Equity at the Editorial Table (Presentation Slides)

Equity at the Editorial Table: Rethinking Board Policies for Inclusive, Ethical Publishing Daniella Thoren and Jennifer Regala, Wolters Kluwer

The editorial board plays a vital role in setting the intellectual tone, values, and standards of scholarly journals, yet many current board compositions and policies reflect outdated structures that limit inclusive representation and perpetuate systemic inequities. This presentation explores how ethical editorial leadership can be reimagined through a more intentional approach to editorial board policies, appointments, and participation. It will examine how the lack of diversity — across gender, race, geography, career stage, and institution type — not only impacts representation but also affects peer review outcomes, topic selection, and publication bias. We will present a framework for revising editorial board policies to embed principles of transparency, accountability, and equity.

Daniella Thoren is Associate Director of Editorial at Wolters Kluwer Health, where she oversees a portfolio of peer-reviewed medical and nursing journals. With over 20 years of experience in scholarly publishing, Daniella leads editorial strategy, board development, and content innovation across multiple titles. Her work focuses on fostering equitable editorial practices, strengthening society partnerships, and advancing the ethical integrity of scientific communication. She is particularly passionate about diversifying editorial boards and implementing inclusive governance policies that reflect the communities journals serve.

Jennifer Regala is an accomplished leader in the scholarly publishing industry, with over 20 years of experience across a range of prominent organizations. As of May 2024, she serves as Associate Director, Publishing, at Wolters Kluwer Health, where she works with award-winning news magazine publications such as Oncology Times and Emergency Medicine News. She was recently elected to the board of directors of the Society of Scholarly Publishers.