TORONTO, ONTARIO— (May 6, 2025)—The Canadian Publishers’ Council (CPC) is pleased to announce the appointment several new Directors for its Board, along with a new Executive Director.
At its May 6 AGM, CPC members voted to appoint Neil Harris, Senior Vice-President of McGraw-Hill Education International, as its new Chair, effective immediately for a three-year term. Mr. Harris replaces Craig Swinwood, CEO of Harlequin and Harper Collins Canada, who assumes the role of Immediate Past Chair for CPC.
“We express our thanks to Craig for his outstanding leadership as Chair, and his commitment to the organization and the broader publishing sector in Canada,” said CPC President David Swail. “We are also very pleased to have Neil Harris joining our Board as Chair. Neil brings many decades of leadership experience to the role and has a proven track record as a thoughtful and supportive collaborator, along with proven success as a leader in the Higher Education sector,” added Swail.
Also joining CPC’s Board as Treasurer is Jake Qian, Director of Finance for McGraw-Hill Canada and a long-serving finance expert in the publishing sector. Jessica Biga-Wadstein, Country Head of Pearson Canada, joins as Chair of CPC’s Higher Education Committee.
Returning to the Board for the continuation of their terms are Giselle Goncalves, Chair of the K-12 Committee, and Charidy Johnston, Chair of the Trade Committee.
At CPC’s AGM, Leigh-Anne Graham has been appointed CPC’s Executive Director, effective immediately. Leigh-Anne will succeed CPC President David Swail, who will continue working with Leigh-Anne through May 31st. “CPC is very fortunate to have attracted someone of Leigh-Anne’s track record of success in the publishing sector to this role. She brings significant publishing experience and a reputation for strategic acumen, along with a great passion for the publishing sector. CPC could not be in better hands going forward,” said Swail.
“As David makes the hand-off to Leigh-Anne, I want to thank him on behalf of all CPC members for his enormous contribution to our organization and to our sector. He has led us with great energy and dedication through some very challenging times, and has established CPC as an integral part of the broader sector through his collaboration with organizations across the publishing industry. We are heartened to know he is available to us as a resource during this transition to Leigh-Anne’s leadership,” said out-going Chair Craig Swinwood.
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About CPC
The Canadian Publishers’ Council (CPC) represents the interests of publishing companies that publish books and other media for elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, professional and reference markets, the retail and library sectors. Members employ more than 3,000 Canadians in a wide range of professional roles, and collectively account for nearly three-quarters of English-language books sales in Canada, with a significant presence in French-language publishing in Quebec. Member firms pay over $36 million in royalties to Canada’s writers and creators annually.
For more information contact:
Leigh-Anne Graham, CPC Executive Director: lgraham@pubcouncil.ca