My name is Reinier Prosée and I’ve recently taken over the role of preLights Community Manager. I’ve spent the last decade immersing myself in the world of scientific research and academic publishing. This journey has allowed me to live and work in different places across Europe, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Before joining The Company of Biologists, I worked at two other publishing companies: Wolters Kluwer and Frontiers. In between, I’ve completed a PhD in molecular biology at the University of Geneva, which led to a few original publications. All this has given me the unique opportunity to view the publishing industry from both the side of the author as well as the publisher. What is clear to me is that there needs to be a stronger connection between the two – it’s a sense of community that is so important in driving us all forward. Therefore, I feel that an initiative like preLights, hosted by The Company of Biologists, is just what is needed and I’m excited to help it further grow and develop.