Richard Charkin, former president of the International Publishers Association and Bloomsbury executive director, has held senior roles at Macmillan and Oxford University Press. He is a board member for Bloomsbury China, advises Frankfurter Buchmesse, and lectures on publishing.
Founder of Mensch Publishing, he co-authored My Back Pages; An Undeniably Personal History of Publishing 1972-2022.
Sarah Anderson founded the Travel Bookshop in Notting Hill in 1979 the shop that later featured in the film Notting Hill.
She has travelled widely, taught travel writing at City University, writes regular travel pieces, reviews books and gives talks worldwide. A judge for the Thomas Cook Travel Book and Whitbread Biography Prizes, her works include The Lost Art of Silence.
Leah Hernandez is the Founder and CEO of Young Authors Publishing, focused on sharing the stories of Black and Brown youth. A Clark Atlanta University graduate, she published her first book as a student.
A 2021 Publisher’s Weekly “Star Watch Nominee,” Leah serves on the PubWest and Portland State University boards. She enjoys historical fiction and TV binges.
As a consultant, since 2020 George has worked with more than thirty organisations in ten countries, including clients in the media and publishing, professional services, education and non-profit sectors.
His early career was spent in the publishing industry, notably at Hachette UK where he held senior roles in strategy, development, digital and marketing.
Oliver Gadsby is an experienced leader in publishing, currently President of the Independent Publishers Guild and Chair of Zero Carbon Academy and World Textile Information Network.
Previously with Rowman & Littlefield, Continuum, Informa, and Wolters Kluwer, he brings extensive experience to his roles. Oliver is also a member of London’s historic Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers.
Beth Lewis is an experienced Board Director, Chair, and CEO with a strong track record in corporate financial and cultural transformation.
She currently holds roles as a director at PCPA and as Principal at Getting2Transformation, where she applies her expertise to foster meaningful organizational change and development.
Nigel Fletcher-Jones is a freelance writer, editor-at-large for Eisenbrauns, and former Director of the American University in Cairo Press. He has held executive roles at Blackwell Publishing, Nature Publishing Group, Elsevier, and Cell Press.
Focused on Egyptian history and archaeology, his recent books include Abu Simbel and the Nubian Temples (2019). Nigel holds a PhD from the University of Durham.
Kirsty Melville is president and publisher of Andrews McMeel Publishing, renowned for bestselling poetry, comics, humor, and children’s graphic novels. She championed Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, whose works, including Milk and Honey, have sold over ten million copies globally.
Kirsty’s leadership has transformed the poetry market, amplifying voices that resonate worldwide.
Cynthia Hamilton has vast experience in bookselling, publishing sales, marketing, and PR, holding senior roles in various independent houses. She’s promoted non-fiction authors from boxer Frank Bruno to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.
With a first-class MA in Book History, Cynthia is also an award-winning poet, former BBC Radio dramatist, and a maker of cheeky puns.
Angela Bole is CEO of Firebrand Group and formerly led the Independent Book Publishers Association for nine years. With over 20 years in publishing, Angela was named a Publishers Weekly notable person in 2019.
She’s served on BISG and IDPF boards, earning the Community Builder and Industry Champion awards. Angela holds an MA in Book Publishing from NYU.
Kris Kliemann, President of Kliemann & Company LLC, advises global publishers on maximizing reach and revenue through rights, royalties, and technology.
Lynette Owen, author of Selling Rights (9th ed., 2024), is a freelance copyright and rights consultant and editor of Clark's Publishing Agreements. She’s received numerous awards, including an OBE for services to publishing and international trade.
Valarie Guagnini serves as Head of EDIB (Equity/Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging) at Cambridge University Press in New York.
With a background in sales and business development, she is a Chinese-Jamaican, cisgender, heterosexual Gen X mother of three adult children, one of whom has a seizure disorder, bringing a rich personal perspective to her role.
Joshua Tallent, a respected educator on publishing data and metadata quality, is Director of Sales and Education at Firebrand Technologies.
He supports publishers in improving workflow and metadata strategies. As host of the BookSmarts Podcast, Joshua offers insights into publishing data, technologies, and expert interviews, making complex topics accessible and practical for industry professionals.
David Hetherington is Vice President of Global Business Development at Books International, a top provider of book manufacturing and distribution services, both print and digital, for the publishing industry worldwide. With extensive expertise, David plays a key role in expanding Books International’s reach and capabilities, supporting publishers in delivering high-quality content to audiences globally.
Tyler Carey has over 20 years of experience in publishing and technology, including roles at Wolters Kluwer and Harris Connect. He joined Westchester Publishing Services in 2014, advancing to Chief Revenue Officer in 2017.
Tyler now leads the company’s sales, marketing, and business development, managing a growing team dedicated to supporting these strategic efforts.
Linda Bennett founded Gold Leaf 21 years ago, offering market research and business development for the publishing industry. Her clients include publishers, libraries, and trade associations. Previously, she was a director at library supply companies, business development director at Waterstone’s, and MBA program director at the University of Huddersfield.
Writing as Christina James, she authors the DI Yates crime thrillers.
Lucy McCarraher founded her first publishing company at university and has since built a career in publishing and media. Founder of Rethink Press, the UK’s leading hybrid business book publisher, she’s authored 13 books, including A Book of One’s Own.
Lucy also founded the Business Book Awards and mentors aspiring authors through the ABOO support group.
Alexandra Nicolajsen, Director of Social Media and Digital Sales at Kensington Publishing Corp., oversees the company’s social media, online sales, ebooks, and digital marketing.
Starting as an assistant, she built and now leads the digital department. She loves Kensington's independent spirit, which allows close collaboration with authors and departments, embracing the diverse roles needed to bring books to market.
Michele Cobb serves as Executive Director of both PubWest and the Audio Publishers Association. A partner at Forte Business Consulting, she specializes in business development and association management for the publishing industry.
With her extensive experience and leadership, Michele continues to drive growth and innovation within the industry.
Lucy Myers is Managing Director of visual arts publisher Lund Humphries, where she has worked since 1991. With a Modern Languages degree from Cambridge, she began her publishing career at Athlone Press.
Joining Lund Humphries as an editor, she expanded the imprint to produce 50 art, architecture, and design titles annually, commissioning its 75th-anniversary history in 2014.
Nick Newlin has entertained audiences with his comedy juggling act for over 30 years and spent 20 years as a Teaching Artist with the Folger Shakespeare Library.
His work inspired The 30-Minute Shakespeare series, offering performance-based edits of Shakespeare's plays for classroom use, plus The 30-Minute Shakespeare Anthology. Nick also brings his energy to rock and roll accordion!
Louisa Symington spent 16 years at Penguin Books as a Publicist, working with authors like Alec Guinness, Paul Theroux, and Pat Barker.
Now, she co-runs Books at the Barn, a Hampshire-based author talk series featuring speakers like Frank Gardner and Clare Balding. Louisa excels at creating engaging events that boost author visibility and drive book sales.
Davida G. Breier, born in Miami, has worked in the book industry for over 20 years and currently holds a position at Johns Hopkins University Press.
She lives in Maryland with her family, a lively group of rescue dogs, a tortoise, and two companion chickens, embracing a life full of animals and literary passion.
Dr. Katie Sparks is the CEO of Cloudaloud, a children's audiobook subscription service. With a PhD in Comparative Literature from UCL, her career spans fundraising, project and property management, academia, and experience in the audio department at Pan Macmillan.
Originally from Texas, Katie brings a diverse background and passion for children's literacy to her work at Cloudaloud.
Sofie Samuelsson is the Digital Marketing Executive at Boydell & Brewer, an academic publisher primarily serving scholars and academics.
Boydell’s core focus is medieval studies and literature, though its catalog also spans music, literature, German studies, African studies, and Hispanic studies. Sofie plays a key role in reaching and engaging Boydell’s specialized audiences through digital channels.
Emily Orford is the Marketing Manager at Pluto Press, a radical publisher known for its impactful non-fiction titles.
As an anti-capitalist, internationalist, and politically independent publisher, Pluto Press focuses on producing books that engage with and contribute to contemporary social and political struggles, offering timely insights and fostering critical discourse on pressing global issues.