August 2026 Editors Victoria

President’s report

By Kylie Howard 

Welcome to my first president’s report! I am taking on the role after 2 years as the branch events officer (preceded by a year on the Events subcommittee).  

A little bit about me – I came to the editing profession in 2023 after practising law for over 20 years, specialising in family law. One of my favourite things about the law was the power of language – and it’s what eventually led to my decision to make the switch to editing. I now find myself mainly doing legal or legal-related editing, but I’ve also ventured into other subject matters, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I hope that the many skills I gained as a lawyer will stand me in good stead for the role of president. 

I am very honoured and hope that I can come close to matching the high standard set by our outgoing president, Margaret Trudgeon AE, who has served her 3-year term. Margaret embodies the traits of the best kind of leader – kind, approachable, knowledgeable, inclusive and patient. She will be missed as president, but we are very fortunate that she will be staying on as our professional development officer. It’s quite a relief for me to know she will be “in the wings” while I adapt to the new role. 

Sadly, we say goodbye to Joyce Protacio. Joyce was our joint communications officer with Cecile Shanahan. Joyce made an incredible contribution to our comms and the committee generally – she was enthusiastic and always bursting with ideas. 

We are looking for additional subcommittee members for Professional Development, Events and Communications. If you think you might be interested in serving on the subcommittee, contact me (edvic.president@iped-editors.org) or Carol Goudie AE (edvic.secretary@iped-editors.org) for more information. 

If you attended the ABM on 15 July, hopefully you were able to stay on and hear Susan Butler AO, the former editor of the Macquarie dictionary, talk about food culture reflected in Australian English. I’ve written a short report about it, which you can read here. 

We have lots planned or in discussion for 2026–27. International Booker Prize–winning writer and literary translator Deepa Bhasthi will be our first speaker for the year. Our inclusion and access advisor, Thirangie Jayatilake, is busy pulling this together. Stay tuned for updates about what is sure to be an exciting presentation. Margaret Trudgeon, Editors Victoria’s Professional Development Officer, is planning a couple of great workshops in collaboration with the Standing Committee for Professional Development (SCPD), including one in September on trauma-informed editing with Dr Alicia Leigh. Bookings are open for this event here.

I’m looking forward to settling into my new role and continuing to work with the Editors Victoria team. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about what you’d like Editors Victoria to do for you and other members – or would just like to say hi – please don’t hesitate to send me an email (edvic.president@iped-editors.org).