Alexandra Finogenova, Text Publishing House, Russia
Born in Moscow but a resident of Budapest since 2020. Graduated from the Russian State University of Humanities, Philology Department in Ancient and English philology. Is a Bachelor of Arts in English philology. Worked for multiple publishing houses as a translator and editor. Currently works at Text Publishing House as a Foreign Rights Manager, editor and translator.
Danyal Salam, Ferozsons Publishing, Pakistan
I am the Director for publishing and sales at Ferozsons, which is over 131 years old publishing and a printing house. I am the 5th generation. We publish all sorts of books fiction, children religious, history, poetry, children, academics and we have a chain of bookstores. We have translated from Chinese, Turkish, Slovenian languages to Urdu and English language.
Filip Batkoski, Bata Press, North Macedonia
Filip Batkoski was born in 1989 in Struga, Macedonia, but has lived his entire life in Skopje. He completed his elementary and high school education in Skopje, where he also studied Management at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University.
Since 2011, Filip has been working in the publishing industry as the manager of Bata Press, a family-run publishing house founded by his father, Nenad Batkoski. Under his leadership, Bata Press has developed into a respected name in Macedonian publishing, known for its dedication to literature and its support of local and international authors.
Filip has taken part in several prominent international book fairs and professional fellowships, including ITEF (Istanbul Tanpinar Literature Festival), SIBF (Sharjah International Book Fair), CIBF (Cairo International Book Fair), the Gothenburg Fellowship, and the Istanbul Fellowship. These experiences have expanded his professional network and deepened his perspective on the global publishing landscape.
With a strong commitment to promoting Macedonian literature and building cross-cultural connections, Filip continues to lead Bata Press with passion and vision.
Friederike Fuxen, dp Digital Publishers, Germany
Friederike Fuxen has studied Philosophy, Publishing and Management in Mainz and Oxford. Since 2011, she has been working in Children’s Publishing for different German publishers: Coppenrath, Carlsen, Loewe and Thienemann-Esslinger. Since 2023, Friederike has founded the Literary Rights Agency Literact and acquires and sells Rights for 12 independent German Children’s and YA publishers, with a focus on reading promotion. To make more young people enjoy reading and stay with it in their adult life. At the same time, Friederike manages International Rights in Adult fiction for dp Digital Publishers with publishing houses in Germany, France and the UK.
Igor Grizhuk, Apricotbooks Publishing House, Russia
A foreign rights & licensing senior professional with around eight years’ experience in both: selling and acquiring rights within the domestic and international children & YA’s book areas.
The current specialization includes Russia, The Greater Middle East region, Asian and European countries but I have a deep experience in working with the publishers from all around the world. Regularly attend different domestic and major international book fairs and fellowship programs, representing my company and driving the company sales, acquisitions and grants targets.
For the last eight years in publishing I have contributed to my employers through the achievement of the short-, mid- and long-term goals in all the segments of IP licensing and trading, i.e. +100 rights acquisitions from the foreign countries and territories, + 100 rights sales to the overseas markets, establishment of the win-win relations with more than 70 publishers worldwide, strong partnership with the foreign NGOs and cultural institutions, visible increase of the brand awareness for both, KompasGuide and Apricotbooks publishing houses.
My existing working scope goes even beyond the publishing industry, i.e., to make Moscow one of the major creative hubs and to increase its cultural impact globally through the partnership with the key players of the industry in Moscow and Russia. Practical experience in making some fellowship programs in Moscow (July 2024 – Moscow Publishers’ week; December 2024 – Publishing fellowship: Focus country-India; April 2025 Publishing fellowship: Focus country-Turkey) where I closely collaborated with the Moscow Agency of Creative industries and international representatives of publishing industry as the global ambassador of this event and the curator of the publishing fellowship program.
Katalin Mund, Katalin Mund Literary Agency, Hungary
Date and place of Birth 20. July 1971, Budapest, Hungary
Education
1999–2004: ELTE University, Sociology
2009: PhD (Summa cum laude)
Position
2007–2019 Creative manager at Metropolis Media
2019–Editor in Chief at Metropolis Media
2023–Literary Agent at Katalin Mund Literary Agency
She wrote two books and more than 50 articles on different topics of culture.
Paolo Zaninoni, Garzanti, Italy
After completing a curriculum in classical studies at Pisa, Paris and Berkeley, he has been working in publishing for almost 30 years. His latest positions have been as editorial director of Rizzoli and since 2012 of Garzanti.
Prashant Pathak, Giunti Editore S.p.A, Italy
Prashant Pathak is Head of English Publishing Development at Giunti Editore S.p.A, Italy. Formerly Publisher at Wonder House Books, he began his career in gaming before moving into publishing in 2007, working with global publishing service providers. He has also contributed to the printing industry and EdTech startups. Prashant is Director and Co-Founder of “Publishers Without Borders,” a global publishing community founded in 2020.
Tuğçe Uzel, Doğan Yayınları
I studied literature and law at university in Ankara, and then I did my master’s degree in social sciences at EHESS in Paris. I have been working in the foreign rights department in the publishing industry for 5 years and I live in Istanbul.
Wael Ahmed, Jusur Publishing, Egypt
After graduating from the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration at Ain Shams University, I began my journey in the publishing industry. a journey that has now spanned over 25 years. I started as a co-founder of the Egyptian Cultural Complex, a project born out of my deep belief in the importance of cultural dialogue and the role of literature in shaping minds.
Over the years, my passion for books and ideas led me to establish Jusur Publishing and Distribution, where I currently serve as Founder and Executive Director. I’ve spent most of my life among bookshelves and at book fairs across the world, proud to be part of the culture and knowledge industry.
Through my work, I strive to build bridges between cultures and civilizations, to amplify diverse voices, and to contribute to the global conversation through the power of publishing. This mission continues to inspire everything I do.
Xiaolei Yang, Beijing Bridge Media, China
As a seasoned professional in the publishing industry, I currently serve as Deputy General Manager at Beijing Bridge Media, specializing in international copyright transactions and publishing collaborations. My expertise spans working with over 30 leading European and American children’s book publishers and agents at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Beijing, facilitating their copyright cooperation in China. Additionally, I have extensive experience in managing international copyright trade, organizing international book fairs, and maintaining relationships with international organizations, foreign authors, and illustrators, having played a pivotal role in China’s participation as the Guest of Honor at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2018 during my tenure at China Children’s Press & Publication Group. Currently with Lifetree Children’s Books, I continue to assist Chinese publishers in establishing connections with international partners.
Xiaomei Chen, Lifetree Books, China
2020 – Editor in Chief of Lifetree Books
2016–2020 COO of Beijing Kuyun Technolgy Company
2003–2016 Vice president of China Broadcasting &Film Publishing House; Publisher of China Publishers Magazine; Editor in Chief of Variety China
1994–2003 Vice General Editor of China reading Weekly
1990–1994 Editor of China Education Daily
