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Patron
Lieutenant General Natasha Fox
Natasha became the inaugural Patron for Yarning in October 2023, supporting the publication through her role as the Chief of Personnel. She speaks Indonesian and has been a subscriber of the magazine since its launch in 2022.
Editor-in-Chief
Flying Officer Paul Thomson
Paul is the creator of Yarning and continues to manage it in his position as Editor-in-Chief. He has served in both the Army and Air Force, and in late 2023 became the Navy Language Manager. He is passionate about First Nations languages and champions the development and implementation of this capability within Defence domestic operations.
Editorial Team
Managing Editor
Ms Stephanie Evans
Stephanie is a Psychologist with a passion for language diversity and understanding the ways in which people communicate. Stephanie speaks conversational French, and tourist Italian and Spanish.
Junior Editor
Sergeant Amy Hestermann-Crane
Amy has a love for languages and linguistics, and how these influence culture and our understanding of the world. She holds several Bachelors covering Journalism and Creative Writing, Historical Inquiry and Practice, and German and Classic Languages.
Assistant Editor
Corporal Nicolette Shallvey
Nicolette serves in the Army Reserve and speaks fluent German as well as tourist French. She has a passion for travelling and a keen interest in understanding the intricacies of other cultures.
Assistant Editor
Flying Officer Natalie Omond
Natalie has a Diploma of Languages in Chinese and a Masters of Chinese Law, the latter of which included an exchange program at Beijing’s Peking University. She has also co-authored a book on paradiplomacy.
Assistant Editor
Mrs Wendy Bilboe
Wendy is passionate about language learning, with a particular interest in how cultural and universal concepts are expressed across different languages. She has several masters’ degrees and has studied French and Indonesian.
Proofreader
Sergeant Michelle Willemse
Michelle is a full-time aviator. Originally from South Africa, she speaks fluent Afrikaans, German, and English. She excels in grammar and the ‘rules’ of languages, making her perfect for her magazine role.
Media and Logistics Team
Promotions Manager
Miss Hannah Guy
Hannah has worked in the Media and Communications industry since 2006, gaining experience in print, radio, TV, and digital platforms. She now specialises in marketing and promotions.
Data Analyst
Mr Taylan Akay
Taylan has a PhD in econometrics and specialises in data analytics and AI. He is fluent in Turkish and has a keen interest in the Turkic languages of Central Asia.