Founder's Message

Bodour Al Qasimi
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER

“When I joined the world of publishing 14 years ago, I founded the Emirates Publishers Association. As a result, I had to travel to regional meetings as part of the work we started doing with the Arab Publishers Association.

I often found myself the only woman in the room during meetings with these publishers. It was a surprise at first for me, and then it started to bother me because I knew that there were so many women working in the publishing industry but at the leadership level, yet they were not being represented.

So, I felt compelled to do something about the situation, and I believe those experiences were the seeds that started PublisHer.

The world needs everyone’s brains and talents to move forward, so creating inclusive hiring and management practices ensures that the female voice is heard in the publishing and creative industries at all levels, as it will be in all other industries.

Founder of PublisHer

Recognising excellence, advancing diversity & promoting professional development.

We have founded the PublisHer Excellence Awards to celebrate women’s professional achievements, champion diversity, equity, and inclusion, and promote professional development.

We want to spotlight women’s accomplishments and honour those who have made exemplary contributions to the publishing industry. This is more than a celebration of their achievements, it is our campaign to inspire and empower other women to excel in the field.

Award Categories & Criteria

Lifetime Achievement Award

Recognising a trailblazing, veteran female publisher who has made a significant and lasting impact on the industry throughout her career. 

Criteria:

Minimum career length 20 years.

Emerging Leader Award

Celebrating a rising publishing star who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, big-picture thinking, and the ability to drive positive change.

Criteria:

Maximum age 35 or under.

Innovation Award

Recognising important innovation contributions to the publishing business, such as innovative storytelling and content curation, editorial leadership, management strategies, company culture and marketing campaigns.

Criteria:

Any innovation in the publishing industry

Award Timeline

29th October  2023
Nominations open
15th January 2024
Nominations close
March 2024
Shortlist announced
April 2024
Winners announced

Know someone who deserves a publisher excellence award?

Nominate Yourself Or One Or More Candidates By Filling In The Form Below.

Submit a nomination