“Public Hair” mobilizes international women’s energies in the publishing sector during the “Bologna Children’s Book Fair”

Bologna (Italy) April 15 / WAM / The “Public Hair” hall has once again established its annual presence at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, attracting an elite group of pioneers from its global community, which it established to empower women leaders, celebrate creative excellence, and advance the future of reading cultures on the international publishing map.

The hall formed the beating heart of this event, as it provided a wide space to build bridges of communication, exchange experiences, and enhance professional development through an agenda full of discussion panels and inspiring speeches, leading to the most prominent event, which is the annual ceremony for distributing the “Public Hair Excellence Awards.”

With the launch of the hall’s activities, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, founder of “Publish Hair,” reiterated her emphasis on the hall’s message, which aims to ensure an effective and influential female presence in the publishing sector that goes beyond formal representation to real participation in decision-making and shaping the future of the industry.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi said that the future of publishing is created by those who have the reins of decision-making, those whose voices resonate and influence, and whose stories ultimately reach the conscience of readers. Through “Publish Here,” we are building a society in which women’s enjoyment of equal voice, opportunities, and leadership powers becomes the prevailing norm, allowing them to lead a sector to which they have dedicated their professional career.

As part of its continuous expansion, the “Public Hair” hall revealed the launch of the “Distinguished Membership,” which provides in-depth guidance programs, supports women’s professional presence, and charts clear and systematic paths for them towards leadership positions in various aspects of the publishing system.

One of the most prominent milestones of the hall’s participation in the Bologna exhibition was the organization of the third edition of the “Public Hair Excellence Awards,” which are given in honor of creative women whose works contribute to the advancement and development of the publishing industry globally.

This year, the awards received 102 nominations from 34 countries, a clear indication of the expanding presence of women, the diversity of their contributions, and their growing influence in various fields of this sector.

Among the list of winners for the year 2026, the Rising Leadership Award was won by Ana Maria Bermudez – Publisher at Penguin Random House Mexico, and the Innovation Award was won by Monique Leite, founder and director of Plina Foz. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Ana Maria Cabanillas, President and Publisher of the Claridad Group.

In her speech during the honoring ceremony, Sheikha Dodour Al Qasimi praised the acceleration of innovation led by women in the publishing sector, noting that women do not wait for the future of publishing until its features are shaped, but rather contribute to creating it themselves. These awards are not limited to honoring individual achievements, but rather document the real and profound impact that women make in various aspects of the book industry globally.

In her capacity as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi participated in a dialogue session organized by “Publish Here” in cooperation with United Nations Publications entitled: “Leadership through Books: Women Shaping Reading Cultures Globally.”

The session addressed the fundamental gaps in global reading systems, ranging from limited access to culturally appropriate content to the structural challenges that hinder women’s access to leadership positions in the publishing sector.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi stressed the need to bring about comprehensive, radical change, calling for increased investment in publishing in local languages ​​and enhancing cooperation and integration across the various components of the reading system, while acknowledging the essential role of women in shaping reading cultures and adopting a more strategic and conscious approach in using publishing as an effective tool for education and community development.

In the same context, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi participated in a dialogue session about her award-winning children’s book, “The House of Wisdom,” before signing copies of it at the Giannino Stoppani Library.

The session touched on the sources of inspiration behind the book and its focus on introducing young readers to the intellectual legacy of the Arab and Islamic worlds, while highlighting the values ​​of knowledge, scientific curiosity, and cultural exchange between peoples. It emphasized the pivotal role of children’s literature in shaping identity, values, and cognitive openness to the world from an early age.

The presence of “Public Hair” in Bologna reflects its rapid growth as a leading global platform for empowering women in the publishing sector by building an integrated professional community, providing quality guidance programs, and developing women’s leadership skills.

Through a network that connects more than 1,000 women around the world, the “Public Hair” platform continues to expand its influence and consolidate its footprint, based on the firm conviction that enhancing inclusion in the publishing sector is the surest guarantee of providing richer and more diverse stories and building stronger and more sustainable reading cultures for future generations.

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