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.

Carlos Rojas Urrutia is currently Head of Spanish Language Content at the Digital Publishing Division of Zebralution GmbH, a German distributor of audio and digital content. He is also a founding partner of Lecturable, a Mexican agency focused in designing strategies for the publishing industry. Prior to these activities, he was general manager of MVB América Latina, an international subsidiary of tools and solutions for the book industry related to the business area of the Frankfurter Buchmesse. He also collaborated in areas related to promotion and development of reading programs in various Mexican institutions, as well as in the Mexican bookstore chains of Fondo de Cultura Económica, Educal and Gandhi.

 Javier del Puerto is the founder of Kwalia, an AI-first entertainment company whose branch Kwalia Books publishes titles written by artificial intelligence. This recent venture follows his five-year tenure at Bookwire, where he led digital initiatives across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. 

His entrepreneurial journey began after completing a master’s in digital publishing, which inspired him to create Crowdreading, a shared reading platform connecting readers digitally. 

Javier spent a decade working for multinationals in China, traveling extensively across Asia. His academic background combines Philosophy studies at Universidad Complutense and IT education in Madrid, adding humanistic thinking to his technical knowledge. 

Now based in London, Javier applies his diverse background to exploring the creative potential of AI-authored literature through Kwalia’s pioneering publishing model. 

Nathan Hull is CSO at Beat Technology powering audiobook and ebook services for the publishing industry. Beat is the pulse within market leaders Skoobe (DE), Fabel (NO), Fluister (NL), Audiotribe (RO), Volume (PL), Adlibris (SE & FI) and Jukebooks (GR). Prior to Beat, Nathan launched the curated Dutch service Bookchoice in 9 markets and was Chief Business Development Officer at Denmark’s Mofibo launching in two further markets prior to its purchase by Storytel. Notably Nathan was also Penguin Random House’s Digital Product Director, with strategic responsibility for its award-winning digital portfolio and innovation strategy working closely with the likes of Stephen Fry, Jamie Oliver, Jeff Kinney, and Roald Dahl’s estate.

Under stress, we learn what is essential in reading – the words, the stories, knowledge, escape or immersion. Everything else is just means of delivery.

Michael Tamblyn, President and Chief Executive Officer at Rakuten Kobo, drives growth, profitability and international expansion in a fiercely competitive market. He combines a passion for reading with a deep focus on hardware and software experiences. In addition to leading Rakuten Kobo, the global digital bookseller, He advises startups focused on aging and technology as Chief Entrepreneur of Age-Well NCE, is on the board of directors of the Law Commission of Ontario, Ontario’s law reform body, as well as The Power Plant, Toronto’s foremost contemporary art gallery. Michael has been a part of Rakuten Kobo’s executive team since its inception in 2009, and previously held the role of Chief Content Officer. He holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario.