USUALLY business conferences are meant to fill participants with a new vigour to go out, sell more and conquer the world. Delegates to next week's IBEC Employee Relations Conference, however, are more likely to run out and buy a track-suit or a pair of togs, or head for the nearest health-food store.

Having obviously decided that the same old business faces are no longer a big enough attraction on the conference circuit, IBEC has included Michelle Smith and a heart surgeon, Maurice Neligan, on the list of speakers.

Smith is to address the conference on her "formula for success on the world stage". No doubt she'll have the business leaders up and heading for their desks for intensive sessions at five every morning, not to mention going to bed at nine every night.