Court circuit

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Court circuit – Embassy 29

Matthew Boyles (BMW Park Lane) talks to Colonel Alfonso Yunda Martinez and Marta Patricia Martinez Geraldo (both Colombia)

A warm welcome
More than 150 new diplomats and their families from around 90 missions signed up for this year’s Diplomatic Induction Seminar, held within the historic surroundings of the British Museum. Newcomers received briefings from the Dean, the Marshal, the Protocol Directorate and the London Mayor’s office. They also attended a personal safety seminar, hosted by the Diplomatic Protection Group and were introduced to London’s many active diplomatic associations. Newcomers also attended a series of Living in London workshops to help them settle into their new environment while the afternoon was dedicated to professional workshops to introduce them to essential contacts. The packed programme ended with a prize draw and a tour of the British Museum.

PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS

Matt Biescad (IDS) talks to Fran Sokoli (Kosovo)

Alexander Khvtisiashvili (Georgia) and Irina Dakhundaridze (Georgia) check out Ian Grover’s range of Volvos

"An extremely well organised and well attended event that offered a great networking opportunities"
Volvo Cars, Diplomat Sales

Hilary Limo (Kenya) meets Ricky Downs of Clements International

A productive and informative event
Clements Europe

Joao da Costa of Southbank International School talks to Shahzul Mohd Yunus (Malaysia)

"Consistently the best event we have attended in the past few years"
Southbank International School

Andrea Aroueta-Scheib (Honduras), Hans-Rudolf Bolli (Switzerland) and Susana Garudo-Arana (Mexico)

Jouni Molsa and Tiina Nelin (Finland) talk to Maria Virlan and Prashanth Ayyagari

Rohan Ghatge (VFS) chats to Iwona Woicka-Zulawska (Poland) and Slawomir Zulawski (Poland)

Catherine Moruke (South Africa) with David and Vivienne Rose of North London International School

"A professional approach to networking to the Diplomatic community"
The North London International School

Sue Ackerman and Melanie Walkling chat to Consular Corps President Bogdan Kolarov

Diplomats network over lunch

Sergey Anufriev (Russia) meets Canan Mounir and Laura Ochoa of Hamptons International

Mohammed Al Bandari (Oman) talks to Rita Schneider and James Newell from Mercedes-Benz

Martins Pundors (Latvia) visits Ruth Jeffries and Grant Chapman at the Alan Day Volkswagen stand

"This years event was very well organised. The stands were in great positions for approachable networking"
Alan Day Volkswagen

Aysegul Gurgezoglu (Turkey) meets Lisa Rogers and Natalie Adams of Pharos Insurance

"An excellent opportunity to promote our services to a targeted market"
Pharos Insurance Brokers

Dr Andrew McIver of Sloane Medical Practice checks the blood pressure of Emmanuel Anin (Ghana)

Mme Frederique Brisset and Nicholas Otten from L’Ecole des Petits and L’Ecole de Battersea

Ambrosia Matetse (Botswana) and Irene Gofaone Rowland (Botswana) talk to Juliette Keyte and Nick Bridgen from Managed Services Centre

"The event was a fantastic opportunity to meet new people"
Managed Services Centre

Casablanca Hire do brisk business with the diplomats

"The Event was very well organised and we were very pleased with the response"
Casablanca Marquee and Catering Hire

Cheers! Helen and Paul Gardner of Chacalli de Decker

"An excellent event. A great way in meeting many new customers in a short period of time"
Chacalli De Decker

Dr Stephen Hunter of Wimpole Street Orthodontic Practice with Jacinta Hamilton (Australia) and Gilda Kelly (Sloane Medical Practice)

"A very informative event. Everyone was very friendly"
Wimpole Street Orthodontic Practice

Ian Crowther of Diplomatic Mission Supplies exchanges cards with Jennifer Teng (Singapore)

"Great opportunity to meet face to face with clients"
Diplomatic Mission Supplies

Jayne Simpson and Carol Baker from Kent College talks to Aida Toumi (Tunisia)

Zeineb Bentahila (Morocco), Nadjeh Baaziz (Algeria) and Mohammed Al-Najar (Yemen)

Karen Dixon (The London Nanny Company) and Rekia Haruna (Ghana)

Fantastic opportunity for business development and networking – one of the best we have attended
The London Nanny Company

Mykola Adeyev and Peter Dawson of St Nicholas College of London

"Useful event for those who want to introduce their services to diplomats and their family members"
St Nicholas College of London

Renata Papcunova and Maria Pink of Happy Home Staff

"Very productive we have picked up a lot of contacts and feel as if these could be very good for the business"
Happy Home Staff

Richard Cox (FCO) and Georgios Apostolakis (Greece)

back

Embassy Editor Elizabeth Stewart welcomes delegates to the Induction Seminar

"I got very useful information and new contacts. The seminar is to be recommended to all new colleagues"
Embassy of Switzerland

Kaye Hayles (Embassy) preparing the delegates badges

Iwona Woicka-Zulawska (Poland) receives her voucher for IDS luxury goods from Patrick Doyle

Kerry Low (Embassy Group) talks to Dr Stephen Hunter (Wimpole Street Orthodontic Practice)

The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Charles Gray gives a guide to the role of the Marshal

"This seminar is an excellent venue to familiarise oneself with London in a post and a home"
Embassy of Iceland

Constable Brian Pitkin of the DPG gives diplomats a Personal Safety Seminar

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps the Ambassador of Kuwait Khaled Al Duwaisan gives his guide to diplomacy in London

Panellists for the Property & Finance workshop Dan Francis (Clements International), Canan Mounir and Laura Ochoa of Hamptons International and Chris Goodwin

Kerry Low (Embassy) and Kemel Butt (UK Property Finders)

"A full day of diplomatic networking in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere"
Embassy of Greece

DPAAL President Niall Wilkins (South Africa) moderates the Politics & Press panellists Christopher Wyld (Foreign Press Association), Susan Crown (FCO Press Office), Kenneth Courtenay (Inter Parliamentary Union) and Mike Gapes MP (Foreign Affairs Select Committee)

Culture & Education panellists Katie Childs (British Museum), Yvette Vaughan Jones (Visiting Arts), Ildiko Takacs (Hungarian Cultural Institute) and Dr John Law (British Council)

Philip Worley of UKTI gives a presentation at the Trade & Economics workshop with fellow panellists Pauline Shearman (CBI), Raymond Ward (HMRC) and Georg Karabaczek (AERL)

Graham Wilkinson (Ministry of Justice) briefs consuls

"It was very useful and informative"
Turkish Embassy

Diplomats take notes during their briefing sessions

Dr Andrew McIver of Sloane Medical Practice gives a briefing on healthcare in the UK

The Deputy Director of the British Museum Dr Andrew Burnett addresses the diplomatic delegates

Siobhan Allan (Embassy Group) shares a joke with Bill Falora (BMW)

Caroline Newton, head of international affairs and government relations at the Greater London Authority

"The organisation of the event was at a very good level. A lot of useful information and contacts for new diplomats in the UK"
Embassy of the Slovak Republic

Chairman Georg Karabaczek (Austria) introduces the Association of Economic Representatives in London

Professor Roberto Amendolia (Italy) introduces the London Diplomatic Science Club

HE the High Commissioner for Grenada, Ruth Rouse, gives an overview of the Women in Diplomatic Service group

President of the Diplomatic Press Attaché Association of London Niall Wilkins (South Africa)

Consular Corps President Bogdan Kolarov (Bulgaria)

"Very useful for newcomers to London and perfectly organised"
Embassy of Switzerland

Embassy Editor Elizabeth Stewart draws a lucky winner with Patrick Doyle of IDS

Ian Grover of Volvo Cars and the winner of a Volvo of her choice for the weekend, Ilona Ruban (Ukraine)

Ricky Downs of Clements International gives a Mont Blanc pen to Ju Yong Choi (DPRK)

Maria Virlan of 51 Buckingham Gate awards her prize of a dinner for two at Quilon to Jasmina Turajlic of Bosnia Herzegovina

"Interesting and useful event"
Embassy of Spain

Rebecca Wheeler of Happy Home Staff gives her prize to Mungongi Samutete (Zambia)

Jonathan Smith of Casablanca Hire gives a prize to Ekniti Nitithanprapas (Thailand)

Jacinta Hamilton (Australia) wins her prize of Afternoon Tea at the Langham Hotel from Embassy Editor Elizabeth Stewart

Joachim Duster (Germany) and Catriona Garrett (Germany)