From the Standing Committee on Academic Editing (SCAE)
Are you looking to build your confidence or consolidate your skills as an academic editor?
The Standing Committee on Academic Editing (SCAE) is running a series of 4 webinars of 1 hour each, to provide up-to-date and practical advice on a wide range of academic editing topics. They are designed for editors moving into this area of editing, as well as for experienced academic editors looking to update their knowledge or broaden their scope. The first webinar took place on Tuesday 6 October 2026, with 3 still to come.
Topics and dates are:
- Tuesday 6 October 2026, 2 pm AEDT – An introduction to academic editing work, issues and resources (already held)
- Thursday 22 October 2026, 2 pm AEDT – An introduction to thesis editing
- Wednesday 4 November, 2 pm AEDT – Referencing for academic editors
- Tuesday 17 November, 2 pm AEDT – Journal article editing
The first 2 sessions are for editors who are relatively new to academic editing, although experienced editors will also benefit from updating their knowledge. The last 2 sessions, with their focus on specific aspects of this area of work, will be of value to both beginning and experienced academic editors.
The webinars are designed as standalone sessions, so you can register for a single webinar or as many as you wish.
Webinar 1, held on 6 October, discussed the broad range of academic editing work, as well as the resources available to support academic editors in their work.
Webinar 2 will cover the IPEd guidelines for editing theses, updated in July 2025, as well as broader current topics on thesis editing and practical advice on working with clients and getting paid.
Webinar 3 navigates the complexities of referencing in academic work. Rather than the details of various referencing systems, it covers the practical, ethical and technical issues that arise across all types of referencing, and aims to build editors’ confidence in making decisions and communicating with clients.
Webinar 4 focuses on the evolving landscape of journal article editing, including the benefits and challenges of this type of editing, with plenty of practical tips and advice.
All sessions will touch on the impact of AI on academic editing practice.
The series is being presented by 3 members of SCAE, all academic editors with many years of experience: Dr Rhonda Daniels AE, Charlotte Cottier AE and Dr Justine McNamara AE.
All seminars will be recorded and available to watch online.
Editors Aotearoa New Zealand delegate: Liz Beattie AE
Liz is one of 10 AEs in the ANZ branch. Her journalism and teaching experience led to a writing and editing career that has been mainly in New Zealand’s educational sector. She most recently worked for 11 years at Victoria University of Wellington. Liz is a huge fan of Ottolenghi’s recipe books and her Thermomix and, when not in the kitchen, will be found reading, sewing or gardening. She says that IPEd’s accreditation scheme plays an important role in upskilling editors and showing clients and the wider community the importance of editing.
Editors NSW delegate: Dr Louise Merrington AE
Louise is a freelance editor and writer specialising in complex content and plain English for government, businesses, universities and non-profits. She sits on the Standards Australia Plain Language Working Group, promoting and localising the forthcoming international plain language standard. Diagnosed with autism in 2022, Louise is an advocate for greater awareness of neurodiversity in the editing profession and is the chair of the IPEd Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Party.
Editors Queensland delegate (and AB chair): Charlotte Cottier AE
Charlotte specialises in copyediting for academics, research students and independent authors through her freelance editing business. She has a background in business and research administration and a Master of Arts in Editing and Publishing. Charlotte has been a member of IPEd’s Standing Committee on Academic Editing since its inception in 2017 and joined the AB in 2021 because she believes in the value of accreditation for the editing profession. She loves dancing, reading, puzzling and patting her two rescue cats.
Editors South Australia delegate: Amanda Webster AE
Amanda is an academic editor with a penchant for editing research in psychology, social justice and the arts. Over the last several years, she’s developed a passion for inclusive language and accessibility, and is always looking to expand her knowledge in these areas. She also delivers life skills programs to autistic young people and has recently resumed a beloved sport, artistic roller skating.
Editors Tasmania delegate: Nina Giblinwright AE
Nina specialises in academic and government editing. She holds a Graduate Certificate of Editing and Publishing, a Bachelor of Laws and a Diploma of Environmental Science. During her three years working with Capstone Editing, she completed their Your Editing Career Launched course and worked on diverse texts, from business brochures to PhD theses. She currently runs a small freelance editing business and is the Editor, Operations Unit, at the Integrity Commission Tasmania.
Editors Victoria delegate: Claire McGregor AE
Claire has worked in publishing for over 30 years, initially in-house in the UK before migrating to Australia permanently in 2012. Claire runs her own business, Kookaburra Hill Publishing Services, and offers all aspects of editing as well as book design and typesetting. She loves to travel and read and recently published her first novel. Claire is new to the Accreditation Board but is keen to promote the benefits of being an Accredited Editor.
Editors Western Australia delegate (and IPEd Director): Dr Catherine Macdonald AE
Catherine completed her doctorate on social change among woman-headed households in Tanzania in 1996. For more than 30 years, she has been consulting in the community development field, mostly in Asia and Africa. Her main areas of editing are social impact assessment reports, doctoral dissertations and self-published memoirs. Catherine loves to travel, although she’s always sad to leave her beloved rescue dogs behind.
Skills-based member (ACT): Ted Briggs AE
Ted is an Honorary Life Member of IPEd and the 2021 recipient of the Janet Mackenzie Medal. He was joint coordinator of the IPEd Mentoring Program from its inception in 2015 until 2021. His editing experience has been in the government and corporate domains. Ted is passionate about choral singing and theatre and is a judge and the CEO for the Combined Area Theatre Awards.