ABA announces 2018 conference program; Currie, Batistich to give keynotes

The Australian Booksellers Association (ABA) has announced the program for its 2018 conference, to be held at QT Hotel in Canberra from 17-18 June.

The conference will be organised around the theme ‘Building Toward a Sustainable Future: Bookselling in the 21st Century’, and will include sessions on engaging staff in business operations, selling picture books, promoting and selling Australian award-winning books, harassment in the workplace, marketing and branding, and social media.

Paul Currie, chief executive of UK bookstore chain Foyles will deliver a keynote address on how the retailer has reshaped its customer service approach and taken advantage of technology to serve the bricks-and-mortar model. British television presenter and writer Michael Mosley will also be in attendance to deliver the closing address.

Other local keynote speakers at the conference include marketing strategist John Batistich, who will discuss developing strategies to compete with online global retailers; Australian Children’s Laureate Morris Gleitzman will speak on engaging the next generation of readers; and Clementine Ford will speak on the role of bookselling in the dissemination of ideas.

A trade exhibition will be held on 17 June, with the ABA Gala dinner scheduled for that evening. Hosted by journalist and TV presenter Annabel Crabb and featuring Leigh Sales as the guest speaker, the dinner will also include the announcement of the Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist and the winners of the ABA bookselling awards.

To see the full program, click here.

Category: Conferences Local news