IPA Congress Day 1
| 6 July 2026 (Monday) | |
|---|---|
| Time | Event/Session |
| 9:00 | Opening Cultural Performance |
| 9:10 | Welcome by MoC Prashant Pathak, Co-founder, Publishers Without Borders |
| 9:15 | Welcoming Speech: Sheikh Faisal Sheikh Mansor, President of MABOPA |
| 9:22 | Introductory Speech: Gvantsa Jobava, President of IPA |
| 9:30 | Officiation of the 35th International Publishers Congress 2026 |
| 9:50 |
Keynote: AI is No Longer a Toy
We've moved past the "golly gee whiz" phase of AI for publishing, to the "what (the heck) am I going to do about it?" phase. McIlroy advocates for tackling AI head-on. Not hiding from it, not avoiding it, not condemning it. Instead, understanding what a responsible approach to AI looks like, amidst a robust acceptance and deployment of the technology. Speaker: Thad McIlroy, Principal, The Future of Publishing (US) |
| 10:20 - COFFEE BREAK | |
| 10:35 |
Ethics of Publishing: Accountability in the Age of AI and Misinformation.
While publishers put their names and reputations behind everything they produce, many AI developers claim no responsibility for their outputs. As these machines generate content that sounds like facts, we must ask: who is responsible for lies and misinformation? Who ensures that content reinforces democratic values? This session will explore what it means to publish ethically, how publishing can lead by example, and why AI platforms must be held to the same standards of transparency and accountability as publishers. Moderator: Richard Mollet, Head, European Government Affairs, RELX (UK) Speakers:
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| 11:15 - Transition | |
| 11:20 |
A Snapshot of the Educational Publishing Market Across the Globe Following a sector survey across all continents, the key trends, popular challenges and examples of successes will be presented by Brian Gilsenan, Former Chair, IPA Educational Publishers Forum, followed by a discussion and analysis with an international panel of experts. Presenter & Moderator: Presenter & Moderator: Brian Gilsenan, CEO, CJ Fallon Publishing; Former Chair, IPA Educational Publishers Forum (EPF) Speakers:
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| 12:00 - Transition | |
| 12:05 - 12:45 |
Books to Screens to Games to Books Stories no longer live only on the printed page. Increasingly, books inspire film adaptations, television series, and immersive video games and back again. This session explores the creative and commercial pathways that bring written works to life across multiple platforms, highlighting how cross-media adaptations extend the value of intellectual property while connecting stories to new and diverse generations of audiences. Moderator: Alisha Hasan, Founder & Chief Innovation Officer, Helsinki Film Lab (Finland) Speakers:
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Business Matching Room: Round Table Talk 1 Expanding Global Rights and Co-edition Opportunities Discover strategies for selling translation rights and co-editions across international markets, building sustainable publishing partnerships, and increasing the visibility of books from non-mainstream language territories. The session explores how publishers can overcome linguistic barriers, identify new opportunities, and bring diverse voices and stories to readers worldwide. Speaker:
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| LUNCH BREAK | |
| 14:00 |
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, International Publishing Consultant & AI Strategist; Founder, FALA Agency (Egypt)Speakers:
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:
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, CEO, CJ Fallon Publishing; Former Chair, IPA Educational Publishers Forum (EPF)Speakers:
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| 14:35 - Transition | |
| 14:40 |
Sustaining a Legacy: Half a Century of Children’s Publishing Gallimard Jeunesse is one of the world’s most iconic children’s publishers, with over half a century of impact. In this session, its CEO will share insights on balancing tradition with innovation, adapting to change, and inspiring new generations of readers globally. Moderator: Karine Pansa, CEO, Grupo Girassol Brasil (Brazil)Speakers:
Indigenous Languages: Great Languages Spoken by Few People Speakers:
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, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General, China Audio-Video & 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, Vice General Manager, China Education Publishing & Media Group Ltd. (CEPMG) (China) |
| 15:15 - COFFEE BREAK | |
| 15:35 |
Gateway to South-East Asia: Entry Paths, Pitfalls & Payoffs South East Asia is one of the most attractive publishing regions in the world, offering diverse opportunities but also real risks for newcomers. In this rapid-fire session, regional publishing leaders share the fastest routes to market, practical issues to be examined, and the top pitfalls foreign publishers face when doing business in South East Asia and the experience from Chinese and Indian publishers. Moderator: Ahmed Rashad, Executive Committee (IPA); CEO, Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah Publishing House (Egypt) Speaker:
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| 16:10 - Transition | |
| 16:15 |
Freedom to Publish: 20th Anniversary of Prix Voltaire In 2006 Shahla Lahiji became the first IPA Freedom to Publish Prize laureate. Later reborn as the IPA Prix Voltaire, the prize celebrates 20 years in 2026. This session brings together past laureates to talk about the prize, its impact on them, and what is needed for the future. Moderator: Trasvin Jittidecharak, Silkworm Books (Thailand); Secretary General, ASEAN Book Publishers Association (Thailand) Speakers:
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| 16:55 - Transition | |
| 17:00 | 2026 Prix Voltaire Award Ceremony | 17:30 |
Closing Remarks for Day 1 by MoC |