IPEd is governed by a board comprising one Director from each branch and another three appointed by the Board.
Board and committees
On this page
IPEd is run by a small but mighty staff team, alongside a dedicated community of volunteers – led by the Board. This page introduces our directors and the work of our standing committees and working parties. It also links to our past annual reports.
If you’re an IPEd member and keen to be involved in the work we do, please email the IPEd office.
Please browse our website to learn more about IPEd’s staff and branches.
Board of directors
IPEd is governed by its directors, who act together as the Board. We have up to 10 directors. Each branch can appoint one director, and the Board appoints the others, usually to bring in particular skills. Directors typically serve terms of 2 years but can be reappointed for up to 3 terms. IPEd’s current directors are:
- Catherine Macdonald AE, Chair, Editors Western Australia
- Melanie Dankel AE, Deputy Chair, Editors South Australia
- Justine Dixon Cooper AE, Editors New South Wales
- Janette Ellis AE, Editors Queensland
- Donald Ritchie, Editors Victoria
- Sameh AlAnani, Commercial Director
- Lisa Braun, Finance Director
- Vanaja Thomas, Membership Director
We have director vacancies for Editors Tasmania and Editors Aotearoa New Zealand. Our current company secretary is Sharon Lierse. The Board also has 2 ex-officio positions:
- Karen Lee, IPEd CEO
- Charlotte Cottier AE, Accreditation Board Chair
The directors are legally responsible for the company’s financial wellbeing. They work closely with the Audit, Risk and Finance Committee (ARFC) to manage the budget, and other finances, under the guidance of the finance director. The ARFC also supports IPEd’s risk management and audit activities. The ARFC secretary is Junzhe Zhang.
Standing committees
Academic Editing
The Standing Committee on Academic Editing (SCAE) advocates on behalf of academic editors in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. As part of this role, it maintains 2 of IPEd’s key resources: Guidelines for editing theses and a range of indicative costs for academic editing. Contact the SCAE chair at scae.chair@iped-editors.org.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Board (AB) runs IPEd’s accreditation scheme, including the accreditation exam and 5-yearly renewals. The scheme offers Australian and New Zealand editors a mechanism for demonstrating their competence. At the same time, it provides potential employers with confidence in the skills of the editors they hire. Contact the AB chair at ab.chair@iped-editors.org.
Awards and Prizes
The Standing Committee on Awards and Prizes (SCAP) oversees IPEd’s program of awards and prizes to celebrate editorial excellence. IPEd recognises both established and emerging editors through the Janet Mackenzie Medal, the Rosanne Fitzgibbon Editorial Award and the IPEd Student Prize. Contact the SCAP chair at scap.chair@iped-editors.org.
Mentoring
The Mentoring Standing Committee (MSC) runs IPEd’s fantastic mentoring program. It matches each editing mentee with a mentor who has the specific skills and knowledge to support them. The program, which can cover any location and topic related to editing, is a win-win for those involved. Contact the MSC chair at mentorship@iped-editors.org.
Pay and Conditions
The Pay and Conditions Standing Committee (PCSC) monitors pay and conditions for editors across the profession in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. It contributes to government discussions on employment awards and classifications, and it maintains a range of fair pay rates for editors based on different skill levels and experience. The goal is to ensure that an editor can sustain a long-term, viable business. Contact the PCSC chair at kerry.davies@iped-editors.org.
Professional Development
The Standing Committee on Professional Development (SCPD) manages our busy PD program and hosts regular workshops, speaker presentations and other events, working with IPEd’s events officer and branch committees. The program covers everything from the basics of grammar and copyediting to more in-depth discussions on cultural sensitivity and artificial intelligence. Contact the SCPD chair at scpd.chair@iped-editors.org.
Working parties
Artificial Intelligence (WPAI)
The Working Party on Artificial Intelligence (WPAI) is taking on the biggest disruptor of our time and considering how generative AI is likely to affect the editing profession in the short and long term. The working party explores the perceived and actual impacts, seeking to empower editors with knowledge and resources. Contact the WPAI chair at wpai.chair@iped-editors.org.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Party (DEIWP) provides IPEd staff, volunteers and members with insights into and awareness of DEI issues. It is working to embed the principles of accessibility and inclusion in the organisation and to help members do the same in their editing practice. Contact the DEIWP chair at dei.chair@iped-editors.org.
Annual reports
The Institute of Professional Editors Limited produces an annual report at the end of each financial year.
- Annual report 2023–24 [PDF, 5MB]
- Annual report 2022–23 [PDF, 12MB]
- Annual report 2021–22 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
- Annual report 2020–21 [PDF, 4.0MB]
- Annual report 2019−20 [PDF, 1.8MB]
- Annual report 2018–19 [PDF, 3.7MB]
- Annual report 2017–18 [PDF, 1.6MB]
- Annual report 2016–17 [PDF, 4.0MB]
- Annual report 2015–16 [PDF, 1.2MB]
- Annual report 2014–15 [PDF, 862KB]
- Annual report 2013–14 [PDF, 665KB]
- Annual report 2012–13 [PDF, 521KB]
- Annual report 2011–12 [PDF, 134KB]
- Annual report 2010–11 [PDF, 219KB]
- Annual report 2009–10 [PDF, 292KB]
- Annual report 2008–09 [PDF, 242KB]
Financial reports
Audited financial reports are available to members only through the Member Portal.
The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) is the professional association for Australian and New Zealand editors.
News
We acknowledge and pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Traditional Owners, Custodians of Country and First Nations in Australia, and to Māori as tangata whenua and te Tiriti o Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand.
