Modalities and Participants

Modalities

The EMS has a conversational format. First, because it would be absurd to bring 50 world leaders to Oxford to subject them to a series of presentations rather than engage in knowledgeable debate. Second, because useful outcomes to problem solving processes are invariably achieved through interaction and discovery. The potential value of EMS conversations is a function of candour as well as knowledge and candour depends partly on participants’ propensity to speak openly and partly on the safety and security of the environment. Accordingly, conversations are not recorded, the Chatham House Rule (see below) is strictly applied and the press and media are excluded from all but one (off site) session.

What participants do for the EMS

EMS symposia have attracted more than 200 leading figures from government, the public, private and voluntary sectors, multilateral institutions and academe in emerging markets and wealthy countries. Its reputation is based on its choice of issues, the quality of its debates, the relevance of its recommendations and its capacity to follow through. But the most important factor is the calibre of its participants.

Participation in EMS symposia is strictly by invitation and is limited to a maximum of 50 individuals, who hold or have held senior positions in government, multilateral organizations, corporations and/or academe in emerging markets and/or wealthy countries. They are invited in light of their stature, knowledge and experience and their capacity to influence policies and practises in the public and/or private sectors and/or civil society. Many are former rather than current incumbents who enjoy ample degrees of freedom to convey personal views and are less subject to day to day shocks.

Because participants are invited in light of their diversity, expertise, stature and capacity for candid debate it is expected that those who attend EMS symposia, having accepted an invitation (and knowing their places could have been used by others) will come to the symposium; be present throughout the event; actively engage in free and frank conversation; and be willing to help communicate findings and recommendations in their respective spheres of influence.

What the EMS does for participants

Having taken pains to identify and invite the right participants the EMS takes additional pains to ensure they find the opportunity costs of a symposium are justified by making strenuous efforts to ensure participants enjoy the events and find the outcomes useful.

Logistics

The EMS has been extremely fortunate to receive generous financial support from the C&C Alpha Group (see below). Managing its financial resources with care, it strives to balance the comfort and convenience of participants with prudent financial management. It offers to make travel arrangements to and from Oxford for all participants (unless they wish to make their own) and, if necessary covers the costs of airfares for overseas participants many of whom combine their journeys to and from the UK with other business travel or pay their own fares. All overseas participants, irrespective of financial arrangements are driven to and from Oxford and convenient airports or London.

Venue

EMS symposia are held at Egrove Park, Oxford, a modern (Grade II listed) building in 37 acres of parkland built in 1969 as the Oxford Centre for Management Studies. From 1983 to 2008 it was the home of Templeton College until its merger with Green College. It is now the Executive Education Centre of the Saïd Business School.

Security

Egrove Park is a safe, secure and tranquil environment, two miles from the city centre. It is a superb venue for the EMS which has exclusive use of the facility during symposia. The physical setting helps foster an informal atmosphere that promotes candour. Other factors in the creation of a secure environment for conversations include the exclusion of press and media from EMS sessions and the rigorous application of the Chatham House Rule which states that: “When a meeting, or part thereof, is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed”.  Established by the Council of the Royal Institute for International Affairs (RIIA) in June 1927 to encourage free discussion, the Rule promotes the frank exchange of views and opinions.

Off-site events

The 2014 Symposium hosted an off-site event in addition to a dinner at Green Templeton College. This event was open to the EMS to a larger audience than can be accommodated at symposia. Attendees included members of Green Templeton College and interested parties from Oxford and London. The event, held in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, allowed participants the opportunity to visit other venues in Oxford. In 2017, the off-site event was held at the Sheldonian Theatre where Jeff Sachs gave the lecture to a registered audience of University students and academics. In 2018, the off-site event was held at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Future symposia will feature comparable events.