Inspired Live: Navigating Publishing Excellence

Suzy Astbury, CEO at Inspired is joined here by two renowned industry experts, Sanjee de Silva and Bunmi Western, for an enlightening conversation discussing: - The current state of diversity within the industry - Key areas for improvement - Inclusive recruitment strategies to cultivate a diverse workforce for the future About our guests: Sanjee de Silva, publisher at Sweet Cherry Publishing, is an engaged and enthusiastic publishing figure, known in the industry for his colourful approach to making books fun, accessible and diverse. With a background in fashion, Sanjee's tenure as MD of Sweet Cherry since 2021 has brought fresh perspectives and inspiring leadership to the industry. Bunmi Western, Director of Ingram Publisher Services UK, thought leader with a passion for impacting and inspiring the publishing industry. Bunmi is a well know, trusted and respected figure with an incredible career behind her, she began in Export Sales at Penguin, leading to remarkable strides at Faber & Faber before assuming the role of Sales Director at Atlantic Books in 2010. Since joining Ingram in 2016, Bunmi was promoted earlier this year and is now Director of Ingram Publisher Services UK.

We want to help publishers and publishing leaders to demystify AI, give you focus on what you and your teams need to be doing and get excited for where AI is heading and how it can really enhance your business and personal productivity. In this episode we talk to industry experts Nadim Sadek, CEO of Shimmr AI and Sara Lloyd, Group Communications Director and Global AI Lead at Pan Macmillan. We delve into ✅ Where AI is going to add most value to you as a publisher ✅ What challenges or risks should publishers be aware of and how you can mitigate these ✅ How AI might impact our workforce and what skills we should individually be developing and hiring to futureproof ✅ Next big things for AI that we should watch out for!

With awards and networking events for the publishing industry around the corner we wanted to bring you all the latest tips, tools and skills to really make this a gamechanger of a year when it comes to networking! Here Suzy Astbury will talk to industry experts Laura Summers, Founder and Director of Bookmachine and Srishti Kadu, Founder of ReTyped, to discuss the best ways to Build a Meaningful Network in Publishing. In this session you will learn: • Ways to help you to build a network of Quality Connections over quantity • How individuals or organisations can connect with new audiences beyond their existing circles • How professionals can shift their mindset to prioritise adding value in their roles whilst networking? • How you can enjoy networking rather than fear it • How individuals can overcome challenges and biases to extend their network in a meaningful way Some more information about our speakers: Srishti Kadu (she/her) , Founder, ReTyped Srishti moved to the UK from Mumbai, India to study at Lancaster University (LU). After graduating she worked at Carnegie Publishing as a Book Design and Publishing Assistant and in 2019 was a winner of the Print Futures Award, run by the Printing Charity. She has also won the London Book Fair's (LBF) Trailblazer Award in 2022, and was shortlisted for the Bookseller's Future Leader of the Year 2023. In 2020, Srishti joined Taylor & Francis where she worked as a Procurement Controller, working closely with printers and production teams to ensure their books are available globally. She is currently a publishing mentor with the Society of Young Publishers(SYP) and with Lancaster University. She has also spoken at LBF 2023, SYP Annual conference 2023, and the FutureBook Conference 2023 discussing book production, publishing's diversity problem and getting ahead in the industry. In 2024, she set up 'ReTyped', an organisation that helps foreign nationals build and navigate their publishing career in the UK. Laura Summers, Co-Founder, Book Machine Laura co-founded BookMachine in 2010. BookMachine is now a team of 10 talented publishing professionals working across the industry on creative and impactful marketing campaigns and digital projects. Running alongside the agency is BookMachine Campus - a membership hub providing the industry with a community, events and training.

Publishing is a world full of opportunities but did you know there are multiple sectors you can work in? From academic publishing that advances research and knowledge, to educational publishing shaping learning outcomes, and professional publishing that keeps industries informed and compliant each path offers unique roles, audiences, and career journeys. Join Esme Richardson, Verity Hawson, and Alice Bidetti as they share: • What makes academic, professional, and educational publishing different • Common entry-level roles and how careers progress in each sector • Surprising routes into publishing you might not have considered • Transferable skills that help you move between sectors • Future trends that are shaping the industry • Practical advice for breaking into publishing Whether you're a student, a career changer, or simply curious about the publishing world, this session will give you insider insights and actionable tips to help you find your perfect path!

Do you think publishing is all about editors and marketers? Think again! This Inspired Live session will uncover the hidden heroes of publishing, the tech innovators, data strategists, rights negotiators, and people champions who keep the industry thriving. If you've ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes, this is your chance to find out. Speakers: Sophie Amos, Publisher Support Manager at Stison Daniela Quintero , Rights Assistant at HarperCollins Salena Pudaruth, HR Administrator at Bloomsbury Publishing Hosted by Suzy Astbury, CEO and publishing careers advocate This event is part of #WorkInPublishing week, and it's your backstage pass to the real engine of publishing. You'll hear directly from professionals working in dynamic, rewarding roles that don't always get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it. Whether you're exploring your first job or considering a career shift, this session will open your eyes to the breadth of opportunity in publishing and help you find your place in it.