The 6th Leadership & Communication Conference with Bournemouth University Media School

Every year the UK Speechwriters' Guild together with the European Speechwriter Network hosts a conference at Bournemouth University to bring together the top communicators from across Europe.

In 2012, we have invited speakers to address the topic, do speeches still matter?

How often do eyes glaze over at the prospect of listening to another PowerPoint presentation? 

We need to explore better ways to persuade and lead those around us.

Speeches remain an efficient way to get a message across. Leadership is about influence, not information.

When many forms of communication compete for attention, how do we persuade leaders to use the rawest and most powerful ones?

What the two-day conference is all about:

• The UK Speechwriters' Guild has pioneered a format where we listen to top speechwriters talk about their work.
   
• We learn what techniques they use, how they craft stories, how they build relationships with their speakers and organisations.
  

• This year, have the option of attending an intensive 'Nuts & Bolts of Speechwriting' seminar on Thursday 20 September from 2 - 5pm.

• We'll be hosting a quiz night on the eve of the conference, where you'll be able to socialise with other speechwriters. You will be among like-minded communicators who bring expertise from many different backgrounds.
   

Who should attend?

Previous conferences have attracted speechwriters from the European Commission, the CBI, Orange, Deloitte, the United Nations, the European Investment Bank, Coca Cola as well as the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.

This conference is for anyone wanting to improve their ability to write and deliver speeches. It's also for people wishing to improve their company's ability to communicate ideas and engage staff in developing new behaviours. We offer a limited number of spaces to students and recent graduates seeking to pursue a career in speechwriting.

You should attend this course if you are interested in:

• Communicating your organisation's mission, vision and values
• Helping leaders motivate and inspire
• Sharing knowledge
• Becoming a more effective leader
• Engaging people with your ideas

The benefits

• Acquire techniques used in the White House, Parliament and the Foreign Office
• Get insights into rhetoric from top writers
• Listen to outstanding public speakers
• Have your own work analysed in interactive sessions with top trainers
• Meet fellow professionals from the UK, Europe and the rest of the world
   

What you will learn and leave with

• A better understanding of what makes an effective speech
• Techniques for writing better speeches
• Tips for managing your speakers
• Ways to find persuasive stories
• New contacts, ideas and perspectives on the trade

Speakers
 

Chris Witt

Chris Witt is a speech consultant and coach based in San Diego, California. He has more than 25 years of professional speaking experience, working primarily with leaders – presidents, CEOs, and senior-level executives – who want to influence and inspire their audiences. He is the author of the international bestseller: Real Leaders Don't Do PowerPoint.

Dr Max Atkinson

Former speechwriter for Lord Ashdown and author of the definitive work on preparing speeches, Lend Me Your Ears, Max Atkinson pioneered academic research into effective political speechwriting. He was formerly a Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford and has held visiting professorships at the Henley Management College and other universities in Europe and the USA. He has estimated that poor PowerPoint presentations cost the UK £7.8 billion a year.

Piers Letcher

Piers Letcher is senior Speechwriter at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies. He writes around 100 speeches a year for the ITU Secretary-General and contributes to speeches by Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, as well as to topical speeches by heads of state on technology issues. He has recently written for Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man, and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, and has in the past written for Nelson Mandela.
 

Jan Sliva

Jan is speechwriter to the President of the European Investment Bank, the long-term financing institution of the European Union. Previously he worked as Spokesman for the Czech EU Presidency and as a correspondent and editor for the Associated Press, the world's leading news agency, where he reported from more than 20 countries and his long-term postings included New York, London and Brussels.

Fred Metcalf

Speechwriter in Hollywood and London to famous luminaries including David Frost. He is also editor of the Penguin Book of Modern Quotations and The Penguin Dictionary of Jokes.
 

Christian Nicholas Eversbusch

Christian holds a MA in Rhetoric and German from The University of Copenhagen and works as a speechwriter at Rhetor, Copenhagen, DK, where he also teaches speechwriting to public servants, government officials and many others. His presentation is titled: Hitler's Rhetoric - pure evil or cunning craftsmanship?

Martin Shovel

Writer, speechwriter, cartoonist and communications expert for Brighton-based CreativityWorks (who created the 'Busting the Mehrabian Myth' viral YouTube hit), he is a a regular contributor to the Guardian’s Mind Your Language blog and the Macmillan Dictionary blog, and has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Word of Mouth.

Martha Leyton

Writer, editor, and speechwriter for CreativityWorks, as well as an experienced teacher, trainer and group facilitator, she works with senior figures in the public, private and third sector, helping them to frame their ideas and find their own authentic voice.
 

Alan Barker

Alan Barker is Managing Director of Kairos Training. He has worked for over 20 years with a wide range of organisations, helping people think more clearly and communicate more compellingly.

Author of 13 books: his Improve Your Communication Skills is now in its third edition. His latest book, How to Solve Absolutely Any Problem, will be published by Pearson later this year.

Caroline Goyder

A leading voice coach with clients across the globe, Caroline worked for ten years at Central School of Speech and Drama (CSSD), where she continues to coach BA actors. Her clients include FTSE100 CEOs, MPs, Heads of State, and TED speakers. She has a BA in English Literature from St John's College, Oxford and an MA in Voice from CSSD. Her work has featured on BBC's The Speaker, and Radio 4's Word of Mouth. Her book The Star Qualities (Macmillan) shares A list actors' insights on the performances of everyday life.

Tim Clague

Bafta-nominee film director, winner of the Jerwood Film Prize and owner of Projector Films, Tim Clague will be running a seminar on 'How to broadcast your speech to the world'. 

Professor James Martin

James Martin is Professor of Politics at Goldsmiths, University of London, and co-director of the Centre for the Study of Global Media and Democracy. James has published work on European thought, contemporary political theory and political rhetoric. He is currently finishing a book on Rhetoric and Politics.

Dr Michael Higgins

Dr Michael Higgins is Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.  His research interests span political communications, journalism studies and the study of unscripted broadcast talk.  Michael is the author of numerous books and articles on media, representation and politics including Media and Their Publics (Open University Press, 2008) and La Leadership Politica Fra Media e Populismo (Co-author, Carocci, 2012).

Charles Cowling

Charles Cowling trains funeral celebrants and runs the Good Funeral Guide. He will be doing a breakout session on 'How to write a eulogy'.
 

Phil Waknell

Phil Waknell is Managing Partner of Ideas on Stage, one of Europe's leading presentation design and training companies, and teaches business presentation skills for HEC Paris Executive Education. He runs the popular presentation blog PhilPresents.com, coaches speakers for major conferences, and helps leading companies to launch products, win tenders and motivate staff.

Discounts are avaiable to members. To find out more about the UK Speechwriters' Guild, visit our website.

More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

We endeavour to deliver all workshops and speakers as advertised. However, we cannot accept any liability for any changes to the programme or speakers.

See the video from last year's Bournemouth Conference

Travelling to Bournemouth

The nearest international airport link to Brussels and Amsterdam is from Southampton, which is linked directly to Bournemouth train station (40 minutes). Click here for more details.

Hotels in Bournemouth

The 'stimulus' option is the Cottonwood Hotel. This costs £95 for bed and breakfast. The Cottonwood is on the seafront. Call them on 01202 553183 and quote the 'UK Speechwriters' Guild'.

Another option is the Carrington Hotel. Call 01202 369940 and quote 'UK Speechwriters' Guild'. The following bed and breakfast rates agreed:

Double bedroom: £75 per room, for sole occupancy. Single bedroom: £65 per room. The code for this booking is CARR:06433.

All hotels are within walking distance of the venues.