Reflecting on 40 years in Publishing: Gloria Bailey

Gloria Bailey, MBE, Associate Director for Export Services at the Publishers Association (PA), is the winner of The London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award 2025. She has been instrumental in facilitating UK publishers’ international growth. She has coordinated export services and administered the Tradeshow Access Programme funding, helping numerous small publishers access global markets through international fairs. Here, she shares more about her 40-year journey.

AABP: Congratulations on winning the LBF25 Lifetime Achievement Award. Your reaction to this prestigious award.

Gloria: My first reaction was disbelief, but once I had accepted that it was true, I felt humbled and honoured to be recognised by colleagues in the publishing industry.

AABP: Reflecting on your 40-year journey in the publishing industry, what initially drew you to this field?

Gloria: It was not planned, I was working at a firm of residential Estate Agents in Mayfair,which I loved. After 5 years I moved to a firm of commercial Estate Agents around the corner, which I hated. A colleague who knew I wanted to move on, spotted the advertisement for an Exhibitions Assistant at the Publishers Association so I applied for it and 40 odd years later, I am still here.

I also feel proud that our industry plays such important part in society in general. The books, journals and other products we produce help to educate and inspire, and hopefully kick start a lifelong love of reading for pleasure and knowledge. I also love that we are a generous industry thinking of people and ways to help, such as providing books via charities to children and people in war torn countries and disadvantaged communities.

AABP: What are some of the key challenges publishers face when expanding internationally, and how have you helped them navigate these?

Gloria: The challenges for publishers, especially the small and medium-sized companies is usually funding. Although they are prepared to take the risk of trying their luck in new markets, tight finances mean they have to try to access these through other means – such as attending book fairs closer to home – London, Frankfurt or Bologna where they can meet customers from all over the world. The PA aims to provide these publishers with cost-effective ways of taking part, usually by organising a collective stand, where they share facilities, so they don’t have to pay for a whole stand.

For companies starting out, we provide them with advice on what they can expect and what they should do, before, during and after the fair. We also signpost them to training events such as the ‘Selling Rights’ courses. In-country we work with our overseas counterparts or the trade teams at the British Embassy to arrange matchmaking or networking events to help them meet as many new contacts as possible.

Other challenges include piracy, changing legislation in other counties, and recently, access the European market now that the UK is no longer part of the EU. I work with our Policy & Public Affairs and Legal teams to provide information to help publishers navigate the changes.

AABP: What trends are shaping the industry today?

Gloria: Trends shaping the industry include audio books which in 2023 saw sales of £205.2 million. Self-Publishing is more widely accepted now as is print-on-demand and of course there is the rise of BookTok.

AABP: Book fairs are a major aspect of the global publishing landscape. Which book fair or trade event has been most transformative for UK publishers, and why?

Gloria: While fairs may come and go and events may evolve, the fact is that they remain a hugely important part of the business of publishing. The fairs in China – Beijing and Shanghai – have seen an increase in the number of UK publishers over the past few years giving them direct access to the Chinese market.

The 3-day Publishing Conference in Sharjah held before the book fair, has also been a game changer due to its structure. In addition to the main events at the beginning of the day,there are hosted round table sessions, matchmaking rights meetings and a generous hospitality package.

AABP: Collaboration with the UK Government has been a key part of your work. How do these partnerships enhance the global reach of UK publishers?

Gloria: Publishing is a UK success story, our sector is worth £11billion to the UK economy, supporting 84,000 jobs and generating £4.4 billion in exports. As such we work closely with colleagues in government – from those departments responsible for education, to business and trade and of course the culture sectors.

My colleagues right across the Publishers Association – from our legal experts to the policy, public affairs and communications teams –work with the government and parliament to ensure that decision makers understand the positive power publishing for the economy and society. But also, we work with them to ensure there are the right conditions for our publishing sector to thrive and to grow in the future – that means everything from ensuring that publishers can access international markets to ensuring that our laws protect copyright as new technologies emerge.

From my perspective, I have benefitted hugely from the experience and knowledge of UK Government colleagues I have worked with who share the Publishers Association aim of helping UK publishers to be visible on the world stage. In particular, the Creative Industries Sector Team has been central to securing funding for projects and liaising with their counterparts in the British Embassy across the world to organise presentations and events when visiting their markets.

AABP: Looking ahead, what advice would you give to emerging publishing professionals who aspire to make an impact on the global stage?

Gloria: You need to be authentic and yourself, you need to be open to new places, ideas and opportunities and you need to build and nurture relationships.

AABP: After dedicating so many years to the publishing industry, what legacy do you hope to leave behind?

Gloria: This award is a great opportunity to reflect on over 40 years in the publishing industry – but there is more to come! I have never thought about building a legacy as such, it has been about learning from each and every event and from each and every member, and using that to improve the next time round.I hope when people think about the Publishers Association and our work as a whole, they think about dedicated, kind and committed people doing their very best for UK publishers, and I am proud to be part of the team delivering that.