Karajia and Environment Awards for Children's Literature

Dr Amy Thunig is a Gomeroi Research Fellow within Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney. A Director at StoryFactory in Redfern, Amy is also a media commentator, a festival co-curator and sits on various councils and committees including the AECG. Amy’s bestselling book, Tell Me Again: A Memoir, was published by UQP and has been shortlisted for various awards including the 2023 Victorian Premier’s Literature Awards and the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards.

Zindzi Okenyo is a dynamic African Australian actor, director, singer and much-loved Playschool presenter. She has performed for most of Australia’s major theatre companies and recently began directing for Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse, Griffin and Darlinghurst Theatres. As well as appearing in various TV shows and feature films, Zindzi also performs her own RnB/Rap music as ‘OKENYO’ and for children as ‘Zindzi & The Zillionaires’.

Jasmine Seymour is a Dharug woman and descendant of Maria Lock, who was the daughter of Yarramundi, the Boorooberongal elder who met Governor Phillip on the banks of the Hawkesbury River in 1791. Jasmine is a member of the Dharug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation. It is Jasmine’s wish that through her books, everyone will know that the Dharug mob are still here, still strong. Jasmine is a primary school teacher in the Hawkesbury area of NSW.

Jess McGeachin is a writer/illustrator/designer based in Melbourne. He loves telling stories about hidden worlds just outside our own, and hiding clues in them for small eyes to find. Drawing on a love of natural history (and a day job at Melbourne Museum), Jess hopes that his stories inspire the reader to explore both real and imaginary places and meet the characters that live in them.

Dr. Kylie Soanes is an Australian scientist on a mission to save nature in our cities and towns. Kylie is a prolific science communicator, using her trademark warmth and wit to make even the most complicated scientific concepts easily understood. A leading expert in the fields of urban ecology and biodiversity conservation, she collaborates with councils, community groups, engineers and architects to make real change for wildlife in urban environments. You’ll often catch her sharing stories about neighbourhood wildlife, and the science that goes into saving them, on radio, blogs, and TikTok.

Danae Coots is a proud Wadawurrung woman and works for the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. Part of her role is to teach language, culture and the importance of caring for Wadawurrung Country in kindergartens, primary schools and the broader community.