Speaker Information | WasteMINZ Annual Conference + Expo 2025

Handy hints for speakers

If you do one thing to prepare – watch this video.

Key Points
- The structure of your presentation is important, make sure you have the basics – an introduction, body and close.
- We want you to share your learnings, what worked well, what didn’t work well – what valuable lessons can be applied to other projects and situations by attendees. Attendees want to walk away with knowledge of your project and how they can take something from it into their work.
- A summary of key points at the conclusion of your presentation is also highly valued by attendees.

Limit to 1 message per slide.
There is no limit to the number of slides you can use, the issue is to ensure that the number of ideas that you are trying to communicate is manageable in your session.
Limit the text on the slide, if there are too many words, people will read the slides rather than listening to you speak. Short bits of text with images
Keep slides clean and simple, with plenty of open space, use double spacing between lines – less is more!
Use colour and bold for emphasis – but use it sparingly.
Pictures are powerful and can reinforce what you are saying. Think about pictures, diagrams, and charts that can illustrate your key points.
Try to avoid using bespoke colours and fonts, as formatting can get ruined when opening on the venue’s computers. If your organisation uses a specific font for communications – please indicate this when submitting your slides – and we will also need the font files. It may pay to check with your communications team if there is a standard font that can be used instead.

You are welcome to use your own corporate PowerPoint template, or we have a conference one available from here .
If you want to use your own template – ensure it is formatted 16:9, widescreen.
If you have any videos – please let us know in advance so we can ensure that these are loaded and display correctly.
All PowerPoint presentations are loaded onto the WasteMINZ website after the conference and these are viewed by our members who are unable to attend the conference. If you do not wish your presentation to be made available on the website, email fiona@wasteminz.org.nz.
You may wish to include your contact details at the end of your presentation so that anyone who would like to contact you to discuss your subject matter further is able to.

When you practice your presentation, please make sure you time yourself so you stick to time on the day.
Engage with attendees and make eye contact
Speak at a normal conversational rate, if you feel yourself rushing – take a deep breath
Watch your um’s, ah’s, so’s and actuallys
Show enthusiasm and let your audience know that you are committed to your ideas and passionate about your subject
Be prepared and professional
On the day stand close to the lectern’s microphone when presenting, otherwise attendees will not be able to hear you

For further pointers the following websites provide useful advice: