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AI governance takes centre stage
Publisherspeak UK 2026 brought together members of the scholarly publishing community in London on May 18, 2026, for a day of open discussion and conversations around AI governance in publishing.
This year’s unconference-style event focused on moving the conversation beyond AI policies and into implementation. Across keynote talks, show-and-tell sessions, breakout discussions, and networking conversations, attendees explored how publishers are navigating the opportunities and challenges that come with increasing AI adoption.
Welcome address and community pulse check
The day opened with a welcome address from Conference Chair Shehnaz Ahmed, Director of Research and Publishing at the British Association of Dermatologists.
As part of the opening session, delegates participated in a live community survey exploring perspectives on AI governance in publishing. The responses reflected both the opportunities and concerns currently shaping industry conversations.
One of the key questions asked attendees what word first comes to mind when thinking about AI governance. Responses strongly centred around themes such as trust, integrity, ethics, transparency, accountability, and security, highlighting the industry’s growing focus on responsible implementation.
Another poll explored where organisations currently see themselves in their AI governance journey. Most attendees identified their organisations as being in the early-to-intermediate stages, reflecting an industry that is actively experimenting, learning, and building governance frameworks in real time.
Keynote session: AI governance in publishing
The keynote address was delivered by Rob Johnson, Founder and Managing Director of Research Consulting, on the theme of AI Governance in Publishing.
Drawing from current developments across the research and publishing ecosystem, Rob explored how publishers, funders, and institutions are responding to the rapid adoption of AI.
The keynote at why governance needs to go beyond policy and include clear accountability, oversight, and implementation.
Check out the expanded version of this keynote address in a blog by Rob titled AI governance in scholarly publishing: by default or by design?
Show and Tell Sessions
The show-and-tell sessions brought together perspectives from across the publishing ecosystem, with speakers sharing real-world experiences, practical use cases, and lessons learned from implementing AI and governance-related initiatives within their organisations.
Presenters included:
- Nisha Doshi, Cambridge University Press, who discussed how AI governance is being approached within publishing workflows
- Ella Flemyng, Cochrane Collaboration, who shared perspectives on responsible AI practices in publishing
- Jenny Watkins, Intercloud9 Ltd, who shared a case study on how the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) approached AI readiness and practical implementation
- Matt Gass, British Association of Dermatologists, who explored the next steps after developing an AI policy
- Ana Costa and Nada Mason, J&J Innovative Medicine, who brought perspectives from the pharmaceutical industry on AI adoption and publishing workflows
Unconference breakout sessions
One of the defining elements of Publisherspeak continues to be its unconference-style breakout sessions, designed to encourage collaboration and open discussion between attendees.
Led by expert session chairs from across the industry, the breakout sessions used design thinking principles to encourage collaborative problem-solving and discussion. Delegates worked together to identify challenges and explore practical approaches to AI governance in publishing.
The discussions focused on two key themes: defining AI governance in scholarly publishing, and how organisations can apply and adapt AI governance in real-world settings.
The discussions later fed into presentation sessions where groups shared their key takeaways and proposed solutions with the audience.
Presentation by the sponsor of Publisherspeak: “The Future of Journal Publishing”
As part of the closing sessions, Ravi Venkataramani, CEO of Kriyadocs, presented key insights from the Publisherspeak Industry Survey: The Future of Journal Publishing.
The session explored responses from across the publishing community on topics including AI adoption, research integrity, workflow challenges, and the changing priorities shaping journal publishing today.
Read more about the survey and access the full report here.
The event concluded with a closing address by Conference Chair Shehnaz Ahmed, who highlighted the importance of responsible and trusted AI adoption across the publishing industry. She also emphasised the need for continued collaboration and shared learnings as organisations continue to develop AI governance frameworks and practices.
Conversations beyond the sessions
From discussions during coffee breaks to the networking hour that closed the event, Publisherspeak UK 2026 continued its tradition of creating space for meaningful industry conversations.
Thank you to all our speakers, session chairs, attendees, and partners for making Publisherspeak UK 2026 such a collaborative and insightful event.
To learn more about the Publisherspeak community and future events, visit the community page.