{"id":40451,"date":"2024-07-16T18:09:25","date_gmt":"2024-07-16T17:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=40451"},"modified":"2024-07-16T18:26:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T17:26:30","slug":"ihbc-celebrates-learning-insights-networking-more-at-2024s-addictive-reading-school-on-place-building-care-interim-update-thanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=40451","title":{"rendered":"IHBC celebrates learning, insights, networking & more at 2024\u2019s \u2018addictive\u2019 Reading School on \u2018Place & Building Care\u2026\u2019: Interim update, thanks & signposts to \u2018IHBC CPD, despite purdah\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As IHBC\u2019s 2024 Reading School<\/a> has (mostly) ended, the IHBC offers more thanks to speakers, volunteers, supporters, participants and Sponsors \u2013Principal Sponsor MFL Insurance Group<\/a> and Reception Sponsor Velux<\/a> \u2013 with an interim update on #IHBCReading2024 past and future.<\/h3>\n

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\u2026[#IHBCReading2024] demonstrated\u00a0 how careful management of finance policy and people can be used to produce positive conservation outcomes\u2026.<\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n

IHBC Chair David McDonald said: \u2018It was a real privilege to be able to attend the 2024 Annual School in Reading, and to chair the morning session of the Friday Day School which enjoyed more than 250 delegates in-person and online, on the day and via recordings.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The in-person and virtual event certainly delivered what it promised – insights and updates on \u2018Place & Building Care – Finance, policy & people in conservation practice<\/em>\u2019.\u00a0 It demonstrated\u00a0 how careful management of finance policy and people can be used to produce positive conservation outcomes. Like many delegates, I was also pleasantly surprised to find out how much Reading had to offer in terms of its historic environment, from the remains of the medieval abbey to the wealth of Victorian buildings by Alfred Waterhouse.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I’m very grateful to IHBC staff and South Branch members who worked very hard to make this such an inspiring event’.<\/p>\n

Branch and School Committee Chair Alison Davidson, said: \u2018IHBC\u2019s Reading School was my \u2018swan song\u2019 pending my stepping down from the South Branch Committee (after twenty-odd years) and handing over the reins to the very capable Emilia McDonald as chair and a number of other dedicated members.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Putting together a three day conference is a big achievement which definitely takes team work.\u00a0 The South Branch Committee was able to contribute most in terms of suggesting a cohesive selection of speakers, tours and sites to visit.\u00a0 Local knowledge is powerful in this respect.\u00a0 Attending meetings in the run up to the conference was made much easier than before because we are all so used to the powers of virtual connection, and it forced us to catch up with each other, which is no bad thing!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018But for those of us who attended the conference in person, it was a great reminder of how important it is to meet up, swap ideas and stories and to have fun as well as to continue our learning.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The bulk of the organisation and logistics work is now carried out by the National Office, but the local committee is essential, and the efforts put in at the front end were rewarded with an excellent Annual School.\u2019<\/p>\n

IHBC\u2019s Annual Gus Astley Student Awards Judge John Fidler said: \u2018Despite the charming Arctic weather we all enjoyed at the IHBC Summer School in \u2018radiant\u2019 Reading (somewhat different from that which I enjoy daily in Marina Del Rey, California). I was honoured to present both the 2023 Gus Astley Student Award<\/em> and the Institute\u2019s Booth-Bird<\/em> prize to Tom Goodwin and Hannah Beaman respectively at the annual conference dinner.<\/p>\n

The fledgling practitioners, now gainfully employed with specialist conservation practices Purcell and Insall Associates, were thus elevated by the IHBC awards to a truly national \u2018listed\u2019 status. And, speaking from the perspective of being myself a long-standing \u2018Scheduled Ancient Monument\u2019<\/em>, I can state categorically that career trajectories that start with student applications for scholarships and awards can indeed be rewarded with prizes and conference attendances (like this one) that change lives \u2013 meeting peers, future collaborators, mentors and even partners \u2013 that help define and focus life\u2019s pathways ahead. I wish those commended on the night and the two bright young awardees all success in their chosen fields and best wishes for long and rewarding careers, through membership within the IHBC.\u2019<\/p>\n

IHBC Director Sean O\u2019Reilly, lead for the IHBC\u2019s National said: \u2018We had an exceptionally extensive and complex suite of learning on offer this year.\u00a0 We have finally consolidated our new School format around tightly-themed professional learning and CPD, itself tied to specific core practice standards while being accessible to both online and in-persona delegates.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018This experience has established the model that we will roll out for future Schools.\u00a0 Now, too, delegates, colleagues, networks and even sponsors can see how they really will get the best quality support for interdisciplinary conservation practice at the best possible price!\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018This year we included within our suite of School-linked learning \u2013 much accessible for free, or from as little as \u00a330+VAT \u2013 a diverse body of expertise linked to IHBC\u2019s practice-based \u2018Competences\u2019, around Finance and Policy.\u00a0 For those lucky enough to attend the Full School tours, Reading served as the real life, case-study site against which such issues could be understood and interrogated.\u00a0 The suite of IHBC CPD learning and support for delegates and stakeholders of all backgrounds \u2013 from specialist professional to community interests \u2013 encompassed:<\/p>\n