02/02/2026
Fifteen editors have been selected for the APA's Residential Editorial Program (REP) in 2026
The biennial program, which will be held in Sydney from 27-30 April 2026, provides training for mid-career editors through mentoring, peer learning and workshops with highly experienced industry practitioners.
Established 1999, REP has become renowned in Australian publishing as a defining professional development opportunity for editors, with over 135 graduates to date.
The successful candidates were chosen by the APA’s Editorial Working Group from 30 applicants, and include a mix of in-house and freelance editors from across Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
Scholarships were offered for two First Nations editors, supported by the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund, and one freelance editor, supported by the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd).
The editors selected for the 2026 program are:
- Claire Davis (Hardie Grant)
- Rebecca Hamilton (Sydney University Press)
- Kate Hatch (Black Inc.)
- Madeleine James (HarperCollins)
- Darby Jones (freelance)
- Courtney Lick (A&U)
- Jasmin McGaughey (freelance)
- Lauren Mitchell (UQP)
- Alex Munroe (Hachette)
- Shané Oosthuizen (Penguin Random House)
- Laurie Ormond (HarperCollins)
- Rosie Outred (Simon & Schuster)
- Sucheta Raj (Simon & Schuster)
- Cecile Shanahan (freelance)
- Annie Zhang (Hachette)
The editors will be mentored by experienced editors Jo Butler, Grace Lucas-Pennington and Brandon VanOver.
Meredith Curnow, Chair of the Editorial Working Group, said of the selection:
‘REP was created for participants to learn from the mentors, guest speakers and each other. The editors attending in 2026 come from across the country and all parts of the business. It will be a stimulating week for these outstanding editors, our industry leaders of the future.'
Further information on REP and its history can be found here.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. It is also supported by the Copyright Agency's Cultural Fund.
