In reflecting on the many inspiring times I have had the good fortune to enjoy with our partners around the world, I am reminded of how British Embassies and High Commissions have been of great help in our work, and also of many amusing and unexpected moments connected with them.
Our first experience of working with an Embassy was some years ago when French partner IMS asked if we could help run a conference for companies on community investment in Paris. Our Chief Executive at the time, Julia Cleverdon, turned out to be a personal friend of the Ambassador, Sir Michael Jay, so she phoned him to see if he could let us have a room. “Of course, my dear”, he replied, “you can use Empress Josephine’s ballroom.” And so it was, as the Ambassador’s residence on the Rue du Faubourg St Honore had originally been built for Napoleon’s wife. We held the conference in the magnificent room, and 100 people came.
In addition to the splendour of the room itself, we admired a throne at the side. We asked if this was where the Queen sat when she came on State visits, but the answer was no, it belonged to the Duke of Wellington, one time Ambassador to France, who had insisted on his own throne. And so the British Ambassador to Paris is the only one to have his or her own throne. Their French chef is also outstanding, as the lunch was excellent.
More recently, we helped to run a CSR conference with the Embassy in Quito, Ecuador, and another the next day in Guayaquil, the port city. After a celebratory dinner there with much fine wine, we were at the airport at 7 in the morning to fly back to Quito. In spite of my efforts at light conversation, the Ambassador’s mood was uncommunicative, due no doubt to affairs of state rather than a headache.
But his mood lightened when a side door opened and 8 extremely beautiful young women entered the lounge. The first wore a banner saying “Miss Ecuador 2005” and the others their own saying “Contestant Miss Ecuador 2005.” “Have you got a camera?” whispered the Ambassador, but alas, I was out of film, which took him back to his sombre mood. But all was well, as on arrival at Quito airport we found a crowd of cameramen and photographers waiting at Arrivals, so he got his picture with Miss Ecuador after all.
My first visit to South America was enabled by the Embassies in Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Santiago, all of whom had organised CSR conferences at which I was invited to speak. The first was in Bs As, and we did not exchange much detail about the exact agenda before my arrival. When we met at the Embassy to discuss proceedings, I asked how long the conference would be. “From 9.00 till 12.00, followed by lunch. Coffee at 10.30” said the Press Secretary. “Fine,” I said, “who are the speakers?” “You,“ she replied.
Fortunately I had a presentation with 54 slides so got through ok, and we didn’t lose anyone at the coffee break. In Montevideo, the Ambassador showed me his study after the conference, and allowed me to sit at the ornate leather desk where the plans were hatched for the battle of the River Plate during World War II. And in Santiago, I had the good fortune to be introduced to the homes/museums of poet Pablo Neruda in Valparaiso and Isla Negra, so in addition to sharing our own experience of responsible business practice, I had an enviable introduction to the local culture.
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