19/06/2023

On Wednesday 16 August 2023 the Australian publishing industry will come together at the BookUp Conference, taking place at the State Library Victoria in Melbourne.

Join us for a day full of experts from publishing and beyond, discussing thought-provoking ideas and delivering valuable professional development for publishing staff at all levels.

This year’s BookUp Conference explores urgent issues facing Australian publishers. Expect topics such as developments in AI, workplace culture and innovation, along with book pricing in a time of inflation, through to practical sessions on publishing First Nations voices and integrating metadata into your workflow. We’ll also hear from the next generation of publishing leaders as they consider the future of the industry. 

Learn more about some of the sessions below, and book your tickets here. 

AI and the future of publishing

From ChatGPT to Midjourney and DALL-E, AI technology is continually changing how 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. 

Stela has a background in sustainability and creative industries, and a mission to accelerate positive AI adoption and innovation that benefits business and community.  

Practical Professional Development

This year’s conference features a strong focus on professional development, with sessions packed with practical advice to help publishing staff across the industry excel in their roles. 

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? 

Join Sandra Phillips, Associate Professor of Indigenous Australian Studies and Publishing Studies at WSU; Arlie Alizzi, editor at Magabala;, and Melissa Kayser, publishing director at Hardie Grant Explore; as they discuss their approaches to publishing with First Nations creators and non-Indigenous creators of First Nations content.

Why metadata is everyone’s responsibility

Everyone knows that great metadata is crucial to selling books, but how do publishers ensure the way they work with metadata is as efficient and effective as possible? 

Our panel of trade and educational publishers – Katty O’Neill, metadata manager at Hardie Grant; Emma Rafferty, editorial manager at Hachette; and Kate Robertson, regional manager operations at Wiley – share how they integrate metadata into their workflow, and discuss best practices and social responsibility with the APA’s TitlePage and supply chain manager Cat Colwell. Chaired by Hardie Grant’s Shalini Kunahlan.

More to come

We’ll be announcing more sessions in coming weeks, with the event put together by a programming committee featuring a stellar group of publishing professionals:

• Shalini Kunahlan, Head of Marketing at Hardie Grant Books & Explore 
• Mark Campbell, Creative Director and Publisher at HarperCollins ANZ 
• Yazmin Islam, Marketing Manager at Wiley Australia 
• Bianca Jafari, Product Development Executive at Thames & Hudson Australia

Shalini Kunahlan says of this year’s event:

‘The 2023 BookUp program has been designed by a diverse team of experienced mid-career employees from across the industry. Covering publishing, marketing and sales, the sessions are a barometer of the industry as it stands. Expect marketing and diversity pillars woven throughout, alongside practical takeaways you can use straight away!’

Book now and save!

Early bird ticket sales for BookUp 2023 will end on 7 July. Don’t miss this opportunity for significant discounts, including limited bundle offers.

Members can purchase a ticket to the conference and networking event for $200, with prices rising to $300 from 8 July. 

If you aren’t able to join us, you can still watch the BookUp conference online. Online ticket prices and bookings will be released on 10 July. 

Book your tickets here.

BookUp is made possible thanks to the continued support of the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.