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The implementation of the new Digital Economy Act, the election, and a "shake up" in Europe following the Lisbon treaty will lead to a "very busy and important year" said new Publishers Association president Victoria Barnsley.
Barnsley stepped into the role at this year’s annual general meeting, held in Hamilton House in London today (28th April). She succeeds Simon Allen, senior vice president, International, McGraw-Hill Education. Rod Bristow, president of higher education, schools and professional at Pearson Education, will become president in 2011, having been named as the vice-president.
Barnsley said there would be "plenty to deal with" over the coming year. She raised the issue of money, echoing a point made in The Bookseller that compared with other trade organisations the PA was "lamentably underfunded". Barnsley added: "I think we will find all activities are critical, but we may have to prioritise some things over others."
She added: "We talk a lot about new threats but they stem from an age old dilemma, the needs of society to get the most content for the best value, and the needs of the producers. Digital technology by facilitating access to content threatens to tip the scales between those opposing needs."
Outgoing president Allen said publishers risk becoming obsessed with surviving the migration from print to digital. He added: "As an industry we need to do a better job at talking about the huge opportunities that this transformation provides us."
Allen said the Digital Economy Bill, "while not perfect, is hugely significant" as it would give creative industries legal protection. He added the ongoing government commitment to protect copyright was both "welcome and necessary". Allen said educational publishers were "ready, able and extremely willing to make school and university education a digital-only zone" but would need suitable infrastructure in schools and universities.
Barnsley praised outgoing PA chief executive Simon Juden, while Allen said it was "very gratifying for all of us to see just how far forward the association has come in these last few years, with Simon Juden at the helm".
Bristow said: "It is an incredibly important time in our industry - we have the most amazing opportunities and some real challenges, and I think it is increasingly important for society that we maintain a strong and vibrant publishing industry."
Bristow has worked in publishing for over 20 years and joined Pearson Education when it was created in 1999. He previously chaired the Educational Publishers Council.