The people behind the publishing
How does a book go from a manuscript to being published?
As one of the world’s largest university presses—publishing across academic journals and research books, educational content, children’s fiction, English language learning and more—we know that the work we do today will shape human knowledge and learning in the future. We’re proud of our publishing, which has never been more important, innovative, and collaborative.
We believe that books, high-quality research, and learning materials developed with experts can expand horizons, foster learning, and unlock potential. That’s why our people go beyond definition every day to further our publishing mission.
To celebrate the people behind our publishing during National Careers Week, we asked colleagues from across OUP to share their role within the publishing process.
Editorial
Rachael Wass, Editor, and Catherine Blom-Smith, Development Editor
“As Primary Literacy Editors, we receive manuscripts from authors in their raw state and develop them into the best text possible. Using editorial judgement and with the help of external experts, we shape a product that serves our readers.
Along the way, we collaborate closely with colleagues in Design and Production to bring the vision to life, as well as illustrators, who adorn our books with beautiful artwork.”
Production
Joyson Kolenchery, Head of Manufacturing, OUP India
“In collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, the manufacturing team plays a key role in the publishing process. Through thoughtful paper selection, and high-quality printing and binding, we ensure a book’s uniqueness and value are upheld. While manufacturing a book, it is most critical to recognize that cost, quality, and speed are the key parameters that determine its affordability and sustainability. Keeping the end customer in mind throughout the publishing journey is vital.
I’m deeply mindful of the fact that any type of manufacturing has an environmental impact. Therefore, when partnering with external suppliers and selecting raw materials such as paper, it is important to ensure they carry the required certifications for their intended use. Encouraging suppliers to adopt renewable energy and eliminate plastics from the manufacturing value chain can significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint.
A well-produced book brings immense satisfaction to everyone involved in its creation. The arrival of a book from printer is a moment of joy and celebration for those who contributed to its journey.”
Debbie Harvey-Evans, Media Lead – Video, Animation, and Audio
“I manage and guide a highly talented team of video and audio specialists to create engaging, learner-focused digital content for English Language Teaching courses. Through strategy, nurturing strong supplier partnerships, and supporting cross-functional teamwork, I help ensure our team delivers inclusive, accessible, high-quality video, animation, and audio content that inspires learners and supports teachers.”
Design
Gemma Wakefield, Senior Cover Designer
“As a cover designer for Academic books, my role is to creatively interpret a brief to create a cover that reflects the heart of the content and appeals to the target market. I explore creative solutions from selections of carefully curated images, and combine this with typography that will perfectly fit and enhance the aesthetic of the book. I aim to create an identity in my cover design which I can then apply across marketing materials to build a unique and strong product brand.”
Right: Penning Poison by Emily Cockayne – one of Gemma’s cover designs
Marketing
Aleena Waseem, Marketing Manager
“As the Fiction Marketing Manager in the Oxford Children’s team, I bring our stories to life through creating thoughtful marketing campaigns with compelling narratives to resonate with young readers, parents, and booksellers. Working closely with our talented sales, editorial, and design teams, alongside our wonderful authors and illustrators, I champion each book from concept to post-publication. It’s a joyful, collaborative journey that celebrates imagination, elevates creators’ voices, and ensures every story reaches the audience it deserves.”
Rights
Emma Gier, Director of Translations and Reprints
“I head up the Translations team which licenses Academic book content to reach readers throughout the world in their own language. Working with international publishers—from large trade houses to niche publishers, and everything in between—we are corresponding daily with publishing professionals, translators, and agents across the globe. We celebrate our deals and enjoy sharing the news with authors and editors. Our job is to take all the hard work that has gone in to creating a book for sale in the English language and to find licensees to bring the book to life for their local readers. The cherry on the top!”
Sales
Jurgen Verhaegen, Director – Core Markets, English Language Teaching
“I’m proud to work with dedicated teams across the world who help bring our courses and materials to life in the classroom. Together, we advise but also listen to teachers and learners, gather meaningful insights from classrooms, and share them with our Product Development colleagues so every resource is shaped with care and purpose. It’s a shared journey grounded in collaboration, expertise, and a commitment to empowering learning everywhere.”
Research
Tamsin Chamberlain, Head of Market and User Research, Academic
“My role is to collect survey feedback from academic authors through their publishing journey with OUP. This research is designed to complement and expand upon the deep and valued relationships that authors already have with members of the publishing teams, enabling us to systematically monitor authors’ experience and make improvements based on statistically relevant evidence, rather than anecdote.”
At Oxford University Press, we are thousands of brilliant minds, leading with learning, publishing research that illuminates, and unlocking potential that furthers our mission worldwide.
Want to work with us? Find out more about the roles we are recruiting for here.
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