About Helen Bradford – Capire
Helen Bradford is Capire’s lead plain-language writer and editor.
The Italian word ‘capire’ is a simple, precise word that means to get the point of something.
At Capire, getting the point is the essence of our work. We decipher your words and ideas, and present them in simple, precise ways that your audience can quickly and easily understand.
Watch Helen Bradford short video to find out more about Capire’s services and how to get the most from this website.
Helen Bradford at Capire wins the Best Plain Language Technical Communicator Award in 2023
We are honoured to be named the 2023 Best Plain Language Technical Communicator by the WriteMark Plain English Awards Trust. This award acknowledges Capire’s commitment to plain language and how that benefits people who read our technical communications.
For the award, we submitted a publication we wrote for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the agriculture projects it delivers in developing countries. Plain language is not only about the words we use, but also about how we use images to convey ideas. In this publication, Agriculture Activity Insights, we also designed a series of charts that would enable readers to easily interpret the complex data that the Ministry wanted to share about its projects.
What the Plain Language Awards judges say
The Agriculture Activity Insights report is one of the best examples of information design the judges have seen. We wouldn’t hesitate to use this document as an example of effective plain technical writing.
This clearly written and appealing report is a pleasure to read. This is a very reader-friendly document. There is a pleasing rhythm to the sentence construction and flow between sentences.
Helen has chosen to use words that are clear, familiar and precise. There’s a refreshing lack of jargon, too. The report’s tone is professional, clear, approachable and straightforward — even engaging. She clearly wants to connect with the audience, and help them understand and put the content to use.
Capire is led by Helen Bradford — Helen is an accredited editor and coach who has worked with government departments and NGOs for over 30 years.
Helen knows the types of documents you use and understands your language. She has experienced the same problems you face getting documents written and finalised, such as how to handle complex and sensitive material, how to manage changing agendas, and how to accommodate the divergent views of multiple stakeholders.
About Helen
Originally from the UK, Helen has lived in Wellington, New Zealand since 2010. From 1996 to 2016 she worked for Voluntary Service Overseas, the United Nations and New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific and New Zealand.
Helen’s jobs have involved writing and editing most types of documents that government departments and non-profit organisations use. She understands well what ministers, governance boards, funding committees, managers, staff, clients and the public need from the documents they are given.
To every writing and editing project Helen brings:
- experience working with governments and non-profit organisations
- experience managing large programmes, projects and budgets
- experience preparing and assessing funding proposals
- experience managing teams
- experience working with people around the world.
While most people find writing the least enjoyable part of their job, Helen loves finding ways to present complex ideas and information clearly, succinctly and accurately. In 2017 she left the New Zealand public service and set up her own writing and editing consultancy. In 2020 she launched Capire.
Helen’s editing qualifications
Helen has a postgraduate editing and proofreading qualification from Whitireia New Zealand. She is an accredited editor of the Institute of Professional Editors, and one of only six accredited editors in New Zealand. Being an accredited editor means she has demonstrated she can competently apply the Australian standards for editing practice.
Helen is an advanced professional member of the UK Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. Being an advanced member means she has demonstrated she has editing experience (minimum 1500 hours), skills, professional recognition and good references.
Helen’s training and coaching qualifications
Helen is an experienced trainer and has a UK national vocational qualification in teaching, training and development. She is also an accredited executive coach trained by Australia’s Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership.
Helen’s academic qualifications
Helen has a BA in psychology from the University of Durham, UK; an MSc in finance from the University of Leicester, UK; and a postgraduate certificate in management from the Open University, UK.
What our clients say
Helen is an insightful editor and a great person to work with.
Christopher Dean, Research Development Manager, Victoria University of Wellington
