About IBIS

Since its inception in 2001, IBIS - the International Bodyshop Industry Symposium - has become firmly established as the leading global conference and networking event for collision industry leaders and influencers.

IBIS has built up an enviable reputation as a source of high-level information and market analysis; as a forum for high-level debate; a melting pot of innovative approaches to industry problems and, of course, for its incomparable networking opportunities.

IBIS driving the industry

Conference content and speaker quality have been at the core of the IBIS philosophy. The ability of the organisers to provide consistently high quality speakers in a superbly staged, delegate-friendly and interactive environment peopled by 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 the renowned economist and former director of the world Economic Forum in Davos, Frank-Juergen Richter; John Bercow, the Speaker of the UK's House of Commons; Glenn Mercer, Director of Automotive Services, McKinsey & Co; Michiel Van Ratingen, Secretary General of EuroNCAP; Peter Roberts, Chief Executive of Thatcham; Susan Hood, Claims Vice President of State Farm Insurance; Tony Aquila, Chairman and CEO of Solera Inc; Vikram Sinha, Head of Customer Support at Tata Motors; Mark White, head of body in white at Jaguar Land Rover; Dick Cross, Chairman and CEO Carstar and Sir Nick Scheele, former President of Ford Motor Company.

IBIS history

IBIS was founded in 2001 by bodyshop owners Christopher Mann and David Young. The inaugural Symposium was held at the Celtic Manor Resort Hotel in Wales in 2001 and hosted 120 delegates from 12 countries. Since then, IBIS has been held at various venues around the world and delegates numbers have steadily grown. The event now annually attracts over 300 delegates from around the world.

IBIS quality & influence

The focus of IBIS has always been on quality of delegate, rather than quantity. It is widely accepted that IBIS attracts the most influential cross section of key collision industry players of any industry event, providing a unique international networking platform for those taking part. Since the inaugural IBIS in 2001, nearly 2,500 industry leaders have attended the annual Symposium and various regional IBIS events.