Lanchester to step down from ASA

Australian Society of Authors (ASA) CEO Olivia Lanchester will be stepping down after five years in the role.

Lanchester was appointed CEO in 2019 after four years working as the ASA’s legal services manager and company secretary.

In a statement, the ASA said Lanchester’s leadership ‘has been integral to the ASA’s continued growth throughout times of uncertainty and change’, citing among her achievements her spearheading of the ASA’s successful campaign to expand lending rights to include digital formats; calling for the spotlight on writers now seen in the National Cultural Policy; being ‘an early and outspoken advocate’ in the face of generative AI; establishing the non-profit law firm for authors, Authors Legal; overseeing the launch of the ASA’s new website and database; securing federal funding for the ASA; and growing the staff and membership of the organisation.

ASA chair Sophie Cunningham said Lanchester was ‘the reason I wanted to be on the board of the ASA and then became chair of that board’. ‘The ASA is a significant cultural and professional development organisation, devoted to writers, their rights and their needs,’ Cunningham said. ‘At sixty-one years old, the ASA had a significant track record, and, thanks to Olivia’s extraordinary work, has reached new heights in the last five years as well as being strongly positioned for the years to come.’

‘The decision to leave has been an incredibly difficult one but I think after nine years the time is right,’ Lanchester said. ‘I have been so lucky to have the unwavering support and guidance of chair Sophie Cunningham, and Nicholas Pickard before her, and [I] thank the entire ASA board for their generosity and vision. I am also indebted to the ASA staff: a passionate, caring, utterly dedicated team; and to my predecessor Juliet Rogers, who taught me so much before I stepped into the CEO role. Lastly, I want to thank our wonderful industry partners, particularly the Copyright Council, Copyright Agency, APA, BookPeople, ALIA, FNAWN, and Creative Australia, who have made collaboration enjoyable and effective through some challenging times in recent years.’

‘My deep fondness and regard for the ASA will remain with me always,’ Lanchester added. ‘For the coming months, I will be focusing on the continued development of our services, our advocacy efforts, and a smooth transition. As ever, there’s so many exciting things ahead for the ASA.’

The ASA is beginning a recruitment process for its next CEO. Lanchester will remain as CEO until a new appointment is made.

Category: Local news