The 35th International Publishers Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, closed with a glamorous Gala Dinner to celebrate publishers with two IPA awards being delivered.
The IPA Champion Award celebrates an individual who has, during their career, gone above and beyond the norm to help the IPA achieve its goals on behalf of the publishing industry.
In a video address, Brazilian publisher Alfredo Weiszflog, receiving the IPA Champion Award, said: You cannot imagine the joy with which I received the news of my nomination as champion of IPA. It was the fulfilment of a long-standing promise I made to myself. Today, I am very grateful for this recognition in my lifetime. I wish the current board and all the members of the IPA a long life, health and success.
The IPA Innovation in Publishing Award seeks to strengthen and unite the publishing industry to move forward together and seize new opportunities for publishing practices and environments, adapting to new circumstances and challenges. Specifically, the award recognizes groups or individuals whose work implements innovative publishing practices that can be replicated by others and benefit the industry.
Receiving the IPA Innovation in Publishing Award, Nadim Sadek, CEO of Shimmr said: To be recognised by the International Publishers Association, for Shimmr’s impact on publishing, is deeply appreciated by our whole team.
We launched three years ago and were embraced with remarkable warmth and trust. We’ve grown through every interaction since: customers sharing their experience and their wisdom, for which we are truly grateful.
Publishing is sometimes characterised as conservative and risk-averse. Our experience has been the opposite: widespread curiosity, engagement, constructive criticism and courageous adoption. We are indebted to our investors and advisors, but mostly to the Publishers who had the open minds to experiment with, refine and then adopt at scale our AI-driven, decision-intelligence marketing.
At a time when new technologies are so often met with suspicion, we have been welcomed with grace and optimism. It is a great pleasure to work in publishing, and a great honour to be recognised for what we bring to it.
Thank you.
Senthil Nathan, Founder and CEO of Ailaysa said: This award means everything to a company built by people who have spent their lives among translators, authors, and publishers. Ailaysa exists so that any book, written in any language, by any author, from anywhere, can finally reach any reader, anywhere in the world, in any language they choose to read in. Sharing this recognition with customers and with the publishers who encouraged us and challenged us every step of the way, is the proudest moment of our journey so far.
Photos of the winners and from the ceremony are available here.
About Alfredo Weiszflog
Alfredo Weiszflog, a linchpin in the Brazilian and international publishing market, has significantly contributed to its evolution over five decades. His journey began in 1967 at Companhia Melhoramentos joining the Marketing team. His dedication saw him progress through almost all the company’s departments. Under his leadership, Editora Melhoramentos, modernized and became one of Brazil’s most significant homes to renowned authors.
Weiszflog’s influence extended beyond Companhia Melhoramentos. From 1985 to 1989, he presided Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL), implementing initiatives for the sector, including the deregulation of book prices during the “Plano Cruzado” and promoting reading through campaigns broadcasted by TV Globo. He also organized Brazil’s first participation as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 1994.
Beyond his tenure as president, Weiszflog continued to contribute to the CBL, engaging Directors Board, fiscal council, and strategic sector commissions. His efforts include leading the Commission of the Meeting of Publishers, Distributors, Booksellers, and Printers, aiming to discuss fundamental and strategic issues for the sector.
As president of the Associação Brasileira de Direitos Reprográficos (ABDR) from 1999 to 2003, Weiszflog contributed to copyright protection in Brazil. His leadership at the Dorina Nowill Foundation as president in 2011 has led to innovative projects for the blind, including the accessible digital book, reflecting his dedication.
About Shimmr
Shimmr created the world’s first Advertising as a Service (AaaS) platform: an autonomous, subscription-based AI system that makes continuous book marketing economically viable for entire catalogues.
About Ailaysa Technologies
Ailaysa is a multilingual AI company with dedicated solutions for publishers, and the creator of Chai Reader, an innovative reading and book-discovery platform.
About IPA www.internationalpublishers.org
The International Publishers Association (IPA) is the world’s largest federation of publishers associations with 106 members in 85 countries. Established in 1896, the IPA is an industry body with a human rights mandate. The IPA’s mission is to promote and protect publishing and to raise awareness of publishing as a force for economic, cultural and social development. Working in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and numerous international NGOs, the IPA champions the interests of book and journal publishing at national and supranational level. Internationally, the IPA actively opposes censorship and promotes copyright, freedom to publish (including through the IPA Prix Voltaire), and literacy.
About the International Publishers Congress
The IPA organises the International Publishers Congress every two years in cooperation with the IPA member in the host country. The Congress offers an unrivalled platform for networking and discussion among the world’s publishers on industry challenges and opportunities. The first International Publishers Congress was held in 1896 in Paris.