Why Speak?
Presenting on a topic is a great way to really get to understand it. Whether it's something you already know well, or something you think is important that you want to learn more about, you'll benefit from really digging deeply into it, and your audience will benefit from the knowledge you share.
Whether you've never spoken before, spoken internally at your company, at a meetup, or a conference, we're always looking for speakers for our conferences and other events.
At Web Directions, we're always looking for new (as well as existing) speakers to share their ideas and expertise with our audience.
Web Directions Conffab
750+ presentations from more than 550 world leading experts at over 40 conferences…and counting
All for $19.95 per month.
Or, get access to all our online events throughout the year as part of a Conffab Premium membership, for just $59.95 per month.
What opportunities are there?
In 2022, we have 6 online conferences planned, all for a front end developer audience, but each with a different, in depth focus.
In addition, our annual Summit returns in December 2022, in person in Sydney.
- For in-person events we provide speakers travel and accomodation.
- Our online conferences are pre-recorded, and delivered in our unique "slow" format–across 2 weeks, for 3-4 hours each Friday. We provide speakers with all the equipment (camera, lighting, mic, software), direction, editing and support you need to create an amazing presentation.
- And it doesn't stop with the conference, we host your presentation on our new video platform Conffab, where speakers are compensated for the engagement their presentations generate!
2022 Conferences
In 2022 we're hosting 6 online front end focussed conferences, as well as our annual in-person Summit, and associated Code Leaders conference in Sydney late 2022, with these CFP closing dates
Online Conferences
- Hover, focussed on CSS, in March 2022, CFP closes Dec 31 2021
- Lazy Load, focussed on front end performance in May 2022, CFP closes Jan 31 2022
- Global Scope, focused exclusively on JavaScript, in June 2022, CFP closes March 31st 2022
- Code, focussed on the Web Platform and PWAs in September 2022, CFP closes May 30 2022
- AAA, focussed on accessibility for front end developers in October 2022, CFP closes June 30 2022
- Safe, focussed on privacy, security and identity for front end developers in December 2022, CFP closes July 31 2022
Web Directions Summit
Web Directions Summit takes place in early December in Sydney, and features several tracks–front end engineering, design and product management. CFPs close June 30 2022
Code Leaders
Code Leaders is a one day focussed engineering leadership conference taking place the day before our Summit, November 30 2022. CFPs close July 31.
How do I get to speak at a Web Directions Conference?
This is a little long winded and in depth, but understanding what we look for will really help you propose a topic that's likely to work for our programs. A look at past conference programs will likely help you get a sense of what we look for too.
At Web Directions we have a strong editorial style we've developed over more than 15 years of putting together conferences. The type of sessions that prove popular, and so which we program, tend to have a number of characteristics:
- They're often about "unknown unknowns"–introducing or explaining to the audience concepts, practices or technologies they may not be aware of, or maybe only vaguely aware of, that would be useful to them in their work, today, or in the near future.
- They're focussed–don't think breadth, think focus and depth.
- Forward looking (but not far future). It's right there in our name "directions"–we want to help our audience chart where they are going, but we don't want to lead them down dead ends, or show them things that might only one day become useful.
- Product and solution agnostic. We don't focus on specific solutions (libraries, frameworks, tools) whether open source or commercial. Not that we have anything against these, just we feel they are often covered well elsewhere, while foundational technologies, patterns and practices, that can apply regardless of the tools and solutions you use, are often less well covered. The exception here is our React+ track at Summit focussed on the React Ecosystem.
One of the things we love hearing from our audience is "I can't wait to get back to work and put this into practice". If you can aim for that, for the event's target audience, you'll go a long way to getting a place in the schedule.
Here's a few more tips what we recommend to give yourself the best chance of getting a place at our conferences.
- Most sessions especially those chosen from CFPs are of 20 minutes duration.
- If we see proposals we really like, we start pencilling them in before the closing date. So it pays to not wait until last minute.
- We're also happy for multiple proposals from the same person.
- Past presentations give a good indication of the sort of thing we're looking for as well.
- Focus is good! Rather than proposing for example "what's new in Javascript" think about a deep dive on one aspect of what's new in JavaScript (for example "Crunchy or smooth? All about JavaScript's Spread Operator"). What's something you think is indispensable but not as many people know about and use as you think should? There's a great topic right there!
OK, I'm keen! Where do I propose?
You'll find a form for proposing for all our 2022 conferences below. You propose, we'll work out where the best fit is.
What Do Speakers Get?
Online conferences
We provide speakers with all the equipment (camera, lighting, mic, software), direction, editing and support you need to create an amazing presentation.
In person conferences
We provide travel and accomodation for speakers at our in-person conferences, plus speaker dinners, receptions and an all round great experience for speakers.
All conferences
And it doesn't stop with the conference, we host your presentation on our new video platform Conffab, where speakers are compensated for the engagement their presentations generate!
Good luck, we can't wait to hear your proposals!
Praise for past Web Directions events
Web Directions is the must-attend event of the year for anyone serious about web development.
Phil Whitehouse,
Innovation Lead DigitasLBi
I’ve been admiring the Web Directions events for years, and was honored to be part… What a fantastic event!
Ethan Marcotte,
inventor "responsive Web design"
Out of any conference, Web Directions is far and away our favourite
Dave Greiner,
founder Campaign Monitor
About Us
Co-founded and now run by John Allsopp, Web Directions has for over 15 years brought together leading developers, engineers, visual, IxD, UX and product designers, Art and Creative Directors, product managers indeed everyone involved in producing web and digital products to learn from one another, and the World's leading experts across this vast field.
We spend our lives thinking about what comes next, keeping up with trends in technology, practices and processes, and filtering the hype, to make sure you don't miss trends that matter, and don't waste time on hype that doesn't.
We promise attending one of our events will leave you significantly better versed in the challenges you face day to day, and in solutions for addressing them.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we're switching things up a bit for 2020, 2021 (and beyond). We're delivering 6 highly focussed front end development conferences online.
And, our annual extravaganza, Web Directions Summit returns to Sydney in December 2022, bigger and better than ever.
John Allsopp
John Allsopp has been working on the Web for nearly 30 years. He's been responsible for innovative developer tools such as Style Master, X-Ray and many more. He's spoken at numerous conferences around the World and delivered dozens of workshops in that time as well.
His writing includes two books, including Developing With Web Standards and countless articles and tutorials in print and online publications.
His "A Dao of Web Design" published in 2000 is cited by Ethan Marcotte as a key influence in the development of Responsive Web Design, who's acclaimed article in 2010 begins by quoting John in detail, and by Jeremy Keith as "a manifesto for anyone working on the Web".
Code of Conduct
For over a decade, we've worked hard to create inclusive, fun, inspring and safe events for the Web Industry.
As part of our commitment to these values, we've adopted a code of conduct for all involved: ourselves, our speakers, our partners and our audience.
If you have any concern or feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us.