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You can find the schedule of publishers and agents attending the 2026 Picture Book Matchmaker event below. Please refer to the information in this schedule when determining if your work is suitable to apply to pitch at this event.
Please note, all times are in AEST. Please check your time zone to determine your local time.
Time slot
Publisher/Agent
Accepting pitches from / seeking:
10:00-11:00 am AEST
Little Book Press
Alyson O’Brien, Publisher
Authors: Standout stories for the following audiences:
Author-illustrators: Original talent with fresh perspectives and clear market appeal for the following audiences:
Illustrators: Work featuring:
10:00-11:30 am AEST
Midnight Sun Publishing
Anna Solding, Publisher
Authors: Stories with unusual topics, non-rhyming text, subversive stories, historical stories based on real events and people, stories that are aware of the current political situation, climate aware stories, stories that feature adults as real people rather than just background, stories where the characters behave badly (for a reason).
Illustrators: Portfolios that show versatility, strong characters, expansive landscapes, lush colours, images that capture expression and movement.
12:00-1:30 pm AEST
Scholastic Australia
Tiff Malins, Publisher
Authors: Imaginative and bold storytelling for a broad children’s audience, both rhyming and non-rhyming texts, with humour, fun and original ideas.
Author-illustrators: Picture books with fresh and funny characters. Imaginative stories with both humour and heart, that spark curiosity and fun for readers aged 3-7.
Illustrators: Portfolios with a vivid and broadly engaging illustration style, appealing to a 3-7 years audience. Characters that are bold, funny, expressive and immediately intriguing.
2:00-3:00 pm AEST
Windy Hollow Books
Cristina Pase, Commissioning Editor
Authors: Non rhyming text, strong narrative, Australian content, narrative non fiction. No issues books please.
Author-illustrators: Non rhyming text, strong narrative, Australian content, narrative non fiction. No issues books please. Also, storyboard showing considered visual narrative.
Penguin Random House Australia
Rebecca McRitchie, Publisher
Authors: Humour; dragons; fairies; Australiana-themes; body safety; seasonal stories; cultural themes; non-fiction.
Author-illustrators: Humour; dragons; fairies; Australiana-themes; body safety; seasonal stories; cultural themes; non-fiction.
Illustrators: Humour; dragons; fairies; Australiana-themes; body safety; seasonal stories; cultural themes; non-fiction.
Hardie Grant Children’s
Chren Byng, Publisher
Authors: Picture books that would suit our Bright Light list (i.e. titles that shine a light on experiences and/or issues around race, gender, bodies, diversity, society and the environment). Concept- or voice-driven commercial picture books for our Little Hare list. Especially interested in projects from author-illustrators, but will also look at text only propositions.
Author-illustrators: Especially interested in author-illustrators whose style sits comfortably in the sweet spot between indie and mass market — so commercial enough to feel at home in Big W or Kmart and interesting and fresh enough to appeal to a children’s specialist in an indie bookstore.
Illustrators: Especially interested in folios from illustrators whose style sits comfortably in the sweet spot between indie and mass market — so commercial enough to feel at home in Big W or Kmart and interesting and fresh enough to appeal to a children’s specialist in an indie bookstore. Ideally folios will show me that you can capture human movement and expression, and that you can tell a story visually. Primarily interested in seeing work from unpublished illustrators (because if you are published, I will already know your work :)).
Lisa Riley, Publisher
Authors: Own Voices or diverse stories, Australian content, humorous or subversive stories, child-focused stories (appealing to the child reader), stories suited to Mother/Father’s day publication, fresh takes on classic evergreen children’s topics such as new baby, celebrating family relationships, friendship etc, stories that surprise and delight the reader, narrative picture book stories.
Author-illustrators: I’d like to see storyboards along with samples of full-colour art that showcases ideas with a fresh and individual look to the art, and character depiction that makes the viewer either swoon, smile, or filled with intrigue.
Illustrators: I’d like to see portfolios that showcase a range of illustrative styles (if more than one) suited to picture books, showing how the illustrator can represent children, families, animals/pets, domestic scenes. Demonstration of character consistency across different poses/views, the capturing and expression of emotions and movement. Images with full-colour scenes/background as well as illustrated vignettes. Please highlight any unique illustrative passions for particular subjects.
2:00-3:30 pm AEST
Sarah McKenzie Literary Management
Sarah McKenzie, Agent
Authors: Page-turning stories, compelling voices, unique perspectives. Actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices, and First Nations authors.
Author-illustrators: Page-turning stories, compelling voices, unique perspectives. Actively pursuing diverse and marginalised voices, and First Nations authors.
