More 2024 judges to be announced soon.
About the judges of the 2024 Australian Business Book Awards
Our judging panel comprises experts and authorities in traditional publishing, self-publishing, editing, design, printing, ebooks, audiobooks, bookselling and book coaching, and also subject matter experts. All judges are giving their time and expertise freely with no financial gain. Judges who have played a role in the development and/or production of a specific book that falls into their judging category advise the award organisers of this conflict and take no part in the judging of that particular book.
Andrew Griffiths
Andrew Griffiths is highly regarded as one of the leading small business and entrepreneurial authors in Australia. He has written 14 books, published by Allen & Unwin and Simon & Schuster. Andrew’s books have been translated into 10 languages, from Russian to Chinese, and they have been sold in 65 countries. Andrew is also a Book Writing Coach; he has personally mentored 750 new authors to write and publish their first book.
Michael Hanrahan
Michael completed his Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing at Deakin University in 1997, and has since worked in-house and as a freelancer. He has held the positions of editor, production coordinator, and managing editor for Wrightbooks (Australia’s leading publisher of business and finance titles) and John Wiley & Sons Australia.
He has worked with many bestselling authors, has experience in print management, publishing, writing, and editing, and has worked with companies such as Oxford University Press, Random House, RMIT Publishing, Australian Book Review, Hardie Grant, and Overland. Michael is a regular presenter at the annual Small Press Network publishing conference. Michael is the founder and Director of Publishing at Publish Central, and is a leading expert in self-publishing for small business.
www.publishcentral.com.au
Lesley Williams
In 2009, Lesley Williams launched Major Street Publishing, an independent publishing company, specialising in business, leadership, personal finance and investment books. Lesley has over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles in global corporations and privately-owned companies, predominantly in business book publishing, including as publisher at Wrightbooks and John Wiley & Sons, and CEO at Five Mile Press. She is a hands-on publisher who guides the authors and their books from manuscript to bookshop shelves.
Valerie Khoo
Valerie Khoo is Founder and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre, the country’s leading centre for writing courses. As a journalist and editor, she has held senior positions in high-circulating magazines and contributed regularly to the country’s biggest selling newspapers, including The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
For seven years, she was the small business commentator at Fairfax and is author of the book Power Stories: The 8 Stories you MUST tell to build an epic business. She is co-host of the top-rating podcast ‘So you want to be a writer’, and is also co-author of the book of the same name. Valerie mentors non-fiction writers through her courses and masterclass programs.
Charlotte Duff
Charlotte began her career at John Wiley & Sons Australia, editing titles within their Wrightbooks and For Dummies divisions. During her 10 years at John Wiley, Charlotte became Commissioning Editor for the For Dummies division. Charlotte has edited a vast array of business titles, helping authors structure their books in an organised, logical way so the information flowed well and was easy to understand while also ensuring the project retained the author’s voice and stayed true to their vision.
Charlotte is the senior editor at Publish Central, and also works as a freelance editor – her clients include Macmillan Education, Text Publishing, Allen & Unwin and Hardie Grant.
Ann Wilson
Ann Wilson is the owner of Post Pre-press and the founder of Independent Ink, specialising in helping authors produce beautiful, professional books through traditional publishing and self-publishing. In May 2019, Ann co-founded Indie Experts to work with authors in the before, during and after stages of writing a book.
Ann is also the author of The Entrepreneurs’ Guide to Self-Publishing: How to write, publish and leverage your business book. Ann has published a book that will take you from an idea to a published book and beyond.
Working with a range of clients from self-publishing authors, traditional publishers, corporates and small business owners, Ann has helped to publish books and documents people are proud to share. Ann is passionate about storytelling and helping people experience the dream of being a published author.
Ann is married to Richard, who runs a renovation business, and they are the proud parents to four children and pet parents to Wilson the Cavoodle and Magnus the cat.
Anna Featherstone
Anna Featherstone mentors and empowers writers who value practical, warm, wise and creative advice to move their book projects forward.
Anna is the author of five non-fiction books, is the non-fiction book advisor to The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) and runs workshops for organisations including the Australian Society of Authors and Byron Writers Festival.
Anna founded Bold Authors to share on-demand information for and by authors, and her words have appeared in The Guardian and Sydney Morning Herald.
When she’s not being bookish, Anna is a seedsaver and into bees, beings and the big issues of our time.
Ocean Reeve
Ocean Reeve is the CEO of assisted independent publishing house Ocean Reeve Publishing. He has spoken at over 200 seminars and conferences and is regularly booked to speak about publishing, creative expression and leadership, workflow and sales.
Throughout his 20+ year career, Ocean has worked in educational, traditional and self-publishing in New Zealand and Australia and has played a role in bringing to life over 6500 publications. He has received several awards for his contribution to the creative community and service to authors and served two terms as the Gold Coast Writers’ Association President. He has also had the privilege to work alongside Emmy and Golden Globe Winning Actor William Shatner, Emmy Award Winning Musician Toni Childs, Nashville artist Wayne Warner, Best-Selling Author Lindy Chamberlin, and more.
Ocean has written three books, The Word, Change, and Inspire Your Fire, and Ocean Reeve Publishing has been voted by APAC Insiders Business Enterprise Awards as the 2021 Best Independent and Self-Publishing Company in Australasia, 2021 and 2022 Best Independent Publisher by Global 100, Gold Winner in Business Excellence through 2021 Roar Success Awards, and was a finalist in the Champion Small Business Awards 2021/22.
Doyle Buehler
Doyle Buehler runs a strategic digital marketing training organisation creating real-time, connected and adaptive digital challenger brands for the disruptive digital economy.
Doyle is the author of two books on digital strategy, including his latest #Breakthrough, which takes challenger businesses on their business-changing digital expedition. He speaks on and hosts multiple podcasts and livestreams, and he also guides Digital Challenger businesses in navigating and leveraging the disruptive digital economy by showing them how to create certainty, clarity and competency in digital so the world really knows who you are and the impact that you create.
He’s been a judge for many professional events around the world, including the Australian Search Marketing Awards, The Canadian Marketing Association Awards, The Australian Web Industry Association Awards, The Social Media Marketing Institute Awards, The Australian Business Book Awards, Think Global Awards, and others.
Pauline Phillips
Pauline started her editing journey nearly 30 years ago at Wrightbooks, where her inextinguishable passion for supporting authors to create their best work was ignited. Her next role was Senior Editor at John Wiley & Sons.
After relocating to London, for the following decade Pauline continued her career as an in-house editor, primarily in the voluntary sector. Over the last 10 years she has been working with clients around the globe as a freelance editor, proofreader and writer, specialising in the areas of health care, business, personal development and welfare rights. More recently, Pauline has also been working as an editor for a major UK welfare rights charity.
While many of her projects these days involve digital content, Pauline still prefers to read printed books and can’t imagine a world without them.
Bushy Martin
Bushy Martin is a self-professed readaholic and a committed bibliophile and always has a number of books on the go. In his remaining spare time he also helps others to work less and live more through his contributions as an award-winning author, media host, podcaster, and as one of Australia’s most highly respected property investment and finance experts.
He is the author of two books, including the acclaimed The Freedom Formula and the prequel Get Invested, which won two awards at the inaugural Australian Business Book Awards (and a third book is in the making!). Bushy is also recognised as one of the top ten property specialists in Australia and was awarded Mentor of the Year by the Adviser’s Better Business Awards.
He is the newly appointed anchor on Australia’s number one and longest running property program Real Estate Talk, and Bushy interviews some of the world’s leading investors and high performers each week on his podcast, Get Invested. He is also regularly interviewed himself by major media outlets including 60 Minutes, news.com.au and the Seven Network as a property and finance thought leader.
Bernadette Schwerdt
Bernadette is a former advertising agency executive and has worked on global campaigns for Apple, Amex and Colgate. In 2001, she founded the Australian School of Copywriting, and has since trained over 9000 people to become freelance copywriters.
Recently named in the Top 50 Small Business Leaders in Australia and a regular contributor to Sky News, Mamamia and Smart Company, Bernadette was also the producer and host of The Age newspaper’s online video series, ‘Secrets of Online Entrepreneurs’, which became a bestselling book of the same name. Her second book, How to Build an Online Business, went to number one on Amazon and her third book, Catch of the Decade, ghost-written for the billionaire brothers behind Catch.com and Menulog, was a number one bestselling business book on Booktopia and held that spot for three months.
Jaqui Lane
Jaqui is the founder of The Book Adviser, one of Australia’s leading business self-publishing companies and business book writing coaches.
The Business Book Adviser coaches business owners and consultants through the entire writing, publishing and marketing process so that they successfully write, produce and launch their book in 12 months to become a recognised expert in their field.
She is also one of Australia’s leading business historians, having written 27 company histories for ASX-listed companies, private family businesses and leading brands, published over 400 business histories and interviewed over 900 business and political leaders in Australia and around the world.
With over 30 years’ experience as a business writer, publisher and book marketing expert, Jaqui is passionate about sharing knowledge and changing the world for the better, one book at a time.
Zoë Routh
Zoë Routh is a leadership futurist, podcaster, and multiple award-winning author. She works with leaders and teams to explore what's coming and what it means for leadership of the future.
She has worked with individuals and teams internationally and in Australia since 1987. From wild Canadian rivers to the Australian Outback, and the Boardroom jungles, Zoë is an adventurist! She facilitates strategy and culture for the future with audacious teams.
Zoë's fourth leadership book, People Stuff - Beyond Personality Problems: An advanced handbook for leadership, won the Book of the Year at the Australian Business Book Awards in 2020. Her fifth book is a leadership futurist science fiction dystopian novel, The Olympus Project.
Zoë is the producer of the Zoë Routh Leadership Podcast, dedicated to asking “What if…?” and sharing big ideas on the Future of Leadership.
Zoë is an outdoor adventurist and enjoys telemark skiing, has run 6 marathons, is a one-time belly-dancer, has survived cancer, and loves hiking in the high country. She is married to a gorgeous Aussie and is a self-confessed dark chocolate addict.
https://www.zoerouth.com
Annie Reid
Annie is a senior journalist, copywriter and published author with a passion for property, design and architecture. As the founder of Atrium Media, she has written for many of Australia’s biggest selling newspapers, respected print magazines around the world as well as collaborated with leading organisations and agencies as an award-winning copywriter.
Annie’s love for telling stories led seamlessly into writing books, and she’s worked for over 15 years as a ghostwriter and author on property, business and lifestyle titles. She’s sought-after for her ability to turn words into commercial books on bookshelves, for clients including Major Street Publishing, Hardie Grant, MH Publishing and John Wiley & Sons – most recently Move Your Mind by Nick Bracks.
Kath Walters
Kath is a book coach, the founder of Brain to Book in 90 days, and a professional business writer and author of 25-plus years.
Kath works with coaches, speakers and other experts who want to write a brilliant book to open new opportunities and win market share. Clients working with Kath can expect to get clear and focused, write a brilliant book in 90 days, and attract their ideal clients.
Over Kath’s career at Fairfax Business Media and beyond, her stories appeared in the leading publications. Her books include Overnight Authority, Sticky Content and The Future Makers in Digital Technology.
Kate Christie is a speaker and coach and the bestselling author of five books: three which she self-published and two published by Wiley. Kate is the previous winner of the ABBA Best Business Book Award, 2023 for her fifth book, The Life List: Master Every Moment and Live an Audacious Life. Kate is an opinion columnist for CEOWorld Magazine and Your Life Choices.
Geoff Hetherington
A former 20+ year C suite executive across a dozen industries, Geoff has been a successful Business Consultant and Coach for over 10 years by way of Melbourne, Jakarta and Sydney. He is known as the Profitability Coach, founded the Elite Business Institute and is one of a handful of certified Advisory Board Chairs who also Chairs Governance Boards.
Equally at home strategising with C Suite executives or business owners; Geoff’s current focus is on showing the owners of established 6- or 7-figure businesses how to adjust to the next normal as Covid becomes a daily factor so they can bounce forward to growth and profitability.
His work enables business owners to get their businesses onto cruise control so they can work fewer Fridays and live the Lifestyle they want. In a nutshell, More Time, More Money and More Freedom is what he delivers. Geoff holds a BEd, and two MBAs (in Business and International Business). He resides on the NSW Central Coast and spends his weekends playing at Jui Jitsu, hitting the beach or just relaxing with family and friends.
Karen Crombie
Karen Crombie is the founder of Exact Editing, and honed her eagle eye for detail at Buckingham Palace while working for the Queen and Prince Philip. The role developed her natural knack for eliminating those unnoticed errors; no spelling mistakes are permitted to escape the palace! She has a talent for both the written and spoken word and was previously a teacher of English, Literature, and Speech and Drama.
Karen loves working with new authors and helping them polish their prose to perfection. She has worked in a broad variety of genres, including business books, memoirs, inspirational, kid’s books, poetry, and all kinds of fiction. Her experience with public speaking coaching and speech writing is a natural extension for assisting authors prepare for their book launches and publicity.
Travel is another of Karen’s great passions, especially her six wonderful years in Paris, which included working at the OECD.
www.exactediting.com.au
Julia Newbould
Julia Newbould is the managing editor at Conexus Financial, a specialist, independently owned Australian publishing and events company. Julia looks after the commercial content including conferences, podcasts, roundtables and webinars. She was previously managing editor of Money magazine and the inaugural host of the ‘Friends With Money’ podcast. Prior to this she was editor of Financial Planning and Super Review magazines; managing editor at InvestorInfo and at Morningstar Australia. Julia co-authored The Joy of Money, a book on women and personal finance, which won the 2020 ABBA award for best personal finance and investment book. Julia holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney where she serves on the alumni council.
Lucy Raymond
Lucy started her first editing job on a working holiday in the UK in 1997 and has worked in publishing ever since. After ten years working in educational publishing, Lucy started in a publishing role at John Wiley & Sons in 2010 before becoming the Publishing Manager in 2016. During this time she has published hundreds of books across the imprints Wrightbooks, For Dummies and Wiley to produce everything from picture storybooks, poetry, reference books to travel guides. She specialises in the categories of business and personal development as it is Wiley's mission to help people and organisations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Lucy relishes the opportunity to work with authors right from the very inception of a book idea, through the writing and production process, to publication and beyond. Working across global markets broadens the outlook beyond our shores to New Zealand, Asia, USA, Canada and the UK. Lucy holds postgraduate qualifications in the areas of editing, publishing and education.
Jacki Mitchell
Jacki Mitchell is now spending most of her time as industry expert and Academic Teaching Associate at Monash University Business School, sharing her international award-winning marketing and media expertise and diverse track record with the next gen.
Jacki has worked both client and agency side and has been managing partner of international consultancy brandstorm® for 20 years where she has worked with leading businesses like Toyota, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Australia Post, and Tennis Australia to name just a few.
Jacki has produced and hosted a radio business show and podcast for the past eight years and is a regular on international news services and Sky Business News.
Wendy Pavey
Wendy Pavey is a Brand & Career Strategist who works with executives and advisors to attract their ideal roles.
She is the author of best-selling books Personal Brand 101 and Advancing Your Advisory Career. Wendy is a popular blogger on LinkedIn who’s recognised as a Top Voice for Personal Branding and Thought Leadership. She is a longstanding presenter for The CEO Institute and other leadership organisations, an in-demand podcast guest and conference panelist, and a university guest lecturer.
Fiona Killackey
Fiona is a podcaster, award-winning author, speaker, accredited business coach and human trying to navigate life and go to bed feeling like she has done something good that day. With more than two decades of experience working with large and small brands alike (think Amazon and Country Road Group, through to CULTIVER and Collective Closets), Fiona understands what it takes to create a business that is financially secure and emotionally fulfilling.
Karen McDermott
Award-winning publisher, author, and advanced Law of Attraction practitioner Karen McDermott is a sought-after speaker who shares her knowledge and wisdom on building publishing empires, establishing yourself as a successful author-publisher, and book writing.
Having built a highly successful publishing business from scratch, signing major authors, writing over 40 books, publishing over 400 authors, and establishing her own credible brand in the market, Karen has developed strategies and techniques based on tapping into the power of Knowing to create your dreams. Karen is a gifted teacher who inspires others to make magic happen in their lives through utilising her power of knowing strategies. She mentors multiple new authors through her Everything Publishing Academy.
Katrina McCarter
Katrina McCarter is founder of Marketing to Mums. She is a marketing strategist who specialises in helping businesses sell more to Australia's most powerful consumer, mums. An award-winning businesswoman and mother of three, Katrina has eighteen years sales and marketing experience working across diverse industries including grocery, hardware and online. Katrina is the author of Marketing to Mums, which went #1 on Booktopia's Business Bestseller list, outselling the likes of Simon Sinek, Timothy Ferriss and Sophia Amoruso. She is a sought-after international speaker, a regular contributor to business media, having featured on Channel 7, ABC Radio, The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and is set to launch new groundbreaking research into Australian mums this year.
Scott Eathorne
Scott Eathorne heads up Quikmark Media, a sought-after PR consultancy specialising in media profile building and business book publicity.
Over the last 12 years, Scott has worked with many of Australia’s top thought leaders and book publishers of all sizes on a variety of successful media campaigns, including The Barefoot Investor, which has sold almost 2 million copies. He works across all non-fiction subject areas with a focus on Leadership, HR, Business, Health, Self-Development, Personal Finance, and Property.
