Booked Out is a speakers agency for writers, artists and thinkers. More »
Contact Us
VIC: (03) 9824 0177
FAX: (03) 9824 0677
Contact us »
Amanda (AJ) Betts is an award-winning author, teacher and cyclist, living in Perth. Her upcoming novel ‘Zac and Mia’ won the 2012 Text Prize for best unpublished manuscript.
» Read more about Amanda BettsWestern Australia
Described as ‘Australia’s best known academic’ by ABC radio and a ‘celebrity academic’ by other media, Karen lectures on the areas of youth, sexuality and popular culture using a psychoanalytical model. Karen has also worked as a professional actress, a children’s playwright, an Army Officer in the Royal Australian Army Survey Corp, a checkout-chick, an assessment clerk with the NRMA, a waitress, a dress-boutique manager, a theatre director, a wife (twice), and a mother (twice over too!).
» Read more about Dr Karen BrooksQueensland
Thomas Caldwell is a freelance writer, broadcaster and public speaker who specialises in film criticism and educational writing on film. He is the author of the secondary school textbook Film Analysis Handbook, he writes the film criticism blog Cinema Autopsy and he reviews films for the Breakfasters on Melbourne independent community radio station Triple R (3RRR 102.7FM). He also co-hosts the Triple R film criticism podcast Plato’s Cave, regularly reviews films for The Big Issue and is one of the film and television columnists for Killings, the Kill Your Darlings blog.
» Read more about Thomas CaldwellVictoria
Paul Callaghan has worked in game development for over 10 years as a programmer, designer, teacher, and writer. His interests include games and literacy, storytelling, design, and intersection of learning and play and creative expression through interaction.
» Read more about Paul CallaghanVictoria
Ben Chandler is the author of the YA fantasy series Voyages of the Flying Dragon. He holds a PhD in Creative Writing and has published work on popular culture, video game narrative theory, Japanese heroism, anime & manga, and creative writing pedagogy. Ben loves heroes, villains, comic books and video games, and he believes you can learn more from watching cartoons than you can from the news.
» Read more about Ben ChandlerSouth Australia
As a trained social worker and teacher Chris Daicos has extensive experience in working directly with children and adolescents in schools. Chris can talk to welfare staff, teaching staff, and parents.
» Read more about Chris DaicosVictoria
Paul Dillon has a unique investment in the wellbeing of young people. Founder of Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia and a former school teacher, Paul continues to conduct drug information sessions and workshops for school students across Australia and internationally, in countries as diverse as the UK, the Phillipines, and Indonesia.
» Read more about Paul DillonNew South Wales
Evelyn Field is an international expert in managing school and workplace bullying. She answers the big question, “Help, I am being bullied! How can I block the bullying myself when others don’t?”
» Read more about Evelyn FieldVictoria
Karen Ford (B.Ed, MA) is a senior English teacher with 26 years’ experience. She holds a Masters in Cinema from LaTrobe University and has lectured at LaTrobe University and the Victorian College of the Arts. Karen is a Clinical Specialist with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne.
» Read more about Karen FordNina will be presenting at one of our events in Sydney in 2012.
Nina Funnell is a freelance opinion writer and researcher. She has had work published in the Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, The Age, The Brisbane Times and in the Sydney Star Observer. Nina often writes on gender and sexuality related issues and also sits on the board of the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, the Premier’s Council on Preventing Violence Against Women and the National Children and Youth Law Centre. In 2010, she also received the Australian Human Rights Commission Community Individual Award for her work in advocacy against sexual assault and violence.
» Read more about Nina FunnellNew South Wales
Sean aims to give parents, teachers and students greater insight and the practical tools to foster health and wellbeing along with academic and sporting achievement.
Sean is an enthusiastic speaker who delivers unique and engaging content, particular when it comes to the human brain, with plenty of practical outcomes and stories. You get the sense he genuinely loves what he does!
» Read more about Sean FyfeQueensland
Author and researcher Maggie Hamilton writes books and for magazines; gives frequent talks and lectures; is a regular media commentator and a keen observer of social trends. Her many books, which have been published in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Italy, China, Lithuania, Korea, the Arab States and Brazil, include What Men Don’t Talk About, which examines the lives of real men and boys; What’s Happening to Our Girls? and What’s Happening to Our Boys? which take a close look at the 21st century issues boys and girls face, and offer practical, workable solutions to these challenges; and Secret Girls' Business a fun funky empowering gift book for teen girls.
» Read more about Maggie HamiltonNew South Wales
Dr Michael Hewitt-Gleeson is the Principal of the School of Thinking (SOT). He is a former colleague of Edward de Bono and holds the world’s first PhD in Lateral Thinking. SOT is the longest running global program for the teaching of thinking skills.
» Read more about Dr Michael Hewitt-GleesonVictoria
Bec Kavanagh is a reviewer, freelance writer & YA fiction specialist. Bec founded A Thousand Words Festival, a festival which celebrated and encouraged the reading and writing of young adult fiction and now takes that knowledge and passion for books directly into schools where she can share more book love with more people! She has appeared at the Melbourne Writers Festival and AussieCon4 (the 68th World Science Fiction Convention), volunteers for Pigeons (a literacy organisation making exciting work in primary schools) and is polishing up her first manuscript.
» Read more about Bec KavanaghVictoria
John Kilner is a well known expert in the fields of media issues, writing analysis and persuasive writing. He worked for The Age for nineteen years, much of that time for the Education supplement.
» Read more about John KilnerVictoria
Dr Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor and the Head of Education Programs in the School of Science in Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Dr Nagel teaches and researches in the areas of cognition, behaviour and learning and human development and early learning.
» Read more about Dr Michael NagelQueensland
Josh Nelson (BCA Hons, PhD) is a freelance writer, academic, broadcaster and filmmaker. He has worked as a lecturer at The University of Melbourne, Monash University and Victoria University, and has extensive experience presenting to secondary schools on a number of film and media-related topics.
» Read more about Josh NelsonVictoria
Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli has gained national and international recognition as a writer, researcher, lecturer and consultant in the issues of cultural diversity, gender diversity, sexual diversity, family diversity, HIV/AIDS, and social diversity in health and education, with a specific focus on adolescence and young people. She is Honorary Patron of PFLAG Victoria; External Faculty Member of Saybrook University in San Francisco and Founding Member of AGMC (Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council), which has been recognised as a member of FECCA (Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia). Her first novel has recently won a 2010 US Lambda Literary Award
» Read more about Dr Maria Pallotta-ChiarolliVictoria
Louise Park was a classroom teacher, teaching consultant, Literacy advisor and Seminar presenter before becoming one of Australia’s hottest children’s authors. She currently juggles the running of her own publishing and packaging business with her first love–writing for children.
» Read more about Louise ParkNew South Wales
PROJECT ROCKIT is a Victorian-based Anti-bullying and Youth Leadership program that is run by young people for young people. Launched in 2006 by sisters Lucy and Rosie Thomas, PROJECT ROCKIT is the outcome of two young people who wanted to achieve change. Since then, PROJECT ROCKIT has worked with over 25,000 young people in schools, universities and community groups, earning the reputation as the “student’s choice”.
» Read more about Project RockitVictoria
Melinda Tankard Reist is an author, speaker, media commentator, blogger and advocate for women and girls. She is author/editor of four books including Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls, now in its fourth printing, and Big Porn Inc: Exposing the harms of the global pornography industry. Her presentations aim to show us how stereotyped, limited and hypersexualised messages give distorted ideas of bodies, relationships and sexuality and give us tools for addressing the problem.
» Read more about Melinda Tankard ReistAustralian Capital Territory
Lucy Thomas is a highly creative and innovative youth professional, whose imaginative take on life is at the core of her ability to connect with young people in a credible and meaningful way. With her sister Rosie she founded Project Rockit, a school-based program aimed at building youth leadership, citizenship and resilience by tackling the issue of bullying in school communities.
See also Project Rockit
» Read more about Lucy ThomasVictoria
Rosie is a highly energetic and passionate facilitator, whose experiences in working with youth communities have bolstered her strong sense of compassion and understanding towards fellow young people. With her sister Lucy she founded Project Rockit, a school-based program aimed at building youth leadership, citizenship and resilience by tackling the issue of bullying in school communities.
See also Project Rockit
» Read more about Rosie ThomasVictoria
Tony Thompson is a Melbourne based writer and teacher, and a specialist in the VCE English curriculum. He has written two non fiction books for teenagers. His articles on education have appeared in The Age and The Australian.
» Read more about Tony ThompsonVictoria
Robyn is specialist consultant at the Centre for Strategic Education working with schools and their communities nationally and internationally in the area of cybersafety. She has had 30 years teaching, curriculum development and school leadership experience in both the government and independent systems.
Robyn is an innovator, leader and team member of large scale projects in Australia and is acknowledged as an expert in cybersafety by her peers and wider community.
» Read more about Robyn TreyvaudVictoria
Pelissa Tsilimidos-Thorne (B.A., Dip. Ed., MA. Ed.) is a senior English teacher with 25 years’ experience. She holds a research Masters in Education (Film as Text) from Monash University and has written for various educational journals and books.
» Read more about Pelissa Tsilimidos-ThorneNew South Wales
Lili Wilkinson is a reader and writer of YA literature. She is the author of five books for teenagers. When she’s not reading or writing, she can often be found making monsters out of wool.
» Read more about Lili WilkinsonVictoria
© Booked Out 2010• Follow us on Twitter • Join in on Facebook • Email newsletter • Get in Touch • Site by Inventive Labs

Steve Biddulph
Personal Development, Education Consultant, Social Commentator, Author
Steve will be presenting at events in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in 2012.
Psychologist Steve Biddulph realised that males were in crisis at a time when it was fashionable to ignore their needs. He blitzed schools and communities around the globe with engaging, practical and moving seminars, facilitating a cultural shift which is still in motion. His parenting books, including Raising Boys and Manhood, are now in four million homes and twenty seven languages.
» Read more about Steve BiddulphAudiences
Location
Tasmania