Top international award for New Zealand plain language expert

Melissa Wardell | September 19, 2015

Lynda Harris has received the prestigious Christine Mowat Plain Language Achievement Award at a conference in Dublin, Ireland. The award recognises Lynda’s exceptional contribution to advancing plain language at local, national, and international levels. The award also acknowledges Lynda as representing the plain language profession with the highest integrity and skill.

Susan Kleimann, Lynda Harris and Dr Neil James celebrate after the announcement.

Lynda is the founder and chief executive of New Zealand plain language consultancy Write Limited. The company offers consulting services to clients throughout New Zealand and overseas.

The award was announced at the tenth PLAIN conference attended by communications practitioners in a range of disciplines from around the world. The judging panel commented on the extent of Lynda’s experience and her many contributions to the field of clear communication.

‘This was an outstanding nomination’, said Deborah Bosley, President of PLAIN International. ‘We’re delighted to honour Lynda as an inspiring and visionary leader in her field. She has significantly advanced the plain language profession through her company’s work, especially her applied research into the business benefits of plain language in organisations.’

Joining other award winners

Lynda is the fifth person to receive the Christine Mowat Plain Language Achievement Award since its inception in 2007, and the first New Zealander to do so.

Dr Neil James, Lynda Harris, and Christine Mowat.
Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells – Copyright 2015 Fennell Photography

Previous award winners include Martin Cutts, author of the Oxford Guide to Plain English, and Barbro Ehrenberg-Sundin, formerly a language expert in the Swedish Government offices.

The award is endowed by Christine Mowat, a distinguished figure in the clear communications field and author of A Plain Language Handbook for Legal Writers. Christine founded Wordsmith Associates, a Canada-based writing and training company more than 30 years ago.