Bodour Al Qasimi was elected the president-elect of the International Publishers Association on November 23, 2020. Her vice president-elect is Karine Pansa.
The International Publishers Association (IPA), founded in 1896, is the world’s largest federation of national, regional, and specialist publishers’ associations. Its membership comprises organisations from dozens of countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. For the last two years, Mexico’s Hugo Setzer has performed the role of the global publishing body’s president.
Following online elections held in November, where all IPA Full Members were able to vote, the IPA confirmed the results of a number of decisions and elections. The new president-elect of the association is Bodour Al Qasimi from the United Arab Emirates. Bodour is the founder and CEO of children’s publisher Kalimat Group as well as founder and president of the Emirates Publishers Association. The IPA Vice President-elect is Brazilian Karine Pansa. They will be assuming their positions officially in January 2021.
Bodour Al Qasimi on her election said: “As the second woman to assume the role [of IPA President] in 124 years, this is an important advancement in our efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. Leading by example puts the IPA on an even firmer footing to make the case for a diverse publishing industry. I plan to work closely with all of our members to help our industry recover from the ravages of 2020 and transition smoothly to a post-COVID world; and to set our essential industry on a bright, new track.”
Outgoing IPA President, Hugo Setzer said: I have been really privileged to be able to serve you, first as Vice-President and then as President. Since I started as Vice-President four years ago, I said that I wanted to build bridges. Bridges of understanding between different countries, different cultures, and ways of thinking. I am sure there is so much more that unites us than the minor issues of difference between us. That is why IPA has remained united for almost 125 years now. Let us continue to work together to be able to emerge stronger from this crisis.
