Paraplanners will gather in Warwick today (Weds 25 May) for the CISI Paraplanner Conference, with attendance over the two days estimated at around 150.

It will be the first time the event has run since the IFP-CISI merger was completed late last year. The Paraplanner Conference has been a regular fixture in the IFP calendar, having been started in 2011.

An afternoon session on report writing and data visualisation takes place tomorrow before an informal dinner sponsored by ETF Securities. Chesford Grange hotel in Warwickshire is the venue once again.

Thursday is the main day for the event, which is sponsored by IRESS.

The CISI’s new Paraplanner Professional Interest Group is behind organisation of the content and guests.

Ex-adviser Bob Fraser MBE, a former Lieutenant Colonel in the British Army is among the line up of speakers.

Dan Atkinson APP ACSI, senior technical consultant at EQ and IFP Paraplanner of the Year 2014, is co-chairing with Farida Hassanali CFPTM Chartered MCSI, Paraplanner at UBS and chair of the Paraplanner Professional Interest Group.

Ms Hassanali said: “Everyone has different weaknesses and interests; therefore they have the opportunity to focus on their particular preferences in the afternoon – though I certainly struggled to choose between the sessions.”

“Having not attended this conference previously, I'm excited to be spending two days with a group of my peers and co-chairing the event with my former colleague Dan Atkinson. We have aimed to provide a balance of technical and personal development sessions that we hope will provide everyone with some great 'take-aways' from the event.

“The pre-conference workshop focuses on developing the practical skills Paraplanners use on a daily basis. The evening allows for a more relaxed environment for everyone to catch up and make new friends. There are certainly plenty of people that I've spoken to/emailed that I am looking forward to actually meeting.”

Mr Atkinson said: “Last year was my first Paraplanner conference and I’m looking forward to great technical training, practical skills and an opportunity to network with Paraplanners from across the country. The annual dinner is a great opportunity to catch up with and make new friends; last year’s was a lot of fun.

“The main conference combines excellent keynote speakers with a packed afternoon of seminar streams, in which I’m encouraged to see fellow Paraplanners presenting as well as excellent technical specialists.

“Our closing session with Gerald Ratner will help us think about how we learn from our mistakes. It promises to be an excellent few days and we look forward to meeting lots of Paraplanners.”