18/07/2023

Shortlisted for the Australian publishing industry's Rising Star award in 2023, Hardie Grant's metadata manager Kathleen O'Neill's achievements include co-convening Hardie Grant's inaugural Spark Prize for narrative non-fiction, and championing the publisher's adoption of the digital catalogue platform Edelweiss.

But O'Neill reveals that her proudest achievement to date 'has been my own personal campaign to rebrand metadata in our day-to-day', as she shares insights into her career to date, and hopes for the future of the industry. 

What achievements are you proudest of in your career so far?

I feel very fortunate to have been involved in many exciting projects at Hardie Grant. I love working in a marketing team because I get to sit at the intersection of so many teams and systems. Between working on initiatives like The Spark Prize and transforming our company’s processes with new platforms like Edelweiss, I think my proudest achievement has been my own personal campaign to rebrand metadata in our day-to-day. 

This year's BookUp program has a strong focus on professional development – what kind of training would be useful for your career or your peers in the industry?

I wish someone had warned me how much time I would spend in Excel! It's a surprisingly vital program for everything we do (Vlookups, anyone?).

Spreadsheets aside, I think we could all benefit from taking the time to understand at least a basic knowledge of how stuff works at the desk next door. Our work is so interconnected and yet it can often feel siloed, it's easy to forget (or not know) how small decisions can ripple across teams and ultimately impact the final product on the shelf. 

What are some of the opportunities or challenges you would like to see the publishing industry tackle in the future?

I've only worked in publishing for a short amount of time and yet I've seen so many talented, smart and passionate young professionals leave the industry because it was not sustainable to their financial situation or general wellbeing. It's devastating to think of all the opportunities and ideas that have left along with them - an immeasurable loss. An updated Book Industry Award is integral to the future of publishing and its workers. 

Hear more from those shortlisted for the Rising Star award at BookUp on 16 August, with the winner announced at the post-conference networking drinks that evening in Melbourne. 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.