114
| WORLD FERTILIZER |
NOVEMEBER 2016
THE RIGHT KIND OF CHEMISTRY
ANNA CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN DAVID HIND’S OPENNESS AND ENTHUSIASM TYPIFIED THE
ATMOSPHERE AT THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE IN EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS.
JAMES LITTLE, MANAGING EDITOR,
WORLD FERTILIZER,
CAUGHT UP WITH HIM AT THIS
KEY INDUSTRY EVENT.
T
he ANNA Conference has been running in one
form or another since 1970 and as a first time
attendee at this year’s conference in Eindhoven, it
stands out as being very different from the
normal technical conference. For starters, it is more
collaborative than any event I have attended previously.
Chairman of the event, David Hind, attributes this to the
executive committee’s determination to create an
effective networking forum between producers directly
involved in the production of ammonia nitrate and nitric
acid, and exhibiting companies who support the industry
through the provision of technology and services. Leaders
of these two elements, combined with a strong hosting
company, take responsibility for putting on the event each
year on a voluntary basis and it is this synergy that makes
ANNA different.
“What’s unique about this conference is that because
you have these three parties coming together you have
to hit a compromise,” commented David. “The end goal is
the same – a very successful conference. But if you say
what does the exhibitor want, well it's 100% face time
with the producers. What do the producers want, then
it’s a strong meeting format, that’s how they sell it to
their boss”.
For the host, this year OCI Nitrogen, David believes it
is something altogether different. Not only is it a chance
for team building and an opportunity via location to
educate employees through attending the event, but,
perhaps more importantly, a chance to enhance the
reputation of the organisation externally on a global
stage and also internally in terms of overall employee
perception and goodwill. OCI Nitrogen were certainly
Figure 1.
The Koningshof Hotel in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, was the venue for this year's ANNA Conference.
CONFERENCE REVIEW
