NAO Private Finance Conference 2008

On 7 July 2008 around 150 private finance practitioners gathered at the QEII Centre in Westminster for the Annual NAO Private Finance Conference.

Those attending were drawn from central government departments, local authorities, the private sector, funders and advisers. 

The day commenced with a series of short presentations from Edward Leigh MP, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Gordon McKechnie (Treasury), Mike Gerrard (Partnerships UK) and the NAO’s Ed Humpherson.

Edward Leigh spoke of his continuing concern at the need for a greater body of people within the Civil Service to have the commercial skills necessary to take forward complex procurements.

Gordon McKechnie spoke of the increasing range of ways in which the private sector may be able to engage with the public sector whilst Mike Gerrard gave an update on the effect of the current credit crunch on financing for government projects.

Ed Humpherson in his presentation referred to contract managers as the unsung heroes of the private finance sector world.

Other highlights included the opportunity to watch a new film about the NAO’s private finance work, a transcript of a video presented at the conference is also available.

 

An update on the use of private finance in the Olympics from David Goldstone, Finance Director of the Olympic Development Authority, and workshops on waste infrastructure, Building Schools for the Future, operational and financing issues.

For further details of the conference please download the brochure (PDF - 1 MB).

Details on the Private Finance Conference 2009 are also available.