Sandra Nyklasz

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Sandra Nyklasz is one of the Managing Directors at BookRix, one of Germany’s leading self-publishing platforms, and its sister company Zeilenfluss, a successful German digital-first publishing house.
At BookRix, she has overseen its growth as a digital distribution hub for independent authors. As the driving force behind the founding and development of Zeilenfluss, which evolved out of the self-publishing movement, she took over as Publishing Director in 2019 and as Managing Director in 2023.

With a strong focus on innovation and author empowerment, Zeilenfluss works at the intersection of technology and storytelling, committed to building sustainable publishing models that give authors greater control over their creative and commercial paths.
The strategic merger with StreetLib, the leading Italian publishing platform in early 2024 formed one of Europe’s largest digital publishing platforms, aiming to provide innovative tools and services for authors and publishers worldwide.

Alberto Polanco

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Alberto Polanco is currently the CEO of Grupo Santillana in Mexico. With over 30 years of experience in the publishing industry, he has served as CEO of Santillana in Bolivia, Argentina, Central America, and Colombia for the last 25 years. As one of Grupo Santillana’s drivers of digital transformation, he participated in developing, implementing, and consolidating the group’s subscription models in Latin America, such as UNOi, Compartir, and Richmond Solution. He is currently a board member of CANIEM (Mexican Chamber of the Publishing Industry). Alberto holds a degree in Business Administration from Saint Louis University
(Missouri). He also completed the Advanced Management Development Program from the Prisa Group (PADD).

Sarah Arbuthnot

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Sarah Arbuthnot is President of Supadu, a global technology company helping publishers grow online direct sales through ecommerce and metadata-driven digital experiences.

Sarah’s expertise sits at the intersection of ecommerce and consumer buying behaviour, with a focus on how readers discover, evaluate, and purchase books in an increasingly fragmented digital landscape and age of AI. She works closely with publishers worldwide to turn interest into transactions, building strategies that connect discoverability with conversion and long-term customer relationships.

Sarah is a recognised voice on direct-to-consumer growth, metadata, and the evolving role of publisher-owned websites, regularly speaking at international industry events on how publishers can better reach and convert readers.

Ainoa Zalabardo

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Ainoa Zalabardo is a Customer and Employee Experience consultant with 17 years of international experience. She has led strategies for companies operating in Europe, the United States, and China, impacting over 30,000 clients in sectors such as training, HR, services, technology, and the music industry. She specialises in process optimisation, active listening, and aligning the customer and employee journey to enhance loyalty and engagement.

Michalis Kalamaras

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Michalis Kalamaras, publishing consultant, Head of Marketing and Content, Thinking

Michalis Kalamaras, with more than 15 years of experience as a book professional, is a publishing consultant, Head of Marketing and Content and partner at Thinking, an Athens-based consulting, design and technology agency working with local and international publishers, bookstores, and cultural institutions in their digital transformation since 2009. He founded eAnagnostis.gr (“e-reader” in Greek), in 2008, a news and analysis website on ebooks and audiobooks, and the digital transformation of the book industry. Since its inception in 2022, he is also the curator of the professional programme of the Limassol International Book Fair in Cyprus.

Pablo Langa

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Pablo is the Founder & Managing Partner of EDT&Partners, a global consulting firm dedicated to advancing education through innovation and the effective use of technology.

When not traveling, Pablo is based in Valencia, where he enjoys learning from his 40+ teammates and consultants spread across 16 countries.

He is passionate about scaling established business operations and launching new initiatives, especially projects related to education technology that impact individuals, communities, and organizations.

As one of Blackboard’s early international hires, Pablo led the Mobile Learning division globally. More recently, as Vice President of Business Development at The Financial Times & IE Business School Corporate Learning Alliance (Headspring), he was responsible for building long-term value through strategic relationships, new market development, and customer success.

Pablo brings a unique blend of experience working with well-established education leaders and early-stage ventures. He has also founded and helped grow impactful platforms such as ZeroAcoso.org, the first dedicated technology solution for bullying prevention and support.

Alberto Valero

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Alberto studied Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He later completed three years of philosophical studies before beginning a PhD in Computer and Systems Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome, where he earned his doctorate in 2009.

After completing his PhD, he focused on research and teaching at Carlos III University of Madrid, lecturing in several undergraduate programs at the School of Engineering.
In 2012, he joined BitBrain Technologies as Head of Technology. In 2013, he was hired by BQ Educación, a company specialized in EdTech. Since then, he has been the Director of BQ Educación, where he also leads the R&D department in Artificial Intelligence. Currently, BQ is focused on developing AI models to support learning processes and press houses.

While he has been teaching part-time at Nebrija University since 2018—where he gives programming courses in the Computer Engineering degree program—his main professional focus remains on his work at BQ.

Ángel Sáenz de Cenzano

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Ángel Sáenz de Cenzano is currently LinkedIn’s General Manager for Spain and Portugal. He joined the world’s largest professional social network in 2019, to lead the creation of economic opportunities for every member of the global workforce, reinforcing the company’s leadership during this stage in the digital platforms industry. He combines that role with activities as non-executive director, public speaker, coach, professor.

Previously, and for 16 years, Ángel Sáenz de Cenzano has held various roles at Microsoft, most recently as Director of Enterprise Solutions within the firm’s Board in Spain.

Ángel Sáenz de Cenzano holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE E-2). He is married and father of four children. He enjoys sports in a multitude of active and passive variants and is also passionate about the culinary universe; it is no coincidence that he has been a member of the Madrid Academy of Gastronomy since 2017.

Fernando Benzo

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Administrador Civil del Estado y escritor. Ha dedicado buena parte de su carrera profesional a la gestión cultural, combinando su actividad en el sector público y privado. En el ámbito público, ha sido Secretario de Estado de Cultura, así como Presidente de Acción Cultural Española y Vicepresidente del Instituto Cervantes. Ha formado parte de los órganos de gobierno de las principales instituciones culturales españolas (Biblioteca Nacional, Museo del Prado, Museo Reina Sofía, Fundación del Teatro Real, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Nacional de Arte de Cataluña, Liceo de Barcelona, Archivo de Indias, etc.). En el ámbito privado, ha sido Director de Relaciones Institucionales de la Sociedad General de Autores y Editores. Actualmente es miembro de los comités ejecutivos de la Federación Europea de Editores (FEP), la Asociación Internacional de Editores (IPA) y el Grupo Iberoamericano de Editores (GIE). Completa su actividad con una prolífica obra como novelista.

Alma Čaušević Klemenčič

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Alma Čaušević Klemenčič is the COO and procurator of Beletrina, one of the largest and most successful publishing houses in Slovenia, where she has held a leadership role since 2016. In 2021, she also became director of Beletrina’s tech-focused subsidiary, Beletrina Digital d.o.o., leading its strategic development in the digital publishing space. Alma is known for bridging culture and innovation, with a background spanning research, cultural production, and executive roles in major national projects—including serving as Executive Producer for Maribor 2012, the European Capital of Culture. She also has extensive experience in leading international projects and cross-border cultural cooperation.

She is a board member of the Chamber of Book Publishers and Booksellers at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia. Alma is currently completing her MBA at the University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business. In 2021, she was selected as one of three finalists for the Young Manager of the Year award, presented by the Managers’ Association of Slovenia.