Reading is the beginning of everything. In order to enlarge our reader society, book and reading public policies also must focus on the strengthening and sustainability of the book industry
Managing Director of Books and Reading Promotion in the Spanish Government is in charge of promoting literary creation and translation, supporting the publishing industry and promoting reading, specially through public libraries. Previously she was Editor-in-chief for Tirant lo Blanch publishers, and previously worked in the Spanish Parliament and national government. Gálvez is Associate Professor at Carlos III University of Madrid, she holds a PHD in Constitutional Law.
Enrico Turrin got a degree in Economics at the University Luigi Bocconi in Milan in 2000 and a master’s degree in International Affairs at the Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Milan, in 2001. After internships at the Italian Embassy in Madrid and at the United Nation’s Global Programme against Money Laundering in Vienna, in 2002 he became Project Manager in the Training Area at ISPI and lecturer of International Organisations. From 2005 to 2008 he worked as an external expert and lecturer for ISPI and for a project by the Italian Foreign Ministry in the field of Cooperation. In 2008 he was hired as an economist by FEP, where he has been involved in the ARROW, ARROW plus, TISP and Ambrosia projects, and is currently working in the Aldus network and in the ASAP project. He is Deputy Director of FEP since 2012.
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.
Johanna Brinton is Senior Regional Manager EMEA, Global Libraries and Education at Overdrive working closely with publishers to make their digital content available for distribution to libraries. With over 18 years’ experience in dealing with digital content and publishing, Johanna is immersed in the diverse European publishing scenes and aggregates the largest multilingual catalogue in the world for libraries. Johanna is passionate about books and reads three or four books a week in their original languages. OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. Libby is the highly rated “one-tap reading app” for libraries named one of Google Play’s Best Apps of 2017. We are dedicated to “a world enlightened by reading” by delivering the industry’s largest catalogue of eBooks, audiobooks and other digital media to a growing network of 40,000 libraries and schools in 70 countries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA. We became a Certified B Corporation in 2017. www.overdrive.com
Rüdiger Wischenbart, born in 1956 in Graz, Austria, is the founder of “Content and Consulting” (since 2003), and a writer specialized in culture, cultural industries, the global book markets, innovation in the book industry, literature, media, and communication.
Most recently, he co-founded ReBoot Books, a series of professional debates on the international book business (www.rebootbooks.org ), and the Digital Consumer Book Barometer, a market report series with a focus on ebooks, audiobooks, online sales and subscription. (www.global-ebook.com ) Since 2007, he annually updates the Global 50 Ranking of the Publishing Industry (www.wischenbart.com/ranking), co-authors the Diversity Report series n literary translation in Europe (since 2008, www.culturaltransfers.org ), and he coordinates SIDT, a collaborative project for innovation trainings under a Creative Europe grant. (www.sidt-books.eu )
A former Head of Communications at the Frankfurt Book Fair and Director of International Affairs at BookExpo America, Wischenbart authored several books on migration and modernization in Central and South East Europe, notably “Canettis Angst” (1994).
Graduated in Business Administration from ESADE, where she also obtained an MBA, Larrauri completed her training in Arizona, at Thunderbird School, where she obtained a Master in International Management.
Larrauri has been working in the book industry for nineteen years. In 2010 she joined Libranda as Managing Director, the leading international distributor of digital books in the Spanish language. Since the integration of Libranda in the Canadian digital services company, De Marque Group, she is also playing the role of Europe and LATAM market manager at De Marque. Previously, she worked in the commercial area of the publishing group Random House Mondadori (currently Penguin Random House) and in Círculo de Lectores, occupying various positions in the central offices that the book club had in Spain and Portugal.
At Libranda and at De Marque, Larrauri and the team work with publishers, stores, libraries and other agents with the aim of developing digital services for the book industry. She believes that it is an opportunity and a great challenge to participate in the evolution of a sector.
Luis González Martín is Managing Director of GSR Foundation (Spain), recognised as the most influential independent organisation devoted to reading and books in Spanish language countries. Among different initiatives, Luis González launched 2023 PARIX, the school for the Spanish book industry. During previous years he also designed and managed internet projects such as Lecturalab, Lectyo, Renodo, Lectylab or Canal Lector and investigations such as Territorio eBook, LCFL or Lemétrika and founded Readmagine, an international event on innovation in the publishing industry and an experimental program for the creative industries (videogaming and coding school), and worked in the design of the International Centre for R&D of reading (Madrid).
Before his current work at FGSR (since 2004) his career includes previous positions, as senior civil servant, at different Ministries from 1992 to 2004 as Deputy Director General at Ministries of Home Office, Industry and Research and, finally, Ministry of Culture (1999 – 2004) was Deputy Director General for the Promotion of Publishing, Reading and Spanish Literature where created the National Plan for the Promotion of Reading 2001-2004.
He holds a Bachelor in Law (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) and Master in Fiscal Law and HR Law consulting (UAM) and his further training includes Senior Civil Servants Selective Course (INAP), Senior Civil Servants Course at Civil Service College (London), Directives Program (INAP) and Global Society Seminar (Harvard U.) among others. He is 3rd Vice-president of the Spanish Association of Foundations. He is also a member of the Culture Council of the City of Madrid by unanimous decision of all the political parties.
