PANEL
Presentation Title:
Adventures in Australian Children’s Literature
Presenters:
Kristin Darell, Andry Griffiths, Adrian Lloyd, Adam Jackson, Jake Minton
Date:
Wednesday 13 May | 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Presentation Description:
Children’s author Kristin Darell facilitates a discussion on the power of adventures in Australian children’s literature with the Australian Children’s Laureate 2026-27 Andy Griffiths, and the creative team behind the National Simultaneous Storytime 2026 book, Luna Roo The Kangaroo Baller, Adrian Lloyd, Adam Jackson and Jake Minton.
Kristin Darell (facilitator)
Presenter Bio
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. Kristin is now the author of nine books for children including her best-selling Football Fever series (2022 and 2023: Penguin Random House) and her fun new Taronga presents series (2024: Penguin Random House) where she had to find out lots of information about animal poo! She has also contributed to children’s writing anthologies and written essays for adults on writing. When she isn’t writing or spending time sharing her passion for stories and creativity in schools, Kristin is a passionate advocate for children’s literacy, working behind the scenes as the Program Manager for the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. She is also an active member of the Children’s Book Council of Australia and SCBWI. She lives on Sydney’s northern beaches with her husband, two children, two dogs, pet snake and three-legged pygmy bearded dragon.
Andy Griffiths
Presenter Bio
Andy Griffiths started having adventures the moment he was born, and has been having them (and writing about them) ever since. He is the author of eight JUST books, illustrated by Terry Denton, and the phenomenal, sales-breaking, award-winning Treehouse series. The 13-Storey Treehouse, The 26-Storey Treehouse, The 39-Storey Treehouse, The 52-Storey Treehouse, The 65-Storey Treehouse, The 78-Storey Treehouse, The 104-Storey Treehouse and The 117-Storey Treehouse have all won ABIA awards. The 52-Storey Treehouse also won the overall ABIA Book of the Year in 2015.
Andy is also the Australian Children’s Laureate 2026-27 sharing his mission ‘Reading is an Adventure!’.
Adrian Lloyd
Presenter Bio
Adrian Lloyd has played football for over 40 years and is a FA qualified coach, having coached at Fulham FC in London and both adult and children’s teams in Australia. Adrian has also spent the last 20 years working in publishing, marketing and digital advertising for major global publishers and brands.
Adam Jackson
Presenter Bio
Adam Jackson has worked in football for nearly 20 years, starting his career at Manchester United then moving to Australia to work in sports publishing, most notably leading the sales and marketing for football magazine FourFourTwo. He is currently the Head of Marketing at global sports broadcaster beIN SPORTS, who broadcast European football in Australia and New Zealand
Jake Minton
Presenter Bio
Jake Minton lives on Bundjalung Country near Byron Bay. Jake was a finalist for the Little Hare Illustration Prize in 2022. His first picture book, There’s No Such Book, went on to be shortlisted for the CBCA Award for Best New Illustrator. Jake’s second picture book, Two Turtles, has been named an Honour Book in the 2025 CBCA Awards. Jake is also the illustrator of the popular illustrated junior-fiction series Zombie Diaries, and will launch the new Australian graphic novel imprint Figment with his title Inked in April 2025.