Publisherspeak US 2026

With over two decades of experience across editorial and production workflows in the publishing industry, Audra is currently the Publications Director - Production at the American Physiological Society (APS). She specializes in innovative workflow development and strategic planning. She has experience implementing new copyediting and XML tools, transitioning production workflows, and expanding thinking about metadata from submission through downstream indexing.

Audra is passionate about metadata and process development.

As an executive, advisor, and speaker, Jessica has partnered with the C-suite, Boards, and senior leaders to develop and execute strategic plans and transformative initiatives that drive scientific discovery and societal impact. She specializes in transformation, change management, startups at the intersection of science, technology, and media.​

She founded The Informed Frontier to empower the architects of our future: those purpose-driven leaders and organizations accelerating science and solving the challenges of the 21st century. Previously, she oversaw strategic planning, acquisitions and investments in AI-powered tools for science research and discovery, and developed a comprehensive Responsible AI policy as Vice President for Strategy and Investments at Holtzbrinck. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions of increasing responsibility at Cell Press and Elsevier.​

Jessica currently serves on the Advisory Board of Johns Hopkins University Press. She was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship while earning a Ph.D. in Microbiology from Yale University and earned a BA in Biology and Communication of Science and Technology from Vanderbilt University.