Who does Giles's regional managing director want to meet at this year's conference?

John McLaren-Stewart, regional managing director, Giles.

What’s your favourite Biba memory?

They have all been a bit of blur as a result of the great networking in the evenings!

What excites you most about Manchester?

It’s where Rolls met Royce

If you could talk to one person in the industry at this year’s Biba conference, who would it be and why?

Mark Hodges of Aviva; he is doing great stuff with that brand.

What message do you want to hear from insurers?

We are in this together.

Insurance Times launched its Fair Fees campaign to lobby against rising broker fees. How do you feel about the increased FSCS levy?

It is punitive and unnecessary.

This year’s conference theme is ‘Opportunities in Adversity’. How would you describe the mood among brokers?

I can really only talk about Giles at the moment but we have been working hard over the last 12 months to structure a stronger, more cohesive attack-minded brand. In all, there is a feeling of growing confidence around Giles offices across the UK. The market will feel us pushing into late 2011 and early 2012 at significant pace.

If you could ask keynote speaker Lord Sugar one question, what would it be?

Have you ever had sales training?

Predict who will have the best stand.

PowerPlace – Darren Rowe assures me it was going to be spectacular but due to a small problem it will now only be great!

Consolidation amongst insurers has been predicted. Would this be good for the market?

It can’t be good for the consumer as such, but anything that helps push up insurance pricing is welcomed.

In a ‘tweet’ (140 characters long) explain what the Biba conference means to you?

It reminds me just how important our industry is in the UK and globally. Without our services and skill, businesses will have difficult taking the risks needed to grow.