Sharjah: Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), has officially opened the 15th Sharjah International Publishers Conference, which features 1,258 publishers from 116 countries. The event is being held at Expo Centre Sharjah from November 2-4, preceding the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi emphasized the importance of making stories more accessible, diverse, and human during her opening remarks. She highlighted that the Sharjah Publishers Conference and other initiatives aim to build bridges connecting publishers, empower creators, and strengthen the shared future of the publishing business. The opening ceremony was attended by notable figures such as Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Gvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association (IPA); Madeline McIntosh, Co-founder and CEO of Authors Equity; and Phaedon Kidoniatis, Vice-President of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP).
Gvantsa Jobava, President of IPA, addressed the attendees, reflecting on the current state of the publishing industry. She noted the advancements in accessibility, including audiobooks and text-to-speech technologies, which help make stories and knowledge widely available. Jobava praised Sharjah as an example of fostering a reading culture and promoting the global reach of books through various platforms and formats.
The first session of the conference featured a discussion led by Madeline McIntosh, CEO and co-founder of Authors Equity, alongside Jo Henry, former Managing Director of BookBrunch. McIntosh highlighted the importance of authors in today's market and discussed new partnership models driven by small and independent publishers. She explained Authors Equity's profit-share model that focuses on marketing and allows simultaneous work across genres. McIntosh also touched on the role of technology, including AI, in enhancing strategy while maintaining the human element.
Phaedon Kidoniatis, Vice President of FEP and representative of Greek Publisher Associations, delivered a keynote address spotlighting Greece's role as Guest of Honour and its potential for global cultural exchange. He discussed how Greece's historical and modern contributions continue to influence global progress and emphasized the need for responsible use of AI in the publishing industry's transformation.
The conference introduced new features such as the 'Boardroom Exchange', offering 30-minute meetings between senior executives and international participants to discuss ideas and receive insights. The 'Exhibitor Wall' highlighted suppliers providing essential services to the publishing industry, aiming to enhance operations and success.
The opening day included 31 workshops focused on the digital transformation of publishing, the role of artificial intelligence, contemporary marketing strategies, and the importance of metadata. Discussions also covered translation rights deals and opportunities in emerging literary scenes, examining sustainable practices and initiatives for accessible publishing.
The conference will continue with matchmaking sessions, facilitating collaborations between publishers and literary agents, and meetings focused on translation, publishing, and distribution rights. These engagements aim to build strategic partnerships and reinforce the conference's role as a vital platform for connecting content creators globally.