The SCBWI-BI Conference 2017 organisers are busy planning an exciting program for you. There are many SCBWI members giving up their time to ensure all strands of the conference are a success. A M Dassu tells us more about them and what they do.
Susan Sandercock – I’m one of the
Co-Chairs of the committee. This year, I have particular responsibility for overseeing aspects of the programme, such as the
PULSE/SPARK sessions,
The Hook and the
Friday Night Fringe. I am also responsible for raising sponsorship funds, liaising with
The Bookseller and organising printed materials.
Email
conference@britishscbwi.org
Becky Tudor – I'm one of the
Co-Chairs, so I help to oversee everyone else doing their jobs so fantastically! This year, I have particular responsibility for strands such as the
programme (with the exception of the
PULSE/SPARK sessions),
front of house, the
Friday night critique and
one-to-ones.
Email
conference@britishscbwi.org
George Kirk – This year I am
Speaker Coordinator for authors. That means I am responsible for inviting speakers to deliver the writing strands of the conference. I ensure they have everything they need and know exactly where and when they need to be on.
Email
conferencespeakers@britishscbwi.org
Patrick Miller – I'm the conference
Illustrator Liaison. I'm pulling together speakers, session leaders and 1-1 portfolio reviewers from the best of the biz to hopefully give illustrators and author-illustrators, unpublished and published alike, a meaningful, fun and productive conference.
Email
conferenceillustrators@britishscbwi.org
Clare Tovey – I am the conference
Illustrator Speaker Liaison, helping to ensure we have exciting speakers and workshops for illustrators, and that everyone has all the details they need. Volunteering works brilliantly for me because I am slightly shy, and having a job to do helps!
Email
conferenceillustrators@britishscbwi.org
PULSE events are directed towards published members, and
SPARK events are for delegates who are choosing the many different strands of self-publishing options. There is so much crossover between these fields that this year these strands are being combined at the conference.
Mo O'Hara – I've been working with
Candy Gourlay to develop the
PULSE event aimed at our published members. This year
Sarah Towle joined the team and we are linking some of the sessions as
PULSE and
SPARK. I’d love to hear your ideas for
PULSE events.
Email
pulse@britishscbwi.org
Sarah Towle (
sarahtowle.com,
www.timetravelertours.com, https://twitter.com/HistoryTurnedOn) – I am thrilled to give back to the SCBWI community as
Co-Chair of the
PULSE/SPARK conference strand. Sessions – ranging from craft to website design to marketing – promise to address the needs of traditional and self-published authors and illustrators, alike.
1-1s and Portfolio Reviews
Liz Miller – I'm the
1-1 Coordinator for Fiction. I invite agents and editors to do author reviews, match delegates’ work as carefully as I can, and will be on hand to calm nerves on the day!
Email
conference1to1s@britishscbwi.org
Addy Farmer – I'm helping Liz with the
writer 1-1s. I'm SCBWI to the core and love how stories bring us all together in one big energising conference. I'll be there this year to help you find your 1-1 way.
Email conference1to1s@britishscbwi.org
Paul Morton – I run the pre conference
Sketch Crawl on the Friday afternoon, and also organise the
Illustrator 1-1 reviews. This means that I liaise with the reviewers and make sure your work ends up in front of them so that they can offer constructive feedback.
Email
conference1to1s@britishscbwi.org
People You May Need For Events During The Conference
Suzie Wilde (
suziewilde.co.uk) –
Front of House Coordinator - put simply, I'm the
go-to person for everything over the entire weekend. I'm responsible for making everyone feel welcome, safe and important, whether speaker or debut attendee. I am in constant touch with the University events team and make on-the-spot decisions when things (inevitably) go a bit pear-shaped.
Email
conferencefrontofhouse@britishscbwi.org
Camilla Chester – I am new to the Conference Committee and am
in training as Front of House Coordinator. The role involves knowing where everyone should be and when, making sure everyone has the right information and dealing with the general administration during the actual conference. Gulp.
Email
conferencefrontofhouse@britishscbwi.org
Dom Conlon – I'm the
University Liaison which means I deal with all the onsite things from organising which sessions go into which rooms, to choosing what we all eat and catering for special dietary requirements. I arrange all the print materials too.
Email
conferencesupport@britishscbwi.org
Jan Carr – I organise
The Party,
The Hook and
The Friday Afternoon Fringe. For the party, this involves confirming the venue, booking the entertainment and ensuring there’s enough food and drink to go round so everyone can celebrate our members’ new books at the
Mass Book Launch! Email
conferenceparty@britishscbwi.org
Clare Bell – I oversee the
Friday Night Critique and the meal that follows it, and I'm also the person to contact about the
Mass Book Launch. Details will be posted well in advance for all these conference events and I'll be checking my SCBWI email
Email
MBL@britishscbwi.org from then.
People You May Need Before The Conference
Jonny Wood – I'm
Bookings Co-ordinator for a second year running. I’ll be the one helping you book onto the right sessions and breakouts for the conference. I’m also offering my technical skills to the conference team behind the scenes.
Email
conferencebookings@britishscbwi.org
Sue Wallman – I'm the conference
Scholarship Coordinator and manage the Margaret Carey Scholarship which enables two SCBWI members (British Isles only) to come to the conference who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford it. It's judged equally on financial need and writing merit.
Email
conferencescholarship@britishscbwi.org
Alice Hemming – I was unable to attend the last couple of conferences but I still helped co-ordinate the
Outstanding Contribution Award. This year, I’m happy to be back at the conference and helping with a couple of bits and bobs including OCA and
Mass Book Launch webpage.
*Feature image: Mass Book Launch at the 2012 Conference. Image Credit: Candy Gourlay
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A. M. Dassu is a member of the Words & Pictures editorial team, she manages the Events team and SCBWI BI events coverage.
Contact her at
events@britishscbwi.org
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