The Mike Austin award for outstanding service to the ISTC
The ISTC award for outstanding service to the ISTC was introduced in 2004. An occasional award, when a deserving individual is identified, it is issued in recognition of the hard work and commitment of individuals who haved helped the ISTC to achieve and exceed its goals.
Council has awarded the 2007 Mike Austin award for outstanding service to the ISTC to John Young.
The award is presented to someone who has made a considerable contribution to the ISTC over a period of time. With 27
years’ service on Council, John has certainly done this.
John began his Council career while Secretary of the ISTC’s Wessex Area Group, at which time he
was already a lecturer on the Technical Authorship course at Chippenham College. He worked at the college for many
years and made it a centre of excellence for the training of technical authors. He was a popular and effective
teacher, establishing strong links with industry to the extent that Chippenham graduates were always in demand. John
brought all these skills into Council when the opportunity arose for the ISTC to run a training course, develop a
syllabus and launch examinations.
In 1991, John took on liaison with the National Council for Vocational Qualifications and set up
a working party. This paved the way to the development of occupational standards in technical communication. He was
also the ISTC’s link to the City and Guilds of London Institute throughout his time on Council, maintaining the
relationship through the difficult times when C&G would not continue exams unless they were self-financing. He played
a key role in keeping the technical communication qualifications alive.
John resumed leadership of the Education Steering Group in 2004. He liaised with the University
of Portsmouth during the establishment of its new postgraduate qualification. In 2005, following John Crossley’s
sudden death, he arranged for the ISTC to purchase the course materials from the estate and offered to set up ISTC
Training. Later that same year, the C&G announced its decision to withdraw its qualifications. This was just another
challenge for John, and he soon established a working group to develop replacement qualifications. He has written
course materials, tutored students and recruited new tutors. Although he has retired from Council, John remains
involved in course and examination development.
His legacy will be the ISTC’s first provision of education and qualifications.
John, the President, Council and members of the ISTC thank you for your commitment to the ISTC as an organisation, and for your years of service to the training, development and growth of technical communicators in general.
Simon Butler, ISTC President 2008
Past winners
2004 Iain Wright
Iain
Wright FISTC, joined the ISTC council
in 1998 when he took over the ISTC web site. In October 2000 he became President, and continued in this role until September 2002. During Iain's time many changes for the better came about, including a major financial restructuring that saved the ISTC from financial ruin, a new
look "Communicator" was introduced, the ISTC newsletter became
a regular on-line publication, the ISTC's new handbook "Professional
Communication and Information Design" was published and an on-line discussion
group was established for all members. Iain was also instrumental in introducing
a brand policy for the ISTC and the Business Affiliate scheme which has been
a great success. Iain also brought us into the European Community when we
became a founder member of TCeurope in 2001 and we have taken part in many
European projects since then.
