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2018 Speakers

  • Eli Rezinsky

    Economic Consultant, Frontier

    Eli advises clients across a wide range of sectors at Frontier. He holds a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics. Eli’s most recent work has been in the public sector, the water industry and financial services, focusing mostly on behavioural economics and impact evaluation.

    His previous experience before joining Frontier includes a military background, non-profit work, and helping to develop financial education policies. He holds a BA in Economics and Cognitive Science and has, among other things, spent time scanning people’s brains to try and learn how memory works. Eli is fluent in Hebrew and Russian.

  • Rebecca McNally

    Publishing director and editor-in-chief, Bloomsbury Children's Books

    Rebecca leads the children’s trade publishing division of Bloomsbury, where she is responsible for fiction, non-fiction, pre-school and picture books. Bloomsbury’s list of top-notch children’s literary talent includes J.K. Rowling, Neil Gaiman, Jim Kay, Chris Riddell, Sarah Crossan, Katherine Rundell, Greg James & Chris Smith, Sarah J. Maas, Catherine Doyle and Kate Pankhurst. Prior to joining Bloomsbury in 2011, Rebecca worked in senior editorial roles at Macmillan and Puffin.

    Bloomsbury Children’s Books won Children’s Publisher of the Year at the 2018 British Book Awards. 

  • Kate Wilson

    MD, Nosy Crow

    Kate is the founder and managing director of Nosy Crow, a multi-award-winning children’s book publisher that launched in 2011. In 2017, Nosy Crow was named both Independent Publishers Guild’s and the British Book Awards Children’s Publisher of the Year. She began her career selling rights, before running Macmillan Children’s Books and then Scholastic UK. 

  • Jeff Norton

    Author, Writer-producer, and Founder of Awesome

    Jeff is the author of the award-winning thriller series MetaWars (Orchard), the comedic Memoirs of a Neurotic Zombie (Faber), and the upcoming picture book Stomp School (Little Tiger Press). He’s also the creator and co-writer of the best-selling Princess Ponies series (Bloomsbury). As a filmmaker, Jeff has written and directed short films and music videos, and is developing a slate of high-concept TV drama projects.

  • Lisa Edwards

    Head of Children’s Publishing, Kings Road Publishing

    Lisa has worked in the children’s book industry for twenty-three years and in that time, she has managed the publishing and licensed activity of some of its biggest properties, including Horrible Histories, His Dark Materials and The Hunger Games. Lisa currently heads up the publishing of the Templar Books, Big Picture Press and Studio Press imprints, working with licensors such as Disney and Beano, and overseeing the tie-in publishing for Jonny Duddle’s Gigantosaurus (Cybergroup Studios), which will broadcast on Disney Junior in 2019.

  • Melanie Stokes

    Co-founder and joint Managing Director, Kindle Entertainment

    Melanie is currently exec-producing Kiss Me First with Bryan Elsley (Skins) for Channel 4 and Netflix. Currently filming in Ireland is the company’s first feature film Four Kids and It based on Jacqueline Wilson’s best-selling book, with Michael Caine, Russell Brand, Paula Patton and Matthew Goode. Melanie has also exec-produced Dustbin Baby, an International Emmy-winning drama for BBC One, Some Dogs Bite and mini-series, Treasure Island.

  • Rebecca Watson

    Agent, Valerie Hoskins Associates

    Representing both screenwriters and Book to Film rights on behalf of boutique literary agencies, Rebecca has been an agent for 20 years. Bringing Ann Cleeves’ Vera and Shetland to the screen, alongside the critically acclaimed Apple Tree Yard, Rebecca also manages the licensing deal for James Mayhew’s Katie series with the National Gallery. 

  • Owen Atkinson

    Chief Executive, ALCS

    Owen joined ALCS in 1997 having previously spent 10 years working in Hong Kong in IT consultancy developing bespoke solutions for the publishing and book industry. Owen was initially responsible for the design and development of a new bespoke royalties system which was successfully implemented in 1999. He became Head of Operations in 2000 and has overseen the doubling of royalties collected and paid to authors over the past 8 years. Owen became Deputy CEO in 2004 and CEO in 2006. During this time, he has been involved in international projects regarding information and repertoire exchange, as well as working with data standards groups on the development of identifiers. He is also involved in lobbying and campaigning in support of authors’ rights and raising the profile of writers in both the UK and EU, raising issues with ministers and MPs on the value of creators to the Creative Economy.

  • Davinia Andrew-Lynch

    Literary Agent and Founder, Andlyn

    Davinia founded ANDLYN to represent writers and illustrators whose material can evolve beyond the page.   With a focus on (but not limited to) children’s and YA content, Davinia has a keen interest in finding unheard voices with projects both unique and commercial. In 2016 she set up the FAB Prize in conjunction with Faber Children’s to unearth BAME talent (now in its second year), and is currently in development on a number of further initiatives offering opportunities to those who are yet to find their way into mainstream publishing.

  • Tobi Coventry

    Company Director, Dialogue Scouting

    Tobi has worked as a literary scout for film and television in various guises for the past five years, after starting his career in film and television development and production. He now runs Dialogue Scouting, a scouting consultancy service working closely with a variety of Production Companies, both in the UK and the US. 

    With an in depth understanding of the film & TV industries, brilliant storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Dialogue Scouting works as a key bridge between the publishing world and some of the industries most exciting and talented producers and filmmakers. 

  • Ingrid Selberg

    Publishing and Licensing Consultant, Ingrid Selberg Consulting

    Ingrid has had extensive career heading up children’s publishing companies, first as MD of Reed Children’s Books (now Egmont) and recently as MD at Simon & Schuster, as well as holding senior positions developing and managing IP in entertainment companies such as HIT and Mattel. Ingrid has acquired and published a range of authors and brands from Thomas the Tank Engine, Winnie the Pooh and Star Wars,  to picture book legends Helen Oxenbury and Janet & Allan Ahlberg as well as bestselling novelists such as Michael Morpurgo, Rachel Renee Russell’s Dork Diaries and Cassandra Clare. Now working as a publishing and licensing consultant, Ingrid is also the creator/coauthor of teen series Girls Can Vlog! published by Macmillan with translation rights sold in 14 languages.

  • Emily Hayward-Whitlock

    Head of Book to Film, The Artists Partnership

    Emily runs the Book to Film department at Talent and Literary The Artists Partnership. She represents the film and TV rights for a leading number of literary agencies and publishers including Caskie Mushens, Serpents Tail, Janklow and Nesbit, Sophie Hicks Agency, Caroline Sheldon, The Bent Agency, LBA, Rogers Coleridge and White, Johnson & Alcock, Profile Books, Nosy Crow and Unbound Books to name a few.

    Recent deals include BAD MERMAIDS by Sibeal Pounder to Sony Animation, CHERUB by Robert Muchamore to Kommix, PRINCESS MIRROR BELLE by Julia Donaldson to CBBC, THE MERCIES by Kiran Millwood Hargrave to New Pictures, THE RUMOUR by Lesley Kara to Cuba, ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE to Hello Sunshine.

  • Rachel Williams

    Publisher, Wide Eyed Editions and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books

    Rachel began her book career at Lonely Planet, commissioning illustrated armchair travel books. In the UK, she has worked for Phaidon Press, and later as Publisher at Templar, where she started the Big Picture Press imprint. In 2014 Rachel moved to The Quarto Group with Jenny Broom to start Wide Eyed Editions, and subsequently also became Publisher of Frances Lincoln Children's Books. In 2016, the Frances Lincoln Children’s Books series Little People, Big Dreams feminist series was launched and has sold over 700,000 copies in the English language market to date.

  • Sarah Larter

    Children's Publishing Director, DK

    Sarah has worked at DK since 2003, first as Managing Editor before moving into the role of Publisher, heading up a key children's list and the DK Find Out website. She has been DK's Children's Publishing Director since August 2017.

  • Alison Tarrant

    Chief Executive, School Library Association

    Alison Tarrant is the Chief Executive of the School Library Association. She worked as a school librarian beforehand, and was on the Honour List for School Librarian of the Year in 2016.Alison and was a Trustee for the SLA and Chair of Youth Libraries Group Eastern before her appointment to the SLA.

  • Annie Everall

    Director, Authors Aloud UK

    Annie Everall is Director of Authors Aloud UK, an agency organising author visits to schools and author tours /events for publishers. During her career in children’s, young people and school’s library services, she developed and managed a range of award winning, innovative library services and reading initiatives. She serves on the committees of the CILIP School Libraries Group, the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL) and the Literacy and Reading Section of the International Federation of Library and Information Associations. She is a member of the Editorial Boards of Carousel Magazine and the Journal of Librarianship and Information Science. In 2001 she was awarded the OBE for services to children’s books and libraries.

  • Liza Miller

    Senior Editor, Hachette Children's Group

    Liza Miller started her career at Templar Publishing in 2011 having completed an MA in Publishing at City University London. Since then she has edited picture books, novelty and non-fiction at Templar, Walker Books and Hachette Children’s Group. After spending a year embedded in the Special Sales team at Penguin Random House, she was recruited to join the launch team of Wren & Rook. Working with bestselling, award-winning authors like Rachel Ignotofsky and Matthew Syed, she creates beautiful and brave non-fiction for young readers.

  • Peter Usborne

    Founder, Usborne Publishing

    Peter is managing director and founder of Usborne Publishing, one of the world’s leading international children’s books publishers. Usborne books are translated into well over 100 languages, and are published in joint ventures under the name Usborne in eight major world markets, the latest of course being China.

    Peter was educated at Oxford University where he started a student magazine which he turned, after leaving University, into the now very famous and enormously successful Private Eye, a funny satirical magazine, of which he was the first managing director.

    Peter learned about children’s books as an editor at Macdonald Educational, where he did well enough for the company to lend him over £1 million to start his own Usborne Publishing Ltd in 1973, where he has worked with great enjoyment ever since.

  • Nicola Usborne

    Deputy Managing Director, Usborne Publishing

    Nicola is Deputy Managing Director of major UK children’s publisher, Usborne Publishing.

    Prior to this she worked for 12 years at Scholastic Inc, in New York, as a VP developing literacy development technology products; the bestselling transmedia online game/ book and collectible card property “The 39 Clues”;  retail and content sites;  and magazines for the classroom.  She is also a BAFTA (British Academy Award) and Sundance Producing Fellowship winning film producer, and has worked with actors such as Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Pierce Brosnan and more. Nicola has a BA from Oxford University in English Literature, an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies and an MBA from the Open University.  She also runs a family charity focussing on developing early literacy with her brother Martin and her father.   

  • Nigel Pickard

    Director, Nevision

    Nigel has been working in Children’s and Family entertainment for television since 1986, developing and producing a wide range of programmes before becoming Controller of Children’s and Family at TVS overseeing shows such as Art Attack, No 73, How2, Mr Majeika, Fraggle Rock and The Storyteller. 

    In 1998 he moved to ITV as Controller of CiTV responsible for all commissioning and scheduling of ITV’s children’s output including SMTV, CDUK, Worst Witch, My Parents are Aliens, Kidnapped and many others.

    In 2001 he was appointed Controller of BBC Children’s overseeing the creation and launch of the two new channels, CBeebies and CBBC.

    In 2003 Nigel was headhunted by ITV to become Director of Programmes, the most senior position at the broadcaster where he was responsible for the scheduling and commissioning of the entire ITV output including The X Factor, Britains Got Talent, The Queen, Doc Martin, Wild at Heart, Parkinson and Primeval amongst others.

    In 2006 he joined RDF as Group Director of Kids, Family Entertainment and Drama where oversaw development and production of shows such as Waybuloo, Zack and Quack, Tickety Toc, Escape from Scorpion Island, Summer in Transylvania, Dani’s House, Fort Boyard, Mr Maker and the Floogals. 

    Nigel is now -  President of TRX, a trading platform for TV rights; Director of Nevision, an Independent production company that originates, produces and facilitates content creation and is also the Producer of the Floogals; a non-exec Director of the Beano Studios; and a Director of the Young Bear Grylls Films.

  • David Fickling

    Founder and Publisher

    David  Fickling  is  an  award-winning  children's  book  editor  and  publisher.  He  started  his  career  with  Oxford  University  Press  in  1977,  moving  on  to  Transworld  and  then  to  Scholastic  UK.  In  1999,  David  formed  his  own  imprint,  the  Oxford-based  storyhouse  David  Fickling  Books,  which  he  then  set  up  as  an  independent  company  in  July  2013.  DFB’s  successful  fiction  titles  include  Philip  Pullman’s  The  Book  of  Dust,  Mark  Haddon’s  The  Curious  Incident  of  the  Dog  in  the  Night-Time,  John  Boyne’s  The  Boy  in  the  Striped  Pyjamas,  Jenny  Downham’s  Before  I  Die  and  Lisa  Williamson’s  The  Art  of  Being  Normal,  as  well  as  four  novels  by  the  late  Siobhan  Dowd.  In  January  2012  David  independently  launched  The  Phoenix  Comic,  whichhas  now  passed  300  issues.  David  published  three,  and  commissioned  a  fourth,  of  the  titles  on  the  2016  World  Book  Day’s  list  of  ‘Top  10  Future  Classics’,  and  was  shortlisted  for  Editor  of  the  Year  at  this  year’s  British  Book  Awards.

  • Amy Wilkerson

    Head of Sales (International), Penguin Random House Children's

    Prior to joining Penguin Random House, Amy spent 10 years working for independent children’s bookshops across the UK and Australia, including The Little Bookroom and Muswell Hill Children’s Bookshop. Upon joining the Penguin Random House international sales team, she found a career that combines her love of books and travel, and she has worked across a variety of international markets, including India, Australia and New Zealand.

  • Stewart Ross

    Freelance writer and speaker

    Stewart is the author of 300+ books, many for children. He has won prizes including the Scottish Arts Council Children’s Book Award and Saltire Society Children’s Book Prize, and has taught creative writing to undergraduates. He is currently writer-in-residence at two schools.

  • Paul Black

    PR Director, Andersen Press

    Paul is the PR Director at Andersen Press, working across all their books, authors and brands. Paul also sits on the board of trustees at Discover Story Centre, and has previously worked at HarperCollins Children’s Books, Walker Books and started his career at Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books.

  • Jiayang Yuan

    Exhibition Director, Beijing International Book Fair

    Mr. Yuan graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in Marketing and International Business. He started working for BIBF in 2010. Mr. Yuan has gained extensive knowledge of the Chinese publishing industry through his daily dealings with both Chinese and International publishers. Mr. Yuan now is the exhibition director and overseas the planning and operation of the Beijing International Book Fair.

  • Jaclyn Swope

    Publisher Account Manager, Nielsen

    Jaclyn joined Nielsen in 2013 while completing her MA in Publishing at Kingston University. She works as a Publisher Account Manager on the Book Research team, where she assists a variety of publishers with understanding and utilising both retail sales and consumer data, through training sessions, presentations and bespoke analysis of book industry trends.

  • Meir Biton

    Co-founder and CPO, Storyball

    Meir Biton is the co-founder and CPO of Storyball, creators of award-winning smart-toy that merges technology & Storytelling to enhance children's development in the real world. Biton is a tech-savvy multi-disciplinary designer, passionate about the about the meeting points of human and machines. With vast experience in creative writing, methodic training and empowerment courses for both young and adults. 

  • Mark Chambers

    Product & Channel Marketing Manager, Games Workshop

    Mark Chambers has 24 years of experience delivering passionate and enthusiastic marketing campaigns that engage all ages. He is an expert in the history of Games Workshop and how its operations have taken it from a small retail business to a global leader in hobby gaming – and in how customer engagement and reaching out to different demographics plays a key role in the company’s continued success.

  • Neil Coombe

    Head of Publishing, Games Workshop

    Games Workshop’s Head of Publishing, Neil Coombe is responsible for developing the company’s Black Library imprint, which has produced bestselling and award-winning fiction for more than 20 years. Neil’s in-depth knowledge of Games Workshop’s worlds, developed across 16 years of working for the company and coupled with his eCommerce background, allow him to bring an innovative approach to creating new product lines designed to reach a wide variety of readers, including those unfamiliar with the fantasy and science fiction settings of the books.

  • Marine Debray

    Head of Group Strategy & Business Development, HarperCollins UK

    As Head of Group Strategy and Business Development, Marine is responsible for supporting HarperCollins’ corporate strategy and M&A, as well as managing business development with start-ups, finding innovative ways to bring HarperCollins content to audiences.

    Marine joined HarperCollins through the graduate scheme in 2013, having graduated from the LSE with a Masters in European Studies, and the University of Oxford with a BA in English and Modern Languages.

  • Japhet Asher

    Digital Director, Carlton Publishing

    Japhet has created, written, produced, and/or overseen content for Nikelodeon, Disney, CBBC, CBeebies, MTV, ABC, CBS, HBO, Fox, Canal+ and more. He launched the CBBC and CBeebies YouTube channels and was in charge of digital content for CBBC during its most successful era to date. Japhet’s work has earned Emmy, BAFTA and Oscar recognition.

    In 2016, Japhet was appointed Digital Director at Carlton Publishing, where he oversees the creative process for new print/digital formats, notably with augmented reality. Two of the titles with AR apps Japhet developed for Calton won the top digital prizes at the 2018 Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Japhet also creates new IPs.

  • Kiera O'Brien

    Charts and Data Editor, The Bookseller

    Kiera is The Bookseller’s charts and data editor and is the author of two children’s books, published by Hachette Children’s.

  • Emily Goldhill

    Strategist, Livity

    Emily is an experienced strategist who specialises in using human-led approaches to design robust campaigns, programmes and services.

    Since  joining Livity in 2016, Emily has run the strategy for major projects for Google, YouTube, Facebook, Home Office and SheDecides. Most recently, Emily has led the strategy for The Met’s innovative new recruitment campaign to attract more diverse and inclusive PCs.

    Emily has also been heavily involved in shaping Livity’s internal strategy for creating more social cohesion for  young people from a range of backgrounds. This is reflective of her passion for elevating underrepresented youth voices and providing them with creative opportunities. .

     

  • Farrah Serroukh

    CLPE Learning Programmes Leader (Reflecting Realities Project Lead)

  • Louise Johns-Shepherd

    Chief Executive, CLPE

    Before joining CLPE in 2013, Louise was the headteacher of two schools, a nursery school and a primary school and was also a senior leader in both the Primary National Strategies and the National College of School Leadership. Louise is the governor of a primary school and she is a judge for the Amnesty CILIP Honour Medal. She writes articles and blogs for a range of publications including TES, Books for Keeps and Scoop Magazine. Her most recent article on the importance of quality literature is in Teach Primary 3 to 7.

    Louise's favourite book as a child was The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley with illustrations by Mabel Lucie Atwell. She says, "I couldn’t read it when I first got it but it was read to me and the story and the illustrations have stayed with me all my life."

  • Gráinne McGuinness

    Creative Director, Paper Owl Films

    Gráinne is co-founder of Paper Owl Films, the Belfast production company with a passion for creating kids’ content that makes a difference.  

    Starting out in documentary and short-form content, Gráinne made her kids’ TV debut with cookery show, Bia Linn, and wildlife series, Na Dulradóirí, for TG4

    She is the creator of Pablo, the ground-breaking pre-school series whose funny, authentic and thought-provoking depiction of what life is like for a five-year-old boy with autism is proving a global phenomenon, snapped up by TV networks around the world. 

    With Pablo series two now in production, Gráinne is developing a slate of pioneering new projects that create fun and meaningful content for younger viewers. 

  • Billy Macqueen

    Co-founder, Darrall Macqueen

  • Jane Steventon

    Producer, Awesome Media & Entertainment

    Jane is a passionate programme-maker, working in adult and children's scripted drama.  She has worked in various roles at Disney, CBBC, BBC Drama, Lime Pictures and now Awesome with an agenda to offer up hidden stories and unheard voices through compelling content. She has producing credits on Tracy Beaker, Casualty, Hollyoaks Later and single dramas Tracy Beaker’s Movie of Me, Zig Zag Love and Kiss of Death.  She is currently watching and loving Sharp Objects, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Atlanta and anything starring Issa Rae.

  • Camilla Deakin

    Joint Managing Director, Lupus Films

    Camilla is an award-winning creative producer with over 25 years experience in the TV and Film industry.  She began her career as a freelance producer and director before joining UK broadcaster Channel 4 in 1999 where she was Editor, Arts & Animation. Camillaleft Channel 4 in 2002 to set up Lupus Films with colleague Ruth Fielding, producing animated TV shows and specials for major broadcasters around the world.  In 2014 Lupus Films was awarded a prestigious Vision Award by the British Film Institute to develop a slate of feature films. The first film that Lupus Films released was Ethel & Ernest, an animated adaptation of a graphic novel by Raymond Briggs, which was a co-production with Mélusine Productions in Luxembourg and Cloth Cat Animation in Wales.  In 2016 Lupus Films also produced a half-hour special We’re Going on a Bear Hunt for Channel 4, which was the channel's highest rated show for over four years.   In 2017 Lupus Films was awarded Creative Europe slate development funding for their feature films slate.  Camilla is currently producing a new animated feature, Kensuke’s Kingdom, which is an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s bestselling novel. Kensuke’s Kingdom will be a co-production with Mélusine Productions in Luxembourg and Windmill Lane Pictures in Ireland.  Camilla is also heading up the development of a further four animated feature films.  

  • M G Leonard

    Writer

    M G Leonard is an award winning, bestselling writer of children's books. Her beetle books are sold in thirty-seven countries and she is currently working with Nevision to write the screenplay for a TV series based on the trilogy. Previously, she worked as a digital media producer for the National Theatre, Harry Potter West End, the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe. She spent her early career in the music industry running Setanta Records, an independent record label, and managing bands, most notably The Divine Comedy. After leaving the music industry, she trained as an actor, dabbling in directing and producing as well as performing, before deciding to write her stories down. 

  • Andrew Brenner

    Head Writer, Pablo

    Andrew is the world-renowned kids’ TV writer and creator whose many credits include the award-winning Thomas & Friends, Maisy, The Cramp Twins and The Adrenalini Brothers. 

    He created Humf for Nickleodeon and is the writer of Punky, the pre-school animation whose central character has Downs Syndrome and for which Andrew carried out extensive research to ensure the most honest and realistic portrayal possible. 

    Andrew’s authentic story-telling made him the natural choice for Pablo, the globally-acclaimed TV series which chronicles the adventures of a little boy with autism.  

    Leading a team of brand new writers, all of whom are on the spectrum, Andrew has guided them through the process of turning their experiences into ideas, stories and scripts.  The result, Pablo, is ground-breaking.

  • Lionel Bender

    Editorial Partner, Bender Richardson White

    Lionel is the Editorial Partner of UK book packager Bender Richardson White (BRW), which produces children's illustrated nonfiction. For the past 15 years BRW has worked exclusively for North American publishers, including National Geographic, Capstone, Crabtree, and Time for Kids. Lionel regularly visits US book fairs, speaks at US SCBWI conferences, and for four years ran the 21st Century Children’s Nonfiction Conference near NYC.

  • Maz Evans

    Author and founder, BookBuddy

    Maz is the author of the bestselling Who Let The Gods Out? series, published by Chicken House, and the founder of BookBuddy, which matches people who have surplus children’s books with schools. She began here writing career in journalism as a TV critic and feature writer and has also been a university. The Who Let The Gods Out? series grew out of Evans' experience with Story Stew, a creative writing programme she founded and takes to schools and literary festivals. 

  • Jo Surman

    Digital director, HarperCollins

    Jo Surman is Digital Director at HarperCollins Publishers, leading the Digital team and responsible for product and innovation, audio, new business development, ecommerce and backlist ebooks.  Jo joined the Digital team over 10 years ago and has been running the team since 2016.

  • Hanna Otero

    Publisher, Lonely Planet

    Hanna Otero started her career as a Teach For America corps member before moving to editorial roles at Frank Schaffer Publications and McGraw-Hill Education. In 2002, she joined Barnes & Noble to launch Flash Kids, a line of educational products for children from preschool to middle school. Most recently, Hanna served as editorial director of Sterling Children's Books, overseeing the creation of middle grade fiction, picture books, novelty, board books, and nonfiction.

  • Andrea Reece

    Manager, National Poetry Day

    Andrea joined the Forward Arts Foundation as manager for National Poetry Day in 2017. Prior to that, she has spent most of her working life in children’s books, for both publishers and literacy charities. She is managing editor of Books for Keeps, the children’s books review journal, and director of the children’s and young people’s programme of the FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival.

  • Joseph Coelho

    Performance Poet and Playwright

    Joseph is a performance poet and playwright. His first solo poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules, won the CLPE Poetry Award 2015 and his collection Overheard in a Tower Block was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal and shortlisted for the CLPE Poetry Award 2018. He performs his poetry shows with performance poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes, throughout the UK. Joseph's poems have also appeared in many anthologies, including Green Glass Beads, compiled by Jacqueline Wilson. He is an Ambassador for National Poetry Dayand a contributor to the National Poetry Day Anthology, Poetry for a Change.

  • David Stevens

    Co-founder, Knights Of

    David is co-founder of children’s fiction publisher KNIGHTS OF. David started his career in journalism working with the European Commission before moving into children’s publishing, where he worked with Poetry Ireland / Children’s Books Ireland, Penguin Random House Children’s Books, Brown Bag Films and Scholastic.

  • Aimée Felone

    Co-founder, Knights Of

    Aimée is co-founder of children’s fiction publisher KNIGHTS OF.  She has was previously Assistant Editor at Scholastic Children’s Books and has interned at Eve White Literary Agency and David Higham Associates. She has always been a supportive and engaged voice within the industry and has worked tirelessly promote inclusivity and diversity. Aimée is a regular festival and panel speaker and has worked with Byte the Book, FutureBook, A Place at the Table, LSE Library, Bologna Children’s Book Fair and London Book Fair. CBC Young Publishing Professional of the Year 2017 and chosen for the FUTUREBOOK 40.

  • Alicia Liu

    Managing director, Singing Grass Communications

    Alicia has a decade of experience in cultural brand building in lifestyle and entertainment. Born in Beijing, she has lived and worked in London, New York and Hong Kong. After working in the Mayor of London’s Strategic Culture Team, she launched her career as a consultant, advising international brands including the London Book Fair, Beijing International Book Fair and the BBC.

  • Sam Hutchinson

    Publisher, b small

    Sam is an award-winning children’s book publisher. Having started his career at HarperCollins Children’s Books after completing a Masters in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University, Sam now runs b small publishing from his home in London. Working with a team of freelancers, Sam publishes creative, educational and child-centred books for primary school aged children and sells them to customers from all over the world. Real-Life Mysteries by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker (September 2017), won the Blue Peter Book Awards 2018 - Best Book with Facts.

For sponsorship opportunities contact Emma.Lowe@thebookseller.com

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