Experience

NCT Charity

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Peer Supporter for Parents in Mind

  • May 2022 - Present



Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

• United Kingdom
• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Senior Publisher (Education and Linguistics)

  • Mar 2018 - Present

  I provide the global strategic direction for Education and Linguistics within Bloomsbury’s Academic division and acts as the Business Owner for Digital Resource products, Bloomsbury Education and Childhood Studies, working in collaboration with project teams, including commissioning and coordinating of ongoing editorial content. I make a significant contribution towards the overall goals of the Division, co-chairing the Parents, Guardians and Carers Network, contributing to the Textbook Working Group, and enacting our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy at list level.Responsible for the Education and Linguistics lists with a combined Books and Digital Resource turnover of in excess of £1.5M.Strategic planning - responsible for generating a five year growth plan, informed by market knowledge and with corresponding measureable short, medium and long term objectives, and ensuring that the plan is effectively disseminated to all functions to bring the plan to fruition.Strategic list development - responsible for supporting junior editors to develop commissioning plans in line with the plan, as well as developing and pitching profitable proposals to the editorial board and negotiating contracts to ensuring projects publish as high-quality and profitable products.Author relationships - establish and maintain strong working relationships with authors, volume editors and series editors to ensure a high standard of author care throughout the publishing process from initial contact, through peer-review and contract, to writing, delivering and shepherding the project through production.Line management – responsible for a team of six (three Commissioning Editors, two Editorial Assistants and an Apprentice) to meet annual business objectives and ensure they adhere to editorial guidelines, procedures and best practice.Budgeting - Perform annual list budgeting and reforecasting duties to a high standard, keeping slippage well below the 10% tolerance threshold.

• Publisher (Education)

  • Mar 2014 - Mar 2018

  I was responsible for Bloomsbury's Education list within the Academic division, commissioning textbooks, course books, research monographs and reference volumes.Strategic planning - responsible for developing a five year editorial plan for the list, informed by market knowledgeStrategic list development - responsible for supporting junior editors to develop commissioning plans in line with the plan as well as developing and pitching profitable proposals to the editorial board and negotiating contracts to ensuring projects publish as high-quality and profitable products.Line management - responsible for a Commissioning Editor, Assistant Editor and Editorial Assistant, managing them to meet annual business objectives (sales targets, profitability targets, pipeline targets (volume and frontlist revenue)) and ensuring they adhere to editorial guidelines, procedures and best practice.Market awareness - utilize market awareness and understanding to inform future publishing strategy for products on the education portfolio.Author relationships - Establish and maintain strong working relationships with authors, volume editors and series editors to ensure a high standard of author care throughout the publishing process from initial contact, through peer-review and contract stage, to writing, delivering and shepherding the project through production.Budgeting - perform annual list budgeting and reforecasting duties to an high standard, keeping slippage well below the 10% tolerance threshold for no. of titles that have slipped out of the fiscal year.

• Senior Commissioning Editor (Education)

  • Jul 2011 - Mar 2014

  I was responsible for Bloomsbury’s education list within the Academic and Professional Division, commissioning textbooks, course books, research monographs and reference volumes.Exceeded commissioning targets for five consecutive years.Strategic development – responsible for the whole commissioning process from developing a commissioning plan in accordance with the Publisher’s editorial plan, to developing and pitching profitable proposals to the editorial board and negotiating contracts to ensuring projects publish as high-quality and profitable products.Line management – responsible for line-managing and developing Education Assistant Editor.Market knowledge – keep abreast of the education market with academic visits, conference attendance, internet research, bookshop visits and discussions with contacts in the field.Proposal development – identify current and future market trends and then use market knowledge and peer reviews to develop innovative projects with potential authors.Author management – main point of contact for authors from first draft of proposal through to publication.Manuscript development – read manuscripts and resolve issues with the author where necessary.Department liaison – develop and maintain good working relationship with colleagues, particularly in production, to ensure that titles pass on schedule and on budget from manuscript approval to bound copies, and sales and marketing, to ensure effective promotion of new titles.Backlist – manage and develop backlist for my areas of the education list to ensure revenue is maximised.Company development – lead and support colleagues on projects to improve various aspects, including developing company-wide editorial and marketing database guidelines, providing feedback for IT development, forming discussion group following employee questionnaire, supporting editorial workshops.



Continuum International Publishing Group

• Book and Periodical Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Commissioning Editor

  • Sep 2008 - Jun 2011

  Responsible for Continuum's academic education and initial teacher training texts, commissioning textbooks, course books, research monographs and reference volumes.Responsible for the whole commissioning process from developing a commissioning plan in accordance with the Publisher’s editorial plan, to developing and pitching profitable proposals to the editorial board and negotiating contracts to ensuring projects publish as high-quality and profitable products.Line management – responsible for editorial intern programme, from recruitment to line management. Market knowledge – keep abreast of the education market with academic visits, conference attendance, internet research, bookshop visits and discussions with contacts in the field.Proposal development – identify current and future market trends and then use market knowledge and peer reviews to develop innovative projects with potential authors.Author management – main point of contact for authors from first draft of proposal through to publication.Manuscript development – read manuscripts and resolve issues with the author where necessary.Department liaison – develop and maintain good working relationship with colleagues, particularly in production, to ensure that titles pass on schedule and on budget from manuscript approval to bound copies, and sales and marketing, to ensure effective promotion of new titles.Backlist – manage and develop backlist for my areas of the education list to ensure revenue is maximised.

• Assistant Editor

  • Nov 2007 - Sep 2008

  My role comprised of a number of areas:- EditorDeveloped commissioning skills and knowledge of budgets, with support of Commissioning Editor.- Editorial AssistantDeveloped a good working knowledge of publishing practice and processesSupported two commissioning editors with all administration aspects of their roles; arranging reviews, issuing contracts, organising and maintaining records, managing authors and ensuring that manuscripts were delivered on time, prepared and handed over to in-house production editor within schedule and provided pre/post-publication author care.Reviewer bank – developed a questionnaire to log reviewers’ interests and experience; set up efficient reviewing system to enable prompt market feedback on proposals.- Permissions AssistantManaged permissions requests for education list.

• Administrator

  • Sep 2006 - Nov 2007

  My role comprised of a number of areas:- Training AssistantDeveloped customer relationship skills in dealing with speakers, venues and customers.Created marketing material templates and wrote copy.Actively participated in developing the training programme.Compiled and organised packs to arrive at venues by the event date.- Editorial AssistantDeveloped a good working knowledge of publishing practices and processes.Supported a senior commissioning editor with all administration aspects of her role; arranging reviews, issuing contracts, organising and maintaining records, managing authors and ensuring that manuscripts were delivered on time, prepared and handed over to in-house production editor within schedule and provided pre/post-publication author care.- Permissions AssistantManaged permissions requests for education list.- Marketing AssistantDeveloped copy-writing skills by writing press releases, author flyers and catalogue copy.