Advice for Session Chairs

Before the session

• Make sure that equipment is present and set up - eg projector, sound, etc (the A/V people should have all this done).
• Make sure that there are glasses and water for the speaker and session chair (the venue staff should have done this).

For each talk

• Introduce the speaker and the topic.
• Ask for the speaker to repeat any questions, for the benefit of the audience and the recording.
• The last five to ten minutes of the talk slot should be reserved for audience participation.
• Make sure that the current speaker knows how long they have left. Notify them when they have 10mins and then 5mins left.
• As soon as the current speaker finishes his main part of the talk and moves to questions, then swap the VGA cable to the next speaker's laptop. Nod sympathetically if it doesn't work!
• Help the speaker take questions and answers (many will be fine doing this alone, but you need to ensure that questioners are rotated fairly).
• Make sure the speaker repeats the question before answering it.
• If the talk is recorded, get the speaker to sign a release form.