June 25, 2009

Familiar faces - Istanbul interviews

The EL 2011 Congress will be all about getting together and networking. Our Northern Light reporters made a series of interviews in Istanbul and took pictures of the Istanbul atmosphere. Meet Ms. Olivia Gillibrand, Ms. Gayle Kennedy, Ms. Birgitta Kervinen and Mr. Baruch Dagon.

Ms. Olivia Gillibrand, Camelot, UK, International Affairs

1. Why do you attend these congresses?

I’m a manager for international affairs and benchmarking so it’s a good opportunity to hear what other companies are doing and reconnect with people and to be able to do some information sharing.

2. What are the most interesting topics?

Those which are relevant for the lottery industries.

3. What makes a good congress?

Efficient organizer; making it easy for people to know where they are going, making registration smooth and simple; good time for networking etc.

4. Are you going to participate in EL 2011 in Helsinki?

Yes, I think so!

Ms. Gayle Kennedy, Scientific Games

1. How much work does it take to participate in a congress like this?

It takes quite a bit of work and a lot of preparation and planning in advance working with lotteries, organizers and exhibit builders, designers, hotel accommodations. .. Quite a lot to do in advance.

2. What do you expect from a good congress?

To be able to share ideas with people who are working in the same market network. Finding out what their solutions are in certain governments or countries, trying to help them or learn from them how they came out for the solution.

3.Your advice to Finland?

Have fun!

Ms. Birgitta Kervinen, ENGSO

1. Why do you attend these congresses?

This is my first time in an EL congress; I’m here to talk about how important it is to make sure that, for example, Veikkaus stays in Finland and that the proceeds continue to be channelled to the good causes – the reason why Veikkaus was initially founded.

2. Which topics do you find the most interesting and what are your main interests?

As a first-timer, I find it intriguing to see how the companies present themselves. The session I just attended was also very interesting: it was about how our companies differ from each other. And yet, the basic elements are so similar. I was especially glad to hear Jussi Isotalo’s presentation: I can refer to it when I travel in different parts of the world and explain to people why we need national gaming systems.

3. What makes a good congress?

So far I have been particularly glad to see how the local culture is prominent; the local food and the casual, friendly atmosphere. We get to hear Turkish music all the time. The contents of the congress can be enriched by small simple surprise elements. What is most important is that the subject matter touches you and moves you. That is why I liked the Turkish presentation a lot.

4. Are you going to participate in EL 2011 in Helsinki?

My post as ENGSO’s chairman will last at least up to 2011 – and I would be very happy to participate!

Mr. Baruch Dagon, Israel

1. Why do you attend these congresses?

First of all to meet other people. It´s a way of doing brainstorming, a way of doing business and, of course, a way of learning and sharing ideas and experiences. If you get one idea out of this kind of a congress, it´s enough.

2. Which topics do you find the most interesting and what are your main interests?

New attitudes and new ideas, new scenarios.

3. What makes a good congress?

A good atmosphere; it depends on the hosting organization. How you organize the congress.

4. Are you going to participate in EL 2011 in Helsinki?

I have to be there, because we are going to organize the next congress after that so we have to be there – have our own booth. It’s not the first time in Helsinki, I’ve been there before and I´m going to Helsinki in September for the EFP meeting. I really feel like home there.

Mr. Recep Bicer, Chairman of the Board and General Director, Milli Piyango, Turkey

1. How much work does it take to organize a congress like this?

We were preparing the congress for one and a half years. From the end of 2008 until May this year, we worked maybe 4 hours a day. It is a lot of work, but I think the result is very good.

2. What is your advice to Finland?

Start as early as you can; organize your team effectively; define every task for every single person; select the organizing company carefully and define every single part of the contract very clearly and very flexibly.