Melbourne University Publishing board, CEO resign amid tensions

Melbourne University Publishing directors and CEO Louise Adler have resigned amid tensions over the direction of the publisher.

MUP chief executive Louise Adler. Picture: Aaron Francis

The independent directors of the Melbourne University Publishing board and its chief executive have resigned, amid tensions with the university over the direction of its publishing arm.

CEO Louise Adler has resigned along with directors including chairman Laurie Muller, former NSW premier Bob Carr, former human rights commissioner Gillian Triggs, PwC executive Tony Peake and businessman Danny Gorog.

Professor Triggs said the board’s decision had come after Vice-Chancellor Duncan Maskell, with the support of the university’s council, had decided that MUP should take what they called a “finite focus” on academic work.

“This change of direction narrows the mandate of MUP from its corporate objectives, which were very wide, to allow publishing of material that would stimulate intellectual debate in Australia at a broader level, so that the objectives now are ones that really do require a new board and fresh approach to MUP in the future,” Professor Triggs told The Australian.

She said the board had felt that the Vice-Chancellor should have the opportunity to appoint a new board, having decided to change the publisher’s direction.

Professor Triggs warned there may be negative financial consequences as a result of the decision.

“I’m certainly confident that the VC has adopted this policy in good faith to mirror the editorial policy of great publishers like Cambridge University Press and Yale University,” she said.

“But this is a very, very competitive environment in the publishing industry. Margins are very low. You need the more popular books to widen the buying readership, because it is very hard to sell in a commercial environment.

“It remains to be seen whether the new policy will be successful.

“I think MUP has become the most independent and successful university publisher in Australia and I wish it well and I really hope that it can maintain its very high calibre reputation.”

Gillian Triggs.

Bob Carr. Picture: AAP

Board member and former foreign minister and NSW Premier Bob Carr said he and his colleagues had resigned “because of the decision of the university to turn this proud and successful independent publisher into a pocket-sized and cloistered publisher of academic scripts.”

“The university’s decision surgically excises from the world of Australian culture a doughty, independent, freewheeling voice that brought into print major works on the Australian people, their character and their challenges,” Mr Carr said.

“It’s not a viable model to restrict this publisher to the works of scholars only, and it leaves a board like ours with no contribution to make.”

Professor Maskell began in the role in October.

MUP staff were told today told about the resignations and a statement is expected this afternoon.

Adler confirms resignation

In a statement released by outgoing chair Laurie Muller, interim chair Warren Bebbington and the MUP board, Ms Adler confirmed she was resigning after 15 years as CEO.

“I was appointed CEO and Publisher of MUP in 2003 as a consequence of the University having accepted a review led by the doyenne of Australian publishing, Hilary McPhee AO, which was to furnish the blueprint for the vibrant business MUP has become today,” Ms Adler said.

“The historic significance of Melbourne University Publishing was manifest in the prestige of its backlist, however, to my concern I was welcomed into the MUP offices with the announcement that ‘MUP is the publisher of last resort; we publish the sweepings off the forest floor’.

“There was clearly much to do and I set about transforming the editorial culture.

“Today MUP is Australia’s leading university press and its foremost publisher of serious nonfiction.”

Ms Adler said she and MUP could not have achieved what they did without the “unwavering support” of the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis and his commitment to the principle of editorial independence.

“The MUP Board has consistently upheld the mandate to publish fine writing from the academy and beyond that contributes to public discourse and documents the national story: Geoffrey Bardon’s Papunya, which languished for years in 15 boxes, Rachel Perkins’ landmark First Australians, Stuart Macintyre’s The History Wars, Mark McKenna’s multi-award winning biography of Manning Clark, Jenny Hocking’s forensic biography of Gough Whitlam, Mark Latham’s Diaries, Tony Abbott’s Battlelines, Bill Shorten’s For the Common Good, Paul Kelly’s The March of Patriots and Triumph and Demise, both magisterial chronicles of contemporary political history — these are just some of the MUP titles to have set the agenda, changed community attitudes, altered public policy, held the powerful to account and defended the disempowered.

“The joy of making ideas into books has been the great privilege of my professional life. It is now time to hand the digital equivalent of the blue pencil over to the next generation as I take on new challenges in public life.

“My heartfelt thanks to those many writers who trusted us, the courageous and principled current MUP board so ably led in recent times by that eminence grise of Australian publishing Laurie Muller AM, the creative powerhouse that is the MUP team and a book industry that every day proves that books matter.”

Muller pays tribute to Adler

Outgoing chair Mr Muller, who has been a board member since 2009, paid tribute to Ms Adler, saying she had brought a much-needed vibrancy to a reborn Melbourne University Publishing Ltd when she was appointed CEO and Publisher in 2003.

“During the fifteen years of her stewardship of this venerable publishing house she gave it an editorial energy that engaged with a wide spectrum of authors and broadened readership,” Mr Muller said.

“Whilst MUP maintained its scholarly base it broadened its role by successfully publishing thought provoking and controversial titles that engaged the nation.

“This came about through the dynamism of Louise Adler and her capacity to identify opportunity and convince distinguished authors to write for MUP.”

Mr Muller said Ms Adler had led MUP with distinction over the past 15 years.

“She has successfully guided it through the winds of change that buffeted Australian publishing and in successfully discharging her duties will ensure MUP is in good condition to face its future,” he said.

“She has also provided leadership within the Australian publishing industry and also internationally.

“As a highly regarded public intellectual she has contributed to debate nationally on matters of cultural, political and social importance.”

Mr Muller said Ms Adler would leave MUP in “robust good health”, both financially and editorially.

“The Board of MUP expresses its sincere gratitude for her diligence, leadership, good judgement and collegiality,” he said.

“It also honours the legacy of the many fine books she has added to the rich tapestry of MUP’s ninety-six-year history and wishes her great success and much satisfaction in the next stage of her professional life.”

MUP to ‘refocus: University of Melbourne

University of Melbourne Public Affairs Acting Associate Director Bruce Tobin said MUP would refocus on “being a high quality scholarly press in support of the University’s mission of excellence in teaching and research”.

“The new focus will ensure the university press is aligned to the strengths of the University of Melbourne and its globally recognised academic and research fields,” Mr Tobin said.

“The refocus is in response to an extensive review of MUP, which is Australia’s largest and oldest university press and a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of Melbourne.

“In the meantime, it is business as usual for the publishing house.”

University of Melbourne Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Su Baker said the University was committed to strengthening and enhancing MUP, ensuring high quality works are made available to broader and general audiences.

Professor Baker said the university would continue to provide significant annual funding to assist with publishing high quality works and continue to publish the prestigious Miegunyah Press books and literary magazine Meanjin.

Professor Baker paid tribute to Ms Adler.

“Louise brought a rare blend of passion and experience to the role following her time at The Age, the Australian Book Review, and as Deputy Director at the Victorian College of the Arts,” Professor Baker said.

“Louise’s presence has been unique and her impact strong and distinctive.

“She is a fearless public commentator and we fully expect for this to continue in her future ventures.

“We sincerely thank Louise for her remarkable service to Melbourne University Publishing.”

The University also acknowledged the independent directors that have chosen to resign from the MUP Board and thanked them for their service.

“MUP has a long and distinguished history as Australia’s oldest university publisher,” Professor Baker said.

“It is an outstanding asset which should focus on being a high quality scholarly press in support of the University’s mission.

“This new focus will ensure an exciting future for MUP, as we look towards celebrating the publisher’s 100th anniversary in 2022.”

The Australian has requested comment from the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

MUP’s trade arm has recently published books by a number of The Australian’s journalists, including Rick Morton, James Jeffrey, Chip Le Grand and Kate Legge.