This year's Convention in Newcastle saw a first-class line-up of speakers and a superb mix of topics covering a wide range of different income generation streams and the biggest Convention Trade Show yet, provided delegates with plenty of opportunity to network and source new products & services. Always a high point of the Convention, the Best Product Awards offered the perfect opportunity to celebrate achievements and developments by friends and colleagues across the sector, which gives inspiration and encouragement to us all.

Keynote Speakers
Christian Pedrier, Chief Executive, Alnwick Castle
Colin Philpott, Director, National Media Museum, Bradford
Stephen Robertson, Director General, British Retail Consortium

Session Speakers
Anne Buky, Director, Licensing Works
Camay Chapman-Cameron, Head of Trading, Royal Pavilion, Brighton
Catherine McGurk, Kelvingrove Shop Manager, Glasgow Museums
Camay Chapman-Cameron, Head of Trading, Brighton Royal Pavillion & Museums
Celia Joicey, Head of Publications, National Portrait Gallery
David Breuer, Managing Director, Royal Academy Enterprises Ltd
David Martin, Director, M-Worldwide
David Way, Head of Publishing, The British Library
Declan McCarthy, Commercial Manager, Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology
Gerri Morris, Director, Lateral Thinkers
Jane le Bon, Visual Merchandising Consultant, Jane le Bon Ltd
Jane Temperley, Head of Buying, Merchandising and Retail Development, National Trust
Janis Adams, Head of Publishing, National Galleries of Scotland
Joanna Watson, Product Development Officer, Glasgow Museums
Justin Fielder, Director & Graphic Designer, Temple Island Collection
Louise Rice, Publishing & Merchandise Director, National Gallery Company Ltd
Mark Merka-Richards, Head of Resource Management, Museum of London
Marta Swannie, Founder and Creative Director, Cabinet
Mike Walton, Head of Trading, London Transport Museum
Patrick Harbour, Director, Harbour and Jones
Professor David Russell, Managing Director, The Russell Partnership
Rachel Saunders, Training Consultant, Rachel Saunders
Rob Fenwick, Director of Communications, University of Westminster
Robert Snuggs, Managing Director, Bounce! Sales & Marketing
Rosey Blackmore, Head of Buying & Merchandising, Rothschild Waddesdon Ltd, (Waddesdon Manor & Plant Centre)
Rosie Evans, Shop & Front of House Manager, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Russell Miller, Head of Business Development, Imperial War Museum North
Sara Sweetland, Head of Trading, Rothschild Waddesdon Ltd, (Waddesdon Manor & Plant Centre)
Selina Fellows, Retail & Marketing Consultant
Shirley Jackson, Retail Director, English Heritage
Simon Nutbrown, Director, Cornflower Ltd
Steve McLean, Senior Manager, Great North Museum
Steve Robinson, Bookshop Co-ordinator, Seven Stories
Suzie Brewster, Sales Manager, Customworks
Tom Wilcox, Managing Director, Whitechapel Gallery

The all-important convention dinner was on Thursday evening; this prestigious event in the retail calendar included the Annual Best Product Awards and this year was followed by a live band and dancing to the Tyneside band The Happy Cats, a folk/rock fusion with shades of Lindisfarne. To see the lucky winners of this year's best Product Awards please click here.

Convention Presentations

All Convention delegates can access the presentations below by using the password which was sent to you. If you attended the event but do not have the password that is required to access these presentations please e-mail Sara Bowen.

Time to Talk Exhibition Catalogues
Janis Adams, Publisher, National Galleries of Scotland
Celia Joicey, Head of Publications, National Portrait Gallery

Bespoke and Bought-in - The Debate Continues!
Rosey Blackmore, Head of Buying & Merchandising, Waddesdon Manor

Bespoke and Bought-in - The Debate Continues!
Suzie Brewster, Sales Manager, Customworks

Licensing Made Easy; 10 Things You Need to Know But Never Dares Ask ...
Anne Buky, Director, Licensing Works

Bespoke and Bought-in - The Debate Continues!
Rosie Evans, Shop & Front of House Manager, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

The Digital World; 10 Things You Need to Know But Never Dared Ask ...
Rob Fenwick, Web Services Director, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Let Them Eat Cake - Presentation / Speech
Patrick Harbour, Director, Harbour and Jones

Let Them Eat Cake
Sara Sweetland, Head of Trading, Waddesdon Manor

The Heritage Sector Welcomes … The Great Debate
Shirley Jackson, Director of Retail, English Heritage

The Heritage Sector Welcomes ... The Great Debate
Jane Temperley, Head of Buying, Merchandising and Retail Development, National Trust

Inspiring Retail
David Martin, Joing Managing Director, M-Worldwide Ltd

NEW IN … 2009. An Annual Review of Featured New Openings and Developments in the Sector
Declan McCarthy, Commercial Manager, Ashmolean Museum

To Hire or Not to Hire? That is the Question
Russell Miller, Head of Business Development, Imperial War Museum North

To Hire or Not to Hire? That is the Question
Professor David Russell, Managing Director, The Russell Partnership

Strategic Marketing - A Vital Tool For Us All
Gerri Morris, Director, Morris Hargreaves McIntyre

Opening Keynote Address
Christian Perdrier, Chief Executive, Alnwick Castle

Publishing for Children
Steve Robinson, Bookshop Co-ordinator, Seven Stories

The Alternative Customer Service Therapy
Rachel Saunders, Training Consultant

Creating and Implementing a Successful and Profitable On-line Business
Marta Swannie, Founder and Creative Director, Cabinet UK Ltd

Finance; 10 Thing You Need to Know But Never Dares Ask ...
Tom Wilcox, Managing Director, Whitechapel Gallery