Njål Hansen

,

Njål Hansen is the founder of Zedoc AI, a startup providing the AI infrastructure for the publishing industry. The platform allows for bulk processing of books for translations, asset generation, onix generation and more.

Prior to Zedoc, Njål Hansen was the founder and CEO of Bergen-based Beat Technology, a leading provider of digital solutions for the publishing industry. With a focus on empowering publishers to reclaim the direct-to-consumer relationship, Njål has spearheaded the development of proprietary software stacks that power audiobook and e-book subscription platforms across Europe.

Connecting books with millions of readers has been at the core of Njål’s work in the publishing industry.

With an expertise in digital transformation and publishing of audiobooks and ebooks with an execution to reach the consumer, Njål is now putting his effort into applying AI to unlock revenue in this industry.

Sebastian Balthasar

,

Sebastian Balthasar is a Business Development and Sales professional with more than 25 years of experience in the telecommunications and digital reading industries.

Today, Sebastian is responsible for Business Development at PocketBook, where he manages the DACH and Benelux regions. In this role, he works closely with major retail partners such as MediaMarkt, Digitec Galaxus, and Coolblue, while also supporting a wide network of independent bookstores and libraries.

His work focuses on building strong partnerships across both the electronics and book industries, ensuring broad access to digital reading solutions and content ecosystems. With his background in sales, training, and international market development, Sebastian brings a practical and market-driven perspective to the evolving landscape of digital reading.»

He began his career as an independent consultant in the telecommunications sector, advising on communication concepts and sales strategies. He later founded his own business, continuing this work while also expanding into business training. During this time, he worked with companies such as Telefónica O2 and Hasbro, developing and delivering sales and communication training programs.»

Giulia Marangoni

,

Giulia Marangoni is in charge of European and International Affairs at the Institutional Relations Department of the Italian Publishers Association (AIE). Since she joined AIE in 2005, she has been involved in several European projects focusing on digital innovation in publishing, rights information management, and reading promotion.

Giulia is member of the Membership Committee of the International Publishers Association (IPA) and the Steering Committee of the IPA Educational Publishers Forum. She is a lecturer at the Master in Publishing at the University of Milan.

Dan Conway

Dan became CEO of the Publishers Association in 2022, having previously been the membership organisation’s Director of External Affairs. Alongside his role at the Publishers Association, he is a Board Trustee for World Book Day, Non-Executive Director at Publishers’ Licensing Services, and a Board Member of the Creative Industries Council.

Fatimah Abbas

,

Fatimah Abbas is an international publishing consultant, AI strategist, and founder of FALA Agency, an international literary agency specializing in rights, translation, and publishing strategy. With extensive experience across global markets, she works closely with publishers, book fairs, and cultural institutions to support international rights exchange and market expansion. Alongside her publishing career, she has spent several years in the AI industry, focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and content ecosystems, including the development of an AI-driven anti-piracy tool for publishing. She is also the co-founder of Publishers Without Borders and co-host of the Cairo Calling fellowship program. Fatimah has completed executive publishing studies at NYU and an Ethical AI program at Cambridge, serves as a jury member for the IPA Innovation Award 2026, and has been shortlisted twice for the London Book Fair Awards. She is a frequent speaker and moderator at international events, exploring how emerging technologies—particularly AI—are reshaping publishing models, workflows, and creative practices.”

Luz Garcia

,

Luz Garcia, a graduate in Business Administration with a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing, has over six years of experience in the digital advertising sector and specializes in SEM and Google Ads. After starting her career on a Google project as an Account Strategist and PPC Specialist, she transitioned to managing digital strategies. On a daily basis, she manages paid media campaigns for various clients at Cyberclick, a digital marketing agency and CRM and AI partner.

Lennart de Meij

,
As Immer’s co-founder & CTO, Lennart is responsible for the company’s innovative reading technology since its founding 6 years ago. He has a background as a freelance designer and engineer who has developed digital projects for hundreds of clients. Currently he plays an essential role in the strategy and engineering of our Immer Reading System, client projects, and new propositions such as Readfest.

Guillermo Quijas

,

Guillermo Quijas (Oaxaca, 1982) is the founder of Editorial Almadía, an independent press with a presence in Mexico, Spain, and across Latin America. Over the past two decades, Almadía has built a literary catalogue that brings together generations and territories, publishingbooks that engage with the present while finding readers over time.

He also directs La Proveedora, a bookstore in Oaxaca with a 76-year history, as well as the bookstore Casa Tomada in Mexico City. From 2003 to 2020, he served as director of the Oaxaca International Book Fair, consolidating it as a meeting space for authors and readers from different countries.

He lives in Madrid, where together with his partner he founded the bookstore Las Indomables, a space devoted to literary conversation and the intersection of Ibero-American voices.

Pierre Mounier

,

Pierre Mounier, the Chief Strategy Officer of OPERAS, a European research infrastructure dedicated to open scholarly communication in the social sciences and humanities, plays a pivotal role in monitoring and contributing to the strategic roadmap of the infrastructure. With a background in classical studies and social anthropology, Pierre is affiliated with the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), where he serves as the head of the international sector of OpenEdition, the French national infrastructure dedicated to open scholarly communication in the social sciences and humanities. Additionally, he co-directs the Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) with Niels Stern. Pierre’s expertise extends beyond academia, as he regularly publishes on digital humanities and open science topics, shedding light on the social and political impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Recently, Pierre has dedicated his efforts to the development of the Diamond OA model in Europe, co-coordinating the European Diamond Capacity Hub with Johan Rooryck.

Perminder Mann

,

Perminder Mann became CEO of Simon & Schuster UK and International in May 2025. Previously, she was CEO of Bonnier Books UK where she led the company to significant growth and a reputation for embracing digital trends and inclusive practices. A seasoned publisher, she has helped launch or elevate the careers of many celebrated authors.

Mann served as President of the Publishers Association from 2024 to 2025 and is currently an Officer and Council Member. She is Chair of the board of trustees for mentoring charity Arts Emergency, holds an honorary visiting professorship at City, University of London, and is a board member of PublisHer, a global organisation advancing women’s leadership in publishing.

She was featured by Vogue as one of the 25 women defining Britain in 2025, included among the UK’s most powerful leaders by The Guardian and Operation Black Vote, and listed by The Bookseller as one of the most influential people in publishing.