By Karen Lee, CEO
This year marks an important milestone in IPEd’s history: 10 years since the transition to direct membership.
Following July’s celebration of 10 years of direct membership, we invited some of the people who helped shape the organisation to reflect on its journey. Rather than simply looking back through a timeline, the anniversary campaign captures the voices of editors, volunteers and leaders whose experiences tell the story of how IPEd has evolved, how the profession has changed and where editing is heading next.
Across five conversations, members can hear from people whose contributions have helped shape the organisation over the past decade and beyond.
Rather than producing a timeline alone, we wanted to capture the voices of the people who helped shape the organisation. Throughout the anniversary campaign, members can explore conversations with editors, volunteers and leaders who reflect on where we’ve come from, how the profession has evolved and where editing is heading next.
The 5 interviews bring together perspectives from across IPEd.
- Karen Lee and Dr Catherine Macdonald AE discuss the evolution of the profession and IPEd’s role over the past decade.
- Kerry Davies AE, Rosemary Luke AE and Rosemary Noble AE look back at IPEd’s early years, the challenges that led to direct membership and the volunteers whose vision helped create today’s organisation.
- Charlotte Cottier AE reflects on the importance of accreditation and professional standards.
- Dr Agata Mrva-Montoya and Julie Ganner AE explore accessibility, inclusion and how publishing continues to change.
- Dr Linda Nix AE shares her thoughts on editorial excellence, leadership and the future of the profession.
Alongside the interviews, the anniversary website features a brief timeline tracing IPEd’s development from the establishment of the Council of Australian Societies of Editors (CASE) through to the creation of direct membership in 2016 and the organisation’s continued growth over the past decade.
The anniversary also provides an opportunity to recognise the many volunteers, committees, branches and staff who have contributed their time and expertise over more than two decades. While organisational structures have evolved, IPEd’s commitment to supporting editors and advancing professional standards has remained constant.
As CEO, I have had the privilege of seeing how the foundations laid by IPEd’s members and volunteers continue to shape the organisation today. The transition to direct membership was more than an administrative change: it brought editors across Australia together within one organisation and created a stronger platform for collaboration, professional development, accreditation and advocacy. The inclusion of Aotearoa New Zealand has since further broadened and enriched our professional community.
This anniversary is also an opportunity to look ahead. The work of editors continues to evolve as technology, publishing practices and the ways people create and consume content change. IPEd’s role is to support editors through that change, champion the value of professional editing and ensure our organisation remains relevant and welcoming to everyone who works with words. I am enormously grateful to the members, volunteers and staff whose knowledge, generosity and commitment make that work possible.
We invite members to explore the anniversary page, watch the interviews and celebrate the volunteers, committees, branches and staff whose shared commitment has helped build the vibrant professional community IPEd is today.