President’s Report
By Deborah Shaw AE
Kia ora,
Over the next few months we’ll be introducing our committee members so you can get a better idea of who we are and what we do. First up is Juanita, our secretary. She wrangles our meeting agendas and puts together our minutes, and she does a fantastic job. Thank you, Juanita.
I’m also pleased to welcome Helen Bradford AE to the committee. She’s our new newsletter coordinator. Helen might be a familiar name to some – she’s been on the committee before, representing EdANZ on the Accreditation Board. I’m really looking forward to working with Helen again.
Big congratulations to Colin Marshall for making it onto the IPEd Student Prize shortlist. Colin is from Whitireia’s publishing diploma and submitted his class presentation to the judges – “Macrons in publishing in Aotearoa New Zealand”. I’m keen to hear more about Colin’s work, so watch this space.
The 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards longlist was announced at the end of January. Congratulations to Katharina and the team at Auckland University Press for having an impressive seven titles across three categories. All the best with the shortlist.
And now that the longlist has been announced, we’re keen to celebrate the work of our members. If you were involved in any of the longlisted books and would be keen to do an interview for Gatherings, do get in contact with me. We’d love to hear about your involvement with such high-quality books.
Thank you for your continued support.
edanz.president@iped-editors.org
Meet the branch committee – Juanita Nieuwoudt
I’m a freelance copyeditor based in Whanganui, specialising in nonfiction book editing – particularly politics, business and self-help titles – alongside educational content for tertiary courses. This work has sparked a growing interest in learning design and how people engage with digital learning environments. I also occasionally edit academic journal articles.
Editing feels like the natural culmination of my earlier roles in law, education, libraries, research support and adjunct marking. After stepping away from my previous role as a children’s librarian, I spent time doing extensive professional development to strengthen my editorial skills, and I’ve now been working for myself for about three years.
What I love most about editing is the constant learning – not just about subject matter, but about how people use language to make meaning. Every project offers a glimpse into how someone else sees the world. What I enjoy least is the ongoing challenge of advocating for rates that genuinely reflect the depth of editors’ expertise and the value we bring to authors and organisations.
I currently serve as secretary for IPEd’s New Zealand branch. Through IPEd I’ve connected with many talented editors, which matters in what can be a solitary profession. IPEd also offers great training, which is essential as technology shifts and editors continue evolving their skills to stay relevant. If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, please get in