30/07/2024
Shortlisted for the Australian publishing industry’s Rising Star award in 2024, Hachette Deputy Managing Editor Rebecca Allen was described in her nomination as 'an experienced and versatile editor; an emerging leader and team-builder; and a champion of editorial excellence through professional development and knowledge-sharing'. Learn more about Rebecca as she shares insights into her career, reflects on the changing world of publishing, and offers advice for newcomers to the industry.
What achievements are you proudest of in your career so far?
I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built with authors and illustrators over the years. From debuts to prize winners and big brands, I’ve fostered consistently positive and collaborative relationships with wonderfully creative people. It’s a privilege to be trusted with championing someone’s voice and vision while delivering sometimes tricky feedback and steering their work through crucial deadlines. I’m also proud of my step up to Deputy Managing Editor, which has broadened my professional experience beyond the technical specialty of editorial work to people management, team-building, training and mentoring.
This year’s BookUp program has a strong focus on innovation and adaptation. How do you think the publishing industry will change in the coming years? And what excites you about those changes?
AI will no doubt continue to impact the industry’s creatives so I’m deeply invested in seeing regulations develop, but also curious about how AI tools might be harnessed for greater in-house efficiencies, such as the way we generate and maintain comprehensive metadata. From an editorial point of view, I’m eager to see sensitivity and accessibility practices become fully integrated into everyday processes, including our style guides and timelines, shaping the way we work and the books we produce for the better.
What surprised you about the industry when you first joined, or still surprises you now?
When I first started working in-house, I had no idea just how many people were involved and how much work went on ‘behind the scenes’ to take a single book from acquisition right through to getting it into readers’ hands. These days, I’m surprised by how teams and departments can sometimes work quite separately, how much we can still learn from each other and how energising it is to share our knowledge and remind ourselves of how our work fits together in a broader context.
What advice do you have for newcomers who want to build a career in publishing? What has helped you along the way?
When applying for in-house roles, keep an open mind – you’ll gain invaluable skills and insights in any department. Connect with and support your fellow junior colleagues, and seek out potential mentors among more senior colleagues. In Editorial, team leaders have shown me how important it is to dive into all kinds of projects, as every book offers something new to learn. Today, having a broad editorial skillset enables me to support my team across multiple aspects of their work.
The winner of the Rising Star award will be announced at the BookUp conference networking drinks in Melbourne on 7 August. You can learn more about the BookUp program and discover the full Rising Star shortlist here.
The Rising Star award is proudly supported by Media Super, the super fund dedicated to those who publish, inform, entertain, create and inspire.