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! 54 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