The joy of conferences

You can’t beat a good conference, and Frank Reilly’s opinion piece explains exactly why.

Frank says he had been disillusioned with his job, when a trip to an overseas conference helped him get his mojo back and set him on a new course. His article made me think about how important it is to share what we are doing with colleagues whenever the opportunities arise.

Of course, not everyone can or wants to produce a sparkling poster or give a slick presentation about their work. But everyone can benefit from exposure to different ways of working that conferences offer, and from opportunities to network or just chew the fat with like or unlike-minded colleagues

Key to a good conference is a programme of speakers who can communicate their messages clearly and make them relevant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As a journalist, I have attended more conferences than most, and while I have endured death by PowerPoint presentation many times, I have also seen inspiring speakers light up an auditorium and bring audiences to their feet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The key to a good conference is a programme of speakers who can communicate their messages clearly and make them relevant. Get this right, and you can guarantee that the majority of people in the hall will think they have been given value for money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get it wrong, and people will be restless, uninterested and out of the door before the last session begins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is a similarity between a good conference presentation and a good article. Get the article wrong, and readers will be turning the page and turned off; get it right, and people will stay with you till the end.