IABM05 conference programme and key speakers revealed

The International Association of Broadcasting Manufacturers (IABM), the trade association that represents vendors in the broadcast and electronic media industry, has announced the conference programme and keynote speakers for its inaugural conference - IABM05: Making It In The Broadcast Business, which will be held at Wokefield Park near Reading on Friday January 28 2005.
The Conference will include a comprehensive schedule divided into five sessions, including Technology, Regulation, Corporate Strategy, Sales and Marketing, and Training. The Technology session will invite discussion chaired by Glenn Hall, Head of the Hewlett Packard Media Lab in Bristol. The highly distinguished panel will include Peter Weitzel, Manager, Broadcast Technology Developments, BBC; Simon Fell, Controller of Emerging Technologies, ITV; John Ive, Sony Professional Solutions; Stephen Gale, CTO of BT Rich Media; and a senior spokesman (TBC) from Microsoft.
Lord Currie, Chairman of Ofcom, will present a keynote address in the Regulation session, which will aim to highlight the drivers behind Government policy and regulators concerning the electronic media industry. Lord Currie will answer questions put to him by a panel of IABM member companies.
The IABM's soon to be revealed new CEO will chair the Corporate Strategy session, which includes a panel of leading experts who will debate the issues relating to running a business successfully now and into the future. The panel includes Jonathan Dunn of Ernst &Young; Stewart Licudi, a prominent venture capitalist of LDC (investors in Quantel and Pro-Bel); and senior figures from the IABM membership (TBC). The IABM will also highlight its new market research initiative launched in partnership with Ernst & Young.
How do manufacturers know what to develop and how to sell? What do broadcasters want? The Sales and Marketing session will endeavour to answer these questions and more with a wide-ranging series of mini-debates that will feature among many others Robert Amlung, Head of Central Affairs at the German broadcaster ZDF and a former chairman of the Avid iNews user group; Barbara Marshall, ex-Technology Editor of Broadcast and now a partner in the specialist PR company INGMedia; Mike Crimp, Director of Marketing and Business Development, IBC; Chris Brown, NAB; and other spokespeople from broadcasters, resellers, integrators and the trade press.
The Training session will present everything potential employers need to know about finding and training staff in the broadcast industry. The panel will include Simon Shute, Technical Director of SSVC and former head of the BBC's training facility at Wood Norton; Clive Jones, MD of ITV News Group (and a director of both Skillset and Ravensbourne College); Coleena Reid, Head of the Broadcast Technology Faculty at Ravensbourne; plus spokespeople from IABM member companies.
"This event is shaping up to be a major highlight in next year's broadcast calendar. The calibre of speakers is incredibly high, providing a platform for some outstanding industry debate and discussion," said Adrian Scott, the IABM's Director of Business Development. He added: "If you're in the broadcast business, you need to be there!"
As part of the Conference, there will be a Gala Dinner in the evening for all delegates and their partners - providing an excellent opportunity to unwind and discuss the day's events. The Conference is open to all interested parties with IABM members receiving substantial discounts on delegate passes. Accommodation is available at the conference venue Wokefield Park, Reading, UK. Delegate rate includes breakfast and the use of Wokefield Park's leisure facilities including indoor pool and gymnasium.
To book your place visit www.theiabm.org and click on the Conference logo.
(gb/sp)