Join us at the SYP AGM for an exciting start to 2025! We will wrap up our 75th year running by hearing from industry speakers and SYP’s regional branches, discussing SYP’s highlights and achievements this year, and introducing the 2025 committees!
This year’s theme is TAKING ACTION! Hear industry professionals discuss what it means to take action in the publishing world. They’ll share insights on essential skills like leadership and proactivity, explore ways to empower those aspiring towards senior roles, discuss strategies to support underrepresented groups and provide inspiring advice for those looking to launch a freelance career.
Date: Sunday 19th January 2025
Time: 10 am – 12 noon
Location: Zoom
James Spackman: Literary Agent and Presentation Coach
James has worked in books since 1996 in sales, marketing and management roles for Hachette and Osprey. Currently he combines his work as an agent at The bks Agency with coaching publishers in presentation skills as The Book Pitch Doctor (in which capacity he’s also recently published the guide How to Pitch a Book). He also founded Profile’s cycling imprint Pursuit and the regional diversity non-profit The Spare Room Project.
Kat McKenna: Brand and Marketing Consultant
Kat McKenna has worked in the publishing industry for 16 years, specialising in marketing and brand development, working with and establishing children’s and youth talent. Her debut book, Look What You Made Me Do, is a non-fiction ode to fandoms, explored through the lens of Taylor Swift and modern pop culture.
Ben Powell: Program Manager, Continuous Improvement
Ben has worked
full-time in academic publishing for over nine years, focused in global operations at Taylor & Francis Group, with prior industry experience in editorial trade publishing. Alongside his daily remit, Ben is a UK/EMEA Lead for Informa PLC’s colleague-run Pride network, and he is the Founder and Lead of the LGBTQIA+ Cross-Publisher Collective.
Both members and non-members can join this event for FREE, but become a member to join the rest of our online networking events in 2025! We’d love for you to join us and by becoming a member you’ll also gain access to all of our other members’ events, our resource centre, InPrint magazine, partner discounts, and more!