Deborah trained as a teacher before becoming the writer/producer of a national children’s TV show. She left in 2002 and has since become an internationally published and awarded author of 30 books, including her climate change trilogy, Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm. The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee and The Most Marvellous Spelling Bee Mystery were inspired by her stupendous grade 4 teacher. Her last three books are CBCA notables, Bear in Space, The Book of Wondrous Possibilities and The Kindness Project, which is about four kids who overcome their differences to change the world. Her latest picture book is, No More Room in the Bed, a funny story about a stormy night and one very crowded bed. www.deborahabela.com

Caz Goodwin is an award-winning, internationally published children’s author, passionate about inspiring young readers through storytelling. Her books have been produced in Braille and featured in podcasts, YouTube, newspapers and radio. Her presentations for children include puppets, jokes, rhyming games, writing tips and fun facts about Australian native animals.

Jess Racklyeft is a Melbourne-based author and illustrator who creates a variety of illustrated things – picture books, paintings, prints, pins and cards – mainly in watercolours. Her work often combines collage – either on paper or digitally assembled – and lots of ink, and for every book she tries to use a new technique or process to continue to challenge and grow, book by book. Jess worked in publishing sales for almost a decade before making the leap to full-time illustration work, and since then has won several illustration accolades including a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award and designed the 2024 "Reading is Magic" artwork.

JUDY WATSON is a Melbourne writer, illustrator and mixed-media artist. She is the Illustrator Coordinator for SCBWI Victoria. Her most recent books are ‘Jo and the NO’ by Kyle Mewburn (2025) and ‘Hazel’s Treehouse’ by Zanni Louise (2024). Other picture-books include PM literary award winner ‘Goodnight Mice!’ by Frances Watts, ‘When You’re Older’ by Sofie Laguna, ‘Thunderstorm Dancing’ by Katrina Germein, ‘Leonard Doesn’t Dance’ by Frances Watts and ‘Searching for Cicadas’ by Lesley Gibbes. Judy’s illustration practice involves a lot of experimentation and she loves to get kids playing and experimenting too. Find out more at www.judywatson.net

Planting mangroves in Kiribati, speaking to audiences in Istanbul, reaching indigenous children in the Outback, Susanne Gervay spreads hope through her writing. Awarded an OAM awarded the Social Justice Literature Award by International Literacy Association she reaches into the great issues of our time - feminism with Shadows of Olive Trees, disability Butterflies, harmony Elephants Have Wings, bullying I Am Jack books, vision The Boy in the Big Blue Glasses, Heroes of the Secret Underground championing young people, The Edge of Limits on consent, inclusion for young readers Parrot Palace. Her significant picture book Guess How I Was Born opens acceptance of ALL families being important however they are made. Her stories published in the major literary journals include Southerly, Quadrant, Westerly and the Indian-Australian anthologies together with Sir Salman Rushdie, Kate Grenville and Rosie Scott. She co-heads the Society of Children’s Writers & Illustrators and is literacy ambassador for many organisations. sgervay.com

Claire Saxby writes award-winning fiction, non-fiction and poetry for young people in picture books, chapter books and novels. She is fascinated by our world and writes to share and encourage curiosity and wonder. Claire writes big historical novels with strong curriculum links (“Haywire” and “The Wearing of the Green”), a wide range of picture books (‘Iceberg’, ‘Tree’, ‘Volcano’, ‘Wedge-tailed Eagle’, ‘Great White Shark’ and more), and books for younger readers (‘Whisper on the Wind’, ‘Seadog’ and more) For further information visit www.clairesaxby.com

After working in public relations for five years, and for ten years as a primary teacher, Amy turned her attention to actively pursuing her goal of writing for children. In 2017 she founded Busy Bookworms, a weekly bookclub class for preschoolers, which used picture books to inspire exciting educational activities. Amy is the author of the six-book junior fiction series Tilda Teaches (Five Mile), and the picture book Turning Cartwheels (EK Books). Her new junior fiction book Trick Shot Trevor (Five Mile), and picture book, The Little Street Library (Affirm Press), illustrated by Erin McClean, are out now. When she’s not writing, teaching or reading, Amy can be found attempting (semi-successfully) to train her bichoodle Fred, trying (unsuccessfully) to find a recipe that both her children will like, and catching up on the latest goings-on in Summer Bay.

Marjorie Crosby-Fairall has illustrated over twenty children’s books. Her books appear on the Premier’s Reading Challenge lists and have been shortlisted and won awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Eve Pownall Award for her first picture book. Her recent picture books include the 2023 CBCA Notable Summer Blue with Trudie Trewin and the 2021 CBCA Notable Bear in Space with Deborah Abela. She was the 2022 recipient of the SCBWI Don Freeman Illustration Award and the SCBWI Work of Outstanding Progress Award for Emmie Builds Something New, her 2025 debut picture book as both author and illustrator.