The Cheryl Stephens Innovation Award

An international award recognising innovation in plain language, honouring PLAIN co-founder Cheryl Stephens and her outstanding achievements in pushing the boundaries of what plain language can do.

Innovation can take many forms
Technology — adapting emerging technology to develop new services and systems
Advocacy — extending the scope and influence of plain language internationally
Research — strengthening the knowledge base for plain language
Professional development — helping develop the skills of plain language practitioners and the institutions supporting them

Purpose

  • To recognise the significant contribution of a PLAIN member

  • To honour one of PLAIN’s co-founders, Cheryl Stephens, and her outstanding achievements in innovation for plain language

Criteria

This award is presented to a person or organisation whose plain language activities have brought significant benefit to the community through one or more of the following areas:

  • Technology – adapting emerging technology to develop new services and systems
  • Advocacy – extending the scope and influence of plain language internationally
  • Research – strengthening the knowledge base for plain language
  • Professional development – helping to develop the skills of plain language practitioners and the institutions supporting them

Eligibility

To be considered, a person must be nominated by a PLAIN member. Their nomination must:

  • be in writing (maximum of 5 pages total for nominating and supporting documents)
  • document the nominee’s achievements, referring to the criteria shown above
  • be supported by another member of PLAIN and at least one other person active in the plain language profession who doesn’t have to be a member of PLAIN.

To be eligible for the award, a recipient should (but doesn’t have to) be a PLAIN member. Serving PLAIN Board members are not eligible for the award.

2025 Winner

NALA

Ireland

Ireland’s National Adult Literacy Agency, recognised for innovative plain language learning through digital platforms, e-tools, and free phone tutoring reaching thousands.

Previous winners
IRIS Lab · Brazil 2023
Plain Language Academies · Canada 2021
Katherine McManus & SFU · Canada 2019
About Cheryl Stephens

Cheryl Stephens was a Canadian lawyer who discovered the international plain language movement while trying to demystify legal language. She is a co-founder of PLAIN and International Plain Language Day.

She became a plain language consultant, built a community for mutual support, and was always an early adopter of new technologies. Cheryl now teaches plain language and supports all efforts to advance the field.

Call for nominations

We notify members by email and through social media when nominations are open. You can nominate yourself (or your organization) or someone else (or their organization).

Selection process

We notify members by email and through social media when nominations are open. You can nominate yourself (or your organization) or someone else (or their organization).

01

Selection committee

The PLAIN Board establishes a selection committee chaired by a Board member to select the award winners.

02

Advance notification

A member of the PLAIN Board advises successful nominees a few months before the conference.

03

Award ceremony

The PLAIN Board establishes a selection committee chaired by a Board member to select the award winners.

Previous winners

  • 2025

    NALA

    Ireland

    Brussels, Belgium

  • 2023

    IrisLab

    Brazil

    Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • 2021

    Plain Language Academy

    Canada

    Online

  • 2019

    Kathrine McManus & Simon Fraser University

    Canada

    Oslo, Norway