After Dinner Speakers: Douglas McWilliams, The League of Gentlemen, Phil DeFreitas

Professor Douglas McWilliams is one of Europe's top economics gurus. In 1992 he set up and now runs the Centre for Economics and Business Research Ltd (CEBR), one of the Britain's leading commercial economics think-tanks. He is a well known public speaker of many years' standing. Because of his forecasting track record, he is greatly in demand for speaking engagements and media appearances. Professor McWilliams' face is a familiar one to viewers of current affairs and business television programmes such as Newsnight and Business Breakfast while his voice is heard frequently on the BBC and other radio programmes. Professor McWilliams has a unique talent for being able to put across complex economic facts and forecasts in terms that can be understood by non-specialists. His great sense of humour can be detected in his speeches, which are interesting as well as informative. His presentations are clear, concise, well-argued and supported by clear visual material. Professor McWilliams has given keynote speeches to a wide range of audiences, from seminars for packaging to seminars for property, from insurance to information technology, from catering to construction and including a whole host of diverse interests. Professor McWilliams was Chief Economic Adviser to the Confederation of British Industry from 1988 to 1992 (receiving the Golden Guru award for Best UK economic forecaster in 1992). Previously he was IBM UK Chief Economist, Manager of Market Research, Manager of Business Environment Analysis. He was Chairman of the economics forecasting group of UNICE, the European federation of employers' organisation from 1980 to 1985. Douglas McWilliams is Visiting Professor at Kingston University Business School, and a member of the Councils of the Foundation for Manufacturing and Industry and of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He is also Economic Adviser to the Chartered Institute of Marketing and to NCL Investments Ltd.