We actively endorse speakers to think of novel ways to present their messages. We promote the use of pictures, video’s photos, anecdotes, stories and creativity to best convey your message. We encourage you to consider the core message you wish to convey, core points that you wish to cover and then consider innovative ways to structure your presentation. Try to be different, engaging and entertaining. Consider the following when planning and assembling your presentation- these basics have been proven to dramatically increase the effectiveness of communication:

• Include only the necessary information
• Generally no more than 6 words a line
• Generally no more than 6 lines a slide
• Too many powerpoint slides will lose your audience
• Avoid long sentences
• Avoid complex diagrams that require excessive explanation
• Always consider how you can replace words with pictures that conceptualise your message

We have received feedback that at other energy trading conferences that the use of generalist statistics was highly repetitive and does not really add to the core of any arguments. Please consider if the statistics that you are using are relevant to the business case you are wishing to illustrate. 

Presentations should comply with the following general requirements:
• not sales-oriented*
• reflect new information or new developments
• cannot be too general; a specific viewpoint is preferred
• presentation should not have been presented at any other event, unless they contain new information and have been adapted for the audience

* Commercial presentations will not be accepted; the conference management reserves the right to refuse presentations with any commercial references.

Audiovisual equipment
The conference room will be equipped with:
• Conference laptop
• Data projector
• Screen
• Stage with lectern and microphone for speaker
• Laserpointer
• Handheld microphones

If you need any additional audiovisual equipment please contact the conference management. AV technicians will be available each day to upload presentations on the conference laptop and assist speakers with technical issues.

Timekeeping
Please review the conference programme regarding the length of your presentation. Please cater for 5 minutes to take questions from the audience. If you are participating in a panel discussion following your presentation, there will be no question time following your presentation.

No sales pitches
Conferences are for education, not sales pitches. The biggest complaint we get is that a speaker spent the session talking about commercial products instead of educating the audience.