I know I’ve been remiss in posting much here recently, with the occassional tumbleweed rolling past this blog, and I will catch up on something to say soon, however I do want to make a quick mention of an important event in the Western Australian web industry calendar.

Next week, we’re very lucky to have both Lisa Herrod (Scenario Seven) and Rachel Cook (Vibe Capital) making time to visit us and present on usability, accessibility, web start-ups and more.

I’m biased, of course, because the event is organised by the Australian Web Industry Association, which I am Chairperson of, but I am even doubly biased, because one of the events esteemed sponsors is Bam Creative.

Have a gander at the Ideas4 website, and then buy your tickets online. Quick! The event is on next week, and once it’s been, you only have yourself to blame for missing it!

I hope to see you there!

Image: Ideas4 website screengrab.

As the third post in my recent series about presentation and public speaking, (see Public Speaking Tips and Templates and Interview with Maxine Sherrin) I couldn’t neglect to speak to Eric Scheid, the brains behind the popular Australian Information Architecture conference, Oz-IA.

Here’s what Eric had to say…

How do you go about choosing speakers for Oz-IA? Is it the traditional Call for Papers or asking around who’d be great, or attending other conferences perhaps?

For Oz-IA/2006, I invited a bunch of people I knew, and had an informal call. In 2007, the call was more formal, and no direct invitations.

So, what makes you typically notice the speakers who you invite to speak at Oz-IA?

They speak at conferences, they write on blogs, they participate in forums, they have interesting ideas. A couple had unique skill specializations, and even though they hadn’t spoken at a conference before I gee’d them up.

In your opinion, what is the most important element for a speaker to get right, in order to be remembered (such as humour, stage presence, technical knowledge, etc)?

For Oz-IA, I expect presenters to know their stuff, to share insights, and to go deeper than a superficial introduction to the topic.

So, if you could give one piece of advice for conference speakers in the making, what would it be?

Practice, have something interesting and new to say, and practice.

So Eric, any plans you’re willing to reveal about the next conference, due later this year?

There will be even more speakers for this year, and we’ll begin planning *much* earlier

Thanks for your responses, Eric. I look forward to seeing you at Oz-IA.

Image: Monkeys, Monkey Forest Ubud, Bali.