The annual London Book Fair Trailblazers awards celebrate industry professionals aged 30 or under who are demonstrating “creativity, dedication, and innovation” in their roles within the publishing industry. Now in their eighth year, the awards are run in partnership with the Publishers Association and are supported by the Society of Young Publishers and BookBrunch.

This year’s six winners were announced on March 27, chosen from a shortlist of 15 young publishing professionals. The following people made it onto the shortlist (the winners are highlighted in bold):

  • Rebecca Armstrong, foreign rights and co-editions executive, Batsford Books
  • Amy Mae Baxter, senior editor, Dialogue Books (Hachette) and founder, Bad Form
  • Lucy Bond, head of books and distribution, FANE
  • Chelsea Graham, founder and editor-in-chief, The Publishing Post; editor, audio, Bonnier Books U.K.
  • Ella Griffiths, editor, Faber and Faber
  • Émilie Hames, sustainability production controller, Penguin Random House
  • Amber Ivatt, senior publicity manager, Bonnier Books U.K.
  • Leonie Lock, editor, Firefly Press
  • Jess Mackay, editorial project manager, Penguin Random House Children’s
  • Rebecca Parkinson, marketing coordinator, Manchester University Press
  • Hannah Schofield, literary agent, LBA
  • Antonia Shack, cover designer and editor, Scotland Street Press
  • Eleanor Stammeijer, publicity manager, Bonnier Books U.K.
  • Christina Storey, social media and ecommerce executive, HarperCollins
  • Molly Walker-Sharp, commissioning editor, HarperCollins

We asked some of the 2022 winners how they had fared as a Trailblazer, and if they had any advice for this year’s winners. “Winning an LBF Trailblazer Award has been my career’s highlight so far,” said Srishti Kadu, a procurement controller at the Taylor & Francis Group. “When I started in the publishing industry, I was an international student in the U.K. with no contacts and no idea of where to start, so it was an honor to be recognized in such a prestigious way.”

Elle Brenton-Rounding, senior sales and business development manager at Bonnier Books U.K., agreed: “I’d been shortlisted twice previously, so I know the competition is fierce. I was incredibly honored and grateful, I’ve been going to LBF for the entirety of my 20s, so this was a nice way to end that decade of my life!”

“It’s always special to be singled out when so many people are doing innovative work,” said Marianne Tatepo, publishing director at Square Peg, a Vintage/PRH imprint, “I was pleased to be in such stellar company.”

Kadu continued: “Winning the award was a huge boost to my self-confidence. I have been getting more involved in the industry as a publishing careers mentor with the Society of Young Publishers (SYP) and through Lancaster University’s mentorship scheme. I have met other ambitious young professionals working in different parts of the industry and really expanded my network. The Trailblazer award has given me the confidence to take the lead in new and challenging projects at work and to take on more responsibility, which has further helped me to develop my professional skills.”

“This reminder of what mentoring can do gave me a greater understanding of my own impact,” said Tatepo. “It’s encouraged me to look into more formal ways to share my perspective and expertise. In light of post-lockdown mores, where all of life was happening online, I’m currently plotting new ways to create community and support other people.”

“Being able to say you’re award-winning is a good vote of confidence, and it did also bring some good connections my way too,” said Brenton-Rounding, adding: “I was also a runner up for the Inaugural Sharjah Book Fair Rights Connection Award in the autumn, which was a huge honor to be recognized further on the international stage. Creating global relationships and partnerships is what I love most about my job.”

Welcome recognition

Kadu had also benefited from her Trailblazer achievement. “I have been working on sourcing and setting up new suppliers to help us get through these tough times, and carefully tracking and evaluating our spend with suppliers to ensure that we can carry on meeting our targets. I have also been visiting printers and suppliers to learn about their processes and carry out audits. In recognition of all the hard work put in, my team and I won an internal award last year and we have been shortlisted for another one this year,” she added.

“This accolade came along a couple of months into my new role as a publishing director at Vintage,” said Tatepo. “Since then, I have worked closely with my colleagues to create a vision for Square Peg as a one-of-a-kind boutique imprint. The ethos is clear: beautiful books that educate, empower, and entertain. With several landmark acquisitions in place–some announced, others forthcoming–we’re in prime position for another five years of mold-breaking publishing.”

“Enjoy it and shout about it! Especially enjoy the networking you can entertain after,” is Brenton-Rounding’s advice to this year’s Trailblazers. “It is a fantastic award,” agreed Kadu, “and I hope this year’s Trailblazers make the most of such a wonderful opportunity. I would definitely encourage them to get involved in the industry, attend networking events, and talk to as many people as possible to build those connections. Publishing is a wonderful world to be a part of and as a Trailblazer you should be willing to take those risks and try out those new ideas that will be shaping the industry tomorrow.”

“Talk to everyone,” added Tatepo, “about books, of course. But also about art, film, TV, music, friends, pets, parents, partners–or climate change. Your next book idea, chuckle, or pep talk can come when you least expect it.”