Annual General Meeting 2024

On Wednesday 8 May, the Publishers Association’s Annual General Meeting took place at the British Library. It was an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our achievements in 2023. 

Members from across the association joined us for the event, which featured speeches from our CEO Dan Conway and the inaugural address from incoming Publishers Association President and CEO of Bonnier Books UK, Perminder Mann. 

In his welcome to members, Dan Conway noted that publishing is more vital and relevant than ever before. He emphasised that we, as an industry, are the answer to the challenge of connecting readers and learners with works that they can trust.  

The Right Honourable Lucy Frazer KC MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport celebrated the contributions of the publishing industry in her video address.  

In a passionate and personal speech, Perminder Mann shared her journey to becoming a reader as a child – in which her local library was vital. She called on politicians to back libraries, stating “We should have one in every school. We should have one in every town.” 

Perminder ended on an inspiring call to action, “We must ensure that the next generation – the readers of tomorrow – are given every possible opportunity to plot their own future. The stories we tell change lives.” 

We were delighted to be joined by author and poet, Joseph Coelho. Joseph shared reflections on his past two years as Laureate. He, like Perminder, highlighted the importance of engaging with libraries and spoke about his Library Marathon initiative where he held events in libraries and found for many children it was their first visit.  

Perminder then spoke with Joseph about his experience of being published as both a poet and an author. He said in his experience, poetry gets edited far less than prose. He also advised that taking yourself on an ‘artist date’ to a museum or gallery by yourself is a great way to get inspired.