Emma Watkins

Chair of Membership & Marketing Committee

I'm standing for reelection as Chair of ALPSP's Membership and Marketing Committee (MMC), and I'd welcome your support for a second term.

When I was elected to this role in 2023, I said I was honoured to have been trusted by the membership. That hasn't changed. If anything, spending the past two years on the Board and chairing the MMC has deepened my appreciation for what ALPSP means to our community, and strengthened my commitment to making it even more valuable.

What I bring

I've spent nearly 20 years in marketing, with 15 of those embedded in the scholarly publishing ecosystem. My career began at IOP Publishing, where over a decade I built the society partners marketing function from scratch, working with global organisations including the American Astronomical Society, the DPG, and the Japan Society of Applied Physics. I launched journals, delivered brand consultancy to editorial boards and society leaders, developed reviewer engagement strategies, and managed crisis communications. That breadth of experience gave me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by society publishers — the organisations that make up the core of ALPSP's membership.

From IOPP I moved to 67 Bricks, a technology consultancy at the forefront of data and content innovation in publishing, where I explored the emerging role of AI and helped publishers think strategically about technology adoption. I now lead TBI Communications, a specialist marketing and business development agency serving the scholarly communications sector. Working across our client base, which spans university presses, learned societies, IGOs, and technology providers, gives me a uniquely broad vantage point on the issues affecting our members.

I also hold Mini MBAs in both Marketing and Brand Management, I've written for The Scholarly Kitchen on AI in publishing, I've served as an ALPSP trainer delivering the Introduction to Journals Marketing course, and I was an SSP International Travel Grant recipient earlier in my career. I've been a judge for the ALPSP Rising Star Awards, and I'm a regular contributor to industry discussions on open access marketing, social media strategy, and the impact of generative AI.

What I've focused on as Chair

During my term, the MMC has transitioned into delivering the new ALPSP strategy to ensure the longterm success of the organization. We have gone out to members and non-members to uncover what they find truly valuable, and what we could be doing more of. Following member feedback, we are designing new membership types to support those who want to interact with ALPSP as individuals, and we are continuing to assess our membership packages to ensure they truly give our community what they need to thrive. We have delivered new sponsorship packages to enable our vendor and B2B partners have varied opportunities to showcase their support for the community, as well as gain priceless visibility for themselves.

Why I'm asking for your vote again

There is more to do. Our sector is changing rapidly, and ALPSP's role as a convener, educator, and advocate has never been more important. I want to continue building on the foundations we've laid; refining our membership offer, ensuring our communications cut through, and making sure the voice of smaller and society publishers is heard clearly. My day-to-day work at TBI means I'm constantly in conversation with organisations across the sector about their challenges and ambitions, and I bring that real-world perspective directly into the committee's work.

I care deeply about this community. I'd be grateful for the opportunity to continue serving it.