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Dear BABC Community,
April marks the start of a new fiscal year for BABC Northern California, as well as the successful settling‑in to our new Werqwise Sansome Street office and, for me, one year in the role of Executive Director.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the BABC Board of Directors, our loyal long‑standing members, those renewing their support, and those newly joining the BABC community, alongside our partners and event guests.
There is much to reflect on from the year past; however, this newsletter is intentionally focused on what’s coming up and the latest news from across our membership. I look forward to sharing a brief reflection piece in the weeks ahead, alongside more information on our 70th Annual General Meeting. In the meantime, please save the date for Wednesday, June 10th (evening).
I hope spring is bringing you renewed energy for the months ahead, as we look toward the eagerly anticipated summer season.
Kind regards,
Corey Hastings
Executive Director
BABC Northern California
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Dear Members of the BABC,
I’m writing to you this week from Alaska, where I am attending the Arctic Encounters Summit and meeting with state and local political leaders. This trip is particularly meaningful as it marks the completion of a goal I set when I became Consul General – to visit every state in our consular region within my first 6 months (or so!). I’m grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received on every trip. Each state offers its own unique perspectives and opportunities for the UK-US relationship.
Speaking of travel, back at the end of March I embarked on a 1,600-mile road trip through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming with several colleagues from the Consulate. It was a valuable opportunity to deepen our relationships with state, local and tribal leaders, and to better understand the unique strengths and ambitions of the Mountain West. From discussing advanced civil nuclear energy in Idaho, to exploring Montana’s thriving quantum and photonics sectors, learning from the innovative approaches of Crow Nation, and delving into energy research and collaboration at the University of Wyoming, these visits reinforced our commitment to working across the region to support shared UK-US priorities. The trip was also a lot of fun, despite some long days on the road.
Looking ahead, I’m excited for San Francisco Climate Week and the series of events we have planned to showcase the UK’s presence. We are especially pleased to host the US premiere of the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibition, in partnership with the West End Arts District. The event will showcase breathtaking imagery and extraordinary stories from our oceans. The evening will also include a conversation with Rachel Kyte, UK Special Representative for Climate, and Dr Kate Huckelbridge, Executive Director of the California Coastal Commission, highlighting opportunities for UK–California cooperation on marine biodiversity and coastal resilience. We hope to see you there.
Finally, our entire team is looking forward to the upcoming State Visit by Their Majesties The King and Queen to the United States. We will be following along with excitement as we celebrate this special moment in the UK-US relationship.
Warm regards,
Eleanor Kiloh
HM Consul General San Francisco
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Date: Tuesday, April 28th, 2026
Time: 4.30 PM – 7.30 PM PST
Location: 135 Townsend Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107
Pricing:
BABC Member Ticket: $33.85*
Non Member Ticket: $48.87*
*Includes Eventbrite fees
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Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2026
Time: 6.00 PM – 8 PM PST
Location: J.P. Morgan, 3223 Hanover St
1st Floor, 94301, Palo Alto
Pricing:
BABC Member Ticket: $30
Non Member Ticket: $45
On-the-door (if available): $55
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Penfolds invites you to an exclusive dinner celebration honoring Asian American & Pacific Island Heritage Month, an evening that weaves the richness of cultural legacy with benchmark luxury of the Penfolds House Style.
Date: Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Time: 5.30 PM – 8 PM PST
Location: Palette Tea Garden & Dim Sum 彩苑, 48 Hillsdale Mall, San Mateo, CA 94403
Pricing:
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69th San Francisco International Film Festival
Dates: April 24th - May 4th
SFFILM are extending code RM938HN to the BABC Community $2 off any film featured in this year’s festival.
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Startup Grind Conference 2026
Date: Tues, April 28th - Wed, April 29th
Location: Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway
Redwood City, CA 94063
Join 5,000+ startup enthusiasts in Silicon Valley in the mecca of technology and innovation for two days that could change the trajectory of your startup.
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Run the San Francisco Marathon with The King's Trust USA!
The King’s Trust, His Majesty King Charles III’s global youth charity, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the milestone, The Trust has launched a nationwide marathon campaign inclduing San Francisco,
British Consul General Eleanor Kiloh will lead the charge at the San Francisco Marathon on July 26th, and we are on the hunt for a fantastic team of 20 to join her! I know this remarkable SF community will rise to the challenge and help power brighter futures for the next generation.
Visit 50-for-50 to support the campaign or register to run or email marathon@kingstrust.us
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Raphael House Black & White Gala
Date: Saturday, May 9th, 2026
Time: 6.00 PM – 10 PM PST
Location: The Palace Hotel,
2 New Montgomery Street,
San Francisco, CA 94105
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Introducing Penfolds Bin 389 Designed by Troye Sivan
A creative dialogue with a shared passion for culture and creating moments that matter. Penfolds is proud to unveil the first design collaboration with new Creative Partner, Troye Sivan. The first chapter in a landmark multi-year collaboration - Bin 389, reimagined through Troye’s artistic lens. The 750ml gift box and bottle, carefully hand wrapped in tissue paper printed with one of twenty images selected from Troye’s personal camera roll. Discover the limited-edition collaboration. Made for Memories
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The Tax Debate Isn’t Over:
What Could Come Next
Is Congress done with taxes for the year? Or will there be a reconciliation package to help fund military operations in Iran, ICE and Border Patrol, and other pressing priorities? It’s too early to tell and there are many moving pieces, but one thing is clear: a number of tax provisions important to businesses remain in play. Expired provisions are piling up without a fix, Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith is already pushing new tax issues to the House floor, and lawmakers are now weighing a second reconciliation package – a legislative fast-track that allows the Republican majority to pass tax and spending changes without needing Democratic votes.
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Important Changes to UK Pensions and Inheritance Tax Impacting UK Expats from April 2027
The current landscape of UK pension planning will be significantly altered following the Finance Act 2026 receiving Royal Assent on 18 March 2026. This puts into effect plans announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in the 2024 Autumn Budget to include unused pension funds and certain death benefits within the scope of UK inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2027.
While most UK estates will continue to have no UK IHT liability, this still marks the end of UK pensions’ particularly privileged UK tax status for estate planning purposes.
| | The Phantom in the Payroll: A Multi-Million Dollar Security Time Bomb | The financial and security implications of hiring via fake profiles and proxy interviews are staggering for modern enterprises. Beyond the immediate loss of salary - which is often funneled to overseas illicit groups - the cost of a bad hire is estimated by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) to be up to $240,000 per employee when accounting for recruitment, onboarding, and lost productivity. Even more critical are the security risks: proxy candidates often serve as "insider threats" who bypass traditional background checks to gain unauthorized access to sensitive IP, customer data, and internal networks. With the average cost of a data breach reaching $4.45 million according to IBM, the "ghost" in your system could be your most expensive vulnerability. | | Learn more about how these deceptive practices operate and how to protect your organization. | | |
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A guide for US citizens
buying property in the UK
In recent years, we have seen a marked increase in US citizens choosing to buy property and relocate to the UK countryside, drawn by the lifestyle, education opportunities, cultural links, and growing ease of transatlantic working. Popular areas such as the Cotswolds have become particularly desirable, offering picturesque villages and easy access to London.
At Michelmores, our Private Property & Landed Estates(PPLE) team has experienced this trend firsthand, supporting a growing number of US clients wishing to purchase rural UK property, either as a primary home, a part-time residence, or as part of a long-term relocation plan.
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Emerging from busy season, Three Butterflies Consulting (3B) is preparing to take on our next batch of early-stage startups.
Our mission for 2026 is to stay intentionally small, so that we can be selective about working with clients we love, doing work that brings us joy and peace of mind for our clients. Our ideal client just got their seed financing and now needs a firm that can provide a strong accounting/finance/ operations foundation so they can focus on product and growth. We also offer an early-stage Slack group to foster community for our clients and mentees. We recently attended Berkeley SkyDeck’s Batch 21 demo day and were very inspired by what we saw. Looking forward to welcoming our next batch of 3B seed stage clients!
| | | | KPMG veteran takes over Silicon Valley office as AI moves from testing to deployment | Chad Seiler, incoming managing partner of KPMG’s Silicon Valley office in Santa Clara, will oversee more than 600 partners and professionals starting April 1. | | | | Developing the Next Generation: Elite Summer Soccer Immersions in the UK and Europe | |
For many BABC members, the summer months are an opportunity to provide children with experiences that foster discipline, high-level performance, and a global perspective. At Soccer Camps International, we move beyond the standard summer camp model to offer an investment in athletic development and professional-grade exposure.
Our England Soccer Camps offer young athletes (ages 7–18) exclusive access to the training philosophies of the world’s most prestigious Premier League clubs. The curriculum is designed for players who are serious about their progression, featuring:
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Manchester City Soccer Camps:
Residential training at the world-class Etihad Campus, utilizing the same elite facilities as the First Team.
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Chelsea FC Soccer Camps & Talent ID:
Intensive technical sessions including a dedicated Talent ID Day held at the official Chelsea FC Training Ground in Cobham, offering players a rare look into the academy environment of a top-tier London club.ly" or "only 7 remaining!"
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Professional Pedagogy:
Camps training styles of Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, and Liverpool focus on the specific tactical "DNA" of the clubs, led by UEFA-qualified coaches who emphasize "Game IQ" and the professional standards required from a Premier League Club.
| | Due to the exclusive nature of the training facilities - particularly the Etihad Campus and the Chelsea Cobham sessions—spaces are limited and highly sought after. | | | | |
The military operation against Iran has had a direct impact on businesses and consumers in both the U.S. and UK as energy costs rise and the halted transit of oil and goods through the Strait of Hormuz slows global trade. In both the U.S. and UK, this has placed energy policy back in the spotlight, which is an area BAB has consistently advocated for a sensible and pragmatic approach towards on both sides of the Atlantic. On a positive note, we welcome the UK government’s decision to overhaul nuclear planning and regulation to reduce costs and accelerate new projects.
We continue to monitor the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning the reciprocal tariffs introduced under IEEPA. There are several new and ongoing Section 301 and 232 investigations that will likely result in new tariffs later this year. This includes a Section 301 investigation into whether several countries, including the UK, have a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labor. BAB will providing a submission to the consultation on this topic.
| | British American Business Council | (415) 296-8645 | info@babcsf.org | www.babcsf.org | |
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