A message from Wayne Sime, Chief Executive, ALPSP

 

As 2024 draws to a close, I’m thrilled to reflect on what has been an incredible year for ALPSP and our global community. 

Highlights of 2024

This year, we celebrated two major milestones. First, we launched our brand-new website in September, a hub designed to showcase our wide range of member benefits, training courses, and events. It’s your one-stop destination for everything ALPSP!

Second, we’re proud to announce that Learned Publishing will transition to Gold Open Access in 2025—a significant step toward greater accessibility and innovation. As ALPSP members, you’ll continue to enjoy full journal content. This shift aligns with our commitment to advancing open scholarship and supporting the scholarly publishing community.

Award-Winning Mentorship

Our International Mentorship Scheme continues to grow, boasting over 220 participants worldwide. This success was recognised with the Most Impactful Mentoring Programme 2024 award from Mentorloop. This accolade highlights the global connections, inclusivity, and transformative culture of mentoring we’ve cultivated.

Looking ahead to 2025, I’m excited to share that the scheme will be open for applications year-round for the first time. We’re also introducing an innovative peer-to-peer group mentoring option, broadening collaboration and professional growth opportunities.

Expanding Special Interest Groups

Our Special Interest Groups (SIGs) have flourished in 2024, with over 1,000 participants engaging across diverse topics. These groups are essential for exchanging ideas, staying informed, and tackling the industry’s most pressing challenges. With 2–4 chairs leading each SIG, we’ve fostered dynamic discussions and actionable outcomes.

If you haven’t joined yet or have an idea for a new SIG topic, I encourage you to get involved. Your voice and expertise can make a real difference.

Advancing Our Strategic Vision

From the start of the year, we’ve been laser-focused on delivering our Strategic Vision: enabling partnerships, fostering networks, supporting professional development, and translating change for a diverse mix of publishers.

Our committees have worked tirelessly to identify tactics for enhancing membership reach, boosting retention, and increasing financial sustainability. I’m proud of our progress and excited to continue building on these foundations in 2025.

Reconnecting In Person

This year marked the return of more in-person events, including the introduction of our annual Winter Dinner, which was a fantastic success. I look forward to hosting ALPSP dinners at the London Book Fair, SSP, and Frankfurt Book Fair in 2025.

These events are excellent opportunities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate the vibrant scholarly publishing community.

Thank You and Looking Ahead

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you—our members, directors, committee members, volunteers, and the ALPSP team—for your unwavering support. You’ve been instrumental in driving ALPSP forward and shaping the future of our industry.

We'd love to hear from you if you’re interested in joining a committee, contributing to a working group, or suggesting a webinar topic. Together, we can continue to innovate and inspire.

Wishing you joyful celebrations, a peaceful New Year, and an exciting 2025 ahead!

Warm regards,

Wayne Sime
Chief Executive, ALPSP

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Please note: Our team will be taking a break from 23 December until 2 January. We look forward to seeing you in 2025!