Family values play an integral part in structuring a Family Office (FO), and as such determine the values of the FO itself, the relationship of its members, and also influence rules of behaviour generally – not bound to territory but to the core morals of the family and its members. In the New World Order, we are seeing that these values are influenced by a host of dynamics, including religious factors. At IBFS 2014, René Werner will speak to the tools for the modern Family Office and how these impact performance, including the differences and similarities between religious and family values.

René Werner is Founder and CEO of Werner & Associados, a company dedicated to Consulting to families since 1993. A renowned Speaker in International events, he also has authored and contributed to numerous books, including “… e Deus criou a empresa familiar” (…and God Created the Family Business); “Família e Negóc ios – um caminho para o sucesso” (Family and Business, a Road to success); and Acontece nas Melhores Famílias – (It Happens in the Best Families)

He has served as Pro Bono Rabbi of the Liberal Congregation of São Paulo since 1982 and prior to that as Rabbi at the Associacion Israeli Montefiore – Bogota, Colombia (1979 -1981) and as Student Rabbi, North London Synagogue, Barkingside, UK (1976-1979). He is a Visiting Professor at the University of São Paulo – Business Administration, and at Fundação Getulio Vargas.

Mr. Werner holds a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) from Columbia University, New York as well as a Bachelor of Arts from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, New York, and has taken Post Graduate Courses at Harvard Business School and in São Paulo and London. He is a Fellow of Leo Baeck College (London) and the Family Firm Institute (US).

IBFS, the premier event in BFSB’s calendar of events each year, is scheduled for January 23-26 at Sandals Emerald Bay, Georgetown, Exuma. Under the theme “Survival of the Fittest”, the event brings together the top tier executives and management of the Bahamian financial and business community as well as senior government and regulatory representatives and officials.

BFSB CEO Aliya Allen points out that Georgetown is the home of the very first BFSB Retreat, the precursor event to the Summit. *”As from inception, IBFS is the annual meeting place for 120-plus leading stakeholders in the financial services industry in The Bahamas for business development and networking in an off-site location,”* she adds.