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.

Coach Camp

Tash is a publisher and will coach you on either 2 x picture books or a chapter book (early reader or junior fiction) extract.

Little Book Press (Publisher & Coach)

Alyson O’Brien has worked in children’s publishing for over 15 years, in editorial and commissioning roles. She is passionate about publishing memorable stories that ignite a lifelong love of reading in children.

Little Book Press publish high-quality, thoughtfully designed books and resources that support early brain development during crucial formative years, such as Little Angler, Almost a Fish and Two Turtles.

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

Coach Camp

Alyson is a publisher and will coach you on either 2 x board books/picture books.

Allen& Unwin (Publisher & Coach)

With 15+ years experience in publishing, Kate Whitfield is a Senior Editor of children’s/YA books at A&U. Kate is highly skilled in structural and copy editing, working with acclaimed authors such as Emily Rodda, Wendy Orr and CS Pacat. She works across all age groups and genres. 

Allen & Unwin is a leading independent publisher with a strong focus on Australian creators and stories exploring Australia’s history, culture and identity. 

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

Coach Camp

Kate is a talented senior editor and will coach you on a middle grade or young adult novel extract.

Larrikin House (Publisher & Coach)

Dani Vee works in acquisitions working directly with the publisher to assess submissions. Dani is also a published author of both picture books and junior fiction and host of the literary podcast, Words and Nerds.

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 Robo Teacher.

Join Dani sharing publishing insights on various panels, in a Pitch Pro Session or in an intimate Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few.

Coach Camp

Dani is a commissioning editor and author and will coach you on either 2 x picture books or a chapter book (junior fiction/early reader) or graphic novel extract.

Pitch Pro Sessions

PB/JF/MG/GN/Illus

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.

Author/Illustrator (Coach)

Jess McGeachin is an author and illustrator from Narrm/Melbourne. Drawing inspiration quite literally from the natural world, Jess is the creator of 12 fiction and non-fiction picture books. His non-fiction picture book Deep won the CBCA Eve Pownall Award in 2023 and his books Kind and The Tree at Number 43 were winners of the Environment Award for Children’s Literature. Jess is lucky enough to work for a museum where he occasionally gets lost in the basement.

Jess will present Drawing on Nature or join him in an intimate illustration Coach Camp workshop for a lucky few. Perfect for authorstrators/illustrators.

Drawing on Nature

Join Jess McGeachin for a deep dive into his creative practice. From field sketch to finished book, learn about the importance of napkin sketchs, research rabbit-holes and how to draw seals that won’t lie still. As we stand on an ecological precipice, Jess will look at the importance of finding inspiration in nature and sharing stories that spark hope and action. 

Coach Camp

Jess is a multi-award winning graphic designer/author/illustrator and will coach illustrators and author-illustrators aiming to take their craft to the next levels.

Author & Festival MC

Sue Lawson is an award-winning young adult and children’s author, with a passion for young people, writing and reading.

Sue collaborates with other writers, including Boonwurrung Elder, Aunty Fay Stewart Muir. Together they create books that explore and celebrate Australia’s First Nations’ people and their rich culture and history. Aunty Fay and Sue’s books include Respect and Always Was, Always Will Be.

Sue will share her expert author and publishing world insights throughout the day as the festival Master of Ceremonies.

Author/Editor

Davina Bell is an award-winning writer for young people of many ages and a children’s book editor and publisher. Some of her most well-known picture books include All the Ways To Be Smart, All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors, Under the Love Umbrella, The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade, and What To Say When You Don't Know What To Say. Davina has also worked as an editor and publisher at Penguin Books, Affirm Press and Allen & Unwin.

Perfecting Picture-Book Rhythm and Rhyme

Find your picture-book rhythm and lift your rhyme game with award-winning author and editor, Davina Bell.

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.

The Final Cut

Our world is full of wonder. Join Claire Saxby as she shares many of the fascinating things she has discovered while researching, not all of which could be shoehorned into her stories. Discover how she makes decisions about what belongs and what has to be left out. And what she does with the bits that don’t fit.

Author

Miranda Luby is a YA author, journalist and copywriter living on the Surf Coast. Her short fiction has been published by Bloomsbury UK and Margaret River Press, and has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize. Her debut YA novel, Sadie Starr's Guide to Starting Over, was shortlisted for the Text Prize and The Edge of Everything, launches in May 2025.

Different Steps to Publication (panel)

Emerging writers and illustrators love seeing their work in print. This panel explores getting your work into different types of quality publications that are as exciting as a book deal.

Author

Heather Gallagher is a children’s author, book reviewer and award-winning journalist. She is a regular contributor to the CSIRO’s Double Helix magazine and the NSW-based School Magazine. Heather has a passion for children’s literacy, working as a writer-in-residence in primary schools and presenter for Geelong Regional Libraries.

Different Steps to Publication (panel)

Emerging writers and illustrators love seeing their work in print. This panel explores getting your work into different types of quality publications that are as exciting as a book deal.