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ALPSP Rising Star Awards 2024: Winners Announced

Sponsored by Publishers’ Licensing Services

The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers is delighted to confirm the five winners of the ALPSP Rising Star Awards 2024:

  • Hazel Rowland, Associate Marketing Manager, IOP Publishing
  • Anna Savage, Publishing Executive, BMJ
  • Ella Gibbs, Journals Executive, Bristol University Press
  • Heather Townsend, Sales and Customer Service Coordinator, Bristol University Press
  • Melody (Zhuxin) Zhang, Associate Publisher, Wiley

Now in its second year, the Rising Star Award is sponsored by Publishers’ Licensing Services with the aim to recognise potential in early career individuals. The award is open to ALPSP members only and the person making the nomination was asked to outline in no more than 500 words why the person should be considered. 

All five winners have been offered a free place to attend the ALPSP 2024 Conference in person plus an allowance towards travel and hotel expenses. Following the meeting, they will be expected to provide a short report (500-1000 words) about their experience at the conference which will be published on the ALPSP blog or website. ALPSP is also pleased to offer the four finalists free virtual registration for the conference.

The judges were impressed by the calibre of all the individuals nominated and by the activities and responsibilities that each winner has taken on, both within their specific job function and beyond. The panel reached their decision after careful consideration. All winners are from different organisations, large and small, working in a wide range of roles.

Wayne Sime, Chief Executive of ALPSP, said:    
“We are thrilled to be running these awards again this year and it’s exciting to see so much talent and potential within the scholarly publishing industry. ALPSP is delighted to be able to offer all five winners the opportunity to attend our Annual Conference in Manchester, made possible by the generous support of our sponsor, PLS.” 

Judging panel:

  • Sophia Anderton, Chief Executive, BJU International
  • Laura Dormer, Co-Founder & Editorial Director at Becaris Publishing
  • Wayne Sime, Chief Executive, ALPSP
  • Emma Watkins, Head of Marketing and Communications, 67 Bricks

The ALPSP Annual Conference and Awards will be held at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate, UK and streamed online from 11-13 September 2024. All the Rising Star winners will be presented with their awards at the gala dinner on Thursday 12 September. 

For more information about all the 2024 awards, including the Impact, Innovation and Contribution to Scholarly Publishing, please visit the ALPSP website.

To secure your place at the conference, visit the ALPSP conference website, or watch our highlights video for a brief insight into the event.