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, 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 and Maybe. 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.

Libbie Doherty is the ABC's Head of Children’s, responsible for the ABC's Children's TV and Radio portfolio producing world class content that connects the 4.4 million Australia children to their Australian home and the interconnected global community.

Libbie contributes to the ABC’s audiences, production, and business strategy in building quality and distinctive programming, with local and international financing partners. Strategically responsible for 350 hours of internally-produced and commissioned content across ABCME (6-12yrs), ABC KIDS (2-6yrs) and ABC Kids Listen (Radio On Demand Service) the content reflects the Australian lived experience and is highly sought after on TV and streaming platforms internationally. As a member of the ABC's TV & Radio leadership team, with 55+ internal staff in Sydney and Melbourne, Libbie sets the bar for creative excellence and innovation and nurtures teams to deliver ambitious, unique, and compelling stories.

Kylie Blundell is a financial services professional with a depth of knowledge in financial advice. She has a broad range of expertise across operations, strategy development and implementation and risk management. She has experience in creating businesses that are accountable, performance-focused and resilient.

Genevieve Clay-Smith is a diversity and inclusion champion, creative director, social entrepreneur, arts and culture advocate and Australia's foremost globally innovative, inclusive filmmaker. An award-winning writer/director, Genevieve has won numerous awards including the 2015 NSW Young Australian of the Year, the 2014 100 Women of Influence, Young Leader Award and B&T's 2015 Women in Media Award. She is co-founder of creative agency Taste Creative and is currently the CEO of Bus Stop.

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. He is a CPA certified and degree qualified finance and accounting professional with experience in management accounting and reporting.

Csaba is passionate about theatre and attended acting classes at NIDA and the Cronulla Arts Theatre where he also performed in plays and participated in stage management.

Sara Mansour is the co-Founder and Director of Bankstown Poetry Slam (Australia’s largest regular poetry event) and creative agency, Alepha. Sara’s work has won her numerous awards, including Young Citizen of the Year 2017 for the Canterbury Bankstown region and a 2017 ZEST Award for Outstanding Youth Leader. Sara is passionate about amplifying stories of young people of diverse backgrounds and empowering people to find their voice.

Eamon Waterford is the Chief Adviser of Investment NSW. Prior to this role, he worked at the Committee for Sydney, an influential business-led urban policy think tank, and was the Head of Policy for Youth Action, the Peak Body for young people. He has also worked at small and large not-for-profit agencies in the human services industry.

Eamon is passionate about ensuring every child and young person gets access to a good life.

Dr Wendy Were joined the Greater Sydney Commission in June 2021 as Executive Director, Thought Leadership and Engagement and Engagement. She leads the thought leadership, research, communications and engagement teams that support the Commission’s strategic planning and innovation precinct work.
Wendy joined the Commission after seven years at the Australia Council, where she was Executive Director, Advocacy and Development. She has held many senior creative leadership roles over the last two decades, including Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Sydney Writers’ Festival; CEO of West Australian Music; and Business Advisor with the Creative Industries Innovation Centre. Wendy also holds a PhD in Literature, awarded with Distinction.