Z/Yen Builds CommunityZ

Z/Yen is pleased to host a number of communities, the most noteworthy being the London Accord. Z/Yen has just completed building a community for the 500 strong Real Time Club – an IT Debating & Dining Club “with attitude”. The membership site features events, social networking and a wiki, amongst other things.

A couple of weeks ago, the London Accord and the Real Time Club jointly hosted an event in London, “Green Boggle - A Night Of Green Tech With Prizes”, part of which involved Z/Yen running its new Green Bourse game, which proved hugely popular with the attendees. The next event is on 24 November, entitled “Why Should the ICT Industry Care About the Arts?” with Vernon Ellis speaking and leading the discussion. Members and non-members can book online at http://realtimeclub2.eventbrite.com/

When Irish Tongues Are Wagging

Z/Yen was pleased to sponsor the annual Gresham College event, with the EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy delivering the Sir Thomas Gresham Lecture entitled “Financial Crisis: Do We Need More Regulation?” Our own Irishman, Michael Mainelli, then interviewed Charlie on his thoughts about everything from lock-keeping on the Irish Grand Canal to the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty to financial regulation. Charlie summarised, “It is not too little regulation which has caused the problems, and it is not lots more regulation that will solve them”. The audience was enthralled. Charlie may have moved a number of people to consider a small rethink on their EU opinions. Quite an achievement here in London. The lecture is available to download here.

Geoff Cook – A Tribute

It is with great sadness that we report the death of Geoff Cook, Linda’s husband. Geoff has been a great supporter of Z/Yen for the 10+ years that Linda has been working for us. He was the life and soul of any Z/Yen event and a mainstay of our embattled cricket team. Indeed, Geoff was remarkably upbeat in the face of insurmountable odds, be that the vastly overpowering cricket opposition or, far more seriously, the cancer which he had been fighting with incredible dignity for six years. Geoff’s passing is a massive loss to Linda and, indeed, to all of us who knew and admired him.

Charities Consortium IT Benchmarking Takes Shape

Following our announcement in May 2008 that Z/Yen would be running the Charities Consortium IT Directors Group (CCitDG) benchmarking for the next three years, the venture between Z/Yen and CCitDG is really starting to take shape.

Ian Harris and Leo Fishman presented the latest quarterly findings to the CCitDG Annual Conference in Stratford-Upon-Avon in October. Over 40 of the largest charities are already participating - 60% more than ever before. Feedback at the conference was very positive: participants are finding the exercise increasingly user friendly, flexible and dynamic. Feedback from the members is also allowing Z/Yen further to improve the benchmark and to come up with ideas to encourage even more members to participate. Organisations other than charities can buy in to this valuable source of information - please contact Ian Harris at ian_harris@zyen.com for more details.

Meanwhile Leo seems to be entering the spirit of “IT geek-hood” with gusto. On the way to the conference she was busy playing Jefferson Airplane, Neil Young and Van Morrison on Ian’s iPod. She also entered into the Z/Yen spirit by issuing Z/Yen gimcrack, both as prizes for those who have submitted the most data and as gifts for those who registered at the conference to participate in the benchmark for the first time.

Soju, Rum Or Guinness?

How to become a successful financial centre? Hire Z/Yen for a start… Mark and Michael continue to advise cities around the globe on how to become more competitive financial centres. Mark somehow manages to commandeer the more exotic locations - he is off to Seoul in early November - and is trying to organise another Caribbean adventure. Michael is staying closer to home, advising policy makers in London and also making an autumn trip to Dublin.

We are currently using PropheZy to determine the real drivers of city competitiveness and hope to publish our findings later this year. Meanwhile, The Global Financial Centres Index goes from strength to strength with GFCI 6 published by the City of London at the end of September. As always, we are very grateful for all responses so please help if you can.

The Sisterhood

A warm Z/Yen welcome to Stephanie Rochford who joined us in September. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because we have now employed all four of the Rochford sisters at one time or another; a full house! And if the face looks familiar, that’s because Stephanie is Josie’s identical twin. Stephanie, who has formerly worked in publishing, will be using her experience to (amongst other things) help keep our on-line communities well worded; indeed, she is using her skills to bring you this very issue of Now and Z/Yen.