German management consultants institute (Idu Institut der Unternehmensberater) was the host for the Eurohub meeting 2016. The institute is situated in the new offices of Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberater BDU in Bonn, the former capital of Germany. BDU is owner of the institute by 100%. “It was founded two years ago to allow management consultants without BDU-membership to become CMC”, explained Rémi Redley, chairman of the IdU certification commission.
The meeting started with CMC-Global (ICMCI) Chair Sorin Caian announcing the new Euro Hub Chair, Jan Willem Kradolfer, Delegate of Ooa (CMC-Netherlands). Jan Willem lead the meetings during both days following the agenda and assuring interaction amongst the 27 attendees representing 12 countries.
Discussions started with updated from the International Council on all activities to include an update from the Chair, the Executive Director, and the Treasurer to cover actions, initiatives, services, and budgeting. Treasurer, Dwight Mihalicz who joined us via Skype, also delivered an update on the draft report of the Strategic Funding taskforce to be finalized and fully presented for approval in the 2016 Annual Meeting of Delegates.
One interesting topic of the discussion was the Ooa (IMC Netherland) success-story on “how to interact with young professionals” presented by Theo Hermsen. Participants learned, that Membership is “out”, personal network is “in”, young members want to participate on a project basis, not as a member of a board or committee and focus on informal networks. And they like to move from informing to engaging and from sitting and listening to experiencing. Ooa is open to members AND non-members. The challenge is to finance the institute’s infrastructure if the “pay per use” model will accelerate.
Another interesting presentation was the success story of IMCA (IMC Ireland) presented by Tom Moriarty during the second day of the meeting on IMCA’s experience with the ACP-Scheme to enhance involvement and participation of corporates in the IMC and being an active arm in developing the capacities and professionalism of the management consultants.
At the end of the first day, participants went on a bus sightseeing trip through Bonn ending with a dinner at the Godesburg, an old castle on top of a hill with a beautiful view overlooking the river Rhine. This occasion was used to interact with all participants, exchange opinions and impressions of the day.
According to Sorin Caian, “The Hubs have proven again their role in strengthening the CMC Global organization, as well as being a very productive platform for sharing experience, enhance cooperation, and looking together towards the future of our profession. The Euro Hub organized by BDU in Bonn this year adds to the list of very successful meetings of our members, combining in a wonderful way work with warm gathering of worldwide family of management consultants”.
During the second day, attendees were updated on the upcoming Assembly of Delegates and International CMC Conference that are being held in October in Toronto to be organized by our member CMC-Canada. Jac Van Beek who joined us via Skype included in his update the agenda, speakers, activities, and the readiness of the website for registrations (http://www.cmc-canada.ca/management-consulting-week-2016/home).
Other topics included Kim Karme presenting highlights of the new CMC-Global Governance, Robert Bodenstein updating participants on the ISO 20700, with a request to all participants to get in contact with their national standard organization to support the final voting on the standard. Jeremy Webster presenting the AMCC and the options for the implementation.
In closing, Jan Willem thanked BDU and IdU for their hospitality and the efforts to arrange this meeting hoping to see many of the attendees at the next large event, which is the International CMC Conference and the Annual Assembly of ICMCI Delegates, as both events will take place in October in Toronto (Canada).
According to Jan Willem, “The Eurohub in Bonn was a great succes. Not only because of the good work done by BDU and IdU staff, but also because all attendees contributed in discussing and sharing ideas and best practices from the different IMC’s. As a first time Eurohub chair, for me personally it was a challenge to bring together all those different views and opinions. The delegates and Board Members were in the position to bring subjects to the table in preparation for our annual meeting in Toronto. And of course: as a community of people we also had the chance to catch up with eachother, and socialise, with great views from a German castle on the river Rhine”.
See you all soon in October for our 2016 Annual Assembly of Delegates!
IBCA First Time Attendance At an ICMCI Event: A note from the Delegate