08:00-09:00 – Registrations and Coffee and Tea
(All times are AEST)
09:00-09:15 – Welcome
09:15-10:00 – Design Thinking: How to approach publishing's biggest challenges
Greg Harbidge is the Director of consulting firm Think Different and has spent over 20 years as a consultant, facilitator, and coach on the global stage. Since 2012, Greg has taught and consulted for Melbourne Business School across sectors such as health, technology, government, Olympic sports and professional services. Greg teaches teams to innovate and develop customer-focused business opportunities using Human-Centred Design principles, such as CX and Design Thinking.
In his keynote for BookUp, Greg will introduce ‘design thinking’ and how it can be used to assist with problem-solving, improve workplace culture, and respond innovatively to publishing’s biggest issues. His keynote will be followed by a Q&A with the APA's Chief of Staff Patrizia Di Biase-Dyson.
Download Greg's handout on practically applying Design Thinking.
10:05-10:25 – What is the Research Telling Us?
Later this year Australia Reads will release the results of its inaugural Reading Research Review, a snapshot of contemporary research into the benefits of reading on our lives - from early childhood development to overall health and wellbeing - and where some of the gaps in our current knowledge lies.
Adele Walsh from La Trobe University Library will discuss some of the findings of her research in conversation with the APA's Policy and Government Relations Manager Stuart Glover.
10:30 - 10:55 – Morning Tea Break
11:00-11:45 – Publishing First Nations Voices
Are you publishing with First Nations writers and other creators, or do you want to? What kind of experiences can you prepare for? What kind of experiences have you already had?
Hear our panel discuss their approaches to publishing with First Nations creators and non-Indigenous creators of First Nations content.
- Sandra Phillips - Associate Professor of Indigenous Australian Studies and Publishing Studies at Western Sydney University
- Arlie Alizzi - Editor at Magabala
- Melissa Kayser - Publishing Director at Hardie Grant Explore
11:50-12:35 – Valuing our Content
Costs are growing for publishers and yet the ASP of books in Australia hasn't increased in 20 years.
Join our panel of industry professionals as they discuss pricing trends in trade and educational publishing and other entertainment industries, and strategies to improve the 'value proposition' of books.
- Bianca Whiteley - General Manager at Nielsen BookData Australia
- Melanie Barton - Buyer - Books, Gaming, Giftcard, DVD at Target Australia
- Susannah Bowen - General Manager, Marketing at Campion Education
- Brooke Webb - CEO, Sydney Writers Festival
- Chaired by Mark Campbell - Creative Director and Publisher at HarperCollins
12:40 - 13:40 – Lunch Break
13:45-14:30 – AI and Publishing
From ChatGPT to Midjourney and DALL-E, AI technology is continually changing the way we work.
In her keynote address, Stela Solar, Director of the National AI Centre hosted by CSIRO, will discuss the latest developments in AI and explore the opportunities and challenges for the publishing industry now, and into the future.
14:35-15:20 – Why Metadata is Everyone's Responsibility
Everyone knows that great metadata is critical for discoverability and sales. But often, metadata is an afterthought and isn't produced efficiently or effectively.
This panel of metadata experts will share best-practice examples of workflows and cross-departmental collaboration.
- Kathleen O'Neill - Metadata Manager at Hardie Grant Books and Explore
- Emma Rafferty - Editorial Manager at Hachette
- Kate Robertson - Regional Manager Operations at Wiley
- Cat Colwell - TitlePage and Supply Chain Manager at the APA
- Chaired by Shalini Kunahlan - Head of Marketing at Hardie Grant Books and Explore
15:25-16:10 – Where to next? Meet the Publishing Industry's Rising Stars
Meet the next generation of publishing leaders as they discuss their careers, the future of the industry, and what they would do if they were in charge!
This year's shortlisted Rising Stars will be in conversation with one of the 2023 Open Book interns, Keerthana Ravindran.
The Rising Star award is sponsored by Media Super.
16:15-16:30 Closing Remarks
16:30-18:30 - Networking Drinks at the Fringe Common Rooms
The conference is over but the networking continues! Head over to the Fringe Common Rooms (just a short five-minute walk from State Library Victoria) for drinks, canapes and great company. The BookUp networking drinks will include the announcement of the publishing industry's Rising Star award and the shortlist for the Educational Publishing Awards Australia (EPAAs).
The Networking Drinks are sponsored by the APA's Independent Publishers Committee.