The new chairman of the Press Complaints Commission will deliver the opening lecture of this year’s Society of Editors conference.

Baroness Peta Buscombe will open the event at London Stansted Airport in what is her first major public speech since taking over from Sir Christopher Meyer.

Other confirmed speakers include the Lord Chief Justice Igor Judge, new information commissioner Christopher Graham and the new director of public prosecutions Kir Stamer.

Titled ‘Fighting Back’, the event will focus on editors’ efforts to build new platforms for news delivery, revenue streams and working practices.

The conference, from 15 to 17 November, attracts senior editorial figures from across the industry and includes lectures, seminars and Q&A sessions across two days.

The annual gala dinner will include the presentation of the Rat up a Drainpipe award that celebrates the life and work of political journalist Anthony Bevins.

Nigel Pickover, SoE president and editor of Ipswich title the Evening Star, said: “While our main focus will be on fighting back to recovery from the combined effects of recession and structural change that are having dramatic impact on the media, we shall also be debating the vital issues of media freedom that are so vital to our efforts to inform and serve readers, listeners and viewers on paper, through broadcast, mobile technology and the internet.

“Previous conferences have spotlighted the amazing innovation demonstrated by traditional media companies and the ingenuity and adaptability of editors and journalists.

“This year we will show that despite tremendous battering the media at all levels is more than ready to take on new challenges.”