Plain English Foundation editors named judges for 2025 awards
Two editors from Plain English Foundation have been selected to join the judging panel of the 2025 Plain Language Awards for Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Elizabeth Beach and Emily Halloran, both accredited editors and plain language specialists, have been named alongside 34 other experts to assess entries across several categories at the Awards. Dr Beach will judge submissions for Best Public Sector Website, while Halloran will focus on the Best Public Sector Document category.
Panel appointments
The inclusion of Beach and Halloran on the judging panel is seen as a recognition of their expertise in the discipline of clear communication. Both editors are deeply involved in delivering plain language training and editorial services at Plain English Foundation.
Yusuf Pingar, General Manager of Plain English Foundation, emphasised the significance of the appointments in a statement:
"Being invited to judge these Awards is a significant endorsement of both Elizabeth and Emily's expertise, and of the Foundation's authority in the field. It demonstrates how highly the Foundation is regarded across government and business, and reinforces our mission to make communication clear, accessible and impactful."
The Awards, established by the WriteMark Plain English Awards Trust in 2021, recognise excellence in clear communication among government and corporate bodies in Australia and New Zealand. The judging panel collectively determines which organisations best demonstrate clarity, transparency and accessibility in their written content, in line with the Write Plain Language Standard.
Demand for plain English
The announcement comes as there is increasing pressure on governments, corporates and regulators to improve the clarity of their communication and to rebuild public trust. Expectations for accessibility and transparency are high, with plain language considered critical to governance and accountability.
Organisations are seeking to respond to these pressures through clearer, plainer communication in both public and internal documents. Members of the public are also calling for information to be presented transparently, with recent figures indicating that six in ten Australians report a sense of grievance and falling trust in both government and business leaders.
Application in public sector
The work of Plain English Foundation has included notable public sector engagements, particularly with the Department of Human Services, now known as Services Australia. Foundation-trained staff supported a major digital project to merge the Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support Agency websites, aiming to standardise content to plain language standards. This included providing style guides and performance evaluations as part of the project.
As a result, the newly consolidated Services Australia website received an 88% score in a Foundation review. The redesign was credited with improving the usability of the site and making it more accessible for millions of Australians seeking government services online. The Foundation's broader efforts in the public sector have focused on improving clarity, enhancing accessibility, supporting government transparency, and catering for vulnerable users navigating complex procedures.
Editorial credentials
Dr Elizabeth Beach is Senior Editor and leader of client relationships at Plain English Foundation. Her background is in linguistics, and she is specialised in writing for government and scientific audiences.
Emily Halloran is an Editor at the Foundation, with a history in education and experience in converting technical and corporate materials into clear, confident communication.
The Plain Language Awards aim to raise standards of clarity in both government and business sectors by formally recognising best practice. Finalists for the 2025 Awards will be announced in September, with winners set to be revealed at New Zealand Parliament on 30 October 2025.