The Bookseller.com

1st December 2008

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BA overhauls annual conference

15.09.08 Graeme Neill

The Booksellers Association's 2009 conference is to have a "radical new format" with the British Book Industry Awards moving to the first night of a two day--one night--conference. In 2010 the conference will be held in London.

The changes follow discussions between the Booksellers Association and Publishers Association, after the 2008 Brighton Conference left many exasperated at the cost and content of the event. Managing directors from both sides of the book industry privately expressed fears that 2009's conference in Gateshead would be poorly attended after what they saw as a lack of relevance in the seminar programme and poor retailer visibility.

The new, shorter format conference will be held at the Sage Conference Centre in Gateshead. The programme is being drawn up by an advisory panel comprising equal members of the BA and PA under the chair of BA president Graham Rand. The business sessions in the new look conference will begin at 2pm on Monday 18th May and end at 4pm on Tuesday 19th May. The British Book Industry Awards will take place on the Monday night. The Independent Booksellers Forum's events programme is also to be confirmed. It is expected to take place on the day before or day after the main conference.

In a joint statement, Ian Hudson and Graham Rand, presidents of the PA and BA respectively, said: "Our two associations have enjoyed open and constructive meetings over the future of this important annual opportunity to come together to debate trends, challenges and opportunities for both retailers and publishers." The statement stressed that the tenor of the meetings was "collaborative and positive".

Simon Juden, c.e.o. of the PA, said: "It is critically important that the retail and publishing sectors work together to ensure the conference continues to produce relevant and inspirational sessions for the whole industry." Tim Godfray, c.e.o. of the BA, said: "I have been immensely impressed by the commitment and passion that has been demonstrated from those involved in both associations to continue the legacy of an annual conference that informs, inspires and entertains in equal measure. It is a pleasure to work across the industry to deliver an event about which so many evidently care so much."

publishers association Simon Juden Graeme Neill Bookseller Association Ian Hudson Home Tim Godfray Graham Rand BA Annual Conference