Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, founder of the PublisHer initiative, which aims to help women overcome the professional challenges that stand in their way in the publishing sector, witnessed the announcement of the names of the winners of the inaugural edition of the PublisHer Excellence Award, which celebrates distinguished women who have made a clear positive difference. In the publishing industry.
This came at a special ceremony during the activities of the “Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2024”, in the Italian city of Bologna, where Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi praised the winners and participants in the award, and thanked the members of the jury, which included an elite group of experts in the publishing, literature and culture industry, for their efforts. And their firm commitment to evaluating all nominations.
In her speech during the ceremony, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said: “The exceptional efforts that the award reviewed in its inaugural session touch the heart, and constitute a living testimony to the positive impact that women have in the publishing sector at the global level, and I say to the winners that your contributions have left a permanent mark on the publishing industry.” “Your stories inspire us all to strive towards achieving excellence. I also thank all the female candidates for participating in the award and their passion for it, wishing them continued brilliance.”
The jury that supervised the selection of the winners from among 113 nominees included an elite group of leading female figures in the global publishing industry, including Emma House, Director of the Oreham Group, Arpita Das, founder of Yoda Press, and Latoya West Blackwood. Consultant in the field of publishing and communication, Caroline Forten, President of Quebec Amerique International, and Trasvin Jitidicharak, Founder of Silkworm Books.
After six months of study, evaluation and discussions, the jury chose the winners from the nine shortlisted candidates. Anne Frybel, founder and director of publishing at Palomaa Publishing, won the award in the “Innovation” category, as Anne launched the “Publisher” network. » The Female Publisher, which is a free digital platform to support female publishers and connect them with program directors and decision-makers in the German-speaking publishing market, and to encourage dialogue and communication. During her participation in presenting the “Die Bücher unserer Zukunft” podcast, Anne Freibel was keen to Providing a platform for women’s voices, and adopting best practices in the publishing industry and ways to overcome the main challenges facing the sector. Meetia Othman, CEO of Mayurpankhi and CEO of Agamee Prakashani, received the award in the “Emerging Leadership” category, In recognition of her leadership efforts in establishing Mayurbankhi Publishing House, making her the first woman to establish a publishing house for children’s books in Bangladesh, in addition to her commitment to championing campaigns aimed at promoting diversity and equal opportunities between genders in the publishing industry, both locally and globally.
Shirley Yvonne Carby, President of Carlong Publishers Caribbean, won the award in the “Lifetime Achievement” category, in honor of her distinguished 45-year career in the publishing industry, where she played a pioneering role in this field in Jamaica and the Caribbean, and supported… Training male and female writers and all male and female publishing workers at the local and regional levels, and she was keen to develop the skills and knowledge of Caribbean communities throughout her career. The announcement of the names of the winners was part of the “Public Hair” program in Bologna, which included inspiring speeches, daily discussion sessions hosting prominent figures in the global publishing sector, in addition to evening networking sessions on the “Public Hair” platform.
The “Publish Here” Awards for Excellence highlight women who are committed to developing the publishing sector, and pave the way for other female publishers by providing a role model, the ability to motivate them to achieve their goals, help each other, and enhance their awareness of the challenges facing many women working in the publishing sector.
“Publish Hair” is a global platform that seeks to advance women in the publishing industry, and provide opportunities for female publishers to communicate and learn, share experiences, and support and help each other. The platform offers guidance and guidance programs, in addition to networking and networking events, and other initiatives that contribute to the flourishing of the professional lives of female publishers. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi launched this award in October 2023, during the activities of the “Publishers Conference” in Sharjah, which precedes the “Sharjah International Book Fair,” and stressed that the awards are an integral part of “Public Here’s” mission to celebrate female publishers and help them advance to leadership positions.