CML Conference 2007

CML Exhibitors Listing

This year’s conference allows you to plan your agenda so make the most of it. Michael Coogan explains your options

How times change. Since last year’s conference, the industry has experienced unprecedented press coverage. It has had a high profile politically, given the government’s focus on housing supply and affordability issues. Looking back at last year’s programme, we analysed the introduction of home information packs (HIPS) and their effects on the housing market; the impact of new lenders on the industry and many other topics. But we could not have predicted events in the last few months. The scaled back implementation of HIPS, a result of an eleventh hour Government “wobble” was not quite what we expected. And the recent market turmoil, rippling across the Atlantic from the US mortgage market was barely a cloud on the horizon. New lenders may well be wondering what they have got themselves into!

As always, we aim to make the CML conference as topical and up-to-the-minute as possible, within the constraints of securing senior speakers who have busy diaries. Our “Going for Gold” theme reflects not only commercial aspirations but the fact that 2008 is an Olympic year – and London is preparing to host the Olympics in 2012. To motivate and inspire you, we have James Cracknell as our after-lunch speaker. Probably best known as an Olympic gold medallist, James has also been brave – or mad – enough to attempt to row across the Atlantic. Along with his sporting stories, we expect some serious messages to take away about facing adversity and meeting impossible challenges.

The conference will open with Jon Pain, CML chairman and the managing director of Cheltenham & Gloucester, presenting a review of the year. Jon has served two consecutive years as CML chairman and therefore has a unique industry perspective on the changing operating environment. Our conference is generously sponsored by N4 Solutions, who in the run-up to the conference have been acquired by Experian. Steve Jones, N4’s Chief Executive Officer will welcome delegates to the conference. Reflecting on recent difficulties affecting the industry, our first plenary session is called: market turmoil or market opportunity? Events since the late summer have sent a shockwave through the lending industry. What lessons have been learned about pricing for risk and “moving to quality”? The fall-out from the US sub-prime market has reverberated around the world, but customers with impaired credit records continue to need mortgage finance. How will the landscape look for sub-prime lenders in 2008, and beyond? The “credit crunch” has taken its toll – what are the lessons for lenders and where are the opportunities for those surviving the market turmoil? Presentations, debate and open discussion will feature on these – and other – topics. We have invited the Chancellor, the Financial Services Authority, lenders and market commentators to give us their views. More details will be published on the conference website (www.cml-conference.com) in the coming weeks.

Last year’s conference was a big success for a number of reasons. One of the biggest attractions was the interactive roundtable discussions that we introduced in 2006. The free exchange of views and ideas between industry peers was a highlight of the event. Building on this we have recruited a great team of facilitators to run this year’s selection of discussions and debates. Taking on board our delegates’ feedback, each breakout session now lasts for an hour. Moving straight on from our first plenary, delegates will be able to choose from a huge menu including a seminar presentation or the discussion groups. More of those later. Our first breakout features a seminar on Identifying and managing regulatory threats – what’s next for lenders? We are delighted to have Clive Briault, Managing Director, FSA, and Annik Lambert, Secretary General of the European Mortgage Federation, to share their expertise with us.

Time has been built into the day for delegates to make the most of visiting our 20 or so trade exhibitors. As well as some of our regular participants, a number of new exhibitors have joined us this year including Banctec, i-GATE, IBM, DBRS and our sponsors, N4 Solutions. We welcome them on board and hope they get the chance to meet you.

Following a break during which delegates will have an opportunity to visit the conference exhibition, our second keynote session – called “Innovation, innovation, innovation” – this will feature the views of John Stewart, managing director and chief executive of National Australia Bank. In an interview undertaken just before the conference, John Stewart will present a perspective on developments in mortgage markets in Australia and the UK. John Stewart’s interview will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by the CML’s director general Michael Coogan and featuring Jon Pain, Lynne Peacock, of National Australia Bank, and Peter Williams, executive director of IMLA.

Our final breakout session seminar focuses on the topic of customer retention and follow-through strategies. Chaired by John Woods, the panel includes Phil Jenks, of HBOS, Ray Boulger, of John Charcol and Simon Kent, of Troika. Now to our roundtables. Without doubt, these were the hit of last year’s conference and we have again gone for a wide-ranging and varied choice. For those with operational interests, we have a thought-provoking session hosted by sponsor, N4 Solutions, “Mortgage offers ‘untouched by human hands’ – what are the challenges?”

We also have some sessions encouraging you to look into a crystal ball, with topics such as “Virtual mortgage banks – the mortgage bank of the future” facilitated by iGATE Global Solutions. We also have some green topics including “Climate change – is it an issue for lenders?” with Gerry Metcalfe, UK Climate Impacts Programme and “Green mortgages – myth or reality?” led by Paul Ellis of the Ecology Building Society.

With the political and economic picture in mind, we have “The impact of interest rates” facilitated by Jill Gratton-Fisher of Experian; “Payment shock – how big is the problem likely to be and how should lenders prepare” led by Jim Cunningham, the CML’s senior economist; “What will the impact be of the new political landscape?” with our in-house PR and parliamentary team; “The impact of a new political dawn for Scottish housing” with Scottish expert, Kennedy Foster. All providing much food for thought.

For those involved with conveyancing and valuations, we have a number of interesting roundtables planned. “AVM’s are now traditional – how can surveyors work with the AVM beast?” led by Mark Witherspoon of UKValuations; “Moving e-conveyancing forward” facilitated by PISCES; “Evaluating environmental factors in mortgage valuations” hosted by Tom Parker, Quest Associates as well as “The role of search companies in e-conveyancing” led by Fiona Hoyle of COPSO.

Plus, a number of sessions looking with a commercial edge including “What is driving buy to let” with John Heron of Paragon; “Intermediary business” introduced by Mungo Dunnett, of Mungo Dunnett Associates; and “Three steps to benefiting from the Retail Distribution Review” facilitated by Troika. And if this list was not enough, “What is keeping the small lender awake at night” led by James Bawa of Teachers’ Building Society; “Arrears and Possessions management” facilitated by Wendy Rainbow of Shoosmiths and “Homebuy/ shared equity – is it working?” with Peter Williams.

After all the excitement of the roundtable discussions, delegates will come together for a final plenary, “Blood in the water: who will survive?” presented by Stephen Knight, well known as the former Chairman of GMAC-RFC as well as author, commentator and mortgage entrepreneur.

The conference will close at 1715, with the aim of allowing a break between the day and evening proceedings. To find out more about the event, including changes and updates to the programme, new speaker information and topics, please visit www.cml-conference.com You can also register online via this website. We have held prices from last year, with savings for smaller lenders and group discounts.

If the format is new to you, we will be inviting you to plan your agenda online about 4 weeks prior to the conference, choosing the sessions you wish to attend. Help will be at hand to assist you with this and we will remind you to complete your planning by the day. On the day, each delegate receives their personalised agenda and floor plan.