Resilience, Passion and Success in Publishing: Rosemary Shipton (Fairholme Old Girl 1959)

From her early days as an assistant editor at the University of Toronto Press to her current role as an executive editor at Simon & Schuster in Canada, Rosemary has woven a tapestry of remarkable achievements, each more interesting than the last.

With a career spanning decades, multiple facets of publishing, and a still-growing list of editing bestsellers and award-winning works, her passion for books and storytelling remains as steadfast as ever.

But it’s not just her impressive resume that makes her stand out - it’s the way she’s navigated a constantly-evolving industry, mentored hundreds of aspiring editors, and tackled the challenges of a female pioneer in a predominantly male-dominated field.

Now, as she wraps up full-time work in Canada to focus on a few final projects, Rosemary reflects on a career that’s been as fulfilling as it has been groundbreaking, proving that age is truly just a number when you’re doing what you love.

‘You may wonder why I am in Canada. In a way, it’s connected to Fairholme. In the late 1950s, we first knew our results in the state-run Senior exams when they were published in the Toowoomba Chronicle. I was astonished by mine, so much better than I expected, and that got me a scholarship to University of Queensland,’ Rosemary remembers.

‘There I enrolled in the four-year History Honours program, graduated with First-Class Honours, and won an Australian National University Scholarship to ANU in Canberra. From there I won a Commonwealth Scholarship, and, wanting to follow the American system of a combined seminar and thesis degree, chose to come to Canada. After three years here, I married a Canadian – and began my first job in publishing at University of Toronto Press (UTP).

‘The prerequisites for this UTP job - a scholarly publisher - were a minimum of an MA in History, a reading knowledge of French, and the confidence and ability to work mostly with academic authors. In other words, university professors and researchers. After an interview, I got the job and began in August 1968.’

Rosemary, who attended Fairholme in the late 1950s when Nancy Shaw was Principal, continues to embody the spirit of curiosity and lifelong learning that defines a successful career in publishing. The world of trade publishing, where firms like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins reign, is one that demands constant adaptability and enthusiasm, she says.

It’s a realm where no two books are ever alike, and no two authors ever present the same challenges. Yet, for this seasoned publishing veteran, meeting those challenges head-on with diplomacy, respect for deadlines, and passion has been the key to her rewarding career.

‘People who love a career in publishing tend to be curious, to thrive on lifelong learning. Every book is different, so you never repeat yourself. Every author is different, too, so it’s essential to be able to meet whatever challenges spring up and make a success of them.’

Rosemary’s love of books and reading was nurtured at Fairholme (she was Dux of the College in 1959) where she says she was lucky enough to have some inspiring teachers guide her path.

‘My years at Fairholme taught me that if I applied myself, I could succeed. the Principal, Nancy Shaw, was a big influence, as were a couple of teachers, such as Judith Green, who went on, as Judith Rodiquez, to be a well-known poet and university lecturer in Australia. I kept in touch with her sporadically and met up with her once in New York and later in Toronto, just a couple of years before she died,’ Rosemary remembers.

‘At Fairholme, I liked the routine of the morning assembly, sports days and the annual fair.’

One of the strengths of attending a girls-only school, according to Rosemary, is that it encourages students to take on all responsibilities, without the constraints of traditional gender roles. In the 50s - a time when societal expectations often dictated what males and females could do - she says Fairholme allowed young women to break free from those boundaries. ‘One of the advantages of a girls-only school is that the students have to do everything. There is no division of responsibility along ‘traditional’ lines between males and females (as there often was in the 1950s!).’

Similarly, the Fairholme values of seeking excellence, perseverance, integrity and kindness all continue to guide Rosemary’s professional and personal journey. ‘I hope all these characteristics will stay with me to the end of my life.’

When asked about the secret to her career longevity, Rosemary credits enthusiasm and a commitment to staying fit and healthy. Similarly, her passion for her work, combined with a willingness to embrace new opportunities, has kept her at the forefront of the publishing industry for decades. ‘I hoped to make my life as interesting and fulfilling as it could be, to be kind and supportive, and to enjoy my family and my friends,’ she reflects.

‘It’s important to have good friends and to be loyal to them. Also to respect experts and people who know more about some things than you do!’

‘I think Fairholme’s focus on fostering creativity and resilience guided my ability to take risks and embrace new challenges.’

Even as she reflects on her decades-long career, Rosemary is staying firmly in the moment.

‘My final in-house position has been at Simon & Schuster as Executive Editor – and I have a most interesting group of books on the go (including the memoir by the current Governor General of Canada).

‘Recently, I turned 83, so I’m going to resign from full-time work and finish off my projects on a contract basis over the next 15 months. I don’t want to plan beyond the end of 2026 simply because I don’t think that’s fair to authors (who tend to develop a close relationship with their editors).

‘As I look back on my career, yes, I’ve enjoyed it to the full – especially having ventured into so many different aspects of publishing. I’ve also been well rewarded: in 2007, Trinity College, University of Toronto, granted me an honorary doctorate for my contribution to publishing in Canada, and I’ve won two awards given by Editors Canada.’

Having mentored hundreds of students throughout her career, Rosemary’s offers these insights into leadership and nurturing talent in the publishing industry - in fact, for any industry: ‘A good leader leads by example, so be positive, cooperative, creative, and always do your best work.’

And advice to the next generation of Fairholme Old Girls? ‘Be curious, embrace lifelong learning, and never stop trying to make a difference. If you do that, success will follow.’