M25 Annual Conference 2025 – Shaping the future

Welcome to the Consortium’s Annual Conference 2025. For the first time in five years, we are meeting in person. Join us for a day of presentations, discussions and networking in the lovely setting of Greenwich, London.

Our packed programme is being finalised. Expect to find inspiring presentations, sessions full of ideas and opportunities for learning, supporting new speakers and sharing best practice. A sandwich lunch and refreshments are provided.

We’re pleased to announce the following confirmed speakers:

• Keynote Speakers: Lawrie Phipps, Jisc and Dr Donna Lanclos
• Oyebanji Adewumi, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Greenwich, will talk about the ways to make an impact in an EDI strategy
• Jon Ray, GLAM Environmental Sustainability Manager, Oxford University Gardens, Libraries & Museums (GLAM) will look at our sector’s digital footprint

Speaker biographies

Programme:

9am Registration & Networking

9.50am Welcome from David Archer, Chair, M25 Consortium

10.00-10.40  Keynote Presentation: The Wolves are at the Door: An argument for a trophic cascade in libraries, from Lawrie Phipps, Senior Research Lead at Jisc and Dr Donna Lanclos, Researcher and Speaker, Anthropologist and Folklorist

Much has been written about how technology needs to disrupt and transform libraries and library work, mostly by vendors or those who are writing or working with vendors. But what if it already happened, and it happened incrementally and over a period of 30 years so that we didn’t notice it? What if,  in fact, most of us advocated for it?

10.40-11.10 Presentation from Banji Adewumi, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Greenwich

11.15-11.35  Refreshment Break Plus Networking, Sponsors, Vox Pops & Posters

11.40-12.10 Building a Digital Sustainability Action Plan Presentation from Jon Ray, Environmental Sustainability Lead for Gardens, Libraries & Museums (GLAM), University of Oxford

12.15-13.00 Three Parallel sessions to choose from on Future tech, what sustainability will look like and diversity

1. Collaboration in times of  constrained budgets – further details coming soon
2. M25 Consortium’s Diversity Group to lead a discussion
3. M25 Consortium’s Sustainability Group to lead a discussion

13.00-14.00 Lunch Plus Networking, Sponsors, Vox Pops & Posters

14.00-14.45 Three Lightning Talk Presentations plus questions to the Presenters

14.50-15.30 Three Parallel sessions to choose from:

1. Wellbeing in Libraries: Steps to Creating Kind, safe workplaces Helen Rimmer, Kindness and Wellbeing Coach
2. The successes and challenges of delivering library space projects, Regina Everett, Director of Library, Archives and Learning Services, University of East London and Tim Wales, University Librarian, Cranfield University
3. TBC

15.30-15.50 Refreshment Break Plus Networking, Sponsors, Vox Pops & Posters

15.55-16.15 Learning from the sessions & M25 Consortium Shapes the Future

16.15 Closing remarks and thanks

16.25 Ends

16.45-17.30 EXTRA! Optional visit to University of Greenwich Library, Stockwell Street Campus – please complete a separate booking form for this visit if you would like to attend:

Visit to the University of Greenwich Library booking

(Programme is subject to alteration, full details to be announced soon)

Call for Lightning Talk Speakers and Posters now open

We warmly welcome submissions from staff at our member institutions to produce a poster and/or present short talks on any subject related to our theme. Those chosen will be given a free place at Conference, with reasonable public travel costs reimbursed (if required). Find out more and apply now.

Venue accessibility: The venue is in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. Please note that access to some of the areas for the conference (including the break out rooms and refreshment area) can only be accessed via a small number of steps. There is more information on accessibility here: https://www.accessable.co.uk/university-of-greenwich/access-guides/queen-anne-building. Please contact the M25 Consortium team with any queries: cpd25@london.ac.uk,  M25libadmin@london.ac.uk

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Registration and Booking

All member institutions are entitled to one free delegate place (registration essential) and can book additional places. Complete the booking form by 17 April to receive the discounted additional place rate.

Fees:

Invoicing: Please note that early bird bookings will be sent their invoice from 18 April. Standard bookings will be invoiced after the Conference from 25 June.

Group bookings:  3 or more paying delegates will receive a £25 discount per person if they book as a group. Please fill out one form per person and add a note to the form in the PO number box to state ‘group booking’. Please also email cpd25@london.ac.uk with the names of the group members so we can identify you when we receive your booking forms. Any queries about group booking should be sent to cpd25@london.ac.uk. Group discount does not apply to students or member representatives using their free place.

Student rate: If you’re studying and working at an M25 library please use the member registration form and write ‘student’, as well as your job title, in the designated box. If you’re a student and not employed by an M25 member library please use the non-member form and write  ‘student’ in the designated job title box. Proof of student status may be required.

Conference Bursaries: The deadline for bursaries supporting free attendance at the conference has passed. Read more about the Staff Development Award Scheme.

Cancellation policy: Cancellation is free until 23:59 on 12th June 2025. Cancellations after this date will be charged 50%. No-shows on the day will be charged 100%.

Electronic CPD attendance certificates can be provided on request. Please request via cpd25@london.ac.uk

To book a place please use our online booking forms. Please remember to include a PO number if required.