CIEP: An edited history
The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading began its life as the brainchild of Norma Whitcombe, an energetic computer programmer, indexer and copyeditor who recognised that editorial freelancers needed a professional body that could offer community, standards and training.
1989: Norma Whitcombe presided over the first meeting of the Society of Freelance Copy-Editors and Proofreaders. More than 60 people attended.
2001: In-house staff were welcomed and the organisation was renamed the Society for Editors and Proofreaders. The SfEP was incorporated as a limited company and a board of 12 directors appointed.
2016: The SfEP declared its aim to become a chartered institution in order to distinguish itself as the voice of authority in relation to English language editing.
2019: The charter was granted on 10 July, announced in September at the annual conference in Aston, and sealed on 1 October.
2020: The SfEP officially became the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) on 1 March.
Committee/council members
Find out who's helped to run the organisation since its inception.
Committee members 1988
Norma Whitcombe (Chair), John Woodruff (Vice-Chair), Lesley Ward (Treasurer), Michèle Clarke (Membership), Naomi Laredo (Secretary), Gillian Clarke (Training), Eddie Kent (Newsletter)
Committee members 1989
Norma Whitcombe (Chair), John Woodruff (Vice-Chair), Lesley Ward (Treasurer), Michèle Clarke (Membership), Naomi Laredo (Secretary), Gillian Clarke (Training), Anne Rix (PR), Sally Vince (Newsletter), Catherine Shephard, Simon Gates, Harriet Barry, Kay Hyman
Committee members 1990–92
Norma Whitcombe (Chair), John Woodruff (Vice-Chair), Lesley Ward (Treasurer), Michèle Clarke (Membership), Jane Sugarman (Secretary), Gillian Clarke (Training), Naomi Laredo (PR), Sally Vince (Newsletter), Catherine Shephard
Committee members 1992
Norma Whitcombe (Chair), Eric Smith (Vice-Chair), David Penfold (Treasurer), Kathleen Lyle (Membership), Jane Sugarman (Secretary), Gillian Clarke (Training), Naomi Laredo (PR), Sylvia Sullivan (Newsletter)
Committee members 1993
Michèle Clarke (Chair), Eric Smith (Vice-Chair), David Penfold (Treasurer), Kathleen Lyle (Membership), Jane Sugarman (Secretary), Judith Wardman (Training), Sally Crawford (Conference), Anne Waddingham (PR), Sylvia Sullivan (Newsletter)
Committee members 1994
Michèle Clarke (Chair), Eric Smith (Vice-Chair), David Penfold (Treasurer), Sally Vince (Membership), Valerie Elliston (Secretary), Anne Waddingham (Accreditation), Gillian Clarke (Training), David Sanders (Conference), Lionel Browne (PR), Sylvia Sullivan (Newsletter)
Committee members 1995
Michèle Clarke (Chair), Mary Fox (Vice-Chair), Ros Morley (Treasurer), Sally Vince (Membership), Valerie Elliston (Secretary), Anne Waddingham (Accreditation), Gillian Clarke (Training), David Sanders (Conference), Lionel Browne (PR), Helen MacDonald (Newsletter), Shelagh Brown (Publications), Mary Korndorffer
Committee members 1996
Kathleen Lyle (Chair), Mary Fox (Vice-Chair), Ros Morley (Treasurer), David Penfold (Internet), Sally Vince (Membership), Shelagh Brown (Secretary), Eric Smith (Accreditation), Gillian Clarke (Training), David Sanders (Conference), Penny Poole (PR), Helen MacDonald (Newsletter), Sue Deeley, Mary Korndorffer
Committee members 1997
Kathleen Lyle (Chair), Sue Deeley (Vice-Chair), Ros Morley (Treasurer), David Penfold (Internet), Mary Korndorffer (Membership), Shelagh Brown (Secretary), Eric Smith (Accreditation), Gillian Clarke (Training), David Sanders (Conference), Penny Poole (PR), Simon de Pinna (Newsletter), Sarah Beauchamp-Gregory, Jane Sugarman
Committee members 1998
Kathleen Lyle (Chair), Simon de Pinna (Vice-Chair, Newsletter), Ros Morley (Treasurer), David Penfold (Internet), Mary Korndorffer (Membership), Katie Lewis (Secretary), Eric Smith (Accreditation), Jane Sugarman (Training), Adrian Sumner (Conference), Penny Poole (PR), Sarah Beauchamp-Gregory, Christina Malkowska Zaba
Committee members 1999
Kathleen Lyle (Chair), Naomi Laredo (Vice-Chair), Sarah Beauchamp-Gregory (Treasurer), Shena Deuchars (Internet), Mary Korndorffer (Membership), Katie Lewis (Secretary), Val Rice (Regional), Eric Smith (Accreditation), Jane Sugarman (Training), Adrian Sumner (Conference), Penny Williams (PR), Christina Thomas (Newsletter), Ruth Callan
Committee members 2000
Naomi Laredo (Chair), Adrian Sumner (Vice-Chair, Conference), Sarah Beauchamp-Gregory (Treasurer), Shena Deuchars (Internet), Mary Korndorffer (Membership), Katie Lewis (Secretary), Val Rice (Regional), Eric Smith (Accreditation), Jane Sugarman (Training), Penny Williams (Public Relations), Christina Thomas (Newsletter), John Woodruff, Hannah Hyam
Committee members 2001
Naomi Laredo (Chair), Adrian Sumner (Vice-Chair, Conference), Val Rice (Treasurer), Shena Deuchars (Membership), Katie Lewis (Secretary), Rod Cuff (Internet), Eric Smith (Accreditation), Jane Sugarman (Training), Penny Williams (Public Relations), Christina Thomas (Newsletter), John Woodruff (Membership Structure), Kersti Wagstaff, Hannah Hyam
Committee members 2002
Naomi Laredo (Chair), Christina Thomas (Vice-Chair), Val Rice (Treasurer), Shena Deuchars (Membership), Katie Lewis (Secretary), Rod Cuff (Internet), Sara Hulse (Recruitment), Penelope Lyons (Accreditation), Clive Tolley (Benefits), Kersti Wagstaff (Training), Penny Williams (Public Relations), Christina Thomas (Newsletter), John Woodruff (Membership Structure), Jane Ward (Conference)
Council members 2003
Naomi Laredo (Chair), Penny Williams (Vice-Chair, Recruitment), Val Rice (Treasurer, Secretary), Shena Deuchars (Membership), Rosemary Anderson (Benefits), Penelope Lyons (Accreditation), Kersti Wagstaff (Training), Jane Read (Training No. 2), Jane Ward (Conference), Sara Hulse (Public Relations), Jan Baiton (Publications)
Council members 2004
Penny Williams (Chair), Shena Deuchars (Vice-Chair, Membership), Val Rice (Treasurer, Secretary), Rosemary Anderson (Benefits), Penelope Lyons (Accreditation), Virginia Masardo (Training), Jane Ward (Conference), Sara Hulse (Public Relations), Jan Baiton (Publications), Nancy Duin (Internet), Matthew Seal (Recruitment)
Council members 2005
Penny Williams (Chair), Shena Deuchars (Vice-Chair, Membership), Val Rice (Treasurer, Secretary), Rosemary Anderson (Benefits), Penelope Lyons (Accreditation), Virginia Masardo (Regional), Sarah Price (Training), Jane Ward (Conference), Sara Hulse (Public Relations), Jan Baiton (Publications), Nancy Duin (Internet), Matthew Seal (Recruitment)
Council members 2006
Penny Williams (Chair), Shena Deuchars (Vice-Chair, Membership), Val Rice (Treasurer, Secretary), John Marsden (Liaison), Penelope Lyons (Accreditation), Virginia Masardo (Regional), Sarah Price (Training), Lotika Singha (Conference), Jane Ward (Professional Development), Sara Hulse (Public Relations), Nancy Duin (Internet), Matthew Seal (Publications)
Council members 2007
Penny Williams (Chair), Sarah Price (Vice-Chair, Secretary, Finance), John Marsden (Liaison), Sarah Patey (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Benefits), Virginia Masardo (Mentoring), Caroline Landon (Training), Lotika Singha (Conference), Shena Deuchars (Professional Development), Nancy Duin (Internet), Matthew Seal (Publications)
Council members 2008
Sarah Price (Chair), Wendy Toole (Vice-Chair, Professional Development), Piers Maddox (Finance), Justina Amenu (Secretary), John Marsden (Liaison), Sarah Patey (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Benefits, Publications), Lawrence Osborn (Regional), Caroline Landon (Training), Lotika Singha (Conference), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Nancy Duin (Internet), Katharine Timberlake (Public Relations)
Council members 2009
Sarah Price (Chair), Wendy Toole (Vice-Chair, Professional Development), Gordon R Hooper (Finance), Justina Amenu (Secretary), John Marsden (Liaison), Sarah Patey (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Publications), Lawrence Osborn (Regional), Lotika Singha (Conference), Caroline Landon (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Nancy Duin (Internet), Katharine Timberlake (Public Relations)
Council members 2010
Sarah Price (Chair), Wendy Toole (Vice-Chair), Gordon R Hooper (Finance), Justina Amenu (Secretary), Sarah Patey (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Publications), Pat Baxter (Regional), Lawrence Osborn (Conference), Catherine Booth (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Sara Peacock (Professional Development ), Nancy Duin (Internet), Helen Stevens (Marketing and Public Relations)
Council members 2011
Wendy Toole (Chair), Gordon R Hooper (Finance), Bridget Buckle (Secretary), Sarah Patey (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Publications), Pat Baxter (Regional), Lawrence Osborn (Conference), Catherine Booth (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Sara Peacock (Professional Development), Nancy Duin (Internet), Helen Stevens (Marketing and Public Relations)
Council members 2012
Wendy Toole (Chair), Sara Peacock (Vice-Chair), Gordon R Hooper (Finance), Bridget Buckle (Secretary), Sarah Patey (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Publications), Sabine Citron (Regional), Sonia Cutler (Conference), Stephen Cashmore (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Richenda Milton-Daws (Professional Development), Gareth Haman (Internet), Tracey Cowell (Marketing and Public Relations)
Council members 2013
Sara Peacock (Chair), Sabine Citron (Vice-Chair, Regional), John Bowdler (Finance), Bridget Buckle (Secretary), John Firth (Membership), Gillian Clarke (Publications), Christine Vaughan (Conference), Stephen Cashmore (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Liz Jones (Professional Development), John Espirian (Internet), Gareth Haman (Marketing and Public Relations)
Council members 2014
Sara Peacock (Chair), Sabine Citron (Vice-Chair), Paul Churchouse (Finance), Bridget Buckle (Secretary), John Firth (Membership), Steve Hammatt (Publications), Lucy Metzger (Regional), Christine Vaughan (Conference), Stephen Cashmore (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Jane Moody (Professional Development), John Espirian (Internet), Liz Jones (Marketing and Public Relations)
Council members 2015
Sabine Citron (Chair), Lucy Metzger (Vice-Chair), Paul Churchouse (Finance), Bridget Buckle (Secretary), John Firth (Membership), Steve Hammatt (Publications), Ruth Durbridge (Regional), Christine Vaughan (Conference), Stephen Cashmore (Training), Gerard Hill (Mentoring), Jane Moody (Professional Development ), John Espirian (Internet), Margaret Hunter (Marketing and Public Relations)
Council members 2016
Sabine Citron (Chair), Lucy Metzger (Vice-Chair), John Firth (Membership), Steve Hammatt (Information), Sue Browning (Community), Beth Hamer (Conference), Stephen Cashmore (Training/Mentoring), Jane Moody (Professional Development), John Espirian (Internet), Margaret Hunter (Marketing and Public Relations) , Ayesha Chari (External Relations), Christine Vaughan (Standards)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), Jane Muir (Derrington's: Company Secretary), Gerard Hill (Chartership)
Council members 2017
Sabine Citron (Chair), Lucy Metzger (Vice-Chair), Sue Browning (Community), Beth Hamer (Conference), Ayesha Chari (External Relations), Margaret Hunter (Information), John Espirian (Internet), Denise Cowle (Marketing and Public Relations), John Firth (Membership), Anya Hastwell (Professional Development), Ian Howe (Standards), Jane Moody (Training)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), Jane Muir (Derrington's: Company Secretary), Gerard Hill (Chartership)
Council members 2018
Sabine Citron (Chair), Sue Browning (Vice-Chair, Membership), Lucy Metzger (Vice-Chair, External Relations), Jane Moody (Vice-Chair, Training), Denise Cowle (Marketing and Public Relations), Beth Hamer (Conference), Anya Hastwell (Professional Development), Margaret Hunter (Information), Richard Hutchinson (Internet), Hugh Jackson (Standards), Vanessa Plaister (Community), Martin Walker (Organisational)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), Jane Muir (Derrington's: Company Secretary), Gerard Hill (Chartership), WorkPlace HR
Council members 2019
Sabine Citron (Chair), Sue Browning (Vice-Chair, Membership), Lucy Metzger (Vice-Chair, External Relations), Jane Moody (Vice-Chair, Training and Mentoring), Denise Cowle (Marketing and Public Relations), Beth Hamer (Conference), Margaret Hunter (Information), Richard Hutchinson (Digital Services), Hugh Jackson (Professional Standards), Vanessa Plaister (Community), Martin Walker (Organisational)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), Jane Muir (Derrington's: Company Secretary), Gerard Hill (Chartership), WorkPlace HR
Council members 2020
Hugh Jackson (Chair), Sue Browning (Vice-Chair, Membership), Jane Moody (Vice-Chair, Training and Mentoring), Beth Hamer (Conference), Louise Harnby (Social Media), Richard Hutchinson (Digital Services), Luke Finley (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), Margaret Hunter (Information), Denise Cowle (Marketing and Public Relations), Lucy Metzger (Professional Standards), Vanessa Plaister (Community), Martin Walker (Organisational)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), WorkPlace HR
Council members 2021
Hugh Jackson (Chair), Sue Browning (Vice-Chair, Membership), Vanessa Plaister (Vice-Chair, Special Projects), Denise Cowle (Marketing and Public Relations), Luke Finley (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), Beth Hamer (Conference), Louise Harnby (Communications), Richard Hutchinson (Digital Services), John Ingamells (Community), Lucy Metzger (Professional Standards), Jane Moody (Training and Mentoring), Abi Saffrey (Information)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), WorkPlace HR
Council members 2022
Hugh Jackson (Chair), Sue Browning (Vice-Chair, Membership), Vanessa Plaister (Vice-Chair, Special Projects), Denise Cowle (Marketing), Luke Finley (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), Beth Hamer (Conference), Louise Harnby (Communications), Richard Hutchinson (Digital Services), John Ingamells (Community), Lucy Metzger (Professional Standards), Jane Moody (Training), Abi Saffrey (Information)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), WorkPlace HR
Council members 2023
Hugh Jackson (Chair), Louise Harnby (Vice-Chair), Denise Cowle (Marketing), Beth Hamer (Conference), Richard Hutchinson (Digital Services), John Ingamells (Community), Janet McMillan (Professional Standards), Hester Highton (Training), Abi Saffrey (Information), Cathy Tingle (Membership)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), WorkPlace HR
As of February 2023: Louise Harnby (Chair), Denise Cowle (Vice-Chair), Beth Hamer (Conference), Richard Hutchinson (Digital Services), John Ingamells (Community), Janet McMillan (Professional Standards), Hester Highton (Training), Abi Saffrey (Information), Cathy Tingle (Membership)
External advisers: Mark Robinson (MJB: Finance), Memcom
Minutes of Council meetings
Want to see what previous Councils discussed? The minutes of Council meetings from 2008 to 2018 are available in this archive:
Minutes of Council meetings from 2019 onwards are available on request from .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), subject to redaction of sensitive and/or confidential content. You can also find out what the Council’s been up to by downloading archive editions of Council News: