From 8-11 October 44 representatives of 33 AmChams from across Europe participated in the Annual Best Practice Conference in Bratislava, Slovakia for a series of business practice sessions and luncheons with government and business leaders. This engaging and highly informative conference was an excellent opportunity to meet and exchange experience with colleagues from many national AmChams.

During the conference, AmChams in Europe (ACE) presented the ACE Chamber Governance Survey publication and ACE Membership Survey Results for both 2012 and 2013. The best practice sessions focused on the following topical issues:

• Governance of AmChams;
• TTIP: Creative Communication Strategies;
• Managing an AmCham in Times of Crisis;
• Courts of Arbitration;
• Educational projects;
• Creative Network projects and presentations.

In addition, the program featured meetings with Mayor of Bratislava Milan Ftáčnik at the City Hall of Bratislava and enjoyed a luncheon with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák.

The conference continued with presentations of AmChams in Ireland, Estonia and Romania in the newly established Creative Network project. They were complemented by an interactive session with a famous TED Coach John Bates from the U.S. who is the CEO and Founder of Executive Speaking Success Leadership & Communication Training. AmCham Ireland was announced the winner of the Creative Network for their Social Impact Database project. AmCham Latvia participated in the competition with its Human Development Award.

The formal part of conference concluded with a luncheon at the very heart of Slovakia - the Castle of Bratislava - with guest speakers Anton Zajac, Founder of internationally renown high-tech company ESET and Josh Kallmer, Counsel in Crowell & Moring's International Trade and International Dispute Resolution groups.

AmCham Latvia was represented at the conference by Executive Director Liga Smildzina-Bertulsone and Office and Communication Manager Ieva Melngaile.

AmChams in Europe is a network of 45 AmChams from 43 countries representing the corporate interests of more than 17,000 American and European companies. AmChams in Europe is an umbrella organization for AmChams across the wider Europe with the aim to exchange best practices, strengthen the AmCham brand, provide a forum for discussion and represent issues relevant to the European and Transatlantic business environment.

Gallery

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•