IMI eyes the key to success

IMI’s 2005 conference is designed to ensure the country stays in the top flight of global economic performers in the years ahead.

Ireland’s achievements have been hard won and are accepted internationally, said Dr Tom McCarthy, chief executive of IMI.

We must ensure that we stay in the “Premiership Division” and the IMI has a key role in paying a part in that process, he said.

To help the country stay in the top flight IMI has broken with tradition and moved this year’s annual conference to Druids Glen.

The conference will have a southern influence nonetheless. Eddie O’Sullivan, coach of last year’s winning Triple Crown rugby team is from Youghal, Co Cork, and is one of the chosen speakers.

For Dr McCarthy, Mr O’Sullivan typifies what the new Ireland is about and highlights that with proper application and use of up-to-the-minute techniques, good teams can become great and achieve greatness.

That is the primary objective of the 2005 IMI conference called “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Opportunity.”

The IMI has assembled a diverse line up of speakers he hopes will stimulate Ireland into superior growth in the coming years.

Another well known local figure appearing over the two days will be Maurice Pratt, chief executive of drinks group C&C.

From abroad, the IMI has secured the attendance of Patricia Russo who is chairman and chief executive of Lucent Technologies, one of the largest suppliers of communications hardware on the globe.

The Bell labs project for Dublin, part of Lucent, adds to her attraction, said Dr McCarthy.

Other speakers will include Charles Leadbeater, who is said to be one of Tony Blair’s favourite corporate thinkers.

Adding political weight to the process will be Finance Minister, Brian Cowen and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who will attend on separate days.

Issues to be tackled will include the public or private ownership of infrastructure and the sticky question of over-regulation.