New trade body announces inaugural annual conference

FIBA was formerly the Association of Bridging Professionals, which has evolved into a new broader trade body which aims to become "the natural home for all advisers and lenders", regardless of their particular lending sector.

Its keynote speaker will be Bank of England MPC member, Michael Saunders, who was also UK economist at Citigroup from 1990 to 2016. From a small group of nine, he is one of four external members appointed directly by the Chancellor.

The conference will bring together lenders and intermediaries, including members of the AOBP whose membership will move to FIBA. The Conference will provide opportunities to understand the aims of the Association and how it can benefit both intermediary and lender members.

A spokesman for the FIBA Executive Committee commented: “We are delighted to welcome Michael Saunders to speak at the Association’s first conference. The event is an opportunity not only to hear on record from an MPC member at the heart of shaping economic thinking in the UK, both now and in a post Brexit future, but also to understand from FIBA’s Executive Committee how brokers and lenders can and will benefit from a close relationship with FIBA.”