Sir Chris Bryant joins publishing leaders at the IPG’s 2024 Spring Conference

Sir Chris Bryant MP, the shadow minister for the creative industries and digital, will join publishing leaders to headline the Spring Conference held by the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG). 

The main theme of this year’s IPG Spring Conference is sustainable growth, with a programme featuring expert speakers, advice and networking opportunities for independent publishers. The event will take place at the Shaw Theatre in central London and online on 27th and 28th February 2024. 

Bryant will give an overview of the business, economic and political landscapes in 2024, while other keynotes will come from Sophy Thompson, c.e.o. and publisher of Thames & Hudson, and Rebecca Gray, managing director of Profile Books. Mandy Hill, managing director of academic publishing at Cambridge University Press, will also be speaking at the event, while other keynotes will be given by Sally Wilson, vice-president publishing at Emerald Publishing, EmpathyLabs co-director Sarah Mears, and Gilbert Jolly, c.e.o. of Jolly Learning.

Other key topics on the agenda include Artificial Intelligence (AI), with sessions on its impacts on copyright, marketing and data, as well as social media and Open Access. There will also be sessions on rights, brand licensing, exports, recruitment, distribution, business development, sustainability and diversity. 

Case studies of start-up and growth feature leaders from Fitzcarraldo Editions, Roll and Play and Fink Publishing. Moreover, producer Emma Topping will be exploring film and TV rights, and Hazel Broadfoot, the president of the Booksellers Association (BA), will be discussing bookselling.

The full Spring Conference programme can be found here.The IPG’s chief executive Bridget Shine said: “It’s our biggest conference programme yet, and after recent sell-outs we’d encourage people to book soon to avoid missing out. We can’t wait to get together for two inspiring days.”