Yes, a misspelling, should just be mangroves, but got up quite early at a man-ly hour and found myself kayaking in the Abu Dhabi mangroves around 05:30 in the morning.
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Mayor’s Progress – December

Gresham College Revisited
Today we held the fourteenth annual Lord Mayor’s Gresham Lecture given by The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of the City of London and attended by 500 people. Back in 2009, I created the idea of the Lord Mayor’s Gresham Lecture, first given by Nick Anstee in 2010, based on a simple idea: the President of an academic institution should provide an annual academic lecture. I was thrilled to be giving it myself for a change, for many reasons, including:
- As a Honorary Life Fellow (2017-) and former Fellow (2009-2013), Trustee (2008-2020), member of the Gresham Committee (City Side – 2013-2021), and member of the Joint Grand Gresham Committee (2013-2021), I am clearly a big supporter of our ‘Tudor Open University’;
- As Lord Mayor I have the honour of being President of Gresham College ex officio;
- Having given some 29 full lectures as Mercer’s School Memorial Professor Commerce might seem a lot, but add in another eight full lectures as a Fellow, plus over 30 symposia, and quite a few special events, so this was yet another chance to try and get a lecture right.
My aim was to provide an academic backdrop to this year’s Connect To Prosper theme, thus it was entitled, “Connect To Prosper – The Power Of Networks”.
Cities are networked networks of connectivity and information sharing. They create, often indirectly, communication, transportation, commercial, and intellectual networks. For the City of London, expanding and changing networks develop its strengths. Over 40 learned societies, 70 higher education institutions, and 130 research institutes surround the City of London, creating a network of knowledge connections among science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and finance. In this lecture, I drew upon Z/Yen and my more than two decades of research into smart and financial centres worldwide.
I explained how the 2023-2024 Mayoral theme: “Connect To Prosper”, with its emphasis on multi-disciplinary networks, hopes to link forces to advance, just a bit, a few solutions to global problems. The talk was followed by a discussion with Professor Julia Black, Professor Mark Birkin and Professor Michael Batty, whom I thank most sincerely for some excellent contributions.
The Gresham College website has the full lecture.
If, like me, your preference is a print transcript with slides here.
Or watch on YouTube:
Article: The World’s Coffee House
‘Connect To Prosper’ Gets Its Very Own Email Signature

Delighted to have our own email signature – feel free to use and link to www.connect2prosper.net.
Fanfare For The Lord Mayor Of London
Every Lord Mayor needs an anthem, fan fare (geddit?). We’re not deprived!
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Bliss: Fanfare For The Lord Mayor Of London
Philip Jones Brass Ensemble – Topic
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group, Bliss: Fanfare For The Lord Mayor Of London · Philip Jones Brass Ensemble · John Iveson The 20th Century Album ℗ 1980 Decca Music Group Limited Released on: 2002-02-26 Producer: Chris Hazell Composer: Arthur Bliss
Faith Forum For London
One of my most personal events occurred today, having three distinguished faith leaders try to bring our communities closer during divisive times.
Continue readingConnect To Prosper – Theme Launch
Today we had a lovely group of people presenting their contributions to this year’s theme, “Connect To Prosper – Celebrating The Knowledge Miles Of Our Square Mile, The World’s Coffee House”.
150 people turned up to hear what our plans were, summarised in these two images from the Connect To Prosper z-fold brochure.
Continue readingConnect To Prosper – Lord Mayor’s Banquet Speech
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli’s speech at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet
Monday, 13 November 2023
Guildhall
Remarks to: My Late Lord Mayor, Your Grace, My Lord Chancellor, Prime Minister, Mr Speaker, Lord Speaker, Your Excellencies, My Lords, Fellow Aldermen, Sheriffs, Chief Commoner, Honoured Guests:
My Sheriffs – Alderwoman Dame Susan Langley, and Alderman Bronek Masojada – and I would like to wish you a very warm welcome to the Lord Mayor’s Banquet.
The City of London is the world’s oldest democratic workers’ and residents’ cooperative. It is an honour to be standing before you as the 695th Lord Mayor of London.
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