Our People

Jackie French AM is an Australian author, historian, ecologist, honorary wombat (part-time), the 2014-2015 Australian Children's Laureate and the 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. Some of Jackie’s books have sold millions of copies and won over 60 awards in Australia and internationally. Jackie is also dyslexic and a patron of literacy programmes across Australia with a wide and deep - if accidental - experience in learning differences and methods. Monkey Baa has created several award-winning productions of Jackie's most beloved books including Josephine Wants to Dance, Diary of a Wombat, Pete the Sheep and Hitler's Daughter.

Susanne Gervay holds active roles as an Ambassador for the Premier’s Reading Challenge NSW and is a committee member and role model for Books in Homes and a Writer Ambassador for Room to Read. Susanne is a former Chair of the Board of Writing NSW, former President of the Society of Women Writers NSW and is a previous Australia Day Ambassador promoting inclusion. She is the author of many books for children and young adults, including I Am Jack, which Monkey Baa adapted in to a stage show that toured Australia and the U.S.

Morris Gleitzman is a bestselling Australian children’s author. His books explore serious and sometimes confronting subjects in humorous and unexpected ways. His titles include Two Weeks with the Queen, Grace, Doubting Thomas, Bumface, Give Peas a Chance, Extra Time, Loyal Creatures, Snot Chocolate and the series Once, Then, Now, After, Soon, Maybe and Always. Morris lives in Sydney and Brisbane and his books are published in more than twenty countries. In 2003 Monkey Baa adapted and toured Gleitzman's celebrated book Worry Warts around Australia.

As Head of Children's Content at the ABC, Libbie Doherty leads the production of high-quality programming that connects 4.4 million Australian children to their local and global communities. With local and international financing partners, she contributes to the ABC's audiences, production, and business strategy. Libbie is responsible for 350 hours of internally-produced and commissioned content across ABCME, ABC KIDS, and ABC Kids Listen, reflecting the Australian lived experience and highly sought after by international TV and streaming platforms. She is a member of the ABC's TV & Radio leadership team, overseeing 55+ staff in Sydney and Melbourne, nurturing creative excellence and innovation, and delivering ambitious and compelling stories.

Siobhán McGeown is a proud Yuin woman, she currently works as the Marketing Manager of Screen at the ABC. In her role she manages and develops multiplatform marketing campaigns and brand strategy including ABC iview and ABC TV. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), awarded with distinction from University of Technology (UTS) and recently won B&T’s 30 under 30 award for Marketing.

Csaba Fekete is the Chief Data Officer at PwC Australia, responsible for the data management capability that enables the firm's strategy through relevant, trusted, easy-to-use and protected information. He has led firm-wide data analytics programs which implemented solutions, platforms and the digital innovation marketplace in Australia and the APAC region. Csaba is a CPA certified and degree qualified finance and accounting professional with experience in management accounting and reporting. He is also passionate about theatre and has attended acting classes at NIDA and the Cronulla Arts Theatre, where he performed in plays and participated in stage management.

Kylie Blundell is a financial services expert, with extensive experience in operations, strategy development, implementation, and risk management. Her expertise includes creating accountable, performance-focused, and resilient businesses. With a deep knowledge of financial services, she brings a broad range of expertise to her work, ensuring that her clients receive the best advice possible. Kylie's commitment to excellence has helped her build a reputation as a trusted advisor in the financial industry.

Dr Wendy Were is a cultural and creative strategist with over two decades of experience in senior leadership roles including Executive Director of Advocacy and Development at the Australia Council, Executive Director Thought Leadership and Engagement at the Greater Cities Commission, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sydney Writers' Festival, Business Advisor at the Creative Industries Innovation Centre, CEO of West Australian Music and Producer at the Perth International Arts Festival. She is currently Director Engagement, University Infrastructure at the University of Sydney. Wendy holds a PhD in Literature awarded with distinction.

Sara Mansour is the co-Founder and Director of Bankstown Poetry Slam, which is Australia's largest regular poetry event, and creative agency Alepha. Her work has garnered her several accolades, such as the Young Citizen of the Year 2017 for the Canterbury Bankstown region and a 2017 ZEST Award for Outstanding Youth Leader. Sara is committed to highlighting stories of young people from diverse backgrounds and empowering them to express themselves.

Lena Nahlous is an experienced CEO, producer, curator, artistic director and facilitator with a long-term commitment to racial equity in the arts, screen and creative sectors. She is currently the CEO of Diversity Arts Australia and host of The Colour Cycle podcast. She has over 20 years-experience in arts, cultural and media organisations where she has developed artist brokerage and training programs focusing on creatives from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds and young people. In 2020, Lena won the Western Sydney Woman Leader of Change Award.

Eva is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Monkey Baa Theatre Company. She graduated from Victorian College of the Arts in 1989. Most recently she directed the company’s 2022 production of Sheena Knowles Edward the Emu which toured around Australia playing to over 50 thousand young people. She also directed Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s Diary of A Wombat which toured to 59 venues throughout Australia and won the 2017 Glug Award for Outstanding Presentation for Children. She also adapted and directed Where the Streets Had a Name based on the novel by Randa Abdel-Fattah. In 2017, Eva was awarded the Sydney Theatre Award for 20 years of Service to the Young People of Australia.

Kevin is an experienced arts executive and strategist with over 23 years of experience across the arts, film and media sectors, with a focus on leadership development, innovation and organisational sustainability. Previously, as Director of Capacity Building at the then Australia Council for the Arts, Kevin spearheaded the development of pivotal industry programs and policies. Kevin is deeply committed to making the arts more accessible, serving as a board Director of Arts Access Australia and a member of the ASSITEJ Australia committee.