Daunt and Vanderbilt to speak at IPG Spring Conference

Waterstones c.e.o. James Daunt and Bookshop.org’s managing director Nicole Vanderbilt are among the speakers at this year’s IPG Spring Conference.

Taking place on 27th and 28th February in London and online, the conference will include 30 different sessions, combining plenaries, streams dedicated to different areas of publishing, and workshops.

The three keynotes will be by BBC broadcaster, economist and author Dharshini David giving an overview of the business, economic and media landscapes; David Rowan, founding editor-in-chief of Wired, who will set out technology and innovation trends impacting publishing, including AI and European affairs; and commentator Anand Menon, looking at big trading issues and opportunities for UK publishers in a post-Brexit Europe.

The first day of the conference will include a wide range of independent publishing leaders, including Canongate’s Jamie Byng, Nosy Crow’s Catherine Stokes, Bloomsbury’s Jenny Ridout and Gill Books’ Ruth Gill, who will set the scene for 2023 in the trade, children’s, academic and educational sectors.

Themes expected to be discussed by Daunt and Vanderbilt include the supply chain, author care, the secondhand book market and which books sell best in challenging economic times.

The conference’s second morning is set aside for workshops, providing publishers with practical advice on a variety of subjects including online advertising, podcasts, rights, email marketing, management, events, sustainability and accessibility.

The Spring Conference has been revamped for 2023 to optimise accessibility, the organisers said, with content packed into a day and a half and a new venue at London’s Shaw Theatre. Online access will also be available. As well as the sessions, there will be free business clinics on issues from finance to sustainability, networking breaks, an Exhibitors Zone with suppliers, and a dinner at the British Library on Monday. Bookings are open now.

IPG chief executive Bridget Shine said: “As we enter another year of major change, challenge and opportunity, it’s the perfect time for independent publishers to come together to be inspired and informed. It’s one of our biggest and best conference line-ups yet.”