alignment on critical and emerging technologies between market democracies.
Admission: Free to attend
Location: The Klamath; Pier 9, The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA
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DATE:
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2023
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QUEENS IN WINE COUNTRY DRAG BRUNCH | |
Join the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn as they celebrate Pride, Sonoma-style! Enjoy a delicious brunch, celebratory cocktails and glittering live performances by some of the most fabulous Kings & Queens in the business! Plus, pop some bottles with J Vineyards and make it an afternoon you won’t soon forget! | |
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DATE:
SUNDAY, JUNE 4, 2023
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SAVE THE DATE: 7/20-7/23
2023 BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP + SPECIAL MEMBER DISCOUNT OFFER
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TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
Calling all BABC Golfers! We are a fellow member of the BABCSF and for all the golfers out there, we are offering you a 10% discount to join us at the 2023 Barracuda Golf Championship at the Old Greenwood Golf Course in Truckee, CA, July 20-23, 2023. To apply the discount, use code BABCSFBC23. If you have any questions, feel free to contact, Caen Healy, at (707) 227 6158 or [email protected]
More than most courses, Old Greenwood’s 18-hole course is influenced by the land upon which it sits. With rolling green grass, lush trees and beautiful water features, the course is truly breathtaking. In addition to the stunning views, it’s also quite challenging to play. Be sure to catch all the beauty and excitement of our televised-only PGA TOUR event.
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Duncan Edwards
BritishAmerican Business CEO
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Long expected, President Biden visited Belfast and Dublin last month to celebrate the 25thanniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The President met with PM Rishi Sunak to discuss the Windsor Framework, expressing his optimism for the framework's implementation. A date for Sunak’s visit to Washington in June has not been confirmed. Meanwhile, President Biden announced his re-election bid.
Coinciding with the UK signing its fourth MoU with individual US states, BAB released a report with four key recommendation areas to ensure the state-based commitments deliver lasting impact: Taking Trade Local: The Business Case for State-Level Trade and Investment Cooperation.
Lastly, BAB launched its annual Trade & Investment Guide – the most comprehensive product of its kind in the market - providing practical advice on all issues companies must consider when expanding: Finding Your Way.
Continue reading here.
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BABN TRANSATLANTIC CONFERENCE | |
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The BritishAmerican Business Network’s 23rd Annual Conference will be in London this summer!
About the Conference
Each year, the BritishAmerican Business Network brings together its members of all 23 chapters throughout the North America and the UK for an annual business conference. The aim is to convene senior-level business executives and government representatives actively involved in trade, investment and business flows between North America and the UK. This conference offers a series of roundtables, plenary sessions and networking receptions for over 150 guests.
The Audience
In attendance will be 150 members of the transatlantic business community, alongside government representatives from both sides of the Atlantic.
This conference is by invitation only and for members of the BABN chapters and offers a series of roundtables, plenary sessions and networking receptions.
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WITH THANKS TO OUR NEW MEMBERS | |
BUSINESS & COMMUNITY PARTNER MEMBER
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We’re a global, independent creative agency helping tech brands create a better world. We believe in the empowering potential of tech to drive positive societal change.
Across the Pond started life inside Google over ten years ago when Julie, our founder, spotted an opportunity. Video content and all its possibilities were about to explode. Now we shape strategic narratives and campaigns for tech brands around the world including Expedia, DeepMind, Meta and Coinbase. We are driven by a profound belief in the benefits that technology can bring to humankind.
We are proud to be part of the 1%: the percentage of agencies founded by women. To us this is more than just a statistic, it’s in our DNA. Embedded deep within our culture is a disregard for barriers, a sense of possibility, and a burning optimism.
We believe the work we do, and how we do it, can create a better world.
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HNWcfo is a personal finance organization company for wealthy individuals and families who want to free their time with a personal CFO to take care of all of their asset, income and expense tracking, mail management and bill payments. With complete organization of all personal finance and wealth management tracking, the client's advisors and accountant always have access to up-to-date information for estate planning, tax filing etc. Processes and systems have been designed by HNWcfo to give clients complete peace of mind that they are always in good hands. Addition services such as business and real estate interest management or payroll are available. | |
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BABC NeXtGen | EMERGING LEADER
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WITH THANKS TO OUR RENEWING MEMBERS | |
Florin Pensions LLC is a US-based investment advisory firm specialising in providing UK pension transfer and investment advice to people in the US with UK pensions. With only British expatriate advisers working at Florin, we are well placed to help our clients make sense of their UK pensions and provide local advice on how to manage them before and during retirement. As part of our service, Florin provides a complimentary review of a person’s existing UK pension(s) to provide a better understanding of it and determine whether a pension transfer could be of benefit | |
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INDIVIDUAL MEMBER
Preston Gordon
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WITH THANKS TO OUR SUSTAINING
PATRON & PREMIER MEMBERS
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MEMBER-TO-MEMBER OFFERS
Enjoy the perks of being a Member
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One of the benefits of membership in the BABC Northern California is the opportunity to access Member-to-Member-Only special offers and hot deals.
To learn how to access codes and instructions, log in to your BABC Account and click on the Member-to-Member Deals button.
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Wingtip
Exclusive Member-to- Member Offer
| BABC Members Save 20% on Membership Initiation Fee — a savings value of $700! | | | |
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At InterContinental San Francisco, we want BABC MEMBERS TO MEET HOW YOU MEET.
Now through December 31, 2023, YOU tell US what concessions are most valuable to your program.
Choose from three (3)* when you have 20 or more guestrooms on peak or over $10,000 in Food & Beverage spend.
*Full concession list available via the Member-to-Member Deals button. Not valid on existing groups. Blackout dates apply.
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To take advantage of this promotion, contact the Sales Department at [email protected] or 415.616.6500 for availability. | | | |
BABC Members get one month free and special pricing of $600 per desk! (SF or San Mateo) | | | |
British American Business Council | (415) 296-8645 | [email protected] | www.babcsf.org | |
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