Annual Conference preview Game changer Beat that! This was one of a raft of positive comments the BPA membership team received following last years hugely successful Annual Conference. Not content to rest on its laurels and always up for a challenge the team is determined to make 2019s event even better e want to blow peoples minds. Head of membership, Caron Fassetta, and her team have been planning one of the biggest events on the BPA calendar the Annual Conference for more than a year. We want people to think big, to position themselves outside the parking box, and really engage with the big issues that will affect us all, she says. Its an opportunity to have a break from the prosaic and discover what exactly is influencing change in our sector. With a panel of high-profile speakers and experts, the BPA team is keen to offer you the chance to discover new ideas, debate some of the challenges that we are facing, and explore ways of working and engaging with other sectors. Its why weve called it Game changer, says Rebecca Harper, membership engagement manager. We hope the topics and the speakers who will be presenting them will inspire and energise everyone in the room to get involved, ask questions and put forward their opinions on how we as a profession should continue to evolve. W Conversation starters The BPA team is keen for the conference to be very much about conversations and audience participation is a key part of the whole event. Youll be able to ask questions throughout the sessions via the Slido app; and there will be several openfloor and question-and-answer slots throughout the day. There will also be several stands in the foyer where you can come Im very excited about the 2019 BPA Annual Conference, which is set to be a real game changer. With renewable energy, data analysis, and behavioural change on the agenda, as well as a new venue, whats not to like? Hold me back! John McArdle, BPA President 38 britishparking.co.uk PN Oct19 pp38-40 Annual Conference.indd 38 23/09/2019 14:05