Matt are there any bookmarks/blogs/sites that offer tips on preparing a great presentation you'd suggest to new presenters about to be thrust up to the lectern... Any bookmarks or links would be really appreciated - Cheers.
I don't know about resources on the web, but I can give you some tips that work well for me:
1. Rehearse fully. Don't just rehearse sections of your presentation; you have to start a timer, then give the entire presentation at normal speed, complete with all your jokes, anecdotes, demos are so forth. If you screw something up, just keep going.
If you find the presentation is running long or short, cut material or add new material, and rehearse again. Repeat the process until it's the right length. Now you have your actual, final presentation - rehearse _that_ fully at least 3 times. You'll deal with 95% of all presentation problems by following that tip.
2. Make eye contact with your audience. Don't just read; you should have rehearsed enough that you don't need to read everything.
3. Don't do demos unless you really have to. Don't demo anything that isn't under your complete control.
4. Don't write code during a presentation. You can show some code if really necessary, but it's better to distill the essentials into a slide, suitably syntax-coloured and annotated. Don't EVER debug during a presentation. Stick to ideas, slides and charisma wherever feasible.
5. Don't just serve up slides loaded with bullet points. If you really _need_ to deliver a slide with 6 bullet points, use 3 instead and just _say_ the other 3. Your audience wants to be engaged. Your slides are just the foundation of your presentation - they're not the presentation itself.
6. Make yourself comfortable. There's no rule that says you need to hug the lectern for the whole hour or whatever. Ask for a radio mic and a clicker and really use the stage. Wander around, speak to different parts of the audience, use your entire body. Point and mime and act and wave; put some energy into what you're doing, and your audience will reflect it back onto you. I always refuse to do lectern-bound presentations.
7. Remember that in almost all presentations, you're making points rather than conveying data or teaching APIs or such, per se. Make sure your point is clear, and convincing. Your audience will forgive everything else, and won't lose any benefit.
8. As with everything in life, care about what you're doing. Any topic that people will attend a presentation on is a topic worth caring about. Do your research, figure out your position, and put it forward with enthusiasm. Even put forward both/multiple sides, but make sure it's with every bit as much enthusiasm.
As the usual stuff: try to stay calm, but remember that nervousness is normal and often healthy. Try to enjoy the experience. If you're very nervous, remember it's only a small period of time on one day, and it'll be over before you know it. You wouldn't have been asked if someone didn't think you could pull it off, and you really _can_.
Get your message straight, rehearse it until you could do it during a power cut, get up there and get it done.

