Publishing Forum Keynote: Resilient Publishing for the Future

Bodour Al Qasimi (United Arab Emirates)

A trailblazer in the global publishing scene, Bodour, International Publishers Association (IPA) President is creating a positive impact on the world by pushing IPA’s agenda on freedom to publish and intellectual property rights. In 2019, Bodour established PublisHer – an informal networking body that seeks to increase the number of women in leadership roles within the publishing industry. As the CEO and founder of Kalimat Publishing Group, she has been an avid advocate of the role of books and literacy to enlighten children. Bodour has a Bachelor’s degree in Archaeology and Anthropology from Cambridge University and a Master’s degree in Medical Anthropology from University College London.

Trasvin Jittidecharak (Thailand)

Trasvin founded Silkworm Books (1991) and the Mekong Press Foundation (2005). She launched the ASEAN Illustration Award and co-founded the International Children's Content Rights Fair (ICCRF) in 2017.  

Trasvin served in national, regional, and international publishing communities, including Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT; advisor, 2009–15 and 2019–21); the Bangkok UNESCO World Book Capital City, 2013 (a focal person); the 30th International Publishers Association (IPA) Congress, Bangkok, 2015 (chaired, the Organizing Committee); the IPA Executive Committee, 2012 to 2017; the ASEAN Book Publishers Association (ABPA), 2020–21 (Secretary-General); the IPA's Freedom to Publish Committee (2017-present).

Trina Ha (Singapore)

Trina is the Director of Legal at IPOS.   She is involved in legal policy reform including spearheading the Copyright Review with the Ministry of Law. Trina was in private practice where she specialised in matters involving the protection, and management of intellectual property rights. During her time in legal practice, she was ranked annually since 2007 in the intellectual property industry and TMT industry by the Asia Pacific Legal 500.   She is also listed in the IAM Strategy 300 :The World’s Leading IP Strategists guide since 2020.

Moderator Chua Hong Koon (Singapore)

Hong Koon is the Publishing Director at World Scientific Publishing Company. He has more than 40 years of publishing experience working with major publishers like Pearson and Oxford University Press. He is a board member of Singapore Book Council (SBC) and the Copyright Licensing and Administration Society of Singapore (CLASS).