About

Booked Out is a speakers agency for writers, artists and thinkers. We connect creative voices with schools, libraries and communities across Australia, arranging talks, workshops and events that inspire audiences of all ages.

Our Story

With roots firmly planted in Australian literature, Booked Out has long-established connections with all major and independent publishers and we count some of Australia’s most popular authors among our friends and colleagues.
Our speakers hail from a broad range of disciplines but are all tied together by the written word and a passion for art with impact.
Whether you're looking for a primary school workshop, a literary luncheon for adults, or a wellbeing speaker for secondary school students, we have speakers to fit a broad range of events, audiences, and ideas. 

Background

Established in 1994 by former English teacher Lauris Pandolfini, Booked Out started life as a niche agency with the sole purpose of organising school visits for children’s authors and illustrators. Working out of a small home office, pens and paper (and the occasional fax) were the tools of the trade.
Things grew organically to include different kinds of speakers relevant to schools. In the first ten years of Booked Out, clients other than schools began to emerge: public libraries, councils, universities and conferences were starting to seek out our services. Hundreds of bookings and a facelift or two later (plus a couple of new websites, of course), we’re proud of our continued work with Australian schools, we’re pleased to be representing our speakers to an ever broadening range of clients. 
Booked Out acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation on whose stolen lands we work and live, as well as First Nations people across the country where our speakers write and share stories. We recognise and pay respect to the continuing connection to land, waters and community of First Nations people. Always was, always will be.

Team Members

Our team is small but mighty. Well versed in current books, publishing trends, and curriculum, we're here to tackle all your booking queries. 

Director

Lauris Pandolfini

LEAD COORDINATOR

Natalya Munro

BOOKING COORDINATOR

Marissa Kyriakopoulos

BOOKING COORDINATOR

Adalya Nash Hussein

BOOKING COORDINATOR

Julie Collins

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Lydia Schofield

ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Lucy Broome

Aboriginal Flag Torres Strait Islander flag
We pay our respects to the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live and work, and to the traditional custodians of the lands and waters which we may visit upon in our work. We acknowledge their elders past and present. Indigenous sovereignty has never been ceded. It always was, and always will be Aboriginal land.

© Booked Out 2025