Joseph Coelho named as 2025 Society of Authors' Awards keynote speaker

Children’s author, poet and playwright Joseph Coelho has been named as the 2025 Society of Authors’ Awards keynote speaker. The Girl Who Became a Tree author will give the keynote address at the annual Society of Authors’ Awards ceremony, which returns to Southwark Cathedral on 18th June. 

At the event, the winners of 11 prizes will be celebrated. A prize fund of more than £170,000 will be awarded for works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and illustration. 

Coelho said: "The SoA is a vital organisation representing authors and their needs. I am delighted to be giving the keynote at this year’s SoA Awards."

Coelho will join this year’s panel of 44 judges, which includes thriller writer Penny Batchelor, writer, poet and journalist Andre Bagoo, and actress and writer Louise Brealey, among others.

Tickets to the event are available here.