IBIS – the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) is the leading global conference for collision industry leaders and influencers. IBIS is now in its tenth year, having built up an enviable reputation as a source of high-level information and market analysis, a forum for high-level debate, a melting pot of innovative approaches to industry problems and, of course, for its incomparable networking opportunities.
Since its inception in 2001 IBIS events have attracted over 1,500 key industry players representing 35 countries.
Conference content and speaker quality have been at the core of the IBIS philosophy, right through its 10 year history. The ability of the organisers to provide consistently high quality speakers in a superbly staged, delegate-friendly and interactive environment peopled by sector leaders from every facet of the collision repair market has resulted in a number of important industry breakthroughs.
Over the years, an impressive roster of authoritative speakers who have shared their insights and knowledge with IBIS delegates has included Glenn Mercer, Director of Automotive Services, McKinsey & Co; Michiel Van Ratingen, Secretary General of EuroNCAP,; Peter Roberts, Chief Executive of Thatcham; Alain Page-Lécuyer, Senior Vice President, Group Procurement – AXA; Susan Hood, Claims Vice President of State Farm Insurance; Tony Aquila, Chairman and CEO of Solera Inc; Vikram Sinh a, Head of Customer Support at Tata Motors; Dick Cross, Chairman and CEO Carstar and Sir Nick Scheele, former President of Ford Motor Company.
IBIS history
The International Bodyshop Industry Symposium (IBIS) was founded in 2001 by Bodyshop Magazine owners Christopher Mann and David Young. The inaugral Symposium was held at the Celtic Manor Resort Hotel in Wales in 2001 and hosted 120 delegates from 12 countries.
IBIS attendance numbers have steadily increased each year, and in 2008 some 320 delegates from 32 countries took part in the 8th Symposium held in Montreux, Switzerland in 2008, whilst in June 2009, at the height of the global financial crisis, IBIS attracted 260 participants from 30 countries.
In all, more than 1,500 individuals have attended the annual Symposium and various spin off Regional IBIS events (Australia, Italy, South Africa and USA).
For its tenth anniversary IBIS returns to the UK, one of the first events to held at the newly opened Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster, a flagship venue which boasts superb facilities and stunning views over Westminster Bridge, The River Thames, Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament.
On the last day the IBIS organisers have arranged the option for delegates to visit Thatcham, accepted by many as the world's pre-eminent accident research facility. Delegates will then have the option of being transferred back to central London, or Heathrow Airport at the end of the Thatcham tour.