It gives me great pleasure to announce our 14th Annual Conference, which will be held in Manchester on 14 and 15 June 2012. The Manchester Conference Centre is located in the heart of Manchester city centre, close to Manchester Piccadilly Station.

We have formally invited Local Hosts to assist the NHIVNA Committee in preparing the logistical aspects of the conference and to bring a local flavour to the programme. Jill Delaney and Ian Nixon from North Manchester General Hospital have kindly accepted our invitation to fulfil this role in collaboration with their team.

Please note that the NHIVNA Conference will be preceded, as is now customary, by the NHIVNA Pre-Conference Study Day, which this year is in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals and Gilead Sciences. This will be held during the afternoon of Wednesday 13 June, 2012.

The NHIVNA plenary programme is taking shape and we are delighted to confirm that a number of eminent speakers have agreed to participate at the conference. In addition, I am certain there will be many further speakers confirming their participation over the coming weeks.

One of the highlights of the conference will undoubtedly be the presentation of the very latest research, education and clinical practice initiatives in HIV nursing during the oral presentation sessions which will form part of the main plenary sessions. I would encourage as many delegates as possible to start thinking about submitting an abstract for review – especially those nurses who have undertaken their own original nursing research. Further details regarding submitting an abstract can be found on page 12 and 13 of this Announcement.

You will also notice that as part of this Announcement we have included registration and accommodation information. In order to encourage as many delegates as possible to register early and to assist members in a difficult financial climate, NHIVNA has reduced its ‘early’ registration fees. We very much hope that by the Association endeavouring to keep the cost of registration as low as possible it will to allow as many potential delegates as possible to attend this important event. Furthermore, we have negotiated a preferential rate at a selection of hotels catering for all our delegates’ budgets. Rates and details are included on page 18 for your review.

Please note that NHIVNA is also inviting applications for a number of scholarships and awards. These are itemised on page 14 of the First Announcement. Some are related to the submission of abstracts, but I would like to draw your attention especially to the awards directed at junior nurses and those members who may be attending conference for the first time to assist them to attend the conference. Scholarships will also be available to assist nurses who are able to attend the Pre-Conference Study Day to be held on the afternoon of 13 June and the two-day Annual Conference to follow.

The Gala Dinner will take place on the Thursday evening of the conference and a suitable venue is being sought. In true NHIVNA tradition, we anticipate an evening of good food, followed by after-dinner entertainment – including dancing.

I look forward to welcoming you to Manchester.

Best wishes,

Nathaniel Ault
Chair