Our Board

Dr Joseph Crawford

President

A/Prof Michael Cowling

Vice President and Director, Technology

Mr David Kewley CA

Treasurer

Dr Jo-Anne Kelder

Director, Partnerships

Dr Harold Culala

Secretary

Dr Alison Purvis

Director, Education

Dr Prue Laidlaw

Director, Memberships (Interim)

Committees

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee includes:

  • Dr Joseph Crawford (Chair)
  • Dr Harold Culala
  • A/Prof Michael Cowling
  • Mr David Kewley

Partnership Committee

The Partnership Committee includes:

  • Dr Jo-Anne Kelder (Chair)
  • Dr Dongmei Li (Secretary)
  • Dr Joseph Crawford
  • Dr Harold Culala
  • Mr David Kewley

Technology Committee

The Technology Committee includes:

  • A/Prof Michael Cowling (Chair)
  • Mr Nat Enright (Secretary)
  • Nicholas Alcorso
  • Mr Darryl Clare

Educational Committee

The Education Committee includes:

  • Dr Alison Purvis (Chair)
  • Dr Alisa Percy
  • Dr Victoria Nicholas
  • Professor Louise Taylor

Membership Committee

The Membership Committee includes:

  • Dr Prue Laidlaw (Chair)
  • Mr Alistair Chong
  • Dr Florence Ng
  • Dr Joseph Crawford (ex-officio)

Volunteer Leadership Vacancies (2026)

The Open Access Publishing Association (OAPA) is building a secure, sustainable, not-for-profit publishing infrastructure designed to support diamond open access journals globally. As commercial consolidation continues across scholarly publishing, OAPA plays a critical role in safeguarding editorial independence, strengthening community-led governance, and ensuring that academic knowledge remains openly accessible. Our volunteer leaders contribute directly to shaping a resilient publishing ecosystem grounded in integrity, transparency, and sector-wide collaboration.

We invite expressions of interest for the following volunteer leadership roles for 2026. These roles support the strategic development, governance, education, technology, and global partnerships of OAPA.

Key Dates

  • Close of applications: 30 March 2026
  • Interview and assessment period: 1 April – 30 April 2026
  • Finalisation period: 1 May – 30 May 2026

Available Roles

We are interested in recruiting into the following Committee roles. These roles will be shaped with the successful applicant and their expertise, however, Committees meet by Zoom every two months, and a weekly commitment of 1-2 hours is anticipated, with some scaffolded flexibility (particularly for those teaching during Semesters):

  • Secretary and Director. Responsible for supporting Board governance, maintaining official records, coordinating meetings, and contributing to strategic oversight as a member of the Board of Directors. The Secretary can only be formally appointed at an Annual General Meeting, so they would begin as an Interim Director.
  • Secretary, Membership Committee. Supports coordination of membership records, onboarding processes, and committee paperwork within the Membership Committee.
  • Social Media Lead, Membership Committee. Leads digital engagement strategies to grow OAPA membership, promote initiatives, and enhance online visibility across professional platforms.
  • Learning Design Lead, Education Committee. Oversees the digital development of OAPA’s educational offerings, including short courses and professional development programs.
  • Technical Support Lead, Technology Committee. Provides guidance on platform maintenance, system troubleshooting, and technical infrastructure supporting OAPA journals and events.
  • Network Security Lead, Technology Committee. Advises on cybersecurity, data protection, and best practice governance for digital publishing systems and member data.
  • Europe/UK Partnership Lead, Partnerships and Publishing Committee. Develops and strengthens institutional and publishing partnerships across Europe and the United Kingdom.
  • Grants Lead, Partnerships and Publishing Committee. Identifies funding opportunities and supports the preparation of grant applications aligned with OAPA’s strategic objectives.

How to Apply

Applications should include:

  • A short CV (1–2 pages)
  • A one-page cover letter outlining your interest and suitability for the role

Please send applications to: memberships@open-publishing.org

All roles are voluntary and offer an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of diamond open access publishing through collaborative leadership and sector impact.