Day 1: 6th July 2026 (Monday)

Emerging Markets: New Technologies; New Challenges

Even before AI, publishers have always adapted and adopted new technologies. But each country and each language tries to do it differently. This session will explore how publishers in three different Asian regions are investing in new technologies in their own way.

Moderator: Fatimah Abbas, FALA (Egypt)
Speakers:

• Law King Hui, Sasbadi Holdings (Malaysia)
• Geum Joo Lin, CO.MINT Inc. (Korea)
• Ali Abd El-Moneim, ArabBookverse (Egypt)

Bridging Worlds: Cross-cultural Storytelling and Reading for the Next Generation

This session will discuss how children’s books and reading have changed over time and across cultures. They’ll explore how stories reflect society and influence young readers’ imaginations. The conversation will also look at how today’s books can shape future generations—encouraging empathy, curiosity, and a broader understanding of people and places.

Moderator: Simon de Jocas, Publishing Consultant (Canada)
Speakers:

• Elena Pasoli, Bologna Children's Book Fair (Italy)
• Ahmad Redza, IBBY Malaysia (Malaysia)

Educational Publishers... Swimming Against the Tide or Catching the Wave?

A deep dive into three key topics for educational publishers: AI and educational publishing, government interference (the good and the bad), and examples of campaigns and activities by educational publishers that brought positive change

Moderator: Brian Gilsenan, Former Chair, IPA Educational Publishers Forum (Ireland)
Speakers:

• Dr. Stephanie Riady, SPH Group (Indonesia)
• Sum Lih Kang, Pelangi Publishing Group (Malaysia)
• Catriona MacLeod Stevenson, Publishers Association (UK)

Indigenous Languages: Great Languages Spoken by Few People

Indigenous language publishers are emblematic of our desire to share stories, and build empathy, between generations and communities. In an age of large language models, what does it mean to be a little language publisher. Is AI an opportunity for indigenous stories to travel further or at risk of accelerating the disappearance of great but little-spoken languages?

Moderator: Sandra Tamele, Founder, Editora Trinta Zero Nove (Mozambique)
Speakers:

• Eboni Waitere, President, PANZ (New Zealand)
• Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo (Philippines)
• Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún (Nigeria)

Sustaining a Legacy: Half a Century of Children’s Publishing

Gallimard Jeunesse is one of the world’s most iconic children’s publishers that has flourished for over a century. In this session, its President will share insights on balancing tradition with innovation, adapting to change, and inspiring new generations of readers globally.

Moderator: Karine Pansa, CEO Grupo Girassol (Brazil)
Speakers:

• Hedwige Pasquet, President, Gallimard Jeunesse (France)

Redefining Boundaries: Innovation in Publishing Growth Models

As reader discovery shifts across physical retail, social platforms, and creator ecosystems, publishers need growth models that travel well between offline and online worlds. This rapidfire session maps the most practical ways publishers are expanding beyond ‘the book’ into scalable, repeatable revenue, through new business models, transmedia extensions, and merchandising that strengthens rather than dilutes the core publishing brand.

Speaker:
Ao Ran, China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA) (China)

Beyond the Buzz: Practical AI in Educational Publishing

A rapid-fire look at how AI is being used in educational publishing beyond the hype. From content development and workflow efficiency to digital platforms and smarter learning solutions, this session explores practical use cases, lessons from implementation, and what publishers should focus on now.

Speaker:
Song Yidong, China Education Publishing and Media Group (CEPMG) (China)