Book Of The Year Judges
It is a great privilege to have such a wealth of of talent, knowledge, and professional practice and industry experience in our judging panel. Our panels of judges sit for 2 year-long terms, within the category of their known speciality. They volunteer their time from the very moment the first books arrive on their doorstep, reading every entry and meeting at regular intervals throughout the year. Without their dedicated passion and attention to excellence in children’s literature, our annual Book of the Year Awards would not be the success they are today.
The CBCA would like to thank the current incoming panel sitting for the 2024-2025 Awards term, and the many judges who have served before them. THANK YOU!
2024-2025 CBCA
Book Of The Year Awards Judges
Learn a little bit about the people comprising our judging panels!
Older Readers Category
Maria Alessandrino - 2024 & 2025
Annika Kononen - 2025
Annika is a passionate English teacher who believes in the power of reading to inspire and ignite creativity, empathy and wonder. Annika is Head of the English Faculty at Kinross College in Perth, Western Australia and has been an educator for ten years. Her teaching experience spans from Victoria to Western Australia and one of the her favourite parts of the job is teaching creative writing to young people! She is an avid reader and she absolutely loves the genres of speculative fiction, science fiction and romance. Annika is beyond excited to be a judge for the CBCA older reader’s category and is honoured to be a part of an organisation that ignites a passion for reading.
Julia Petricevic - 2024 & 2025
Julia Petricevic is the Head of Library and Information Services at Genazzano FCJ College in Kew, Victoria. She has been working as a teacher librarian for nearly a decade, focusing on fostering in students a love for reading through discussion and social connection. She has written book reviews for Magpies and Viewpoint and has recently re-joined the committee for the Victorian branch of the CBCA, having previously served on the committee in 2015 – 2016. Julia is the author of a children’s picture book, Shadowcat, featuring stunning illustrations by Anne Ryan.
Julia has helped students through the Shadow Judging process for several years and is excited to begin her journey as a Judge for the Older Readers category.
Younger Readers Category
Sophie Helfgott - 2025
Sophie Helfgott is a dedicated educator with a passion for literature and learning. After qualifying as a primary teacher, she transitioned to become a Teacher Librarian at Christ Church Grammar School, Claremont, in 2019. Sophie’s deep-seated love for reading is evident in her favourite part of the job: recommending books to students, discussing their favorites, and introducing them to new literary discoveries. She takes joy in innovating creative ways to foster a love for books and reading among her students. Sophie is thrilled to be judging the Younger Readers Category.
Cathie Tasker - 2024 & 2025
Once a publisher and editor, Cathie Tasker has edited and commissioned over 800 books and now works as a creative writing teacher and freelance editor and project manager of picture books. She’s passionate about books, reading and online learning.
Cathie has worked with Australia’s leading trade and children’s book publishers: Magabala Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Scholastic Australia and Koala Books. She judges literary awards for fun, and has worked with the CBCA, the Aurealis Awards, the NSW Premier’s LiteraryAwards, the Lane Cove Short Story Award and others.
Cathie is well respected in the industry and was invited to update the Australasian content of The Oxford Companion to Children’s Literature in 2015.
Ilona Urquhart - 2024 & 2025
Ilona Urquhart is a Children’s and Youth Services Librarian with the Geelong Regional Libraries. She has a PhD in Literary Studies from Deakin University, where she formerly taught classes on Children’s Literature. Her love of libraries, books, and working with children led her to change her career focus and complete a Master of Information Studies (Children’s Librarianship) through Charles Sturt University. Ilona also reviews YA fiction and Adult Thrillers and Crime Fiction for Books + Publishing. She is an avid reader of a wide range of books and is thrilled to be a CBCA Judge in the Younger Readers Category.
Early Childhood Category
Nola Allen - 2024 & 2025
Nola Allen has worked in the library and education sectors in Western Australia for over 40 years, specialising in services for children and families. From 2004 to 2013, Nola was the Program Co-ordinator of the State Library of Western Australia’s Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program. In this role she collaborated on the initiation, development and implementation of this award-winning statewide literacy program which promotes reading and book sharing with children from birth.
With a special interest in the fields of children’s literature, literacy and reading promotion, Nola has co-authored two children’s books and writes for professional journals and publications. Nola has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Library Studies), is a long-standing committee member of the WA Branch of the Children’s Book Council of Australia and a past CBCA Book of the Year Eve Pownall award judge. In recent years, as a freelance consultant, Nola has worked as a research assistant for Edith Cowan University on early literacy projects, and with local governments and libraries on library programming and community publishing projects with families and young people.
Kathryn Beilby - 2024 & 2025
Kathryn Beilby is a qualified teacher and teacher librarian who currently works as a Library SSO in a small Catholic school in Adelaide, SA. Kathryn became President of the CBCA SA Branch late 2021 and continued in the role in 2022. She had been a committee member for several years prior to becoming President.
Kathryn is a regular reviewer of children’s literature for ReadPlus and several Australian publishers. She loves the quality and diversity of Australian children’s literature and enjoys sharing these wonderful books with her students and the wider community.
Tania Mazzeo - 2025
Tania has worked in educational publishing for almost 20 years at publishing houses such as Cengage Learning Australia, Oxford University Press and Macmillan. She has had various roles across editorial and publishing including Senior Editor, Managing Editor and Publisher.
Tania’s expertise has been in Primary publishing, having developed an extensive range (hundreds!) of books and digital products, spanning all subject areas, for young students and their teachers. She has collaborated with a diverse group of authors over the years to create engaging and meaningful books and resources. Tania has been on the judging panel of the Educational Publishing Awards Australia several times, most recently in 2022. She has an advanced diploma in professional writing and editing, and a graduate diploma in editing and publishing.
Tania also loves to write in her spare time. She is passionate about children’s literature and its transformational impact on young readers. Tania is absolutely thrilled to be judging the Early Childhood Category, which means she’ll be able to read a mountain of books for our youngest readers!
Picture Book / New Illustrator Categories
Natalia Bragaru - 2024 & 2025
As a well-versed aficionado of children’s literature, Natalia Bragaru’s deep-set passion for picture books has earned her a respected voice in the field. Her current role as a Consultant Book Buyer at ‘Lost in Books’, a multilingual children’s bookshop, allows her to inspire love for reading across languages, drawing upon her multicultural approach to literature and appreciation for aesthetic illustrations. Natalia’s insightful reviews and in-depth analysis of children’s books, shared on her blog, Kids Book Explorer, have won a broad and appreciative readership. This passion for picture books is embodied in her impressive personal collection of over 1000 titles and more than 80 original illustrations from renowned international artists.
Possessing a Master of Art and Curatorship from the University of Sydney and serving as Director, Arts Investment Analysis at the Australia Council for the Arts, Natalia has a deep-rooted connection to the arts. This background underpins her valuable contributions to the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA), including her time as a committee member and Treasurer of the NSW Branch. The experience she garnered at Pinerolo, the Children’s Book Cottage run by Margaret Hamilton, along with her interactions with numerous children’s picture book creators, has sharpened her expertise in illustration techniques, media, and styles.
Lotte ten Hacken - 2024 & 2025
Liz Murray - 2025
Liz Murray is an author, teacher and library director living and working on Wurundjeri and Bunurong land. Her debut picture book ‘Gus’ was published with Berbay Books in 2024. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of picture books, and in the importance of doing all the voices. Liz is thrilled to be part of the iconic CBCA Book of the Year Awards, which has been such a champion of Australian creators and readers over the years. Plus, she’ll get to read a lot of picture books.
Eve Pownall Category
Fran Carson - 2024 & 2025
How could we not Read, Grow and be Inspired by the wonderful non fiction books which are submitted each year for judging in the Eve Pownall category. As a teacher and Teacher Librarian for a number of decades in both government and Catholic schools, I have had the privilege of sharing many of these books with children. The high standard of both the information and illustrations displayed by books in this category has continued to grow and inspire each year. The visual appeal of these powerful Australian books is certainly a far cry from the information books of my childhood.
I have been the Secretary and an active committee member of the Central Coast, NSW Sub-Branch for over 25 years and a facilitator for the Shadow Judging initiative in 2022 and again this year. I have a Master of Applied Science (Teacher Librarianship) from CSU and am very excited to have the opportunity to be part of the Judging Panel for the Book of the Year Awards.
Kathryn Eyre - 2024 & 2025
Kathryn is a committed believer in the power of Literature to enhance our society and improve educational outcomes. Kathryn is Head of Library & Information Services at Saint Ignatius’ College, Riverview, NSW and has been an educator for over 20 years. Her teaching experience includes positions in Japan, England and Australia and she has taught across the different sectors of education, Government, Catholic and Independent. In 2023, Kathryn was awarded the SLANSW John H Lee Memorial Award for Library Team of the Year. She has been a board member for ALIA and also CBCANSW president.
She is surrounded by young adults each day and is acutely aware of their reading styles and habits. Kathryn is a keen supporter of the wonderful work of the CBCA. She has previously judged the Older Readers category and is now in her second year as judge for the Eve Pownall category.
Jo Pentony - 2025
Jo Pentony is a dedicated and passionate advocate for children’s literature, with a diverse career that spans roles as a Kindergarten teacher, primary school teacher, secondary school teacher, English teacher, Head of LOTE, and Lecturer of Literature.
Jo’s love for stories is evident in every aspect of their life. Growing up, Jo’s favourite place was the library, particularly sections 792 and 793, where many school days were spent immersed in books instead of the classroom. This early love for literature has only grown, and Jo now delights in reading, listening to, talking about, and sharing stories with anyone who will listen. A fervent supporter of quality Australian children’s literature, Jo is committed to celebrating and promoting the best works in the field. Currently, Jo dedicates their time to working with boys, helping them rediscover the joy of reading and fostering a lifelong love for books.