CfP: People in Publishing: Diversity, Leadership and Publishing’s Futures 

Monday 29th June 2026

The Centre for Book Cultures and Publishing (University of Reading) alongside the Creative & Cultural Industries and HRM Special Interest Groups of the British Academy of Management, invites scholars, industry professionals, and cultural stakeholders to join us for a dynamic symposium exploring structural and cultural barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the publishing industry.

This event will critically examine:

• Inclusive editorial and acquisitions practices
• Leadership’s role in driving change
• AI and its impact on DEI
• Colonial legacies and decolonising publishing
• Power dynamics in authorship, translation, and distribution

…and much more.

We are delighted to be joined by two keynote speakers:

• Dr. Joanna Abeyie MBE CC She/Her – Founder, Blue Moon & Partners; Former Head of Creative Diversity, BBC
• Prof Katy Shaw Director, UKRI/AHRC Creative Communities Programme; Professor of Publishing & Writing, Northumbria University

We welcome proposals for Lightning Presentations (10 mins) and Full Research Papers (20 mins). Submit your abstract (max 250 words) with bio and contact details by Friday 6 February 2026 to cbcp@reading.ac.uk

For more details see our website here.

This event aims to generate conversations to help reshape publishing for a more inclusive future.