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At last, the official EPCA photos we were all looking forward to. EPCA posted them on the website on Wednesday, where delegates are able to download them by using their conference username and password. A few selected highlights have been chosen for the Blog's readers (photos copyright EPCA).
The whole EPCA Berlin experience is captured for posterity in this video clip, shot in the lobby of the Berlin Intercontinental and the ICIS suite, and starring familiar faces from the world of petrochemicals as they rush about their business over three days in October 2009. Thanks to Stephen Burns of ICIS Houston for encapsulating the drama and passion of the event in this 2.19 minute video, with a jolly German oompah band backing track.
The Women in Leadership Forum (WILForum) in
Olefins trader Gina Fyffe of Integra was among those shortlisted for the Energy award at the conference, which was held at the Atlantis, Palm Jumeirah.
The Blog has been enjoying the almond-stuffed dates from
Our own Shelley Kerr is just back from presenting a paper at the conference's Baseoils Methodology Seminar and meeting many of her editorial contacts during the two-and-a-half day event. From her photos, I see that the highlights of the trip were the
Caroline Howard reflects on this week's PET conference in
The warm October sunshine is the first thing to hit me on landing at
Set in the Tuscan hills, this Medici stronghold exudes Renaissance elegance. It is worlds away from the bustling modernity of the Intercontinental in
Admittedly, I was let out until the small hours of the mornings for some serious networking! I soon realise, however, that this training may prove useful as the 160 delegates and I are led to the wine cellars of the Paggeria Medicea. An evening of Italian culinary delights ensues.
Continue reading From Berlin to Florence.
The Vopak Monday night party at EPCA was one of the conference highlights. Here is a selection of pictures of the Blog's favourite characters from the Vopak photo collection ...
Continue reading PHOTOS: Vopak Party at EPCA Berlin.
While we are still recovering from EPCA
Here I am at the World Gas Conference in sunny
You see, each company has a 'stall' at the conference. It's the biggest exhibition I've ever seen. There must be 1,000 stalls. Some of them are bigger than a house. Some have women dancing outside them, Formula One cars, free booze. And then there's the Gazprom 'stall'. It's the size of a temple with an ice skating rink in front of it. Word is that the Russian girls who skate on it are some of the best in the world. It's the biggest stand in the most prominent position, it really is quite amazing.
Continue reading Gazprom take the headlines - again.
I picked up a few new business cards at EPCA from old friends moving jobs.
Joe Duffy, previously with Huntsman and SABIC, has joined DeWitt as Vice President, Ethylene, Propylene and Derivatives, EAME, based in the UK, but I see no sign of him on the company website.
It's Tuesday midday and the ICIS suite is as empty as a hollow gourd. In writing the final word on the EPCA 2009 conference in Berlin, the Blog will be careful to avoid all mention of the usual Top 10 parties, after a friend hinted that it aroused jealousy and ire amongst wives and stay-at-home colleagues, and gave quite the wrong impression of what we get up to at conferences. Hmmm
In its place, the Blog has been tirelessly compiling an alternative listing of Best of Bests...
Most Complaints - security at the Interconti, stopping people from entering the bars and meeting areas, even the restrooms, without a delegate badge.
Most Failures to Meet - There was the usual quota of people turning up at the wrong place or wrong time or just failing to connect. Prize to Daphne and Truong who failed to meet on at least four occasions.
Most Puzzling Vehicle - 2 large coaches for Helm parked continuously outside the Steigenberger Hotel.
Best Thing about the Steigenberger Hotel - huge showers.
Most sobering news - five redundancies due to "restructuring" in seemingly rapid succession: Barry H, Nick K, Andy S, Alan T, Kieran D...
Photos Most Looking Forward to Seeing: Vopak party; EPCA photos on website (in about three months' time going on previous experience); trying on Russian hats at Checkpoint Charlie; Nigel and cigars at Accenture party.
Biggest Promise - Hans K who volunteered to speak at 2010 ICIS Aromatics conference on "Being in Chapter 11."
Best Early Morning Walk - Steigenberger to Interconti, each day rejoicing in the lack of rain or snow.
Most Wacky Dresser - tall guy from ISP at the Mitsubishi party, in skin-tight shiny shirt and twisted red neckscarf - surrounded by 100 men in dark suits.
Best Chemical View - from the Sasol-Huntsman suite on the 7th floor of the Interconti Trigon, over water (always calming), autumnal trees and the Berlin skyline including the Reichstag, and Fernsehturm.
Most Extravagant Use of Company Resources - Russian delegation staying at the historic Adlon Hotel, most expensive hotel in town and miles from the conference, with its 3rd Reich connections, by the Brandenburg Gate.
Nicest Compliments about the Blog - Fred H and Marija K.
Most Touching Exhibition of Male Competitiveness - Joe D and Barry H disputing who got the highest scores for chairing an ICIS conference in the delegate feedback.
Most Superfluous Items in Packed Luggage - evening bag, sunglasses, camera charger, new grey tights, which turned out to be TOTALLY the wrong shade of grey (whoever knew that greys could clash), new necklace from Argentina (which didn't go with anything).
Most Avidly Discussed ICIS News Article - Exxonmobil speech - attracted huge attention from Japanese delegates.
Most Requested ICIS Report - Benzene (Europe).
Most Pointless Innovation - Twitterfeed on my blog: it never worked. I devotedly updated it all day Sunday and Monday with my every thought and action, creating a repository of information too trivial even for the Blog, including highlights such as the arrival in the ICIS suite of a mystery bouquet of stargazer lilies, and all to no avail.
Most Shipbrokers Per Square Metre - the Chelsea vs Liverpool football match Sunday night at the Irish Bar.
PS Update on social kiss agenda:
No sightings of the male-on-male kiss at EPCA 2009. I did see two male delegates walking with arms around each other - but guess they were shipbrokers.
