Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi Reveals Nominees For Inaugural PublisHer Excellence Awards

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, a prominent figure in the global publishing industry and founder of PublisHer and Kalimat Group, has recently spotlighted nine exceptional women in publishing. These nominees have been shortlisted for the first-ever PublisHer Excellence Awards, a significant initiative aimed at celebrating the contributions of women to the publishing sector. The announcement was made during The London Book Fair through a video message, highlighting selections from an impressive pool of 113 candidates. The winners are set to be unveiled at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in April.

Sheikha Bodour eloquently described the journey of female publishers as akin to "navigating a vast ocean," requiring a blend of skill, courage, resilience, and wisdom. The PublisHer Excellence Awards are designed not only to honor women who are making significant strides in publishing but also to inspire further achievements and raise awareness about the ongoing challenges women face in this field.

The awards are divided into three categories: Lifetime Achievement, Emerging Leader, and Innovation. Each category showcases individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and commitment to advancing the publishing industry.

The Lifetime Achievement Award nominees include Akosua (Akoss) Ofori-Mensah, founder and managing director of Sub-Saharan Publishers; Ana Maria Cabanellas, CEO of Grupo Claridad; and Shirley Yvonne Carby, chairperson of Carlong Publishers Caribbean Ltd.

Emerging Leader Award contenders are Mitia Osman Tisma, CEO and publisher at Mayurpankhi and executive director at Agamee Prakashani; Fernanda Valezini Ferreira, editor and founder of She Publishes Podcast; and Cassie Rocks, marketing manager at Collins and co-director at The FLIP.

In the Innovation Award category, nominees include Awatef Mosbeh, CEO and co-founder of Morbiket; Anne Friebel, founder and publishing director at Palomaa Publishing; and Jasmine Richards, founder and CEO of Storymix.

The PublisHer programme at The London Book Fair also featured two panel discussions focused on female representation in literature as a means to support SDG5, Gender Equality. These discussions brought together influential voices from across the globe, including Canadian publishing consultant Lisa Lyons Johnston; Sharmaine Lovegrove, co-founder and creative director at Dialogue Berlin; Amira Abou El Magd, founder of Dar El Shorouk in Egypt; Ama Dadson, founder of Akoobooks; Emma House, director of Oreham Group; Judith Curr, president & publisher of the HarperOne Group; and Ameena Saiyid OBE, founder and managing director of Lightstone Publishers.

The PublisHer Excellence Awards and the accompanying discussions underscore a collective effort to recognize the achievements of women in publishing while addressing the barriers they continue to face. By spotlighting these trailblazers, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi aims to inspire a new generation of female leaders in publishing to navigate their own vast oceans with skill, courage, resilience, and wisdom.

With inputs from WAM