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One of the duties of the President is to select a theme and mine for this year is ‘Fit for the Future’. By this I mean focusing on the remarkable changes we are experiencing as technological advances in a digital age mean that we all, at all stages of life, need to learn new skills to adapt to this turbulent and fascinating era. Artificial Intelligence, robotics, digital currency, and climate change resilience were not topics that were on the agenda in my school days but are central themes in the world in which we live today. In February, we will be holding a webinar with select experts talking about this topic and what it means to be fit for the future. There will be more details in due course, and I hope as many readers of this piece as possible will listen in. In conclusion, it is an honour to represent the OMT Society and witness the on-going successes of the school and the life-long associations that the Society offers to its students. Andy Rose (1973-1977)

champions such as Fred Couples, Payne Stewart and my teammate and US PGA Champion, Mark Brooks. I spent six years playing full-time golf with a highlight being playing in the Open Championship at Troon in 1982, competing as an amateur. I ultimately decided that my future was not in golf and entered the world of banking in Texas in the mid-1980s. From 1988 I spent over 16 years in investment banking, working for the Canadian bank CIBC, initially in Dallas, then Chicago and finally in London from 1993. During those years I married my South African wife Bernie, and we have three sons, ranging in ages from 26 to 31. In 1997 I was asked by the bank to start the Infrastructure Investment Banking Business which turned out to be the most significant development in my working life. I ran the unit for seven years and as infrastructure plays such a critical role in many elements of public life, my work brought me in close proximity to governments in the UK and further afield. In 2005 I took a new career path working in government and was fortunate enough to run delivery entities for the UK Government, namely Infrastructure UK in HM Treasury and the Homes & Communities Agency, the country’s then housing land and regeneration delivery body. While many ex-banker friends rolled their eyes at the concept of being so close to politics and the frustrations this would entail, I found the years fascinating, challenging, meaningful and stimulating (and yes, occasionally frustrating) and remained in such roles for over ten years. After a brief stint back in the private sector I “retired” at the end of 2019 and now keep myself busy with an interesting combination of non-Executive roles in social impact investing, infrastructure and housing, some pro bono roles, playing a little bit of golf and making sure our terrier, Gracie, is well fed, walked and cuddled. The lack of a full-time role has also enabled me to be the OMT Society President. It has been a privilege to take on the role, meet so many OMTs and represent the Society at functions in the City and across the country. Recent OMT dinners Bernie and I have attended include ones at York, Pembrokeshire, Bristol, and Kent earlier in the year. Consistent with my earlier comments, the Society faces the challenge of both embracing the wonderful traditions of the past while adapting to the present day. For me, the Society is so important as it provides the opportunity to turn the association with the school from a five to seven year experience into a life-long attachment. Education is one of society’s most important functions and we are fortunate to have a close association with such a fine institution.

Concordia Winter 2022

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