Johan Almqvist

Johan Almqvist is the Content Manager for North America at Yoto, where he is responsible for acquiring audiobooks and managing relationships with major companies such as Penguin Random House, Scholastic, and Recorded Books. With more than 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, he has specialized in the commercialization of copyright and international licenses, working closely with publishers, agents, and creators to maximize the global reach of content. He currently resides in California, where he coordinates initiatives in both English and Spanish.

Yoto is an innovative audio platform for children that offers safe, educational, and entertaining experiences without screens. Through its physical player and content cards, Yoto allows children to independently explore audiobooks, music, stories, and activities. With a strong global presence and a robust curatorial focus, Yoto collaborates with publishers and creators to develop a diverse and ever-growing catalog.

This platform is an excellent tool for parents and educators looking to provide engaging audio content to children in an easy-to-use, screen-free environment.

Javier Celaya

Javier Celaya is the co-founder of Dosdoce.com. Through this platform, Javier has been responsible for the launch and implementation of major digital platforms in Spanish-speaking markets (Spain and Latin America), including Bookwire, Storytel, and Podimo, among others. Since 2014, he has been part of the editorial committee for the Anuario de Cultura Digital (Annual Digital Culture Yearbook) of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), which has become a key reference document on the evolution of digital trends in the cultural world.

Dosdoce.com was founded in March 2004 with the purpose of better understanding the digital age we live in. Its goal has been to encourage cultural industry professionals to transform their organizations in order to grow their activities by leveraging the benefits of the internet. Over the years, Dosdoce.com has advised major companies in the digital economy such as ANIARA, Bookwire, Storytel, Podimo, DeMarque, Skeelo, and Bayard, among others. Additionally, it has published over 300 studies on the use of new technologies in various areas of the cultural sector (business models, distribution strategies, digital content creation, etc.) and published thousands of articles to help professionals in the sector understand the opportunities that the internet offers.

Javier Celaya is recognized as a thought leader in the digital transformation of the cultural and publishing industries, continually working to bridge the gap between traditional models and digital innovation.

Other activities involving the participant:

Launch of PARIX, a school for books in Spanish

Mónica Romero Girón

Mónica Romero Girón is a Mexican professional with an extensive background in literature, publishing, and cultural management, particularly in the field of children’s literature. She holds a degree in Modern English Language and Literature from UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico). She also holds two master's degrees: one in Advertising and Creativity Management from OBS Business School at the University of Barcelona, and another in Promotion of Reading and Children's Literature from the CEPLI (Center for the Study of Promotion of Reading and Children's Literature) at the University of Castilla-La Mancha. Additionally, she has a diploma in Children's and Young Adult Literature from UNAM and Universidad Iberoamericana.

From 2008 to 2012, Mónica worked in the General Directorate of Publications at Conaculta (now the Secretariat of Culture), where she coordinated author events at international book fairs and the International Children’s Book Fair (FILIJ). During this time, she also led projects on professional development and the International Reading Promotion Seminar.

From 2013 to 2015, she served as the agent for illustrators in Mexico for the Spanish agency Pencil Ilustradores and worked as an independent cultural manager, collaborating with Zona Maco, the UNAM Publications and Editorial Promotion Directorate, the MODO Museum, and IBBY Mexico.

Between 2015 and 2018, she was the Editorial Coordinator for Children's and Young Adult Literature at Ediciones Castillo. Then, from 2018 to 2022, she was the Editorial Coordinator and later the Editorial Manager for Children's and Young Adult Literature at Ediciones SM.

She has also curated exhibitions such as “Que todos signifiquen” for IBBY Mexico and “Trazos y miradas” for the Government of Mexico City.

Throughout her career, Mónica has been involved in academic projects, serving as a reviewer for university projects and as a teacher in various institutions, including the Faculty of Arts and Design at UNAM and the National Institute of Fine Arts’ Design School. In 2016, she was recognized by the Mexican Illustrators Association for her contribution to the promotion of illustration. She has also collaborated with publications such as Letras Libres and Blog ReLIJ-Ibero, and won multiple editorial art awards from the Mexican Chamber of the Book Industry (CANIEM).

Since 2023, Mónica has worked as an independent editor and consultant in children’s literature and is also a professor in the Entertainment Business Management Bachelor’s Program at Universidad Anáhuac del Sur.

Her extensive career in the publishing industry, particularly in children's literature, and her role as a promoter of reading and illustration, make her a key figure in the cultural and editorial scene in Mexico and beyond.

Catalina Holguín

Catalina Holguín. After completing her undergraduate and master’s degrees in English Literature at McGill University (Canada), she worked for five years at the National Library of Colombia as an editor for the Digital Library. Since 2014, she has served as director and co-founder of Mákina Editorial, a company specializing in the production and distribution of digital publications. Its flagship product is MakeMake (www.makemake.com.co), a reading platform for schools and libraries. She is also a professor and researcher in the Master’s in Publishing Studies at the Instituto Caro y Cuervo and the author of the novel La memoria de las piedras, published by Random House at the end of 2024.

MakeMake is a digital library representing nearly 80 Latin American publishers and offers its services through a subscription model for schools and libraries in Latin America and the United States. Its collection includes picture books, comics, novels, and interactive books, a format that combines read-aloud narration, animation, and interactive elements.

Other activities involving the participant:

Reinventing the page: technology, game, and transmedia narratives for childhood

Elisa Castellanos van Rhijn

Elisa Castellanos van Rhijn is the Editorial Director of CIDCLI, a Mexican publishing house with over four decades of experience in the field of children's and young adult literature. Since its inception, CIDCLI has been a pioneer in paving new editorial paths, prioritizing both the literary quality and graphic design of its publications. True to this innovative spirit, Elisa is currently exploring and developing new ways to read and listen, integrating audiobooks into their catalog to bring literature to more readers and listeners in various formats and platforms.

Her role at CIDCLI has been instrumental in shaping the editorial landscape of children's and young adult literature in Mexico, expanding its reach and adapting to evolving media trends. Elisa's commitment to innovation and her focus on making literature accessible through different formats reflect her forward-thinking approach in a constantly changing industry.