Yasmin Smith shortlisted for the Australian Publishing Associations Rising Star Awards 2024
Massive congratulations to Yasmin Smith, UQP's Special Projects Editor, on her award shortlisting nomination, for the Australian Publishing Associations Rising Star Award 2024.
Yasmin is one of six shortlisted professionals that are being recognised as emerging talents in the publishing industry where they are already showing leadership, a ‘commitment to excellence’ and a ‘knack for transforming ideas into tangible results.'
Yasmin Smith is an editor, writer and poet of South Sea Islander, Kabi Kabi, Northern Cheyenne and English heritage. Beginning her publishing career at the national black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project, she has worked across literary fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and poetry, with a focus on supporting First Nations creatives and their stories.
Yasmin has judged the David Unaipon Award for the Queensland Literary Awards, attended the APA’s Residential Editorial Program in 2022, and has appeared at numerous writers’ festivals. In 2024 she received Varuna’s First Nations Flagship Fellowship. She was the winner of the 2024 Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize, was shortlisted for the 2020 Judith Wright Poetry Prize, and has been published in various journals.
Yasmin is currently an editor at University of Queensland Press where her work includes overseeing their ground-breaking First Nations Classics series. She is also an invaluable in-house cultural consultant. Her inestimable connections, knowledge and cultural awareness have contributed to better processes and engagement in-house.
The Rising Star award celebrates the ongoing excellence and growth of staff who commenced their publishing careers in the past ten years.
The shortlist was selected by a panel of experts from the publishing industry comprising: Matt Hoy (Allen & Unwin), Foong Ling Kong (Melbourne University Publishing), Claire Miller (Fremantle Press) Julie-Ann Nelson (Jacaranda), and Emma Rafferty (Hachette).
The judges said of the shortlist and nominees:
‘The 2024 applications are testament to the vibrant, dynamic individuals who have contributed to our industry in the past decade. What a pleasure it was to see such depth of creativity, innovation, integrity, passion and skill among the shortlisted nominees, who have improved how we publish, promote, sell and distribute books.
Among the shortlisted nominees, there is a diverse spectrum of roles, seniority and experience, and a shared commitment to excellence, knack for transforming ideas into tangible results and adeptness in teamwork. Their innate leadership shone through either their formal roles or informal influence, their contributions having changed their workplace, if not the broader industry.
We commend all nominees for their achievements in a fiercely competitive field. The future of the publishing industry is in safe hands with them.’
The winner will be announced at the BookUp conference networking drinks on Wednesday 7 August. Book your tickets to the BookUp conference and networking drinks here.
Congratulations again to Yasmin, we are so thankful and lucky, to have you as a part of the UQP team!
