I am really pleased to welcome you to this conference. The programme aims to engage, challenge and inspire you. There are some remarkable speakers – from musculoskeletal issues with Dr Mike Cummings, to the insights of Charlie Buck.

A key theme is to support your business practice – a plenary on Sunday morning will be revealing key tips as to how this can be achieved – and common mistakes that many practitioners make.

We are delighted to return to the beautiful Beaumont Estate this year. Last year people really enjoyed it's lovely grounds, excellent facilities (don't forget your swimming things!) and that it was child friendly too. We also hope you will join us for the conference dinner where we will celebrating the work of colleagues.

I will be speaking on the future of acupuncture and how we can re-invigorate ourselves as 'a social movement.' This conference is a time to find our confidence, in what are uncertain times economically. What we don't want is to be co-opted by the mainstream and lose our heart and soul. The conference is a time to review and challenge our own and mainstream health's paradigms and encourage new energy and enthusiasm so that we can then go out and communicate what we do better. The conference will certainly be an opportunity for us all to think about our heritage and where acupuncture goes from here.

I hope you get three things out of the conference – firstly, time for you to meet colleagues when you studied; secondly to learn something new, and thirdly to have

fun and make new connections with other practitioners! I look forward to seeing you there.

Best wishes

Nick Pahl

CEO at British Acupuncture Council