Michael Smith. Mike Smith has nearly 25 years' experience in marketing, holding senior management positions. He spent 10 years working with legal publishers Butterworths (now Lexis Nexis) before joining Informa Group plc as Commercial Director and then Group Marketing Director. Most recently he held the post of Marketing and Business Development Director for Kogan Page, where he scoped and launched www.koganpage.com.

Michael’s particular expertise is in marketing communications, web strategy, direct marketing, copywriting, pricing, brand development, and advertising. He holds a BA (Hons) in History from the University of York, the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and Advanced Certificate in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK, and also holds Certification for both Pricing Fundamentals and Advanced Pricing Skills from the Professional Pricing Society, Georgia, USA. Mike's particular claim to fame is winning a complete Legoland set from a painting competition run from the back of Kellogg's Cornflakes packets in the early 1970s.

Mike also writes a daily blog, A Brand Day Out. Feel free to read and comment !

Janson Woodall, Consultant. Janson has over 30 years experience of the publishing and IT industries with particular experience of developing and maintaining websites, online data stores, content management systems, cost reduction and production control (including outsourcing to overseas suppliers). He brings to client work a formidable rigour, a robust adherence to project plan and excellent negotiation skills. He also runs Woodall Publishing Services, a consultancy for publishers and information providers. Janson's particular claim to fame is that he shook hands with Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

Alan Joseph, Consultant. Alan has extensive experience of copywriting and creative work in the advertising industry going back over 40 years; most recently a 48 month assignment as senior writer and mentor with Staples Corporation, the office supplies business with offices around the world. His particular claim to fame is writing the poster straplines for some of the great Hollywood blockbusters, including Alien and 2001, a Space Odyssey.