PublisHer unites global women leaders at Bologna Book Fair

April 15, 2026 / 4:15 PM

Sharjah24: Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi and PublisHer brought together leading voices from across the global publishing industry at the Bologna Children's Book Fair to celebrate women’s leadership, innovation and impact.

Global gathering at PublisHer lounge

At the heart of the event was the PublisHer Lounge, a dedicated hub for networking, professional development and knowledge exchange, featuring a dynamic programme of panels, keynote sessions and the annual PublisHer Excellence Awards.

At the opening of the Lounge, Her Highness Bodour Al Qasimi emphasised the movement’s mission to ensure women play a decisive role in shaping the future of publishing.

She said: “The future of publishing belongs to those who get to make decisions… Through PublisHer, we’re building a community where the norm is for women to have equal voice, opportunity and authority to lead and shape the industry.”

Launch of premium membership

As part of its continued expansion, PublisHer announced the launch of its Premium Membership, offering enhanced mentorship opportunities, greater visibility, and structured leadership pathways for women across the publishing ecosystem.

PublisHer Excellence Awards 2026

A highlight of the programme was the third edition of the PublisHer Excellence Awards, which recognised outstanding women who are advancing the global publishing industry.

This year’s awards received 102 nominations from 34 countries.

The winners were:

Emerging Leader Award: Ana María Bermúdez

Innovation Award: Monique Leite

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ana María Cabanellas

While presenting the awards, Sheikha Bodour highlighted the growing impact of women-led innovation across the sector, noting that women are actively shaping publishing's future.

Shaping reading cultures globally

In her role as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture, Bodour Al Qasimi took part in a panel titled “Leading Through Books: Women Shaping Reading Cultures Globally,” organised in collaboration with UN Publications.

The discussion addressed key challenges, including access to culturally relevant content and barriers to women’s leadership, and called for greater investment in local-language publishing and stronger collaboration across the sector.

Spotlight on “House of Wisdom”

Earlier in the week, Bodour Al Qasimi took part in a fireside chat about her award-winning children’s book House of Wisdom, followed by a book signing at the Giannino Stoppani bookshop.

The discussion explored the book’s themes of knowledge, curiosity and intercultural exchange, highlighting how children’s literature shapes identity and values.

A growing global movement

PublisHer’s presence in Bologna reflects its ongoing expansion as a global platform supporting women in publishing through mentorship, leadership development and community-building.

Now connecting more than 1,000 women worldwide, the initiative continues to advance its mission to foster a more inclusive publishing industry and richer, more diverse reading cultures.