The Maritime Economist Magazine Spring 2015 | Page 54
THEMARITIME Economist
Memories
IAME 2007 Conference
Athens, July 4–6 2007
Dr Ilias Visvikis, Professor, Ship Finance and Risk Management,
Director, Executive Education, World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden
ME Mag
It all begun in 2005 at my previous academic
institution, when ALBA Graduate Business School
at the American College of Greece presented a
proposal to the IAME council members during the
IAME 2005 conference in Cyprus, to organise and
host the 2007 conference in Athens, Greece (July
4-6 2007). Greece was selected on the basis of its
key geo-economic location, as well as its status and
significance within the international maritime sector.
More than three months of work on the proposal
paid off when I was informed soon afterwards that
the proposal was accepted!
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Then, it took me just a moment to realise that for
the next two years my focus and attention would be
on offering a great conference in my home country
for all IAME members. I still vividly remember all the
preparations and numerous meetings and talks that
had to take place from the inception of the idea to
organize the IAME conference, until the closing
day of that successful event and a couple of weeks
thereafter. Trust me, when I say, you need to be fully
aware of what you are getting into in terms of work,
preparations and personal involvement before you
submit a proposal. I believe all other prior chairmen
of the IAME conference would agree with me on that.
The first decisions were to put together a Local
Organizing Committee that would work for all the
conference administrative arrangements and an
Opening Ceremony – Ilias Visvikis, Chair