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| Susannah Bowen | |
BookPeople (the Australian booksellers association) has named Susannah Bowen as its new CEO, succeeding Robbie Egan, who has held the position since 2018 and will step down at the end of the year.
Noting that the decision followed a national search and thorough recruitment process, Gavin Williams, owner of Matilda Bookshop in Stirling and BookPeople president, said Bowen "brings a wealth of experience across bookselling, publishing, marketing and education.... While replacing Robbie Egan was always going to be a challenge, the Management Committee was unanimous in its decision. We were impressed by Susannah's detailed understanding of BookPeople as it stands today, her insightful analysis of future opportunities and challenges, and her ability to communicate that clearly and thoughtfully."
Bowen commented: "I believe bookshops are central to culture, community, literacy and education. It's a challenging time--and one filled with opportunity to strengthen our sector through partnerships, innovation and community connection. With the right focus and policy support, we can keep bookshops thriving as the heart of Australia's cultural and learning life."
A bookseller, author, publisher, marketer, lecturer, and researcher, Bowen most recently was general manager of marketing at Campion Education. She co-authored How to Market Books (6th edition), and served as joint principal researcher on the Australian Publishing Industry Workforce Survey on Diversity and Inclusion. "I've seen firsthand how dynamic and vital our industry is," she said. "I'm really looking forward to getting to know the BookPeople team, members and partners."
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Last month, the Norwegian government presented its National Strategy for an Open and Enlightened Public Discourse. The European & International Booksellers Federation's Newsflash reported that at a time of polarization, disinformation, and growing threats against journalists and minorities, the strategy "aims to outline a framework for future efforts, focusing on infrastructure, such as media, education, internet, libraries, civil society, fighting against harmful speech, and expression of culture through participation, tolerance, and inclusion--among other key points."
"We want to build a society where everyone truly has the opportunity to take part in public discourse. Where freedom of expression is not just a formal right, but a real one--supported by knowledge, access, and safety," said Lubna Jaffery, minister of culture and equality.
World Expression Forum participated in the launch event at Fritt Ord in Oslo. Managing director Kristenn Einarsson, who contributed to a panel discussion on how to protect freedom of expression for vulnerable groups and ensure broad participation in public discourse, said, "There is a fundamental need to develop strong reading skills and foster active citizenship. Literacy is a prerequisite for freedom of expression and a well-functioning democracy."