STA Blog

There are four levels of STA membership: Associate for those with an interest in technical analysis but who have no formal qualifications; Full Member for those who have passed the STA Diploma course and can use the letters MSTA after their name; Fellow, which is granted to MSTAs who have contributed significantly to the subject or to the Society; Student, at £25 per annum, for those in full time education and interested in technical analysis. This year a new Member category has been created – Honorary Member, MSTA (Hon) – for individuals from any walk of life who have actively supported the profession of technical analyst. The very first in this category is Ben Hillary, Managing Director of Commodities Trading Week; STA members participated at his conference in various ways at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium on the 23-24th April.

Unsurprisingly Fellows tend to be a lot older than the Student members! Some live far from London or have health issues that prevent them from joining in; Fellows do like to get together and have a catch up, most recently on a sunny Friday, 26th April 2024, when 17 of them arrived at the National Liberal Club on the Embankment for lunch. Many names and faces will be familiar to those who attend in-person monthly meetings at One Moorgate Place.

Other not so familiar faces include Ron Giles, retired university lecturer with a bent for maths and statistics, his appearance made easier now that caring duties for his mother were over as she died at the age of 103. Luise Kliem, who runs the STA’s exams was there too, travelling up to London usually restricted by the dogs she loves so much. Deborah Owen, ex-chairman of the society came too, though nowadays she spends much of her time in the Cotswolds. Another welcome visit was from David Sneddon, recently retired after many decades working a ferocious timetable at Credit Suisse. Adam Sorab, another ex-chairman and keen proponent of IFTA, was there looking very dapper indeed after a new fitness regime and a brief holiday in Cyprus. Many were happy to see Anne Whitby, a semi-retired independent financial services professional who has given investors decades’ worth of valuable advice at technical analysis research firms.

I was obviously there (to tell you about it) plus our host, STA chairman Edie Tofpik. So too were STA vice-chairman Karen Jones, and Board members Mark Tennyson d’Eyncourt and David Watts. Previous Board members Richard Adcock, Malcolm Blazey, Murray Gunn, Clive Lambert, Axel Rudolph, and Simon Warren were welcome guests. After a lovely lunch all retired to the fantastic terrace of the club overlooking the London Eye for coffee and more drinks. A fantastic end to my busy week!