Avril Gray
Avril Gray

Avril Gray

Associate Professor

 0131 455 6192

  A.Gray@napier.ac.uk

  

Biography

M.Phil
M.A. Hons
Former Publishing MD
Senior Fellow HEA
Programme Leader, Postgraduate Publishing
(www.publishingdegree.co.uk)
University Project Manager #NapierBigRead (www.NapierBigRead.com)

School

Research Groups

Themes

Research Areas

News

Events

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

  • Invited: Industry Steering Committee, International Magazine Festival
  • Judge, National Scottish Magazine Awards
  • Judge, UNESCO Edinburgh City of Literature Anthology
  • Academic Lead – International Magazine Centre
  • Invited: Advisory Committee Member for Kingston/Napier University Collaboration
  • Judge, DtS Scottish School Magazine Awards
  • Judge, National Scottish Magazine Awards
  • Expert Evidence to Scottish Parliament - Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee delegation
  • Judge, National Scottish Magazine Awards
  • Judge, National Scottish Magazine Awards

 

Conference Organising Activity

  • Innovations' First Birthday (and Birth of Big Read)
  • Bologna Book Fair, 2018
  • London Book Fair, 2017
  • Nielsen UK Summit and Publishing Seminar
  • 3rd International Enhancement in Higher Education Conference, 6-8 June 2017
  • Leipzig Book Fair, 2017
  • Thinking, Doing, Publishing: Pedogical Research on the Go
  • London Book Fair, 2016
  • Society of Young Publishers Conference (annual)
  • Leipzig Book Fair, 2016
  • London Book Fair, 2015
  • Magfest International (annual)
  • Publishing Scotland Conference (annual)

 

External Examining/Validations

  • Validator (invited), MA Publishing & Contemporary Literature, York St John's University
  • Validator (invited), MA Publishing & Creative Writing, York St John's University
  • Validator (invited), MA Publishing, York St John's University
  • External Examiner, BA (Hons) Publishing, NUI Galway
  • External Examiner, BA Hons Publishing, Kingston University
  • Validator, BA Publishing programmes, Kingston University, 2015
  • External Examiner, MA Publishing (Magazines), University of the Arts London, 2013-2015
  • Mentor to External Examiner, University of the Arts, London
  • External Examiner, MA Publishing programmes, University of the Arts London, 2011-2014

 

Fellowships and Awards

  • Recipient of University Award for Advance HE Conference, 2021
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

 

Invited Speaker

  • 'Postgraduate Publishing in an International Context', Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense delegates, 15 March 2018
  • 'Postgraduate Publishing in an International Context', Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig) delegates, 21 February 2018
  • 'How to Get a Job in Publishing', Queen's University Belfast, April 2014
  • 'How to Get a Job in Publishing', Univeristy of Aberdeen, March 2013
  • CCCF 2017 World of Books and Publishing, Edinburgh University (ANNUAL talk)
  • 'Postgraduate Publishing in Edinburgh, Scotland', British Council Panel, Kolkata Book Fair (India)

 

Media Activity

  • "Peter and Wendy" featured in Official 2012 Peter Pan Celebrations
  • Yarrrr be Treasure in them Pages - CHAS get a Personal Preview of New Book
  • Ask the Expert - Avril Gray provides publishing advice to Guardian readers
  • Merchiston Publishing is Scottish 'publisher of the month'
  • Peter Pan brings Christmas Cheer to Sick Kids in Hospital

 

Membership of Professional Body

  • Committee Member, Steering Group, PPA Scotland
  • Member, Equality in Publishing (EQUIP)
  • Secretary, Association for Publishing Education
  • Associate Member, PPA Scotland
  • Network Member, Publishing Scotland

 

Public/Community Engagement

  • Academic Book Week
  • A Book is More Important than Food - Books to Homeless Campaign
  • Innovations in Learning & Teaching - Opening the Book on the Process
  • Monday Master Talks – 2016-2017, speakers included CEOs of Publishing Companies across the UK
  • Martin Rattler Schools Cover Competition
  • Pushkin Prizes - Celebrating 2014, the UK-Russia Year of Culture
  • Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood for Books (Promoting RLS Vampire Novel)
  • Ah Dinnae Ken: What does it mean to be Scottish? (Photo Competition)
  • Books to Schools - Initiative & Initiation (into Publishing)
  • Travel Light - Books as a Passport
  • Olalla - An Experiment in the Emerging Business Model of Crowdfunding
  • Burns ByBite, 2013
  • Ah Dinnae Ken - Young Readers & New Voters
  • Real Sherlock Resurrected at Inaugural Crime Fiction Festival
  • Publishing Showcase - Celebrating Unique UK Accreditation
  • A Clan Gathering - New Road, New Book, New eBook
  • Imagined Corners - A Life Without Bars
  • Sunset Song (Scotland's Favourite Book) - 75th Anniversary
  • Thirty-Nine Steps - A First-Class Escape into Scotland
  • 500 Years of Printing in Scotland

 

Current Post Grad projects