Farewells and welcomes

I’m writing to share some significant changes in the Editorial Panel and Board at the journal during 2019.

First, I am sad to announce that Professor Amanda Kenny stepped down from her role as co-Editor in Chief in September this year. Some readers may be aware that Mandy was recently appointed to the role of Editor in Chief of Nurse Education Today. In addition to this, Mandy is taking on new responsibilities at La Trobe University through her position as the inaugural Violet Vines Marshman Professor of Rural Health, and Director of the newly established Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research. Even with the seemingly boundless energy that she has, Mandy needed to make some changes!

Mandy joined the Editorial Panel as an Associate Editor of the Australian Journal of Primary Health in 2012. In January 2015 she and I became co-Editors in Chief following Professor Libby Kalucy’s retirement. During this time, with the guidance of CSIRO Publishing as the journal’s publisher, we moved to publishing six issues each year. Mandy ensured that we became a member of the Committee of Publication Ethics (COPE) as part of our strategy to maintain high standards, and she has been a strong advocate for the journal’s use of social media to enhance the journal’s profile and broaden its reach and impact.

Mandy has been a joy to work with. She has been generous in sharing her knowledge and expertise with me and all the Associate Editors. We will all miss her energy, sharp intellect and good humour. I’m happy to say that, in keeping with the journal’s tradition, Mandy will join the Editorial Board and continue to support the Australian Journal of Primary Health in that role.

Mandy’s departure from the editorial team is not the only one this year. Sarah Larkins and Geoff Spurling also resigned from the Editorial Panel this year due to the pressure of other work commitments. Sarah was an Associate Editor for four and a half years, while Geoff was with the Australian Journal of Primary Health team for two years. Both made significant contributions to the journal, including oversight of the 2018 virtual issue on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health (https://www.publish.csiro.au/py/virtualissue/2422). Mandy and I were very grateful to have had Sarah and Geoff on the editorial team and wish them all the best for the future.

Finally, I would like to thank a member of the Editorial Board who has stepped down this year, Associate Professor Liz Harris. Liz joined the Editorial Board in 2012 bringing her broad expertise and interest in health inequalities to the Board and to her regular reviewing. We are grateful for her contribution to the journal’s ongoing success.

Balancing the sadness of the farewells of 2019 are the welcomes!

We were very happy to welcome Robyn Preston, Lilon Bandler and Liz Sturgiss to the Editorial Panel in 2019.

• Robyn has a background in anthropology, health promotion, project management, and international and community development. Her main areas of research interest are: access to health services for under-served communities (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, refugees, rural and remote peoples); socially accountable health professional education; and health promotion in the tropics.

• Liz is a clinical general practitioner and primary care researcher. She leads an emerging research program on complex and chronic disease management in primary care that focuses on the translation of guidelines into real-world practice and the implementation of innovative interventions.

• Lilon is a general practitioner (working in rural and remote health in western New South Wales, Australia), and is Principal Research Fellow for the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) Network. She has been involved in medical education across the healthcare sector since 1985, including curriculum development, implementation and evaluation of programs, and pathways and support for Indigenous students.

The Australian Journal of Primary Health continues to attract a diverse range of papers that reflect the scope and historical background of the journal. Our focus on publishing quality manuscripts that contribute to evidence about comprehensive primary health care – including what it is and how to deliver it well – continues. We are grateful to authors and readers for their ongoing support of the journal during 2019 and look forward to an even stronger year in 2020.

None declared.