What's on in February? Listing of events and activities.

This conference is designed to help you face the challenge of creating a committed, engaged and motivated workforce during economic uncertainty. A strong reward strategy is one of the most effective means of maintaining engagement but how can you balance the current business environment with the need for improved performance? You can also choose between two additional focus days which will provide more in-depth examples and practical guidance. www.cipd.c.uk/rewardconference

Chilli Fried, London's leading global beat session, invites you for 2 nights to the Afro-latin Festival at Clerkenwell's beautiful Bedouin basement bar, with live music and DJ's. 4 Feb: Congo_Cuban connection with live on stage Grupo Lokito. 5 Feb: Afro-latin explosion with live on stage Neil Sparkes's Bougarabou. On 4th Feb explore the Congo-Cuban connection with a live set from Grupo Lokito, who fuse Salsa and Congolese Rumba in an exuberant explosion of sound. Expect the best ambience and the most insinuating swinging rhythms. On Thurs 5th it's West Africa meet Latin jazz with BouGaraBou, the thrilling percussion ensemble formed by Ben Baddoo, Master Drummer from Ghana and Neil Sparkes (Temple of Sound and ex-TransGlobal Underground), presenting their passion for African Drum traditions and rhythms. Incorporating music from Ghana, Central and West Africa with Jazz, Electronica and a healthy dose of Latin rhythm. Darbucka World Music Bar, 182 St John Street, London, EC1V 4JZ

The WORLD HRD CONGRESS is scheduled from 5th – 7th February, 2009 at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The theme for World HRD Congress is "HR: Shaping the Future". The Key challenge before HR Professionals is shaping the future of their organisations through Talent management & Talent development. HR must and can play a crucial role in shaping careers & building an organisation on Trust, Values & a defined vision for the future. The roots of what HR does today, will define the shape of things to come tomorrow. Responsive and agile HR can make the organisation reach the top.
http://www.worldhrdcongress.com

Dubbed the black BAFTA's, the Screen Nation Awards will be hosted by TV presenter Josie d'Arby. Star comedian Whoopi Goldberg is the guest of honour. The ceremony will also honour veteran actor Don Warrington. Trix Worrell, the writer/producer of the C4 hit comedy series Desmonds will be another star to receive an award, along with Sharon Martin, one of the UK's leading hair & make-up artist. All VIP guests will be treated to a gourmet dinner by chef Colin Brown of The Lane restaurant. There will also be live entertainment, a charity fashion show and a performance by UK rapper Sway. www.screennation.co.uk

The Week, which will include senior executives from key Governments, Companies and National Oil Companies, incorporates: 5th Southern Africa: Strategy Briefing, 10th Southern Africa Energy Conference and the 23rd PetroAfricanus Dinner: On The Highveld

The large and growing Southern African oil, gas and energy/coal complex - including future fuels in the form of additional Gas-to Liquids, Coal-Bed Methane and CTL, eventual LNG, biofuels, ethanol and renewables - has created a larger and more integrated market to underpin economic growth and future development. This new and dynamic shape to energy supply complements existing upstream capacity in offshore oil, onshore gas, pipeline networks for crude and product, plus limited nuclear energy, as well as synfuels generated by established producers.

In many Southern African countries exploration and development ventures in oil/gas are moving forward and upstream projects are higher on the corporate agenda, with new acreage leasing, and drilling, plus targets such as heavy oil development based on large proven reserves.

Our 10th Southern Africa Energy Week 2009 provides a timely, in-depth management assessment for decision-makers on these key strategic shifts that will impact all Governments, companies, investors, financiers, and service/supply industries within Africa's most energy-critical region south of the Equator.

Contact: Babette van Gessel: babette@glopac.com  
Registrations: Johannesburg Office Amanda Wellbeloved: amanda@glopac.com   Sonika Greyvenstein: sonika@glopac.com  
Sponsor Positions: Contact Gayle Meikle: gayle@glopac.com

According to the latest CIPD research, 83% of organisations believe that the economic climate will continue to get worse. Therefore, it is essential for organisations to invest in their top talent to enhance both individual and organizational performance.

Join us at this one-day conference to hear from best practice organisations and talent management experts who will demonstrate how to implement a successful talent management strategy in the current economic conditions.
www.cipd.co.uk/booktalent

Banking Technology 2009 will therefore focus on the customer experience in relation to all technology implementation and services, challenging suppliers and bankers alike to evaluate their systems in the light of customer needs and preferences.

Banking Technology 2009 will engage with bank customers by inviting them to attend the exhibition and experience the new services available today through the wide range of new payment technologies being offered by banks.

Banks will be invited to demonstrate their services by setting up mini-branches on the exhibition floor, using them as platforms not only to market their services but also to obtain valuable customer feedback and data. The Banking Mall of the exhibition will be a live laboratory platform to demonstrate world class banking services powered by latest payment technologies. The Technology Hub of the exhibition will provide a showcase for technology manufacturers and vendors to demonstrate their latest products and systems to enhance East Africa's rapidly growing financial services sector. http://www.aitecafrica.com/event/view/10

Welcome to the 11th Harvard Business School Africa Business Conference! This year, the conference will be centered around the theme "Africa on the Move: Transforming Quick Wins into Lasting Change".

Over the last 10 years, African countries have experienced dramatic growth with renewed opportunities in the fields of business, finance and entrepreneurship. As a result of these positive developments, Africans have enjoyed higher standards of living and increased prosperity. In order to capitalize on this progress, the 11th Annual Africa Business Conference will be focused on Sustainability and Scalability.
http://www.hbsafricaconference.com

Untold is a collaboration of emerging designers and artists who all have encountered the same barriers when venturing into the big wide world of design.

The Untold show takes place this year at The Foundling Museum, providing a platform on which designers can showcase their work and tell their stories. www.un-told.co.uk

A debate on who benefits, influences and controls Fairtrade, with the founders of fairtrade companies Tropical Wholefoods, Cafedirect and Divine Chocolate. (18:30 - 20:00)

Ballet Black is an up-and-coming classical ballet company with eight critically acclaimed sell-out seasons to its credit. Ballet Black is now an essential part of the classical ballet landscape, the perfect showcase for dancers of black and Asian descent.

In recent years, the company has worked with Richard Alston, Shobana Jeyasingh and Liam Scarlett; this time there will be new works from choreographers including Antonia Franceschi and Will Tuckett. www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=8274

Getenergy Ltd is the truly independent facilitator of a global marketplace in knowledge and services relating to education and training for the oil and gas industry.

Our 2009 programme will include a series of 'Spotlight' sessions which will focus on the principal challenges and opportunities for education, training, and learning for the upstream oil and gas industry in major markets across the world.

Getenergy's Learning Arena provides a unique opportunity for National and International oil and gas companies, universities, colleges, and private training companies from 38 countries to exhibit alongside each other. This is not a vendor/customer show, but rather an event that recognises that education and training needs a collaborative environment to truly deliver value.
http://www.getenergyevent.com

For further information, please contact the organisers directly.