Alison manages the IDS Publications Team and works with them to produce publications by IDS and partner organisation authors, either in-house or with external publishers. She overseas the IDS Publishing Programme and writes and updates internal policies on publishing strategy, publishing ethics, and open knowledge (Open Access and Open Data), as well as having oversight of the institutional repository, OpenDocs.

Acting as Editorial Coordinator for the IDS Bulletin, the Institute’s peer-reviewed Open Access journal, Alison liaises with authors and Issue Editors to produce topical issues across the Institute’s range of themes. For all publications Alison undertakes editorial project management with in-house and external freelance colleagues. Her specific skills include refining requirements and writing briefs, copy-editing at all levels, typesetting and page layout, proofreading, and the use and application of copyright and licensing. This enables production of creative formats from briefings and reports to eBooks with best fit for the audience. She also advises on book/publishing contracts and processes with commercial publishers. Recent work with colleagues has also focused on ensuring that publications are as accessible as possible for all readers.

Alison has worked continuously in publishing since 1985, and from 1997 in academic publishing with IDS.