Author, illustrator, artist

Jess Racklyeft has worked on over 50 books as well as creating big canvases and vibrant, wearable art. Jess loves working with watercolours and digital illustration, and finds inspiration in the laneways and city, as well as Merri Creek and trips out of town to the beautiful country surrounding Melbourne where her studio is based.

Her recent awards include 2023 CBCA Eve Pownall Honour Award for Australia – Country of Colour , 2022 CBCA Winner for Iceberg (text by Claire Saxby) and the 2025 Wilderness Society Environment Award for Tree (text by Claire Saxby).

Picture This: A Guide to Visual Storytelling

When an author over-describes a scene, they "lock the door" on the illustrator, leaving no room for visual storytelling. Ultimately, the best books happen when the words and pictures “dance together on the page and don’t step on each other’s toes”. This masterclass focuses on how co-creators can work harmoniously in the creation of the perfect picture book. On-line only.

I’m a multi-disciplined content producer and storyteller; a magazine and book editor, illustrator and writer.

I explore tactile and tangible forms of design through wearable art, print textiles and book illustrations; including a series of illustrations for a children’s book about a greyhound named Baz, who is wise beyond measure and has a few life lessons to teach us all.

Gemma Pullar, a Melbourne-based author and illustrator with a background in art and education.

My picture books explore big ideas for children through imagination, humour, and texture. Influenced by Eastern traditions, science, and parenthood, I create acrylic gouache illustrations inspired by artists like Carson Ellis and Shinsuke Yoshitake.

Websites: www.gemmapullar.com

Instagram: @gemmapullarart

Jessica Martinez is an illustrator and author based in the beautiful Macedon Ranges, Victoria. Passionate about children’s picture books, she creates mixed-media collage illustrations using gouache, lead pencils and Photoshop. Her work explores stories that inspire connection, community and emotional growth in both children and adults.

Website: www.jessicamartinez.net

Instagram: @jessicamartinezillustraton

Julie is a French-Australian illustrator based on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, where she lives with her husband and two daughters.

Inspired by her children and her love of nature, Julie creates vibrant and whimsical illustrations using watercolour, acrylic paint and coloured pencil.

Website: www.juliespencerillu.myportfolio.com

Instagram: @juliespencer.illustration

Michelle Conn is a children’s book author and illustrator based on Wadawurrung Country, Victoria. She was shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator Award in 2024 for Raised by Moths.

Published in Australia and internationally, she has worked with major publishers on picture books, junior fiction and book cover design.

Website: www.michelleconnillustration.com

Instagram: @michelleconn_illustration

Tilda Joy is a Canberra-based illustrator who plays across traditional and digital mediums. With a background in design and environmental science, she loves exploring texture, colour and nature.

She won the 2023 CYA aspiring illustrator competition, and is currently working as the mural illustrator for Questacon’s new children’s space.

Website: www.tildajoy.com

Instagram: @tilda.joy

Artist/Illustrator/Author

Pete Cromer is a contemporary Australian artist based in the Colac Otway region of Victoria. Inspired by the optimistic personalities in people and wildlife, Pete’s work is renowned for his signature bursts of glowing colour and beautiful textures, all reflected in his bold collages, wildlife books, paintings and sculptures.

Make Art that Sells

Building a career as a full-time artist requires diversified income streams. Pete Cromer will share his experience working across different mediums and markets to help you with your artistic career and how book publications help you reach a worldwide audience.

Affirm Press/Simon & Schuster (Publisher & Coach)

With over 20 years in children’s publishing, Tash Besliev has had a varied career across marketing, sales, branding and editorial, spending the last decade in senior management and publishing roles. Tash delights in collaborating with authors and illustrators to create books that resonate in the market and meet readers where they are at.

Affirm Press is a Melbourne-based publisher (now a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster) dedicated to publishing great Australian stories, big ideas, and the most engaging local and international authors.

Join Tash sharing publishing insights on various panels or in an intimate Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few.

Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House (PRH) is the world’s largest trade book publisher. PRH strive to make the perfect book for every reader producing some of the world's most iconic children's books and characters.

Michelle Madden is the children’s list commissioning editor seeking emerging and established author-illustrators, book designers, illustrators as well as MG/YA writers. Recent publications include Howl-o-Ween (Bowd, Porter), Eleanor Jones is not a Murder (Doak) and Raised by Wolves (Bancks)

Pitch Pro Sessions

MG/YA/Illus/Authorstrators

UWAP

UWA Publishing (UWAP) shares stories, research and education with the world to encourage thought, inspire action and create and connect with engaged communities.

Kate Pickard is interested in junior & middle fiction & YA stories with a unique viewpoint and a riveting storyline. Kate is also interested in works from marginalised voices. Recent publications include Ella and the Frog Orchestra (Polimeni), The Belly of a Wolf (Negri) and The Pull of the Moon (Pip Harry)

Pitch Pro Sessions

CB/GN/MG/YA

Little Book Press (Publisher & Coach)

Alyson O’Brien has worked in children’s publishing for over 15 years, in editorial and commissioning roles including leading the Hardie Grant imprints Little Hare and Bright Lights. She is passionate about publishing memorable stories that ignite a lifelong love of reading in children. Alyson is currently the Publishing Director at Little Book Press, the not-for-profit publishing arm of Literacy Rights Australia.

Little Book Press publish high-quality, thoughtfully designed books including best-selling/award winning titles Two Turtles. The Thing About Christmas and this year’s Simultaneous Storytime book Luna Roo.

Join Alyson sharing publishing insights on various panels or in an intimate Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus/authorstrators

Larrikin House (Publisher & Bookseller)

James Layton is the Larri-King of Larrikin House and runs two highly successful businesses as both the publisher and bookseller.

Larrikin House publish quirky, original, funny kid-focused books that push boundaries. The publisher believes in the importance of engaging readers at an early age through fun books such as My Epic Dad, Mr Impoppable and global best-seller My Shadow is Pink.

Join James sharing top secret publishing and bookseller insights on various panels.

Riveted Press

Riveted Press is an independent publishing house 'Where unforgettable stories are forged' and that epitomises what the publisher is looking for. Rowena acquired, edited and published CBCA award-winning title Aster’s Good, Right Things by Kate Gordon, and has had multiple titles longlisted and/or shortlisted in a variety of established literary awards. Recent publications include The Prime Minister Problem (Cullen) and A Light on the Rocks (Edwards)

Rowena is interested in science fiction, mystery, action/adventure, fantasy, myths/fables, historical fiction, clever humour (not toilet humour), dystopian, contemporary fiction.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA/Illus/Authorstrator

Sarah McKenzie Literary Management (SMLM)

SMLM represents a growing list of Australian authors and illustrators. As well as proudly representing a range of best-selling authors, SMLM love to identify and champion new and emerging writers of adult fiction, nonfiction and children’s books.

As a boutique, author-focused agency, SMLM works closely with authors to provide personalised and friendly support and guidance at every stage of the publishing process.

Sarah McKenzie is a literary agent interested in stories with unique ideas & empowering themes. SLML is actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices and First Nations authors.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/GN/authorstrators

EK Books

EK Books publish children’s books aimed primarily at kids aged 4 to 8 as well as fiction for young readers, and their motto is “Books with heart on issues that matter.” Their books are recommended by schools, education and health professionals. Recent publications include The Boy Who Lost His Laugh (Powell), Poppy Makes Pockets (Parker) and Mosaic (Kelly)

Nathan James Thomas is the senior editor and publisher at EK Books seeking original stories on issues that matter from picture books to middle-grade fiction novels.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/MG/Illus/Authorstrator

Simon& Schuster/Affirm Press

Affirm Press (imprint of Simon & Schuster) is a Melbourne-based publisher dedicated to publishing great Australian stories, big ideas, and the most engaging local and international authors.

Megan Whelan is the Senior Editor at Affirm Press and loves strong voices, eccentric characters and whimsy and a particular interest in graphic novel author-illustrators. Recently published novels include the Everglade series (Black), The Grandest Bookshop in the World (Mellor), The Graduate (Lim)

Pitch Pro Sessions

MG/YA/GN-Authorstrators/Illus

Author

Claire Saxby is the award-winning author of Volcano, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Tree, Great White Shark, Iceberg, Dingo, Emu and The Wearing of the Green. Claire takes daily walks on the beach and beachcombs for unusual finds thinking  ‘What if...?’ and ‘Why?’. The answer to these questions sometimes become the foundation for a poem or story that later become books.

Collaboration

Industry pros—authors, artists, and publishers—share their experiences working together to create the perfect book, proving that magic happens when teams sync up, share visions, and collaborate to bring stories to life.

Author/Illustrator

Michelle Conn is a talented author-illustrator working with MidnightSun Publishing, Affirm Press, Windy Hollow Books and Walker Books. In 2024, Michelle was shortlisted for the CBCA New Illustrator Award as well as signing an author-illustrator book deal with Affirm Press in a unique way. Michelle has a Bachelor of Design from The College of Fine Arts in Sydney NSW and has worked as a graphic designer and primary school teacher.

Collaboration

Industry pros—authors, artists, and publishers—share their experiences working together to create the perfect book, proving that magic happens when teams sync up, share visions, and collaborate to bring stories to life.

Publisher, author at Wombat Books

Rochelle Stephens is the editor and publisher at Wombat Books and Rhiza Edge (imprint for teenagers).

Building a Creative Career, Together

Rochelle Stephens - author, publisher, editor and teacher - brings 15 years of independent publishing experience to this masterclass on building your author brand and career.

Working with a small press brings some differences and the key to a successful book is working in partnership together. Topics covered include building an author platform before you start to pitch your work, things to do when you get a contract and how to boost yourself and your book in the market.

This masterclass will get you viewing being an author as a career, with tips to help you build your business plan.

Rochelle has repeatedly published manuscripts from pitch events and is particularly interested in upper MG & YA fiction. Recent publications include The Ghost Horse of Snowy River (Gemmill), Sea Glass (Fraser) and Poppy & Pipsqueak (Kelly)

Pitch Pro Sessions

Wombat Books

PB/CB/lower MG/Illus/Authorstrator

Rhiza Edge

upper MG/YA