IPE AWARDS - Göran Persson, the former Swedish prime minister widely credited with solving the country's banking crisis of the early 1990s, is to give the opening keynote address at the 11th IPE Awards seminar in Brussels next month.

As prime minister of Sweden for 10 years between 1996 and 2006 and as finance minister before that, Persson tackled Sweden's national debt and implemented the 'Persson Plan' to address Sweden's severe budget deficit.

Moreover, he is credited with solving Sweden's banking crisis of the early 1990s, providing the blueprint for the solution to the global banking crisis that caused worldwide recession in the wake of the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

Reflecting on his position as chairman of the European Council in 2001 - during Sweden's EU presidency - Persson's speech will address the politics of the euro and the sovereign debt crisis, offering insight into the bigger picture currently facing investors.

Pension funds interested in attending the seminar and Awards on 17 November should register for the opportunity to secure one of the remaining subsidised places available.