The following is an edited version of outgoing IPEd Chair Stephanie Holt’s address at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
I’d like to take a few minutes to talk about some highlights from the annual report, covering the period of the last financial year.
But first, some notes on the Board.
For much of the reporting year, we operated with a reduced Board, while endeavouring to fill casual vacancies in branch positions for Aotearoa New Zealand, Queensland and Tasmania. All 3 of these branch positions were unfilled for most of the 2025 reporting period, however were filled around the end of the financial year. In recognition of the need to bring specialist strategic expertise to the Board, a new Board-appointed position of Director, Commercial and Growth Strategy was added to the Board toward the end of this reporting period and filled shortly thereafter. The position of Finance Director became vacant with the resignation of Hana Krskova toward the end of this reporting period, but was filled shortly thereafter, ensuring continuity in this important role.
The Company Secretary role remained unfilled for much of the reporting period, with efforts to recruit a suitable person able to make a long-term commitment to this volunteer role proving unsuccessful. This placed significant additional strain on the Board during the reporting period, but I am happy to report that Sharon Lierse has since commenced as Company Secretary. And the workload has been lightened with the creation of a second volunteer secretarial role, to work specifically with the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee.
Conference planning and promotion was a significant part of 2024–2025 activity, and a major focus for the staff team and Board resourcing during the first half of 2025. Although the conference itself was not held until July 2025, after this reporting period, I’m happy to advise that both anecdotal and survey feedback confirm its success. For those of us who met in Adelaide, it was a wonderfully collegial, stimulating and informative conference, and a great credit to the work of staff and volunteers. It also returned a significant surplus to IPEd, which certainly improves our financial position.
For members, we continued to produce the monthly Gatherings newsletter, with its regular breadth of articles, updates and discussion, alongside a now-fortnightly bulletin of events and activities. Both are edited by our communications officer, Kirby Fenwick, with support from member contributors and interested Board members, most significantly Justine Dixon Cooper who proofreads Gatherings. These are a valuable resource and showcase, and greatly appreciated by members, as attested by high opening rates. Our social media presence has continued to grow, with increased followers and activity on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. This is an important avenue to engage members while also reaching non-members with an interest in editing and publishing.
Our 2 new working parties got underway, one on artificial intelligence and one on diversity, equity and inclusion. These complement other IPEd-wide committees focused on other strategic pillars, including standing committees on professional development, on awards and prizes, and on academic editing, and of course the Accreditation Board. They have built valuable connections, including the DEI working party with international colleagues. In addition to these working parties, the activities of our various standing committees are detailed in the annual report, and I encourage you to read them. This is significant work, led by our volunteer members, to offer benefits and recognition to members, and advocate for the profession.
Turning to IPEd finances, the last financial year income was $382,519 and IPEd ended the year with a deficit of $37,660. Increasing costs and decreasing membership have impacted the budget, with significant shortfalls in projected income from professional development activities, with some planned activities not able to proceed. The Board continues to control spending and monitor budgets closely, look for new revenue streams and income-generating opportunities, and to work on boosting membership and maximising attendance at our events and workshops.
Turning to membership, total active membership at 30 June 2024 was 1,246, which is a decrease of 83 from the same time last year. The main reason people didn’t renew was retirement or moving out of the profession. We continued efforts to attract new members, including a campaign focused on organisational membership, and packaging an annual membership in registration for the 2025 conference. Work has begun on a comprehensive membership strategy to identify potential member cohorts and opportunities for growth.
I will close these remarks with thanks again to my Board colleagues, and to the dedicated IPEd staff and volunteers, and to the members who have joined us here this evening.
As I am stepping down from the Board at the conclusion of this AGM, may I especially thank my longstanding deputy chair, Melanie Dankel AE, and her recently added co-deputy chair, Justine Dixon Cooper AE, for their support to me and for the Board’s work.
It’s been an honour to serve IPEd over many years and across numerous roles, most recently as the Board chair. As those present certainly know, there are many ways to contribute to IPEd’s important work, which draws on the varied skills, interests and expertise of so many volunteers. I look forward to continuing to contribute especially to the professional development program and the Victorian branch activities.