featuring:
Scott Woodard
Kristin Darell
Binny Talib - illustrator
Niki Foreman - illustrator
We celebrate the release of the 2026 Notables list from CBCA
Bookings open: Tuesday 13th January
There will be:
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Three fabulous member authors/illustrators who will talk about their work
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The National video release of the Notables list from CBCA
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Launch of the 2026 Collide! Book Trailer Competition.
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Snacks
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Bubbles
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Time to catch up with your NSW Branch besties
Scott Woodard Teen Fiction
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Scott Woodard worked in train stations, call centres and bookshops around Melbourne, before landing his first commercial radio gig in outback South Australia.
Across seven years, three states and six radio stations, he's raced pantomime horses, annoyed reality TV stars, tossed thongs with politicians, copped abuse from puppets, MC'd music festivals, broadcast through fires and floods, championed communities around Australia, and played a lot of Ed Sheeran.
He's an ardent advocate for youth mental health, and his comedic fiction emphasises the importance of empathy, self-acceptance and independent thinking for an Australian teenage audience.
Scott lives with his family on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra, ACT. When he's not writing or working in the public service (classic Canberra), he loves bushwalking and playing banjo. (Hachette)
Kristin Darell Junior Fiction
Kristin Darell has been a passionate storyteller since she was a child. Whether it was making up adventures with her twin sister, or writing about the world around her, she was rarely found without a pen and paper in hand. As an adult, she made this passion her life. She worked as a broadcast news and sports journalist for major Australian news organisations for more than twenty years.
After the birth of her two children, Kristin re-focussed her attention on writing for children. As an author, she has contributed to children’s writing anthologies and is the acclaimed author of the Football Fever series with Football Australia and the Taronga Zoo presents series.
Kristin is a strong advocate for children’s literature, working as the Program Manager for the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. She lives on Sydney’s northern beaches with her husband, two children, two dogs, pet snake and three-legged pygmy bearded dragon. (Penguin)
Binny Taleb Picture Book
Binny Talib is an award-winning author/illustrator based in inner-city Sydney. She has a whimsical, contemporary style and has illustrated over 30 books here and internationally, ranging from picture, baby board, non-fiction and chapter books. Her illustration work has attracted an honour award from the CBCA and a short-list medal from the Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
Her hand-drawn and playful illustrations have secured licensing deals across major Australian and International brands.
Binny has illustrated her own wallpaper collection, textiles, children’s toys, fashion lines, interior design, books, album covers and greeting cards. Her agency background as an Art and Creative Director, as well as her honors degree in Visual Communications sets her apart in the world of illustration.
Binny works with her Border Collie under her feet, and there has never been a dessert she hasn’t liked, seriously. (Penguin)
Niki loves the feeling of breaking a paperback’s spine and the smell of blown-out candles. She lives in Sydney with her husband and two children, and spends much of her home-time trying not to trip over the cats
Niki Foreman Picture Book
Niki Foreman (she/her) is an accomplished editor, an author of children’s books and a lived-experience advocate for neurodivergent families. With decades of experience in the global book-publishing industry, Niki started her career at DK and Penguin Books in London, and was soon Senior Editor.
On her move to Sydney, Niki became a sought-after freelance editor and writer, working with many Australian, UK and US publishers – including Penguin, DK, Walker Books and Hardie Grant – across children’s and adult’s genres, both fiction and non-fiction. Currently, Niki is Senior Editor at Penguin Random House Australia, a published author and a staunch advocate for real and practical inclusion.
Niki is the author of three DK Readers, published in the UK and US: Deadly Dinosaurs, Shark Reef and Snappy Crocodile Tales. She is a contributing author of many non-fiction books, including the intelligently hilarious and gruesomely informative human body book, Open Me Up, and the New York Times bestseller Do Not Open – an encyclopedia of the world’s best secrets – and, most recently, Planet Ark’s Now For The Good News, which is a CBCA Notable 2025.
Niki’s advocacy for inclusion extends to everything she does. Her latest collaboration with Binny Talib - The Umbrella - is a great example of her talents. (Penguin)
Launch of Collide with the CBCA Notables!
Book Trailer Competition 2026
2025
