Booked Out Speakers Agency

Randa Abdel-Fattah

Author, Social Commentator

Randa is a prominent Australian author, academic, human rights advocate, former lawyer and mother of four children. She was recently nominated for Sweden’s Astrid Lindgren Award, the world’s biggest children’s and young adult literature award. The award-winning author of 11 novels published and translated in over 20 countries, Randa writes across a wide range of genres and actively seeks to translate her academic work into creative interventions which reshape dominant narratives around race, human rights, multiculturalism and identity in popular culture. She has been publishing her op eds in Australia’s national and international newspapers and journals since 1998. She has had regular appearances on Q&A, the Drum, Lateline and the 7.30 Report and radio interviews (RN Drive, ABC Books and Arts, the Conversation Hour etc).

» Read more about Randa Abdel-Fattah

Abdi Aden

Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Abdi’s world fell apart when he was only fifteen and Somalia’s vicious civil war hit Mogadishu. Unable to find his family and effectively an orphan, he fled with some sixty others, and joined another 300 heading to Kenya. On the way, death squads hunted them and they daily faced violence, danger and starvation. After almost three months, they arrived in at refugee camps in Kenya – of the group he’d set out with, only five had survived.

» Read more about Abdi Aden

David Astle

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Clue by clue, chapter by chapter, David Astle’s Puzzled meanders through the maze of a cryptic crossword, showing you the dark secrets and wondrous tricks of wordplay. ‘He’s the Sergeant Pepper of cryptic crosswords,’ says award-winning Australian actor Geoffrey Rush.

» Read more about David Astle

Emilie Zoey Baker

Entertainer, Online - Virtual Visits, Poet, Storyteller/Performer

Emilie Zoey Baker is an international poetry slam champion who will excite and delight all ages about poetry written for both page and stage.

» Read more about Emilie Zoey Baker

Tim Baker

Author, Journalist

Tim Baker is Australia’s favourite surfing writer, a former editor of Tracks and Surfing Life magazine, who has written a string of best-selling surfing biographies and collected surf stories. He has twice received the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame Culture Award and been shortlisted for the CUB Australian Sports Writing Awards.

» Read more about Tim Baker

Tristan Bancks

Author, Online - Virtual Visits

Tristan Bancks tells stories for the page and screen. His books for kids and teens include Two Wolves, The Fall, Detention, the Tom Weekly series, Nit Boy and Ginger Meggs, a 100th anniversary book of brand new short stories based on characters created by his great-great uncle, Jimmy Bancks, in 1921. His books have won and been shortlisted for many awards, including a Children’s Book Council of Australia Honour Book, the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, ABIA, YABBA, KOALA, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and Queensland Literary Awards. His new release for July 2022 is Cop & Robber, a must-read thriller for kids and teens.

Tristan is a writer-ambassador for literacy non-profit Room to Read. He is currently working with producers to develop a number of his books for the screen. He’s excited by the future of storytelling and inspiring others to create. You can find out more about Tristan’s books, play games, watch videos, join his Young Writer’s StorySchool and help him try to change the world at tristanbancks.com

» Read more about Tristan Bancks

Catherine Bateson

Author

Catherine Bateson has won the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers twice and received three Honour Book Awards, including one for Older Readers. She teaches in the Professional Writing and Editing course at TAFE but is also available for school visits, to talk about both fiction writing and poetry.

» Read more about Catherine Bateson

Michael Gerard Bauer

Author

Michael Gerard Bauer is an in-demand speaker and a popular writer for children and young adults. His books have been shortlisted, won numerous awards and are used as class texts in many schools around Australia. He has written drama, comedy and adventure.

» Read more about Michael Gerard Bauer

Amanda Betts

Author, Education Consultant

Amanda (AJ) Betts is an award-winning author, teacher and cyclist, living in Perth. Her novel ‘Zac and Mia’ won the 2012 Text Prize for best unpublished manuscript.

» Read more about Amanda Betts

Isobelle Carmody

Author, Illustrator

Isobelle Carmody is a well known Australian author who has written many novels and short stories for children and adults and has a host of award winning novels to her credit. She began the first of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still at high school and worked on it while completing a Bachelor of Arts and then a journalism cadetship. Obernewtyn was accepted by the first publisher she sent it to and went on to be shortlisted in the “Older Readers” section of the CBC Book of the Year Award. The series and her short stories have established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.

She has written many award winning short stories and books since then and she also illustrated The Legend of Little Fur and The Kingdom of the Lost series.

She is now completing the last of her Obernewtyn Chronicles, The Red Queen while undertaking a PhD at the University of Queensland.

Website: www.isobellecarmody.net/
Blog: http://theslipstream.com.au/

» Read more about Isobelle Carmody

Mark Carthew

Author, Entertainer, Storyteller/Performer

Dr Mark Carthew is an award winning Australian children’s author, poet, musician and educator well known for his books and series celebrating language, humour and wordplay.

His illustrated play script series VoiceWorks sold over one million titles worldwide. Mark’s rhyme and riddle books Newts, Lutes and Bandicoots, Wicked Wizards & Leaping Lizards and Witches’ Britches, Itches & Twitches! were created in collaboration with renowned UK illustrator Mike Spoor. Mark’s picture books include Five Little Owls illustrated by Crichton award winning illustrator Mini Goss and The Gobbling Tree, winner of Speech Pathology Australia’s 2009 Book of the Year. His anthology, Can You Keep a Secret? Timeless rhymes to share and treasure illustrated by Jobi Murphy was a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book.

» Read more about Mark Carthew

Anna Ciddor

Author, Illustrator, Online - Virtual Visits

Anna Ciddor inspires audiences with her passion for uncovering historical secrets and turning them into gripping narrative, and her lively presentations are filled with ‘show-and-tell’ and audience participation. In 2021, Anna won the Nance Donkin Award for Children’s Literature. Her newest book, A Message Through Time is coming out in April 2023. It is a gripping adventure that immerses readers in a world filled with excitement, laughter, and amazing (and accurate) historical detail about life in Gaul in ancient Roman times – and also brings a Roman girl into the present! It is a stand-alone companion to The Boy Who Stepped Through Time which was short-listed for the Aurealis Award and long listed for the AHA Historical Novel Prize. Anna has written and illustrated nearly 60 books, including the best-selling Runestone, a historical fantasy, The Family with Two Front Doors, a story based on her grandmother’s childhood in 1920s Poland, and 52 Mondays, inspired by Anna’s childhood memories of 1960s Australia.

Sherryl Clark

Author

Sherryl Clark writes stories for all ages – from picture books to verse novels and novels for middle/older readers. She loves inventing characters and doing research, and then weaving the amazing things she discovers into all kinds of stories.

» Read more about Sherryl Clark

Oslo Davis

Corporate, Illustrator, Speaking Out

Oslo Davis is an illustrator and cartoonist who has drawn for magazines and newspapers worldwide. As a satirist, Oslo has a particular interest in drawing the foibles and ridiculousness of modern day life.

» Read more about Oslo Davis

Mary Delahunty

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Commentator, Speaking Out

Mary is a writer, award winning ABC Journalist and former Education Minister. She is National Director of Writing Australia and Chair of Orchestra Victoria. She was the first female solo prime time TV newsreader in Victoria, and the first female Planning Minister in Victoria.

» Read more about Mary Delahunty

Paul Dillon (DARTA)

Author, Education Consultant, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development, Social Commentator, Well Within

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 Dillon (DARTA)

Linh Do

Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator

Linh Do is a Melbourne based activist with a globe-trotting lifestyle, having worked in over 15 countries. She’s done everything from changing one million lightbulbs (and mindsets) in Australia to working at the UN to create social change on environmental issues, and in 2013 was named as Australian Geographic’s Young Conservationist of the Year.

» Read more about Linh Do

Nick Earls

Author, Online - Virtual Visits

Nick Earls is the author of twenty-six books for adults, teenagers and children. Two of his novels have been adapted into feature films, and five have become stage plays. His books have won awards in Australia, the UK and US. He has a PhD in creative writing from the University of Queensland.

» Read more about Nick Earls

Declan Fay

Author, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker, Podcaster, Storyteller/Performer

Declan Fay is an award-winning writer who co-created the show Ronny Chieng: International Student which screened on ABC, BBC and Netflix. He has written for numerous shows such as The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and the hugely popular kids sketch show, You’re Skitting Me. Declan has also authored articles for The Age, The Guardian, The Herald-Sun and The Big Issue. On radio Declan has hosted shows on ABC, Triple M, Triple J and Triple R. Earlier this year he co-wrote a comedy podcast called Crossbread, which became one of the most popular podcasts in the Australia and the US.

In the media:

https://speakola.com/grad/declan-fay-but-now-you-all-have-a-blank-page-eltham-high-valedictory-2023?rq=declan%20fay

» Read more about Declan Fay

Corinne Fenton

Author

Corinne Fenton has a passion for picture books, especially those that have a connection with history. Her picture books are read by four to ninety-four year olds.

» Read more about Corinne Fenton

Pat Flynn

Author

An ex professional tennis player and teacher, Pat Flynn writes realistic fiction with a dose of humour for 8-16 year olds. His book The Tuckshop Kid won an Honour Book Prize at the CBCA Book of the Year Awards and his new books include The Trophy Kid and How to Get Dumped.

» Read more about Pat Flynn

Adam Ford

Author, Poet, Storyteller/Performer

Adam Ford is a poet and zinemaker who lives in Chewton, in Central Victoria. He loves showing people how easy it can be to start making zines or writing poetry themselves.

» Read more about Adam Ford

Archie Fusillo

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development

Archie is one of the most in-demand and successful presenters of author talks and workshops in Australia. Archie’s versatility means he can communicate to, and cater for, a range of abilities and interests. The fact that he was a teacher and features writer probably helps.

Archie’s latest book, Tribal Lores (2020) has won the Australian Family Therapists’ Award for Children’s Literature for the Older Readers category.

» Read more about Archie Fusillo

Sean Fyfe

Corporate, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

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.

» Read more about Sean Fyfe

Jane Godwin

Author, Online - Virtual Visits

Jane Godwin is a highly acclaimed author of over twenty-five books for young people, across all styles and ages. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations, the most recent being shortlistings in the 2020 CBCA Book of the Year Award with her picture book Tilly (illustrated by Anna Walker) and in the 2021 Book of the Year Award with her novel When Rain Turns to Snow, which has also been shortlisted for the 2021 Prime Minister’s Literary Award.

Anna Walker and Jane have created eight bestselling children’s picture books together – Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, All Through the Year, Today we have no Plans, Starting School, What Do You Wish For?, Go Go and the Silver Shoes, Tilly and Don’t Forget. They are currently working on their ninth collaboration.

Jane’s upper-middle grade novels include As Happy as Here and When Rain Turns to Snow, both published by Hachette, and Falling from Grace, published by Penguin.

For many years, Jane worked as the Children’s Publisher at Penguin Books Australia.

Jane is currently working on several picture books and a new upper-middle grade novel, set in the Otway Ranges. A Walk in the Dark will be published by Hachette in September 2022.

Jane often works in schools and the community, running literature and writing programs, making books and encouraging students in their own creative ventures. She is dedicated to pursuing quality and enriching reading and writing experiences for young people, whether it’s as a writer, a publisher or a speaker/facilitator in schools.

» Read more about Jane Godwin

Anna Goldsworthy

Author, Corporate, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Anna Goldsworthy is a prize-winning classical pianist and writer. She an engaging speaker and performer, and is passionate about bringing the lessons of classical music to the widest possible audience. She is Artist Director of the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival.

» Read more about Anna Goldsworthy

Gus Gordon

Author, Illustrator

Gus Gordon is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and author. He has illustrated and written over 80 books for children. His illustrations are known for their loose and energetic line work, mixed media and humour. His writing is always anthropomorphic, which he attributes this to his love of Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in The Willows.

» Read more about Gus Gordon

Tanya Ha

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator, Speaking Out, Sustainability

Tanya Ha is an award-winning environmentalist, best-selling author, broadcaster, science journalist and sustainable living advocate. More hip than hippie, she makes sustainability and science easier to understand and is known for her TV shows, including ABC’s Catalyst and the SBS series Eco House Challenge.

» Read more about Tanya Ha

Maggie Hamilton

Author, Education Consultant, Personal Development, Social Commentator

Writer and social researcher Maggie Hamilton gives frequent talks and lectures; is a regular media commentator and a keen observer of social trends. She has held a number of senior roles in publishing and at the ABC. Her professional memberships have included serving on the Executive of the Sydney Peace Foundation.

Maggie enjoys sharing her research in a lively and engaging way with community groups, and at numerous conferences across Australia and New Zealand.

Her books, have been published in over a dozen countries worldwide, and 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 examines the 21st century issues boys and girls face; and now When We Become Strangers; How Loneliness Leaks Into Our Lives and What We Can Do About It. www.maggiehamilton.org

» Read more about Maggie Hamilton

Roland Harvey

Author, Illustrator

Roland Harvey writes and illustrates highly detailed, funny and slightly educational books using pen ink and watercolour. He has won a number of awards including the Dromkeen Medal. He demonstrates his craft in an entertaining manner to all ages.

» Read more about Roland Harvey

Robert Hillman

Author

Robert Hillman has published more than sixty works of fiction and non-fiction. His books feature in school libraries all over Australia and his autobiography, The Boy in the Green Suit, won the 2005 Australian National Biography Award. His publications cover sports, Australian history, nation building, Young Australian achievers, and the plight of refugees and asylum seekers

» Read more about Robert Hillman

Elizabeth Honey

Author, Illustrator

Elizabeth Honey is an award-winning author of poetry, picture books and novels. She is also an artist and illustrates her own books. Her playful humour, originality, and energy strike a chord with children everywhere. Her novels are published in many countries.

» Read more about Elizabeth Honey

Fiona Wood

Author

Fiona Wood is the author of Six Impossible Things, Wildlife and Cloudwish. Six Impossible Things was shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Book of the Year, Older Readers in 2011. Wildlife won the CBCA Award in 2014 and was shortlisted for numerous other awards. Cloudwish won the CBCA Award in 2016, and the 2016 Indie Book Award for YA fiction. It was also shortlisted for the Gold Inky Award, and the ABIA Award. Her books are published internationally. All three books are Junior Library Guild Selections in the US. Before writing YA fiction, Fiona worked as a screenwriter. She lives in Melbourne with her family.

» Read more about Fiona Wood

Tony Wilson

Author, Corporate, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Tony Wilson has written two hilarious satirical novels about celebrity and tabloid media. He is also the author of five picture books, and has worked successfully on television (Race Around the World and Santo, Sam and Ed’s Cup Fever!), radio (Triple R’s Breakfasters) and print media (The Age and The Monthly).

» Read more about Tony Wilson

Lili Wilkinson

Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Online - Virtual Visits

Lili Wilkinson is a reader and writer of YA literature. She is the author of nine books for teenagers, and has a PhD in Creative Writing.

» Read more about Lili Wilkinson

Gabrielle Wang

Author, Illustrator

Gabrielle Wang is an author and illustrator born in Melbourne of Chinese heritage. Her maternal great grandfather came to Victoria in 1853 during the Gold Rush. Her father is from Shanghai. Gabrielle’s stories are a diverse blend of eastern and western culture with a touch of fantasy. She has written more than twenty books for young readers, many of them shortlisted for awards, from the Prime Minister’s Award and Queensland Premier’s Award to children’s choice awards such as the Yabba and Koala as well as CBCA Notables. Two of Gabrielle’s books won the Aurealis Award – The Garden of Empress Cassia and A Ghost in My Suitcase which was also adapted to the stage by Barking Gecko Theatre in 2018. Her latest middle grade novel is Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon which was Shortlisted for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, 2023 Queensland Literary Awards, 2023 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards and was a Notable in the CBCA Book Awards. Gabrielle is the current Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador and was the Australian Children’s Laureate in 2022 and 2023.

» Read more about Gabrielle Wang

Shane Horsburgh

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

Shane Horsburgh is a re-definer of masculinity, constantly challenging the accepted interpretation of what a ‘real man’ is and how this view impacts our everyday lives. From counter-terrorism operative to author, educator and sometime stage actor, Shane’s inspirational and engaging style helps young men become better students, friends, partners and husbands. He has been engaged to speak at the National Press Club and TEDx to national and international audiences.

» Read more about Shane Horsburgh

Michael Hyde

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Journalist, Social Commentator

Michael’s novels for young adults, Hey Joe, MAX and Tyger Tyger have experienced critical success and continue to be widely read and taught in many schools. Hey Joe – about the Vietnam War, the movement against it and the sixties in Australia – was named as a Notable Book in the 2004 CBC Awards. Many of his short stories for younger readers are published in the Trend/Awesome Series including the popular titles: The Footy Coach from Hell, Seal Saves the Island and How I Got a Girlfriend. Michael also edited two senior anthologies for the Australian Association of English Teachers (AATE), Hunger (CBC Notable Book 2004) and The Girl who Married a Fly (CBC Notable Book 2002). Both anthologies feature popular YA Australian writers (including Michael) and like his novels, enjoy significant sales. Michael’s Change the Game series – choose-your-own-adventure sports books became overnight favourites with young readers, 20,000 + copies being sold in one year.

» Read more about Michael Hyde

Michelle Law

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Storyteller/Performer

Michelle Law is an award-winning writer and screenwriter whose previous speaking engagements include TEDx events, Woodford Folk Festival, writer’s festivals, ABC radio and The Project. Her stories and essays have been widely anthologized and her films have screened nationally at festivals and on the ABC.

» Read more about Michelle Law

Julia Lawrinson

Author

Julia Lawrinson has written more than a dozen books for children and teenagers, many of them award-winning. She grew up in the outer suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, not long after the first moon landing. She loves dogs, oceans, and sunsets, and still likes to gaze at the night sky, just in case.

Julia’s new memoir, How To Avoid A Happy Life, is coming out soon and is suitable for senior students and adults. The book has already received wonderful attention and praise:

‘Astute, compassionate, heartbreaking, compelling – and sometimes downright astonishing.’

Kate Evans – ABC Radio National host of The Bookshelf

‘How To Avoid A Happy Life is a potent elixir of heartbreaking incident and astonishing resilience, and I’d have to add redemption. Julia Lawrinson is that rarest of things: a true original voice. Such an inventively irreverent and fearlessly honest memoir! This book is exactly what George Eliot meant when she said, “Literature of the most intimate sublimity can actually tell us how emotionally crowded any given day can be, and yet still have a distinct philosophical vigor and indispensability. ” Julia Lawrinson has dignified the art of memoir.’

Howard Norman – US writer, author of Come to the Window

» Read more about Julia Lawrinson

Tammy van Wisse

Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Marathon swimmer, Tammy van Wisse has swum one-and-a-half times around the planet, setting six world records – five of which are still current. She has swum the English Channel twice (the success rate is only seven percent), is the only person to have swum Bass Strait and spent three and a half months submerged in the mighty Murray River – to highlight the river’s environmental importance.

Armed with the same energy and dedication as she has put into her incredible swimming career, Tammy brings a truly unique and inspiring presentation that entertains as it informs, and inspires as it motivates.

Tammy’s never-give-up world champion stories are enlightening, entertaining and powerfully motivating. She shares her secrets and strategies of how to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles showing audiences that with a commitment to a goal, and a belief in oneself – anything is possible.

Topics:

Goal setting
Motivation & Inspiration
Breaking down goals into chewable chunks
Sport
Overcoming Adversity
The Power of Perseverance
Environment
Adapting to change
The Power of the Mind – building our inner strength
International Women’s Day
World Environment Day

» Read more about Tammy van Wisse

Chris Turney

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Chris is an Australian and British professor of Earth science and author of three popular science books. Chris is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Fellow and Professor of Climate Change at the University of University of New South Wales, where he and his team are focusing their efforts on finding lessons from the past.

Chris investigates past and future climates, how people have responded to change, and recent human evolution and migration. He does this in a hands-on fashion: he digs down into the ice of Antarctica for core samples, the depths of a volcanic crater, or searches for Hobbit fossils (seriously!) across Indonesia. He has stories to tell and bring to life.

Chris has earned a reputation as scientist who can demystify and articulate, for any audience, exactly what it is that a scientist does for a living. His enthusiasm shows us not only why he pursues these interests, but points out what we stand to gain through scientific education.

» Read more about Chris Turney

Penny Tangey

Author, Storyteller/Performer

Penny is the author of three books for young people. Her first novel, Loving Richard Feynman was shortlisted for the 2010 CBCA Book of the Year (older readers).

Penny performed stand-up comedy for many years beginning by winning the Victorian final of Triple J’s Raw Comedy Competition. Most recently she performed a show about education and teaching, Chalk and Talk, in the Melbourne Comedy Festival.

» Read more about Penny Tangey

Anne E. Stewart

Storyteller/Performer

Anne E Stewart is an acclaimed storyteller with an international reputation. A versatile performer Anne has the energy and voice to engage any audience. Her focus is on the shared stories of Australia honouring Indigenous, Celtic, Asian and World stories.

Anne has told stories in some of Australia’s major cultural institutions, art galleries and libraries as well as on ABC radio and TV. She has been invited guest at Storytelling festivals throughout Australia, the UK and in Mexico and Colombia. Anne is a consummate MC with the ability to create shows tailored to audience needs.

» Read more about Anne E. Stewart

Anne Spudvilas

Illustrator

Anne Spudvilas is a multi award-winning illustrator of children’s books. Her work has been awarded the NSW and Queensland Premiers Awards, CBCA Picture Book of the Year, ABIA Award for Younger Readers, the Crichton Award for Illustration and more.

Her passion is bringing to life the characters in her books and this carries over into commissioned portraits and courtroom sketching. Her portrait of much-loved children’s book creator Leigh Hobbs was an Archibald Prize finalist. Anne is in demand for drawing workshops here and overseas and gives presentations about the process of illustrating books for primary and secondary level.

Anne’s visits include a video presentation and chat with students about the process of putting a picture book together. She brings her childhood sketchbooks, current workbooks and the concertina dummy books that are part of the design process. Students love the drawing demonstrations and group workshops creating big drawings with charcoal. An instant exhibition! These workshops are great for primary and secondary level – Anne easily adjusts her presentations to all age groups.

» Read more about Anne Spudvilas

Trent Southworth

Corporate, Personal Development, Social Commentator, Speaking Out

Trent Southworth is a former NSW Police Officer with over fourteen years policing experience, including eight years employed in the Youth Liaison role. In his role, Trent worked closely with numerous government and non government agencies to identify youth related initiatives such as underage drinking programs, truancy, road safety, drug programs, and bullying.

Trent assisted in the implementation and monitoring of the State Governments Young Offenders Act, which targets all young offenders aged between 10 and 18 years of age. Through his experience in the NSW Police, Trent witnessed first-hand the importance of ongoing education of young people in today’s society.

Since leaving the Police, Trent has developed and facilitated numerous seminars for students, teachers, parents and community groups Australia-wide.

» Read more about Trent Southworth

Anthony Lucas

Entertainer, Illustrator

An acclaimed director and animator, Anthony Lucas has made films that have been celebrated around the world. His 2005 short film The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello won a host of awards and was nominated for an Oscar.

» Read more about Anthony Lucas

Claire Madden

Corporate, Education Consultant, Speaking Out

Claire Madden is a social researcher, media commentator and next-gen expert, fluent in social media, youth culture, and engagement styles of these global generations, and a professional in interpreting what this means for educators, managers and marketers. Claire is in demand for her skill in effectively identifying the emerging trends and assisting business leaders to strategically respond to them.

Hello Gen Z reveals the critical importance of knowing how to engage this generation of hyperconnected, agile and adaptive digital savants as employees, consumers and emerging leaders. Hello Gen Z is required reading for any organisation wanting to future-proof and unlock the potential of the Post-Millennials.

» Read more about Claire Madden

Ellie Marney

Author, Education Consultant, Online - Virtual Visits

Ellie Marney is a qualified teacher, and a bestselling and multi-award-winning author of YA thrillers. Her titles include the New York Times bestseller NONE SHALL SLEEP and the Kirkus-starred sequel SOME SHALL BREAK, as well as THE KILLING CODE, the EVERY series, WHITE NIGHT, and more. Ellie has researched in mortuaries, interviewed law enforcement personnel, and talked with former spies about how to make explosives from household items, and now she lives quite sedately in the North-Central Goldfields region of Victoria with her family.

» Read more about Ellie Marney

John Marsden

Author, Corporate, Speaking Out

John Marsden is the author of titles including So Much to Tell You, Letters From the Inside, and the much celebrated Tomorrow series, adapted for film in 2010. From a childhood at a deeply conservative paramilitary school with strict standards and a culture of rugby and rowing, John developed a passion for reading, writing and education at an early age. So far has published fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults and adults and has founded the Candlebark School in Victoria.

» Read more about John Marsden

Maureen McCarthy

Author

Maureen McCarthy is one of Australia’s best loved writer’s for Young Adults. Her novels are full of gutsy and believable characters caught at the cusp of adulthood – a time when so much is changing and being decided. Her strong storylines celebrate the complexity of contemporary life with honesty and humor.

» Read more about Maureen McCarthy

Glenda Millard

Author

Glenda Millard writes picture books, novels for younger readers and for young adults. Her books have been published in Australia and internationally and have won many accolades.

» Read more about Glenda Millard

Tristan Miller

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Tristan Miller has had an incredible story, for such a regular guy. He dealt with a number of life’s highs and lows, before finally losing his dream job at Google in the Global Financial Crisis of 2009. Instead of laying down, he turned his life into an amazing adventure by running 52 marathons in 52 weeks, in 42 countries, on all 7 continents!

» Read more about Tristan Miller

Dr Michael Nagel

Author, Corporate, Education Consultant, Personal Development, Social Commentator

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 Nagel

Angela Savage

Author, Social Commentator

Angela Savage’s crime novels are inspired by the six and a half years she spent living in South-east Asia in the late 1990s, working for the Red Cross on HIV/AIDS programs. Her love affair with Asia continues, and in 2008 she spent the year in Cambodia with her partner and their two-year-old.

» Read more about Angela Savage

Ellen Sandell

Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Social Commentator, Speaking Out

Ellen has been National Director of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition, one of Australia’s largest non-profit climate organisations. During her leadership, the organisation grew from a handful of friends wanting to change the world to a national organisation with over 80,000 members and the ear of politicians and business leaders due to it’s quirky and innovative campaigns.

Ellen has become one of Australia’s leading commentators and campaigners on the issue of climate change. Since leaving the AYCC in late 2012 she has worked in politics, as Campaign Manager for Simon Sheikh’s Senate campaign in the ACT (mobilising thousands of volunteers and just missing out on a Senate seat) and as a Senior Campaigns Advisor for Greens leader Senator Christine Milne.

» Read more about Ellen Sandell

Andrew Rule

Author, Corporate, Journalist, Social Commentator, Speaking Out

Since starting on a country newspaper in 1975, Andrew Rule has worked on three metropolitan newspapers and in both radio and television production. He has written, co-written, edited and published many books, including the Underbelly true crime series and the Chopper series, which inspired the successful feature film. He hosts a regular fortnightly spot on Triple M’s Hot Breakfast called In The Rule World.

» Read more about Andrew Rule

Jeannette Rowe

Author, Illustrator

Jeannette Rowe is one of Australia’s best selling preschool authors/illustrators. She has published over 100 picture books over the past twelve years and has sold nearly two million books around the world. She has also developed four Digital BookGames, including the award-winning YoYo Go Spy for iPad. Find out about these gameshere.

» Read more about Jeannette Rowe

Michael Robotham

Author, Corporate, Speaking Out

Michael Robotham is an internationally celebrated crime writer whose books have been translated into 25 languages and sold more than six million copies around the world.

Born in country NSW, he began his career as a journalist and went on to write for newspapers and magazines in Australia, Britain and America. As a senior feature writer for the UK’s Mail on Sunday he was among the first people to view the letters and diaries of Czar Nicholas II and his wife Empress Alexandra, unearthed in the Moscow State Archives in 1991. He also gained access to Stalin’s Hitler files, which had been missing for nearly fifty years until a cleaner stumbled upon a cardboard box that had been misplaced and misfiled.

In 1993 he quit journalism to become a ghostwriter, collaborating with politicians, pop stars, psychologists, adventurers and showbusiness personalities to write their autobiographies. Twelve of these non-fiction titles were Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK.

Michael’s first psychological thriller, THE SUSPECT, caused a bidding war at the London Book Fair in 2002 and was sold into more twenty languages in less than three hours. It later became only the fifth “International Book of the Month”, making it the top recommendation to 28 million book club members in fifteen countries.

In 2015, Michael’s novel, LIFE OR DEATH, won the coveted Crime Writer’s Association Gold Dagger award for the year’s best novel, beating Stephen King and Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling) who were on the shortlist. He has also twice won Australia’s Ned Kelly Award for best novel and the Australian Book Industry Award for best fiction in 2018 for THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS.

A six-part TV series based on THE SECRET SHE KEEPS has been made for Channel 10 and will screen in early 2020 with an international cast.

» Read more about Michael Robotham

Sally Rippin

Author, Illustrator, Online - Virtual Visits

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin, but grew up mainly in South-East Asia. As a young adult she lived in China for three years, studying traditional Chinese painting. Sally has over seventy books published, many of them award-winning, including two novels for young adults. Her work includes the highly acclaimed Polly and Buster trilogy and the popular Billie B Brown and Hey Jack! books, which became the highest selling series for 6-8 year olds in Australia within the first year of their release. Sally is Australia’s highest selling female author and her books have sold more than 5 million copies in 14 languages.

Sally is a popular presenter in schools and at literary festivals both in Australia and overseas and has a regular program on 3RRR interviewing children’s authors and industry professionals. She is a passionate ambassador for the 100 Story Building, Dymocks Childrens’ Charities and also the Australian Reading Hour. Recently, she and Hardie Grant Egmont have collaborated on a weekly program of book-based activities for kids at home at www.sallyrippin.com

» Read more about Sally Rippin

Wendy Orr

Author

Wendy Orr is the multi-award winning and internationally published author of over forty books ranging from picture books to adult, including Peeling the Onion and the Nim’s Island series, which have also become feature films. She is passionate about her craft and is known for the honesty and inspirational qualities of her sessions.

» Read more about Wendy Orr

Alice Pung OAM

Author, Corporate, Curriculum Specialist, Inspirational Speaker, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development, Social Commentator, Speaking Out

Alice Pung OAM is a writer and lawyer who loves teaching. Alice’s books are studied in secondary schools and universities in Australia as well as the United States, and she has taught writing workshops to students from the ages of 8 to 80 in Australia, China and the States. Alice is also an Ambassador for the 100 Story Building Project, a social enterprise which helps promote literature and literacy skills to young people in the Western suburbs.

» Read more about Alice Pung OAM

Michael Pryor

Author, Online - Virtual Visits

Michael Pryor is one of Australia’s most popular and acclaimed authors of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He has published more than thirty-five novels, more than sixty short stories, and has over one million words in print. He is one of the co-publishers of Aurealis, Australia’s longest running Fantasy and SF magazine. He has been shortlisted for the Aurealis Award eleven times, and nine of his books have been CBCA Notable books. His latest book is Graveyard Shift in Ghost Town. His website is www.michaelpryor.com.au

» Read more about Michael Pryor

Ailsa Piper

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Speaking Out

Ailsa Piper has worked throughout Australia as a writer, theatre director, actor, speaker, teacher and memorably, a pate-wrapper! She completed her MA at the University of Melbourne during her three-year stint as an actor in Neighbours’ Ramsay Street, winning the Patrick White Playwright’s Award in her spare time. She is a passionate – some would say obsessive – walker, and her book Sinning Across Spain, reflects that.

» Read more about Ailsa Piper

Tim Pegler

Author, Journalist, Social Commentator

Acclaimed YA author Tim Pegler is an award-winning journalist, extensively published in newspapers, magazines and online. Tim’s experience covering social issues, such as homelessness, disability and juvenile justice, provides the foundation for much of his writing for young adults.

» Read more about Tim Pegler

Louise Park

Author, Education Consultant

Louise writes books for children under her own name as well as several secret identities including H. I. Larry, Mac Park and Poppy Rose. She loves writing books with action and grand adventures and is the author of the best-selling series Zac Power Test Drive, Bella Dancerella and Star Girl—soon to be a television series. She is also the co-author of Boy vs Beast.

Louise loves nothing better than taking students on huge adventures and helping them to craft action-packed stories of their own. Learn more about her at her website.

» Read more about Louise Park

Mark Pardoe

Author

As a child, Mark Pardoe had his sights firmly set on being an internationally famous soccer star who won Formula One races in his spare time.

Perhaps fortunately, these days Mark Pardoe is a part time primary school teacher who writes children’s fiction. Mark’s aim is to both entertain and challenge his readers. His writing employs a distinctive humour that can be read and enjoyed by a wide audience.

» Read more about Mark Pardoe

Dianne Todaro-Wells

Author, Personal Development, Social Commentator

Dianne Todaro-Wells (Diploma of teaching), is an experienced educator and author specialising in relationship and sexual identity education. Dianne has a community radio program called ‘Speak up’ that serves communities to talk about information that inspires us all to have our ‘voice’.

» Read more about Dianne Todaro-Wells

Angela Pippos

Author, Corporate, Inspirational Speaker, Journalist, Social Commentator, Speaking Out

Angela Pippos is a journalist, TV and radio presenter, columnist and author of The Goddess Advantage – One Year in the Life of a Football Worshipper. It’s as much about love, loyalty, stuffed tomatoes and Greek mythology as it is about Australian rules football.

» Read more about Angela Pippos

Daniel Witthaus

Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Storyteller/Performer, Well Within

Daniel has spent a quarter of a century challenging homophobia and working on LGBTIQ inclusion one cuppa at a time in schools, rural communities and, occasionally, developing countries like Poland, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. He has also worked with Kids Help Line, VicHealth, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and No to Violence, a national men’s family violence organisation.

Daniel is the author of Beyond Priscilla: one gay man, one gay truck, one big idea… (2014), Beyond ‘That’s So Gay!’: Challenging homophobia in Australian schools (2010) and the Pride & Prejudice educational package (2002, 2012) – which won Human Rights Week awards for work in three Tasmanian schools. His latest book, Beyond Debate, is due for release in June 2023.

In 2013 Daniel founded Rural Pride Australia, formerly NICHE, which focuses on the needs of LGBTIQ people in regional, rural and remote Australia. For the last 7 years Rural Pride Australia has worked in partnership with the Victorian State Government and its Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities to deliver the LGBTIQ Equality Roadshow, Regional Communities of Practice and Rainbow Ready Roadmap to 29 regional and rural Victorian communities.

He is also semi-obsessed with abandoned buildings and is an international gay gold medallist in tennis.

» Read more about Daniel Witthaus

Sally Warhaft

Author, Corporate, Journalist, Speaking Out

Sally Warhaft is a Melbourne broadcaster, anthropologist and writer and the host of the Wheeler Centre’s live journalism series, The Fifth Estate, now in its third year. She is a former editor of The Monthly magazine and the author of the bestselling book Well May We Say: The Speeches that Made Australia. Sally is a regular host and commentator on ABC radio and has a PhD in anthropology. She did her fieldwork in Mumbai, India, living by the seashore with the local fishing community.

» Read more about Sally Warhaft

Claire Dunn

Author, Inspirational Speaker

Claire Dunn is a writer, journalist, educator, barefoot explorer and author of My Year Without Matches, the memoir of her extraordinary journey living in the bush for a year learning wilderness survival skills. Her latest book is Rewilding the Urban Soul, a memoir about searching for the wild in the city, set for release in June 2021.

» Read more about Claire Dunn

Sian Prior

Author, Corporate, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Speaking Out

Sian Prior is probably best known as an ABC radio presenter, a columnist and critic for The Age, and a musician. But this accomplished public performer is also the author of two acclaimed works of non fiction, ‘Shy: a memoir and ‘Childless: a story of freedom and longing’ (shortlisted for The Age Book of the Year in 2022). Her first memoir ‘Shy’ solves the riddle of how someone who has grappled for decades with debilitating social anxiety has nevertheless managed to carve out a series of successful careers in the public eye.

» Read more about Sian Prior

Kelly Gardiner

Author

Kelly Gardiner writes historical fiction for readers of all ages. Her books range from a picture book, to adventure tales for younger readers, to acclaimed young adult novels. Her latest book is 1917, part of Scholastic’s Australia’s Great War series. Her previous novels include Goddess, based on the true-life story of a seventeenth century swashbuckling opera singer. An engaging speaker and educator, she most enjoys those moments of connection between author and audience – that instant camaraderie that brings together readers, writers, and stories. Kelly is also the co-host of Unladylike – a podcast on women and writing.

» Read more about Kelly Gardiner

Mike Rolls

Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

Mike is a survivor of one of the deadliest diseases on the planet. His story of courage, determination and pure resilience will inspire, educate and entertain!

» Read more about Mike Rolls

David McLean

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Social Issues

Author, educator, actor and broadcaster, David has over a quarter of a century of experience in education, having headed English departments and run workshops for students and professional development for teachers. He has authored novels and developed curriculum resources that are sold nationally and internationally. He has an engaging presentation style encouraging active participation where possible.

» Read more about David McLean

Samantha Turnbull

Author, Poet, Storyteller/Performer

Samantha Turnbull is a children’s author, journalist, podcast producer and slam poet.

Her books include Remember the Rainbows (Five Mile), Fierce Girls (Five Mile), and The Anti-Princess Club series (Allen & Unwin). Her podcasts include Fierce Girls, Dino Dome, News Time, and Little Green Pod (all ABC). She has worked as a journalist across newspapers, magazine, TV, radio and online. And she has competed in (and won) loads of poetry slams.

Sam’s favourite thing to do (apart from writing) is visiting schools.

» Read more about Samantha Turnbull

Nicholas Jones

Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Illustrator

Nicholas Jones is a contemporary visual artist specialising in book sculpture. Nicholas is available for different kinds of events including workshops, literary festivals and artist residencies.

» Read more about Nicholas Jones

Neridah McMullin

Author, Storyteller/Performer

Neridah is an inspiring presenter who knows how to connect with her students, making Australian history, Indigenous history and Sport accessible to children in a fun and engaging way.

» Read more about Neridah McMullin

Samantha Gash

Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

Samantha took the ultimate challenge and entered the ‘4 Deserts Grand Slam’, which requires competitors to run four 250km ultra marathons across the driest (Chile), windiest (China), hottest (Sahara) and coldest deserts (Antarctica) on earth – it is regarded as one of the toughest endurance series on the planet. Samantha made history by becoming the first woman and the youngest person ever to complete the Grand Slam. Her journey was captured for the big screen in the award winning film Desert Runners. She now uses her capacity to run long distances to impact social change in developing countries and within Australia. In 2014, she ran 1968kms across rural South Africa to fund an initiative that improves access to feminine hygiene products and education.

» Read more about Samantha Gash

Damon Young

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Illustrator, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller

Damon Young combines a love of ideas and language with a fun, entertaining style. And lots of superhero t-shirts.

» Read more about Damon Young

Maria Katsonis

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

Maria is the good Greek girl who grew up above her parents’ Melbourne milk bar and shared a bedroom with her yiayia – until university when she discovered her rebellious side. She tells her story in her acclaimed memoir together with her experience of a complete mental breakdown that shattered her professional and personal identity. Maria is now a vocal mental health advocate and an ambassador for Beyond Blue.

» Read more about Maria Katsonis

Dr Leah Kaminsky

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Social Issues

Leah Kaminsky is a family physician and an award-winning author of eight books.

» Read more about Dr Leah Kaminsky

Donna Campisi

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development

Donna Campisi is a true adventurer at heart, leaving a trail of inspiration as a keynote speaker, author, and podcaster. Known for her invigorating ‘go do it’ attitude, Donna collaborates with individuals, groups, students, and entrepreneurs to help them achieve their ambitious goals.

» Read more about Donna Campisi

Nicole Jenkins

Author

Nicole is a fashion historian: an award-winning writer, educator and retailer, the author of two books and curator of perhaps the largest collection of Australian fashion in the world.

She has presented talks and workshops around Australia.

» Read more about Nicole Jenkins

David Burton

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

David is a multi-award-winning writer from Queensland. In 2015, David published his funny, sad and serious memoir How to Be Happy, which tackled an adolescence of depression, anxiety and sexual confusion head on. He’s regularly requested for his hilarious and inspiring talks.

» Read more about David Burton

Aviva Reed

Education Consultant, Illustrator, Storyteller/Performer

Aviva Reed is a visual ecologist, illustrator and collaborator on the Small Friends book project; a series of science-adventure storybooks created by artists, writers, scientists and educators that explores symbiotic relationships between microbes and larger forms of life.

» Read more about Aviva Reed

Rowan McAuley

Author

Rowan McAuley loves to engage children and adults alike in dynamic, interactive presentations and workshops. As a visual and kinesthetic learner herself, she wants her audience to become participants, and to feel excited about reading and creative writing.

» Read more about Rowan McAuley

Favel Parrett

Author

In 2011, Favel Parrett’s career was launched with her critically acclaimed debut PAST THE SHALLOWS. It was sold internationally and was shortlisted in the prestigious Miles Franklin Award and won the Dobbie Literary Award. Favel won the ABIA Newcomer of the Year Award in 2012. Her next novel, WHEN THE NIGHT COMES, was also critically acclaimed and further consolidated Favel’s reputation with booksellers and readers. THERE WAS STILL LOVE was Favel’s eagerly awaited third novel and it was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and won Book of the Year at the 2020 Indie Book Awards. WANDI was her first novel for children and was published in October 2021. KIMMI is her second novel for children and was published in November 2023.

She lives in Victoria and is passionate about wildlife.

Her research for her latest book makes for fascinating reading. Favel underwent many medical and psychological tests to ensure she could travel to the Antarctic. One of the particular strengths of her writing is her ability to describe the physical sensation of being in this extreme environment – of walking across Antarctic snow for the first time and of the wonder of encountering the vast white landscape.

Favel has also had many short stories published in journals and anthologies, such as Best Australian Short Stories, Meanjin, Griffith Review, and Island.

You can find out more about Favel Parrett at www.favelparrett.com.au

» Read more about Favel Parrett

Ron Murray

Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Entertainer, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer

Ron is a much loved and highly respected Victorian Indigenous educator, storyteller and musician. He is in demand as a speaker, sharing his knowledge of Indigenous culture with passion, honesty and humour.

» Read more about Ron Murray

Sharon Torpey – The Drug Education Project

Personal Development, Well Within

One life lost due to alcohol or drug misuse is one too many….

The reality is all young people need drug and alcohol education, whether they indulge or not, as everyone can be affected by the choices of those who do. Our aim is to reduce the adverse health, social, cultural and economic consequences of alcohol and other drug use by minimising the harm for both the community and the individual.

The Drug Education Project is facilitated by a Health Teacher and a Paramedic.

Our sessions are practical and engaging, discussing the very real issues facing students today.

We promote positive social norms and teach strategies to recognise and reduce harm.
We believe given accurate information and practical strategies, our youth are better equipped to make “good” decisions.
We will empower students to recognise harm, act quickly and appropriately, to reduce drug and alcohol related harm in their communities and perhaps even save a life!
An important part of our message to both parents and students is “SAFETY”. We have developed an action plan that we believe will help our young audience to identify an alcohol or drug emergency and guide them to act. Students currently receive a business size card to place in their wallet that reminds them of the steps of this action plan.

The objective is to teach young people about the harmful effects of alcohol and other drug use, as a key preventative measure in the ongoing effort to address drug related harm. The sessions are interactive and we encourage questions! The aim is to get the students thinking, talking and involved in the process, and actively developing their own strategies to keep safe.

Kirsty Eagar

Author

Kirsty Eagar is the award-winning author of the Young Adult novels: Summer Skin, Raw Blue, Night Beach and Saltwater Vampires. She believes storytelling is a life skill, and her author talks and workshops are structured using tenets of performance psychology to ensure they are distilled, sequenced and practical.

» Read more about Kirsty Eagar

Ruth Clare

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

Ruth Clare is the author of the award-winning memoir, ENEMY (Penguin, 2016), a three-time TEDx speaker and lived experience mental health coach. In addition to writing for publications such as The Age, Elle, Meanjin and The Good Weekend, Ruth is working on a memoir based on her late life diagnosis with ADHD. Ruth explores serious topics related to mental health, resilience, courage, identity and authenticity using humour and a knack for entertaining developed during her years as a professional actor.

She shares stories of hiding the trauma of her childhood, pretending everything was okay while she struggled alone with anxiety, perfectionism, shame and never feeling good enough, and how she finally got brave enough to share her experience with others. Weaving in polyvagal, mindfulness and breathing exercises, alongside cognitive approaches, Ruth simplifies complex ideas learnt on her own recovery journey and mental health studies, to deliver genuine insights and practical tools participants can immediately use in their own lives.

Ruth’s talks deliver a transformative experience for audiences, showing them how to stop being so hard on themselves and live with more calm awareness, self-compassion, optimism and confidence.

Topics:
• Mental Health
• Resilience and overcoming adversity
• Neurodivergence and Identity
• Owning your stories and rewriting your life

» Read more about Ruth Clare

Jessica Walton

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller

Jessica Walton is a queer, disabled writer and speaker. They co-wrote an episode of Get Krack!n focused on disability, which aired on ABC in 2019. They are the author of graphic novel Stars In Their Eyes, with artwork by Aśka (Fremantle Press 2021) and Introducing Teddy, illustrated by Dougal MacPherson (Bloomsbury 2016). Jess also has two short stories for teens and kids published in Australian anthologies Funny Bones (Allen and Unwin 2019) and Meet Me at the Intersection (Fremantle Press 2018), as well as poetry in a few anthologies, magazines and journals.

» Read more about Jessica Walton

Alicia Sometimes

Author, Broadcaster, Poet, Storyteller

Alicia Sometimes is a writer, poet and broadcaster. She regularly appears on ABC radio talking books and culture and is often touring with her poetry. She has also appeared on ABC TV’s Sunday Arts, News Breakfast, Recovery and SBS’s Nomad program. Alicia was a 2014 Fellow at the State Library of Victoria and writer and director of the science-poetry show, Elemental that toured extensively in planetariums around the world.

» Read more about Alicia Sometimes

Judy Horacek

Author, Entertainer, Illustrator, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer

Judy Horacek is an award winning Australian cartoonist, children’s book illustrator and writer. In 2004, she and Mem Fox created Where is the Green Sheep? which became an instant children’s classic, and winner of the CBCA Gold Medal for Early Childhood. She has since done four books of her own that she has both written and illustrated, and three other books with Mem, Judy is an experienced presenter in schools, both talking about her own work and helping children to make their own drawings and stories. Her classes are always full of laughter and fun, and her enthusiasm is infectious.

» Read more about Judy Horacek

Tasneem Chopra

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller, Well Within, Women's Rights

Tasneem is a whole lot of parts, symbolising the hybrid identity of today’s global citizen, which she speaks to with sheer wit. She is an East African born, Indian origin, Bendigo raised, Melbourne loving, daughter, mother, middle-child, karaoke swooning, sleep deprived, vertically challenged, feminist, Muslim, exhausted, activist – and she won’t compromise on any of those titles.

» Read more about Tasneem Chopra

Caroline Baum

Author

Caroline is an engaging, entertaining and brutally honest speaker about her experiences as an only child growing up in a privileged European family burdened with hidden trauma. She talks with insight and humor about the complex dynamics of difficult parents and what it means to become a Good Daughter despite conflict, estrangement and illness.

» Read more about Caroline Baum

Kay Perry

Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Social Issues

Kay Perry is a teacher and examiner with decades of experience in the teaching of Literature and English at tertiary and senior secondary levels. She is the author of several study guides and is yet to respond to the advice to “put down that book and go outside”.

» Read more about Kay Perry

Nathan Strempel

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development

Nathan’s unique blend of humour and sincerity is unanimously well received. He gains an immediate rapport with audiences via his dynamic storytelling and his work as a sports presenter on Channel 9 and Fox Sports having covered NBL & WNBL basketball, AFL footy, Big Bash Cricket, A-League Soccer, Super Rugby and Super Netball.

He retains ongoing engagement and captivation with laughter and entertaining interaction being underpinned by his raw authenticity and integrity. Nathan’s honesty in recounting stories of failure, rejection and grief from his own journey strike a chord with any audience.

15 years of experience as a speaker and working with youth equip Nathan with the ability to tailor the ideal presentation for your group. His current position as a Boarding Duty Master and Director of Basketball at St Ignatius College Riverview ensures he is on point with teen culture and trends.

» Read more about Nathan Strempel

Liv Downing

Inspirational Speaker, Mindfulness, Personal Development, Well Within

Liv is a passionate and engaging speaker with over 15 years of experience working across the corporate and non-profit sectors across both Australia and the US.

As a registered psychologist and qualified meditation teacher, her sessions bring a balance of science and practice and are interactive, fun and practical.

In her role as a mindfulness educator, she brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to her sessions through sharing both her personal and professional experiences.

» Read more about Liv Downing

Ally Watson

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Social Issues, Well Within, Women's Rights

Ally Watson is the founder and CEO of Code Like a Girl, a social enterprise that provides girls and women with the confidence and tools to take on the world of code and re-imagine the future of technology.

As one who has seen first-hand how traditional gender stereotypes have limited opportunity for women across society at large, she strives tirelessly each day towards breaking these biases.

Recently decorated with an Order of Australia Medal, Watson is a multi-award winning social entrepreneur whose heartfelt motivation is to create innovative learning environments where every woman, from any background, feels included, inspired and capable in the world of technology.

Ally’s unique and refreshing insights and research on gender-diversity within the technology industry allows for the delivery of thought-provoking and action-inspiring presentations.

» Read more about Ally Watson

Shabnam Safa

Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller

Shabnam is a driven community development practitioner who is passionate about cultivating true partnerships between communities and structures of power to create lasting solutions and social change.

She grew up as a Hazara Afghan refugee in Pakistan before arriving in Australia at the age of 15. Inspired by her own experience of forced displacement, she is a strong advocate for meaningful participation of refugees in addressing the complex challenges of resettlement, inclusion, and belonging.

Shabnam has founded and led multiple initiatives in Australia and abroad supporting refugees and host communities. She is part of a small national team at the Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia (CRSA) working to establish a holistic community-led refugee sponsorship program in Australia, building community capacity to welcome newcomers. She is the inaugural Chairperson at the National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy Group (NRAAG), a refugee-led organisation creating spaces for effective elevation of voices with lived experience in key decisions, policies, and discourse about refugees.

A Director at the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Shabnam also serves on multiple government advisory boards influencing policy design and program delivery to devise unique solutions for the unique challenges and opportunities facing refugee and migrant communities in Australia. She is an emerging leader in the Afghan Australian community and since the fall of Kabul in August 2021 has been one of the leading voices behind the Action for Afghanistan campaign.

She was recently inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her tireless work in promoting refugee rights, social cohesion, meaningful diversity and inclusion. Fun fact about Shabnam: she is also a former Karate champion with multiple national and international titles to her name.

» Read more about Shabnam Safa

Jo Stanley

Author, Entertainer, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Storyteller/Performer

Having started her career as a comedian, Jo is a dynamic and entertaining speaker. She has presented to schools, universities, conferences, the corporate world, and community groups. Her areas of expertise are:

Gender equality
Resilience and mindfulness
Purpose
Media
Personal branding

» Read more about Jo Stanley

A.S. Patric

Author

Alec Patric is an award winning writer. He is also a bookseller in Bayside Melbourne and teaches Creative Writing Australia-wide.

» Read more about A.S. Patric

Matt Beard

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Philosophy, Social Issues

Dr Matt Beard is a dad, husband and award-winning moral philosopher with experience helping people find meaningful, practical advice in the history of philosophy.

He is an accomplished speaker, broadcaster and facilitator who brings enthusiasm, rigour, humour and accessibility to his work.

» Read more about Matt Beard

Adam Cece

Author, Online - Virtual Visits, Storyteller/Performer

Adam Cece is an award-winning author of children’s books, including the hilarious Huggabie Falls series, and an SA Premier’s Reading Challenge Ambassador. His mission, which he has chosen to accept, is to travel the country and inspire children to read and write, by sharing his journey, and his world of books and words, and delving into the process of writing and the structure of stories, and, most importantly, having lots of fun in the process.

Follow Adam on Twitter and Instagram @ceceadam or at www.adamcece.com.

» Read more about Adam Cece

Meredith Gaston

Author, Illustrator, Inspirational Speaker

Meredith Gaston Masnata is an internationally acclaimed bestselling author, artist, wellness coach and speaker celebrating mindful, joyous and spirited living in a modern world.

Whilst exhibiting her artwork locally and abroad from a young age, Meredith graduated from The University of Sydney, majoring in Art History and Theory and Gender and Cultural Studies. Continuing her education as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach through IIN, New York, Meredith frequently features in the media, educational and corporate spheres inspiring wellbeing in daily life. She is a regular guest on ABC radio. Meredith’s twelve lovingly illustrated books are translated into various foreign languages and her artworks are collected worldwide.

Meredith lives and works in the majestic Blue Mountains of Australia. She savours a contemplative and richly creative village life in nature with her husband, photographer Roberto Masnata. Meredith regularly facilitates ‘Watercolour and Wellbeing Workshops’, welcoming participants of all ages and stages to celebrate the joy of art and life.

» Read more about Meredith Gaston

Anna Snoekstra

Author

Anna Snoekstra is the bestselling author of four novels, which have been published in twenty countries and translated into many different languages. She is also a screenwriter for film and television.

» Read more about Anna Snoekstra

Jenna Guillaume

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Journalist, Social Commentator

Jenna Guillaume is a lively and engaging author and journalist with a passion for empowering young people – and having a lot of fun along the way. She loves to talk about things like body image, social media and online toxicity, the intersection of feminism and pop culture, digital media, mental health and self-love.

» Read more about Jenna Guillaume

Patrick Guest

Author, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer

After many years spent gathering stories and tapping away in darkened rooms, Patrick has overcome his fear of public speaking and is now an accomplished performer – equal parts inspiring and entertaining – who isn’t afraid to explore the deeper motivations behind his stories. Patrick has a talent for engaging and involving his whole audience (even the kid at the back of the hall who doesn’t want to be there).

» Read more about Patrick Guest

Eleni Hale

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development, Social Issues

Eleni Hale is an author and journalist based in Melbourne. Her debut novel, inspired by real life events, won the Readings Book Prize among other accolades and tells the story of one girl’s journey through institutional care.

» Read more about Eleni Hale

Caz Goodwin

Author

Caz Goodwin is an Australian award-winning author who writes picture books, short stories and junior fiction. She is best known for her popular rhyming picture books, which have been published internationally. Her stories have been produced in braille for sight-impaired readers. They have also featured on Sarah Ferguson’s Fergie and Friends show, CBCA Storytime, podcasts, newspapers and radio.

Caz is an animal lover and often features Australian native animals in her stories. She includes fun facts about koalas, wombats and other creatures in her presentations for children and is accompanied by animal puppets and a giant Lazy Daisy koala or big Little Matilda kitten. Her entertaining talks can be tailored to suit the curriculum and different age groups. Caz heads the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) in Victoria and is on the Young Australian Best Book Awards (YABBA) council. She is also an Australia Reads ambassador.

Caz is known for her ability to engage and delight young children with her stories and puppets.

» Read more about Caz Goodwin

Danielle Binks

Author, Personal Development, Social Issues

Danielle Binks is a literary agent and author of middle-grade and young-adult fiction books. She is a passionate ‘youth literature advocate’ who champions Australia’s national youth literature and writes compelling contemporary stories for young people.

» Read more about Danielle Binks

Lucy and Rosie Thomas: PROJECT ROCKIT

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Well Within

Cofounders of PROJECT ROCKIT, Lucy and Rosie Thomas have dedicated their lives to making the world better for young people. The pair launched PROJECT ROCKIT when they were fresh out of school and restless for change on issues of bullying, hate and prejudice. Over a decade later, PROJECT ROCKIT is a thriving social enterprise, reaching hundreds of thousands of students and serving as a cyber safety partner to major social media platforms. Rosie and Lucy regularly appear in the media and have received numerous awards honouring their work.

Although three years apart, the Thomas sisters hold a shared vision that has translated into a strong social impact. They have both received Order of Australia medals, been named by UNICEF among 12 Digital Champions for Children’s Rights in the Digital Age and are recipients of the global Family Online Safety Institute’s award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Online Safety.’ Together the duo sit on a range of boards including Facebook’s Global Safety Board, Twitter’s Global Trust and Safety Council and the Australian Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s Online Safety Consultative Working Group.

Rosie and Lucy are able to offer online sessions during Term 2 due to the coronavirus disrupting learning in many states. Please contact us for more information.

Rosie Thomas OAM

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Well Within

Rosie Thomas OAM has been hungry for creating positive change ever since she can remember. She launched PROJECT ROCKIT with her sister when she was fresh out of high school, and 15 years on it has grown into Australia’s youth-driven movement against bullying, hate and prejudice, impacting half a million young Australians. In her role as CEO, Rosie serves on the Global Safety Advisory Boards of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and is passionate about engineering a kinder digital world. Rosie is a highly experienced and passionate (brace yourselves) speaker and is committed to helping her audience realise their own unique purpose and ability to change the world for good.

» Read more about Rosie Thomas OAM

Nikki Gemmell

Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer, Women's Rights

Nikki is known as Australia’s most honest author. Whether it’s her provocative novel The Bride Stripped Bare; After, her non fiction book about the euthanasia death of her mother, or her highly popular column in the Weekend Australian magazine (which tackles many issues pertinent to educators and students,) she gets the nation thinking. She’s also written two series of books for primary aged school children.

» Read more about Nikki Gemmell

Rawah Arja

Author, Entertainment, Inspirational Speaker, Social Issues

Rawah Arja is a passionate young Muslim author from Western Sydney whose work has featured at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, SBS Voices as well as the Sydney Review of Books. She teaches creative writing workshops at schools, specialising in reluctant readers and writers.

» Read more about Rawah Arja

Astrid Edwards

Education Consultant, Social Issues, Storyteller

Astrid is a bibliophile. She is the host of The Garret: Writers on Writing and has interviewed more than 200 of Australia’s most prominent writers. In 2023 she began a PhD at the University of Melbourne exploring potential and perceived barriers to publishing and selling climate fiction in Australia.

She regularly moderates and participates in panels at literary festivals, and you can read her book reviews in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, Future Women, Kill Your Darlings, The Big Issue, Australian Book Review and Australian Foreign Affairs.

She is one half of Bad Producer Productions, an independent podcast network specialising in arts and sport (she represents the Arts part). Astrid also teaches in the Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT University and sometimes judges literary prizes.

Astrid is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She served on the Victorian Disability Advisory Council advising the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers (2019 to 2022). She the former Chair of Melbourne Writers Festival (2019-2022) and the former Deputy Chair of Writers Victoria (2014-2018).

In 2021 Astrid contributed to the anthology Growing Up Disabled in Australia and made her debut appearance on Q+A in 2021. She previously received grants from the Australia Council for the Arts (2017 and 2018) and The Copyright Agency (2017 and 2019).

Before embarking on this creative storytelling career, Astrid was an economics and policy consultant for almost a decade. She specialised in climate and social policy, and to this day she is trying to figure out how stories can help to save the planet.

Astrid is a member of Mensa Australia.

» Read more about Astrid Edwards

Dr Jodi Richardson

Anxiety, Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, New Speakers, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development, Social Issues, Well Within

Dr Jodi Richardson is dedicated to elevating the mental health and wellbeing of others. She empowers parents, educators and other professionals with practical skills and techniques for maximising wellbeing and overcoming the inattention, overwhelm and avoidance that come with anxiety.

» Read more about Dr Jodi Richardson

Chris Daicos

Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Well Within

Dip Tch, BA, BSW, MAPP, FACEL

Chris is a trained teacher and social worker who has also completed the Masters of Applied Positive Psychology. She has over three decades of experience supporting organisations in the public and private sector to enhance functioning and develop wellbeing. Her work was recognized by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders for which she was awarded a fellowship.

» Read more about Chris Daicos

Cath Moore

Author, Social Issues

Cath Moore is an award winning author, filmmaker and academic, specializing in YA and own-voice storytelling for the page and screen. Cath also runs story development workshops for secondary students and new writers.

» Read more about Cath Moore

Claire Saxby

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer

Claire Saxby writes poetry, fiction and non-fiction for young people. She speaks (and sometimes sings) about history, humour, our environment, making stories, writing poetry and researching.

» Read more about Claire Saxby

Jonny Shannon

Inspirational Speaker, New Speakers, Online - Virtual Visits, Personal Development, Social Issues, Well Within

I found school extremely difficult, having dyslexia and other disabilities which led to failing all my subjects and being bullied a lot. After overreacting too many times, I was finally expelled for fighting too much.

It wasn’t until my last school that a counsellor took me aside to work through some of the key issues I was facing. The difference for me was from “night to-day”. I quickly turned my academic performance around and focused on my emotional well-being & set some big goals. Surprised in the difference seeing a counsellor made, I committed to doing youth work to help other students like myself for the rest of my life.

» Read more about Jonny Shannon

Annie Woollard

Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, SDGs Expert

Annie is a Global Educator, and a Teach Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Ambassador.

Annie strongly believes that we are all global citizens and wants to share the mantra of “Think Globally, Act Locally.” By thinking globally, children learn empathy and cultural diversity. From there, Annie believes children and their teachers form connections and are more likely to take ownership and invent, innovate, and campaign for change.

» Read more about Annie Woollard

Alex Dekker

Inspirational Speaker, Social Issues

Alex Dekker is an impact-driven entrepreneur and changemaker, reshaping food relief in Australia through the not-for-profit organization he founded, Alex Makes Meals. At just 24 years old, Alex was named on Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list for his groundbreaking work in social impact. What began as a small initiative to feed healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into a powerful movement, delivering over 700,000 meals annually to vulnerable individuals and families across Melbourne.

Alex’s work has garnered numerous accolades, including being nominated for Victorian Young Australian of the Year (2021) and receiving the 2022 Premier’s Sustainability Award and the National Banksia Award. His efforts demonstrate that age is no barrier to making a profound difference.

» Read more about Alex Dekker

Tarang Chawla

Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues

Tarang Chawla is a speaker, writer and founder of Not One More Niki, working to end violence against women. He is a gender equality, human rights and mental health advocate who was named a Young Australian of the Year Finalist and listed as one of Australia’s Top 40 Under 40 Asian Australians.

» Read more about Tarang Chawla

David Leser

Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Storyteller

As a journalist and author with more than 40 years experience working in Australia, Asia, Europe, the United States and Middle East, David Leser is a compelling speaker, able to weave the personal with the universal in moving ways that help shift our thinking.

» Read more about David Leser

Marjory Gardner

Illustrator

Marjory Gardner’s illustration workshops encourage participants to use colour, pattern and detail to bring to life the characters of their imagination. She describes her drawing process from first roughs to finished art, the hard slog, the fun and the sometimes frustrating stages along the way.

» Read more about Marjory Gardner

Dr Joanne Orlando (PhD, M.Ed, B.Ed)

Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development, Social Issues, Welfare

Dr Joanne Orlando (PhD, M.Ed, B.Ed) is one of Australia’s favourite and most trusted digital wellbeing experts. Through her ground-breaking research she provides specialist advice and solutions to today’s most pressing digital wellbeing issues for children and adults. Joanne is a popular presenter on TV, with over 10 years presenting digital wellbeing segments on Sunrise, Morning Show, Today Show and The Project. She has developed terms such as ‘sharenting’ and ‘zombie scrolling’ which have now entered everyday lexicon. Joanne is the creator of digital literacy and wellbeing education program TechClever, and her most recent book Life Mode On, was released worldwide in 2021.

Mick Elliott

Author, Entertainer, Illustrator, Inspirational Speaker, Storyteller

Mick Elliott is an author, illustrator, TV producer, screenwriter, literacy ambassador and professional mischief-maker. As well as multiple best-selling books, Mick has written and produced acclaimed children’s TV programmes for Nickelodeon, the Sesame Workshop, Channel TEN and the ABC.

» Read more about Mick Elliott

Sue Whiting

Author, Education Consultant, Storyteller

Sue Whiting is an acclaimed children’s and YA author and editor who has worked in publishing for twenty years. Sue has written numerous books for a variety of age groups, including the bestselling Missing, the award-winning The Book of Chance and a number of CBCA Notable Picture Books. As a storyteller and schools’ performer, Sue has informed, inspired and entertained thousands of kids across the country.

» Read more about Sue Whiting

Mirranda Burton

Author, Illustrator, Social Issues

Mirranda Burton is an artist, writer and author of graphic novels. Her work is fuelled by a passion for history, social issues and a dream of humans finding new ways to understand each other.

» Read more about Mirranda Burton

Emily Gale

Author

Emily Gale has seen the book industry from different sides over more than twenty years. She’s worked in publishing houses, a bookshop, two school libraries and a literary agency, has chaired festival panels and is a vocal advocate for children’s literature wherever she goes. Meanwhile she has written novels for several age groups, with a particular interest in middle-grade and Young Adult fiction.

» Read more about Emily Gale

Katrina Nannestad

Author

Katrina Nannestad is an award-winning children’s author who writes humour, adventure, action, mystery and history. Katrina loves sharing her passion for stories, and encouraging others to read, write and find the joy in life.

» Read more about Katrina Nannestad

Matthew Lin

Entertainment, Illustrator, Manga

Matthew Lin is a graphic designer and illustrator who has over 25 years experience — with the majority of that time in publishing, as well as advertising and promotional design.

Matthew began his career as a MAC operator in a small ad agency in Parramatta. After a year he moved on to be a designer and illustrator for Scholastic, then a senior designer/illustrator at Creata Promotion. He was an Art Director at Horwitz Publications and then Creative Director at Online Media Group. In 2004, Matthew decided it was time to go freelance and since then, hasn’t looked back!

» Read more about Matthew Lin

Clem Bastow

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Social Issues

Clem is an Autistic advocate, screenwriter and cultural critic who has relished getting in front of an audience ever since they were sent home from a Year 9 birthday party following a tour de force performance of twenty road safety PSAs. Clem is particularly passionate about Autism advocacy and loves to help debunk myths and misconceptions about Autistic people in the workplace, in education, and in general. With more than two decades’ worth of broadcasting and performance under their belt, Clem has extensive public speaking experience, and their screenwriting and standup comedy skills means that addresses delivered by them don’t tend to result in glazed eyes and rushes for the exit. Their various speaking engagements have covered everything from gender liberation to Autism to cult cinema. Clem is also an experienced host and emcee, having chaired panel discussions and hosted Q&As for a wide variety of events and organisations, including Melbourne International Film Festival, Cinema Nova, AFI/AACTA, Festival Of Dangerous Ideas, Melbourne Writers Festival and Amaze.

» Read more about Clem Bastow

Michelle Bowes

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Inspirational Speaker, Journalist, Social Issues

Personal finance journalist, author, and mother of two teenage girls, Michelle Bowes believes the solution to overcoming the money challenges women face is for them to start learning about money – and putting good habits in place – as soon as they start earning it, in their very first casual job.

Her mission is to teach all teenage girls how to be money queens, by showing them how to avoid the gaps, traps and mishaps and giving them the tips and tools they need to rule their money.

» Read more about Michelle Bowes

Jess Racklyeft

Author, Illustrator

Jess Racklyeft is an award winning illustrator (and sometimes author) of over 30 picture books. She creates work with a variety of media including watercolour, mono prints, acrylics and digital illustration – resulting in a very messy studio!

» Read more about Jess Racklyeft

Jane Gilmore

Author, Social Issues, Speaking Out

Jane Gilmore is an author, journalist, feminist, and consent educator. She has been researching and writing about the causes and effects of violence and poverty for over a decade and is now also involved in delivering consent and respectful relationships education in Australian schools.

Jane has a Master of Journalism from the University of Melbourne and is an award-winning journalist who has been commissioned by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Crikey, Meanjin, News.com.au, The Daily Telegraph, SBS, Women’s Agenda, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, Elle Magazine, Junkee, The Hoopla, Spook Magazine and the ABC.

She is a skilful keynote speaker and has extensive experience in providing engaging and expert commentary for radio, televisions, conferences, writer’s festivals, corporate events, and panel discussions. Her areas of proficiency are consent and respectful relationships, gender diversity solutions, gender pay gap, perception bias, gendered violence, media representation of women, reporting domestic and sexual violence.

Jane also provides media training and public speaking workshops, media advice, and writing for media advocacy workshops.

Jane’s first book, Fixed It, was published by Penguin Random House in 2019 and explores media’s representation of women and violence. In 2020 she wrote the work section of the book Work Love Body published by Hachette in 2021. Her latest book, Teaching Consent, was published by Body Safety Australia in 2022 and the next book in the series Teaching Respect will be published in 2023.

» Read more about Jane Gilmore

Jess McGeachin

Author, Illustrator, Storyteller

Jess is an author and illustrator from Melbourne. Drawing quite literally from a day job at Melbourne Museum, Jess loves sharing stories about nature and encouraging students to draw the world around them.

» Read more about Jess McGeachin

Lisa Shanahan

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Storyteller/Performer

Lisa is an award-winning writer of picture books, and novels for younger and older readers. Some of her funny, heartfelt books include The Grand, Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler, which received the 2017 Queensland Literary Award for Children’s Fiction, the 2018 Speech Pathology Book of the Year for 8–12-year-olds and was also shortlisted in the 2018 CBCA Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers. Her picture book, Hark, It’s Me, Ruby Lee! (ill. Binny Talib) was a 2018 CBCA Honour Book of the Year for Early Childhood and was also shortlisted in the 2018 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards for Children’s Fiction. Her novel for teenagers My Big Birkett was published to critical acclaim in Australia, where it was shortlisted for the 2007 CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and in the United States, where it was a 2008 New York Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age. Her most recent picture book for babies, the delightful Hello World (ill. Leila Rudge) won the 2022 Speech Pathology Book of the Year for Birth-3-year-olds.

Trained as an actor, Lisa is a witty, dynamic, and entertaining presenter, who loves to inspire young people to look at stories, and the world, with a vivid, new freshness.

Hello World
Hark, It’s Me, Ruby Lee!
Laugh Your Head Off 4 Ever
Big Pet Day
Bear & Chook
Bear & Chook by the Sea
The Grand, Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler
My Big Birkett
The Lisa Shanahan Story Collection (Read by Claudia Karvan)

» Read more about Lisa Shanahan

Emma Bowd

Author, Online - Virtual Visits

Emma is an award-winning and internationally published author of books for children and adults; an experienced presenter (both online and in-person); and a passionate Literacy Ambassador for the education charity, Ardoch. A vibrant new voice in Australian children’s literature, Emma’s debut rhyming picture book, Wonderful Shoes was awarded a CBCA Notable Book (Early Childhood, 2022); and featured on Play School Story Time (Series 5, ABC Kids TV, ABC iView, 2022). She is a former Occupational Therapist and has a keen interest in making storytelling props to dovetail with her picture books.

Emma has conducted sessions in Early Learning Centres, Schools, Bookshops and Libraries. She particularly enjoys speaking to Early Childhood and Primary School educators – where she shares her passion and knowledge for choosing and using quality children’s picture books in education settings.

Emma has presented to organisations such as: the School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV – Primary Branch); the CBCA Central Coast Sub-branch, NSW (Early Childhood PD Workshop); and the State Library of NSW.

To find out more about Emma and her new publications, follow her on Instagram/Facebook @emma.bowd.au or visit her website.

The Day You Were Born (illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper; Affirm Press; August 2023) – picture book.
Wonderful Shoes (illustrated by Tania McCartney; Windy Hollow Books; 2021) – picture book.
The Shoe Princess’s Guide to the Galaxy (Bloomsbury, UK; 2009) – commercial fiction novel for adults.

» Read more about Emma Bowd

Felicity Castagna

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Storyteller/Performer

Felicity Castagna is the multi-award winning author of books for young adults and adults, as well as several works for stage and film. She has run popular workshops on writing and creativity everywhere from universities to correctional centres and is passionate about both working with young people and using her extensive experience and research to help schools and teachers to develop creative writing pedagogy.

Small Indiscretions
The Incredible Here and Now
The Incredible Here and Now (the play)
No More Boats
Girls In Boys’ Cars

» Read more about Felicity Castagna

Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

Illustrator

Charmaine Ledden-Lewis is a proud Bundjalung woman, artist and illustrator, living on Dharug & Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains, NSW. Through guidance and demonstration, Charmaine shares her passion and enthusiasm for creativity and visual literacy, and encourages all those she meets to transcend inhibition and engage in artistic expression. Charmaine also takes pride in fostering conversation exploring First Nations perspective, inclusivity and diversity.

Found by Bruce Pascoe (author)

Born to Run by Cathy Freeman (author)

Charlie’s Swim by Edith Wright (author)

Growing Up Wiradjuri by Dr Anita Heiss (author)

Katrina Marson

Author, Education Consultant, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development/Welfare, Social Issues

Katrina Marson is a criminal lawyer, author and advocate. She is an expert in relationships and sexuality education as a means of protecting against sexual violence and safeguarding sexual wellbeing, and is an empowering and inclusive speaker.

» Read more about Katrina Marson

Anna Fienberg

Author

Anna Fienberg’s favourite subjects are words and stories – reading them, writing them, sharing them. As she spills the secrets behind her books, she encourages her audience to search their own lives for ideas, helping them tap into the imaginative possibilities of everyday life. Interactive and inspiring, she offers inside knowledge into the book world while expanding and enriching students’ own creative powers. Her passion for books is infectious!

Works include: The Tashi series; Monsters; Wicked’s Way; Horrendo’s Curse; Louis Beside Himself; Borrowed Light; The Magnificent Nose and Other Marvels; Ariel, Zed and the Secret of Life; Minton Goes!; Joseph; Madeline the Mermaid; The Witch in the Lake (e book & print on demand); Power to Burn (e book)

» Read more about Anna Fienberg

Zanni Louise

Author

Author of over 35 books for kids, Zanni Louise inspires young people to fall in love with books, as well as tell and write their own stories.

Too Busy Sleeping
Archie and the Bear
Tiggy and the Magic Paintbrush
Errol
Mum For Sale
Stardust School of Dance
Daring Delly
Human Kind
Paris Takes Over The World
Florence and Fox
Wonder Earth
We Are All People
I Feel the World
Pigasus
This Is Love
Queenie In Seven Moves
Lost Bunny (Monsties Book One)

» Read more about Zanni Louise

Maura Pierlot

Author

Maura Pierlot is an author, playwright and filmmaker based in Canberra. Her groundbreaking work on youth mental health, Fragments, is now an award-winning web series and feature length film. Maura’s work has won, and been shortlisted for, numerous writing awards. She has a PhD in philosophy, specialising in ethics.

» Read more about Maura Pierlot

Melanie Saward

Author

Melanie Saward is a proud Bigambul and Wakka Wakka woman based in Tulmur (Ipswich), Queensland, a city west of Brisbane. An experienced university lecturer, Melanie loves to talk about her books and writing, and run practical writing workshops.

» Read more about Melanie Saward

Cheryl Leavy

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Social Issues, Storyteller

Cheryl is an award-winning First Nations writer who is passionate about language revitalisation and truth telling through story.

She has led some of Australia’s most successful social justice initiatives across health, education and environment.

» Read more about Cheryl Leavy

Eliza Hull

Author, Disability Advocate, Entertainment, Inspirational Speaker, Musician, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer

Eliza Hull is an award-winning musician, writer and disability advocate. She is passionate about changing the way the world views disability.

In her role as disability advocate and consultant, Eliza has presented Keynotes for major Australian and International organisations and given speeches at Parliament House, The Human Rights Convention ‘Free and Equal’, for the NDIS, DARU and at several hospitals, schools and universities including Sydney University and the Melbourne Women’s Hospital. She is also a fixture of the writing festival circuit.

Eliza regularly runs workshops in Disability Awareness Training and has written training for major Australian companies and organisations seeking to become more inclusive and accessible for all.

She also runs facilitated workshops in songwriting, recording, and storytelling for participants with disabilities.

Come Over to My House (co-author)

We’ve Got This: Essays by Disabled Parents (creator and editor)

Growing Up Disabled in Australia (Anthology)

Teacher Teacher (Anthology)

» Read more about Eliza Hull

Rhiân Williams

Author, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development/Welfare, Social Issues

Rhiân is an enthusiastic and engaging story teller, equally at home running a treasure hunt for beetles and Australian animals for a group of three year olds at a public library, to bringing fire fighters and other emergency personnel together with kids and grown ups alike to discuss emergency preparedness, through to speaking on radio about the importance of reading and books with her regular segment on ABC Canberra.

» Read more about Rhiân Williams

Solli Raphael

Author, Curriculum Specialist, Education Consultant, Entertainment, Inspirational Speaker, Personal Development/Welfare, Social Issues, Storyteller/Performer

Solli Raphael is a globally renowned and award-winning speaker and performer who has delivered inspiring presentations for nearly a decade. Within schools, Solli has become known for turning pressing and complex social concerns and concepts into relatable and meaningful conversations for young audiences.

Limelight

Spotlight

29 Things You Didn’t Know About Me

» Read more about Solli Raphael

Michael Earp

Author, Bookseller

Michael Earp is a non-binary writer and editor of books for young adults with over 20 years bookselling and publishing experience as a children’s and YA specialist. They love talking about minority representation (with a LGBTQIA+ focus) in literature for young people.

Borderlands: Riding the Slipstream edited by Paul Collins

Kindred: 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories

Out-Side: Queer Words and Art From Regional Victoria

Avast! Pirate Stories from Transgender Authors

Underdog: #LoveOzYA Short Stories edited by Tobias Madden

Out-Side: Queer Words and Art From Regional Victoria

Everything Under the Moon: Fairy tales in a queerer light

» Read more about Michael Earp

Tobias Madden

Author, Entertainer, LGBTQ+

Tobias is a queer YA author, editor, and publishing professional, originally from Ballarat, Victoria, now based in New York City, USA.

» Read more about Tobias Madden

Sam Drummond

Author, Education Consultant, Social Issues

Sam Drummond is a powerful speaker who gets to the heart of some of society’s most pressing issues such as disability education inclusion and equity

He uses his experience as a media presenter and speech writer to weave personal stories through the headlines, to show the people behind the statistics.

» Read more about Sam Drummond

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