A day in the life of an attendee at IWC 68 (The sixty eighth meeting of the International Whaling Commission).

I was honoured to be part of the UK team at this important meeting held in Slovenia last week and, for me, it constituted ten consecutive days of meetings – all of which went something like this

1. 06.30 wake up and get up
2. Wash and dress (jacket and tie) and take COVID test (supplied by the IWC secretariat)  – if negative proceed!
3. Check messages (emails, whatsapps etc. – in fact, check repeatedly throughout the day)
4. Breakfast with strategic discussions
5. 08.00 Head to meeting room/great hall
6. Find seat and ear phones (for translation), plug in lap-top, try not to trip up delegates
7. Attend day-long meeting – with strategic coffee, tea and lunch meetings – input as appropriate (hopefully) to meeting/delegation/anyone who might be listening
8. At end of meeting (~17.00), unplug lap-top, return ear phones and exit meeting room
9.  Shower and change to slightly more casual evening outfit
10. 19.00ish attend reception/strategic dinner with team/delegates
11. ~22.00 strategic final debrief
12. ~24.00 sleep a bit

Some images of the meeting here:

The 68th meeting logo.

UK delegation mascots

Slovenian ministers and local mayor on stage with the meeting chair for the opening session.

Kate O'Connell of AWI (in the middle with Rebecca Lent (the IWC Exec Secretary) and, from NOAH the Norwegian animal welfare group, Maria Lien. 

Matt Collis (IFAW) and Niki Entrup (OceanCare) plotting
at the back of the room.

A somewhat distinguished attendee with rare purple lanyard, matching tie and discordant Swiss handkerchief. 

Team AWI - Kate and Sue Fisher (also on the UK delegation).

Front row UK Delegation poised for action

The Brazilian delegation and friends

The retiring IWC Conservation Committee Chair, Lorenzo
Rojas-Bracho and Vice Chair  (now chair), Cat Bell

Break time in the great hall

An evening reception buffet

An evening buffet being enjoyed by many, including Jose Truda Palazzo in the foreground

 

At a special evening event, Mrs Jenny Lonsdale OBE is awarded the Schweitzer Medal for her work on animal protection by Andrej Bibic, the IWC Chair (in the centre), and DJ Shubert of AWI (to the left).

Toasting Jenny! 

A rare foray into the sunshine - the UK support team - Sue, me and Lucy Babey

The Australian delegation - Dr Nick Gales - the new Vice Chair of the IWC at the microphone

The redoubtable Miguel Iniguez of Argentina and a big fan

Lucy Babey thanked for her efforts in coordinating the UK NGOs at and before the meeting. She is given the Order of the Knitted Mouse (OKM). With Ed Goodall of WDC, Sue and Sarah Dolman of EIA. 

A more formal view of the Australian delegation (thank you Alexia for this and the next photo). 

Meeting with old colleagues - Grettel, Alexia, me, Rebecca and Madison. 

 

That UK team in full.

Spain

Luxembourg

Post-meeting drink - UK delegation and NGOs.

And that is that!