SXSW

I've never been.

When I think of Austin I think of the different kinds of festivals and conferences that take place there and SXSW is one of the first conferences that comes to mind. Although I have never attended SXSW I would love to go. It sounds like a hot bed of music, technology and some really fabulous, innovative people. One day very soon I hope to have the opportunity to experience SXSW for myself.

Henny Swan was a speaker at SXSW in 2008. At the time, she was the Senior Web Accessibility Consultant at the Royal National Institute for the Blind. This charity helps support blind and partially sighted people in the UK. In September 2008, Swan took a job with Opera Software as a Web Evangelist. At Opera, Swan helps promote web standards and the open web. In the late 90s, she focused on accessibility and usability for a search engine in China.

In 2003, Meredith Butler spoke at SXSW. She was employed by a company called Milkshake Media. Milkshake is a stragetic branding and creative agency. According to their web site, they specialize in building brands that build community. Some of their clients include the Seton Family of Hospitals, Marfa Public Radio and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Milkshake created the Livestrong Brand and the yellow Livestrong bands that are worn by over 65 million people worldwide.

It will be interesting to see what great people SXSW will bring together this year.