It was fantastic to be in a room full of incredibly talented people, sharing their thoughts and ideas on the future of publishing.

We kicked off the afternoon with a Hackathon. A selection of rising stars and expert mentors put their heads together to discuss all things publishing, particularly how to continue attracting diverse talent.

Watch this space, we’ll be sharing our findings soon and championing our members to ensure their teams are as diverse as the audiences they serve.

Finding your power and driving change – Lisa Smosarski on the lessons she learned

Setting the tone for the awards ceremony, Lisa Smosarski, Editor-in-chief at Stylist, delivered a powerful keynote. Her wisdom and perspective captivated the room. She notes when she first fell in love with magazine media: “I was a 14-year-old with big dreams and a passion for teen magazines, who devised a game plan to break into an industry I knew nothing about”.

In the years that followed Lisa’s determination never waned. She might not have always known exactly why she wanted to be part of the industry, but she always knew it was her destiny. From securing a front-page scoop about a bank robbery during work experience, to being rejected from a journalism degree at City University – a fire had been lit and many lessons stood before her.

Under Lisa’s helm, Stylist became one of the most celebrated magazines for women. Like so many publications, it’s more than a magazine for its readers. The countless letters Lisa received from the beginning are a testament to this. The words of those her work had touched, in small ways and bigger ways, inspired her to make a difference.

“We were a brand that wanted to be a mirror to every single person that read it, a brand that wanted to fight for equality and against injustice on behalf of each reader, it was a brand that spoke to a mass audience as if it was every single person’s best friend and cheerleader”.

Between the fascinating insights into her career, and funny anecdotes, Lisa’s words were a rallying cry to the next generation of game changers: recognise the influence you can have.

“You are here because you have chosen to make a mark in this most brilliant, powerful, influential industry. We are lucky enough to work in a world where people would genuinely miss our work if we vanished tomorrow, what we do is important.

You are the generation – and this is the decade – that will truly make a difference.”

View pictures from the event here.