About me

Nick Turner, writer and accredited editor

Since establishing NT Writing & Editing in 2008, I’ve earned a reputation as a skilled wordsmith and a reliable and flexible editor.

In 2009, I gained accreditation from the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd). IPEd renewed my accreditation in 2014, 2019 and 2024. I’m also a professional member of IPEd’s New South Wales branch, Editors NSW, and I attend professional development workshops and conferences to keep my skills up to date.

Before starting my writing and editing business, I had a 14-year diplomatic career with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). I served at headquarters in Canberra as well as in Warsaw, Paris and Moscow.

I honed my writing skills in DFAT, producing high-quality policy reports, submissions to ministers, official correspondence, diplomatic dispatches, media releases, publicity material and speeches.

I later worked in marketing at the Sydney-based Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (now Export Finance Australia) – the Australian Government’s export credit agency – where I further developed my corporate writing skills.

I’m skilled at applying published and in-house style guides with consistency and accuracy. I’m particularly familiar with the Australian Government Style Manual and have also worked in US and Canadian English.

My keen interest in foreign languages adds to my understanding and appreciation of English grammar and expression. I achieved fluency in French, Russian and Polish and basic proficiency in Vietnamese and Lao.

Education and qualifications

1991 – Bachelor of Arts (Honours), University of Sydney
1993 – Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian National University
2001 – Master of Arts (International Relations), Deakin University
2004 – Master of Development Administration, Australian National University
2009 – Accredited editor, Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) – accreditation renewed in 2014, 2019 and 2024
2013 – Professional member, Society of Editors (NSW) – now Editors NSW (a branch of IPEd)

Nick Turner is an IPEd accredited editor.