Hachette

Hachette Australia believe books have the power to change minds, create empathy, broaden understanding and make our world a better place. Hachette have published children’s books by Jessica Townsend, Pip Harry, Favel Parrett, Davina Bell and Karen Comer.

Jean-Marie Morosin is the Head of Children’s Publishing at Hachette Australia. She’s been editing and publishing picture books, junior fiction, middle grade and YA for more than 20 years in both Australia and the United States, and there’s no other job she’d rather be doing.

Hachette publish fiction and non-fiction picture books such as Spare Kisses (Pip Harry) + Wear a Purple Poppy (Fiona White), popular fantasy chapter books such as the Hedgewitch series (Sky McKenna) and various YA genres such as Once Upon a Tomorrow (Karen Comer) + Poster Boys (Woodard)

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA

Thames & Hudson

Fay Helfenbaum is a senior editor at Thames & Hudson Australia working across the adult and children's lists with authors such as Zeno Sworder, Dave Petzold, Davina Bell and Sarah Zweck. She previously worked at Penguin Random House and as an independent bookseller.

Fay is open to any genre with original subject matter but her wishlist includes non-fiction picture books and non-fiction middle-grade, illustrated non-fiction with science, environmental or art subject matter, authors from underrepresented backgrounds. Think Here Come the Cousins (Hutchings), Once I was a Giant (Sworder) and We Live in a Bus (Petzold)

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/MG/Illus/authorstrators

Scholastic Publishing

Scholastic is Australia’s largest publisher and distributor of children's books, representing nearly 30% of the country's best-selling titles.

Kate Wenban has been working in the publishing industry for 20 years, most of those as an editor at Scholastic Australia. In that time, she’s edited Australian picture books, middle grade illustrated fiction and junior fiction—including Ella Diaries, Minutes of Danger, Liars, Fartboy and Daring Delly.   She brings a wealth of knowledge, insight and encouragement to every session. Scholastic publish many fun rhyming picture books with animal characters such as Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas (Blabey) and Otto’s INK-credible First Day of School (Mather)

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG

Kowal Stannus Agency

Kowal Stannus Agency is a UK-based full-service Literary and Illustration Agency dedicated to serving the needs of its clients across books, licensing and entertainment.

Angharad Stannus represents authors and illustrators of fiction and nonfiction for the Adult and Children’s markets, focussing on maximizing clients’ sales potential across multiple income streams and working together to support creative, inventive and dynamic work. Angharad also represents Australian emerging talent including Tasmanian author-illustrator Blake Nuto (When You’re a Boy).

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/GN/MG/YA/Illus/Authorstrator

Scribble

Scribble, the children’s imprint of Scribe Publications, is an award-winning, independent publisher of vibrant and thought-provoking picture books. Working with artists from around the world, they endeavour to publish titles that are inclusive and represent the many different internal and external realities that children face. Award-winnlng publications include All the Ways to be Smart, Off to the Market, Anemone is Not the Enemy and Saturday is Pancake Day.

Miriam is the Publisher & Art Director and is open to picture book author’s boundary pushing stories & illustrators visuals that stand out from the crowd.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/Illus/Authorstrators

Alex Adsett Literary

Rochelle Fernandez has worked in publishing for nearly 20 years. She has been an editor and publisher for HarperCollins, and has been a literary agent with Alex Adsett Literary since 2021, representing a wide range of authors across various genres.

Rochelle’s Wishlist: Funny, charming children’s books with heart. I'm especially looking for books that celebrate or normalise difference. 

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/MG/YA/Illus/Authorstrator

Penguin Random House

Amy Thomas is a commissioning editor for Penguin Random House and has worked with many of their award-winning and beloved authors. She edits and commissions across the Penguin Random House Young Readers list, working on books ranging from picture books through to junior fiction, middle-grade and YA titles such as A Ghost in My Suitcase (Wang), The 113th Assistant Librarian (Wilson, Goodnight Joeys (Treml) and seasonal titles such as Howl-o-Ween (Bowd)

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/CB/MG/YA