Coup for convention as FW de Klerk to head line-up of speakers

Mr de Klerk, who jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela, is the latest addition to a stellar line-up of speakers at the event, which will be held at The Spa in Bridlington on June 6. He joins the BBC’s Robert Peston, Bank of Dave star David Fishwick, entrepreneur Celia Gates and inventor Richard Noble in the line-up.

Convention founder Mike Firth said: “We have had some big political names support the YIBC in the past and this year is no different.

“FW de Klerk is a former world leader and is a great coup for Bridlington. He was the man who dismantled the apartheid regime in South Africa, freed Nelson Mandela and passed legislation that repealed discriminatory laws in the country, so delegates will hear some very inspiring and interesting stories.”

Mr de Klerk, who retired from politics in 1997, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with Mr Mandela for his role in ending apartheid.

The business convention has in the past welcomed speakers as diverse as Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.