Programme Highlights 2025

This year’s agenda explores our headline programme theme North Star: Asserting our ethical principles and leading through change

We detail programme highlights so far below. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when new sessions are announced!

Keynote | Michael Rosen
Author, Poet & Broadcaster

We are delighted to be joined by renowned author, poet and broadcaster, Michael Rosen, for a keynote address and book signing.

Keynote | Gene Tan
Chief Librarian and Chief Innovation Officer
National Library Board, Singapore

Gene Tan, Chief Librarian and Chief Innovation Officer at National Library Board, Singapore, shares some truly exciting AI innovation projects and their vision for the future of libraries and generative AI.

REVEAL workshop | Reinforcing Ethics and Values for Effective Advocacy for Libraries
Dr David McMenemy
Senior Lecturer in Information Studies, University of Glasgow

David McMenemy leads this interactive workshop around the REVEAL toolkit – a project to support advocacy work in libraries (commissioned by CILIP Scotland) which put ethics and values at the heart of those conversations.

AI’s carbon footprint
Georgina Wilson-Powell
Editor & Author, Pebble Magazine

Georgina Wilson-Powell, editor of sustainable lifestyle magazine Pebble and author of ‘Is It Really Green?’ joins us to discuss the climate impact of AI and the key considerations to have front-of-mind when drafting policies around responsible use of emerging technologies.

Crisis management
Asif Khan
Director, Scottish Poetry Library

When is a crisis really a crisis? And how can we prepare – and respond appropriately in the moment – from both a stakeholder management and communications perspective? Asif Khan, Director of the Scottish Poetry Library joins this session to explore a range of crisis scenarios.

Data literacy and consent
Dr Elinor Carmi
Senior Lecturer in Data Politics & Social Justice
City University, London

Do service users fully understand what ‘data’ actually is? And what are the implications for consent? Dr Elinor Carmi, Senior Lecturer in Data Politics & Social Justice at City University, London, joins this session to explore Big Tech, data and if we really mean ‘yes’?

Negotiating skills for the procurement process
Anthony Sinnott
Access and Procurement Manager
University of York

Anthony Sinnott, Access & Procurement Manager at the University of York, considers the mix of skills required for successful procurement negotiation.

Menstrual & menopausal health in the workplace
Professor Vanessa Beck
Professor of Employment Studies, Bristol University

Kirsten MacQuarrie, Sector Development Manager at CILIP Scotland and creator of the WINspiration series, will chair the panel, and we are delighted to be joined by Professor Vanessa Beck, Professor of Employment Studies, University of Bristol. Professor Beck has been researching menopause in the workplace since she co-authored a report on the effect of menopause transition on women’s economic participation in the UK for the Government Equalities Office (GEO) in 2017.

In programming this session, CILIP Conference seeks to open a space where we can explore and humanise the unique challenges and experiences of working with (and within) hormonal cycles and transitions. And to consider what a truly supportive work culture looks and feels like. The central question being: How might we, collectively, co-create a shift towards more regenerative ways of working and being for a work force of circa 75 per cent women and/or people who menstruate?

Advocating for the sector
Louis Coiffait-Gunn
CEO, CILIP

Louis Coiffait-Gunn Chairs a cross-sector panel discussion on how we can best advocate for the skills, expertise and services of the library, information and knowledge management profession. Featuring Caroline Ball (University of Derby and eBookSOS); Jess Pawley (NHS); and Lucy Banks (ASCEL).