Speakers & Moderators

அபி வளர்ந்து வரும் இரு மொழி எழுத்தாளர். இன்றைய தலைமுறையினர் ரசிக்கும் கற்பனைமிக்க சிறுவர் கதைகள், பாடல்கள், மொழிச்சார்ந்த வளங்கள் ஆகியவற்றை 'நூல் மோன்ஸ்டர்ஸ்' என்ற தனது இணையதளத்தில் வழங்கி வருகிறார்.

Abhi is a bilingual Singaporean children’s writer who crafts stories to spark curiosity around Tamil as a language, culture and people. She writes both fiction and non-fiction, from picture books for young readers to graphic novels for teens. She is a strong advocate for literacy through literature, and provides free support and resources via her initiative, NoolMonsters.com.

Adan Jimenez is a writer, translator, and prose, comics, and localization editor. He is best known as one half of AJ Low, the writing team behind the Sherlock Sam series of children’s mystery books. His comic Xocolatl: Language in an Alien Spacetime with artist Josephine Tan will be coming out in 2027. He is the proud child of Mexican immigrant parents and became an immigrant himself when he moved to Singapore. He loves comics, LEGO, books, games (analog and video), science fiction, and food. He plays and studies a lot of video games in his free time.

Ahmad Redza Khairuddin (1965) is a publisher and a reading promoter. His background is in finance and investment. He was in audit, banking and venture capital before embarking on his own businesses in publishing, printing, ICT and payment systems and financial services. Today Mr Redza focuses more of his time on publishing, reading promotion activities and championing the children and young adults segment of the publishing industry. His publishing company that started business since 1988, focuses on education, revision and reading materials mainly on children and teenagers.

Mr Redza has been a key figure in IBBY Malaysia since 2005 and currently holds the post of President. He was the Organising Committee Chairman of the 38th IBBY Congress in Putrajaya Malaysia. He also served IBBY International (www.IBBY.org) in various capacities and was elected to the Executive Committee since 2006. He was the President of IBBY International for the years 2010-2014 and Vice President 2008-2010. During his Presidency, he joined the Board of IBBY Trust/IBBY Foundation until he resigned in 2023. After a brief hiatus, he was again elected to the Executive Committee for the session 2018-2020,2020-2022.

Aishwariyah is a drama educator and practitioner with two decades of experience in the arts. She has served as a Board Director at Agam Theatre Lab since its inception, where she developed and now oversees Agam Balar Medai, an initiative dedicated to engaging Tamil-speaking children through theatre. She also serves as President of the Singapore Drama Educators Association. Currently pursuing a doctorate, her research explores how drama-based pedagogy invites young people into intercultural dialogue. Her work spans performance-making, arts education, and community practice across English and Tamil contexts.

Alexander Chua is the co-owner of Book Bar, an independent bookshop with a focus on Singaporean and Asian literature. He has been in the bookselling and publishing industry for six years, first managing the Epigram Bookshop before opening Book Bar in July 2023.

Alya Farzana is fascinated by the ways stories and images invite children to see and reimagine the world around them. She is a lecturer in literature at Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia, and a PhD researcher in Children’s Literature at the University of York, UK. She delights in the possibilities of storytelling, and in the questions stories leave us with.

Amanda Ruiqing Flynn works across words and images. She was a winner of the Golden Point Award 2025. Her prose and poetry have been featured in Best New Singaporean Short Stories (Epigram Books), Oyster River Pages, ONE ART: a journal of poetry, QLRS and This Is Southeast Asia. Her visual art has been exhibited internationally in both solo and group exhibitions. She serves as a judge of The Voices of Today Literary Translation Prize 2026. Raised in East Sussex, UK, she now resides in Singapore, her birthplace. She spends her free time moonlighting as a librarian at Casual Poet Library and conjuring up stories with her young son.

On the work front Ames is a trained humanities teacher and children’s book author. But she enjoys her job mothering her 3 children most of all. She writes stories for them and other children like them, because she firmly believes in the power of the next generation to effect change.

Kei Mamangun-Sison is a theatre educator and assistant professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she earned her MA in Theatre Arts and Performance Praxis. Her creative project, Haraya Storytelling Festival, champions imagination, play, and Filipino narratives in children’s development. With over a decade of experience locally and internationally, including five years teaching in Singapore, she has directed original productions at major venues and led multinational collaborations. In the Philippines, she teaches performing arts and founded Drama Lab PH, creating training and original works for young audiences. Kei integrates wellness, creativity, and empowerment into her theatre practice.

Anam Bachooali is a Library Educator certified by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and Bookworm, Goa. With a deep passion for combining stories with Social Emotional Learning, she works closely with children in schools and community libraries, spreading the joy of stories and helping them fall in love with books. A trained SEL facilitator and Bibliotherapist, she curates libraries and reading programs for educational institutions and runs private reading camps for children. As an avid reader and parent of two young children, she resolutely believes that the magic of books must be spread to the farthest corners of the world.

Angela B. Napeñas is currently a Research Fellow at the Constantino Foundation where she studies how biodiversity is being represented in Philippine children’s storybooks. As a biology major, her university training focused on field methods in ecological research, with an emphasis on assessing biodiversity indicators. Pursuing her true passions, she had also taken academic coursework on children’s literature alongside her science degree. She is an advocate for the use of children’s literature in environmental education and hopes that her research inspires the creation of more diverse and accessible biodiversity media for young Filipinos.

Angela Erickson is Head of Libraries at United World College Dover Campus in Singapore. A former English teacher, her interests include reading culture, global literature, and the role of libraries in shaping empathy and inquiry. Outside of work and reading, she enjoys exploring Singapore’s green spaces and mountaineering.

Angela is the Director of Professional & Education Development at PCF Sparkletots Preschool, where she leads initiatives to strengthen teaching quality and educator growth across the organisation. She designs and implements professional development programmes that empower educators to deliver meaningful learning experiences. Angela is committed to nurturing a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that both teachers and children thrive.

Ang Jin Yong is the current editor for TrendLit Publishing. He has published a poetry collection Medical Records (2021), and has edited numerous anthologies and works including Never Before—50 Essential Poems, A Long Walk, The Inventors, This Is How We Come Back, etc. In addition, he also played important leading roles in managing several major TrendLit projects, including the company’s merchandising project, with the National Arts Council and “Poems on the MRT”, with Sing Lit Station.

Anindita Putri is an Indonesian illustrator, writer, and researcher whose works explore children’s emotional understanding through stories and visuals. She was selected by the Ministry of Education for two consecutive years (2024–2025) as a children’s book author and illustrator in the National Literacy Movement, creating picture books that introduce the concept of a father figure and embrace children with special needs. Her recent book, Balonku Hilang, gently portrays the five stages of grief for young readers. With academic research focusing on parenting and children’s visual interpretation, Anindita bridges design, empathy, and storytelling to create works that heal and nurture understanding.

Anna Farida, an Indonesian educator and author with a Doctorate in Educational Science, specialises in literacy and family education. She has written over 70 books, Her stories ignite young imaginations, inspiring curiosity and adventure while empowering growth. With Litara Foundation, she trains teachers and parents to use children’s books in classrooms and authors modules to enhance children’s literacy skills. Connect via Instagram @annafaridaku.

Dr Anna Tso obtained her Ph.D. from the School of English, Drama, and Creative Studies at the University of Birmingham. Before joining The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, she accrued 12 years of teaching and research experience in Hong Kong’s tertiary education sector. Interested in children’s literature, myths and fairytales, Shakespeare, digital literacy, and applied linguistics, she has a publication record which encompasses 9 funded research projects with successful completions and over 70 publications. She has been a visiting scholar/research fellow at The University of Newcastle (Australia), The University of Southern Denmark, and the Internationale Jugendbibliothek in Munich.

Anuradha Venkatachalam is a storyteller, educator, and Co-founder of Learner Circle, an initiative helping children discover their voice through writing. She has mentored over 400 young authors across India, the UAE, and the UK, with their books showcased at the Sharjah International Book Fair, Dubai Utsav, London Utsav, and the Chennai Book Fair. Anuradha designs creative-writing workshops that nurture imagination, empathy, and confidence in young learners. Through her books and programs, she celebrates the joy of expression and believes every child has a story worth telling—and the power to shape the worlds we make.

Arun K is the Co-founder of Learner Circle, where he leads product innovation and growth strategy. A technologist and published author, he integrates Artificial Intelligence into creative education—building AI-powered writing companions and automation tools that make publishing accessible for young creators. At Learner Circle, he has helped streamline the book-publishing process for 400+ children and directed global literary events such as Dubai Utsav and Chennai Utsav. Arun believes technology should amplify—not replace—the human imagination.

Aśka (she/they) is creative dynamite. A short listed graphic novelist, an ex-quantum physicist, and a big fan of the little doovalacky above the ‘s’ in her name (which you pronounce ‘Ash-ka’).

A hugely engaging and popular presenter, Aśka likes to think about HOW pictures work and is passionate about visual literacy education. In addition to a catalogue of self-published comics, they have traditionally published more than a dozen books and graphic novels. Their recent titles include the Stonewall Award Notable graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes, which was also a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book and shortlisted for the 2022 Comic Arts Awards of Australia. Aśka’s latest YA graphic novel is The Friendship Paradox, published by Allen & Unwin in 2026.

She is also the recipient of several government arts grants, prizes, and fellowships. Aśka is an organising committee member for the Perth Comic Arts Festival, contributes regularly to The School Magazine, volunteered as Illustrator Co-ordinator for the WA branch of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for four years, has single-handedly run an animation festival, held a solo art exhibition about numbers in nature, and been featured in an ABC TV documentary.

When they’re not creating, Aśka is travelling across Australia teaching eager students of all ages how to write with pictures. Find out more at askastorytelling.com

Photo by Emanuel Rudnicki

Barry Toa is a media professional currently serving as the Assistant Lead for Strategic Partnerships & Kids at Mediacorp. With over a decade of experience in the media industry, he specialises in audience growth, content monetisation, and IP development. In his current role, Barry oversees Mediacorp’s kids’ brand, okto, across free-to-air television, mewatch, and YouTube. He finds great fulfilment in collaborating with creators and IP owners to bring meaningful and engaging stories to life for the next generation.

Benjamin A. Wilgus is an Ignatz award-winning comics creator, the editor of New York Times bestselling graphic novels, and a passionate advocate for comics as a medium. His most recent work is Grace Needs Space! with artist Rii Abrego, and his previous books include The Mars Challenge, illustrated by Wyeth Yates, and Chronin, a solo graphic novel duology. Ben has also edited for First Second Books, Penguin Random House, and Chooseco, the publisher of Choose Your Own Adventure.

钱冰韵（Beverly Qian) 是新加坡儿童文学作家及华文教育工作者。她擅长创作幽默可爱、充满童趣的故事，让孩子在轻松阅读中感受华文的魅力。她拥有教育硕士学位，既是了解孩子的教育者，也是热爱讲故事的创作者。冰韵是「小书勺工作室（Little Book Scoop）」的联合创始人，其创作的《神奇书店》系列，陪伴许多新加坡孩子快乐学习中文。

Beverly Qian (钱冰韵) is a Singapore-based children’s author and Chinese language educator. She creates stories that spark imagination and help children connect with the Chinese language in joyful ways. Holding a Master of Education (Early Childhood), she combines pedagogical insight with a love for storytelling. She is the co-founder of Little Book Scoop (小书勺工作室) and author of the Magical Bookstore (神奇书店) series.

Bonsoir Lune is a Korean author-illustrator known for a series of beloved picture books. Living on the side of a mountain where the crow flies, Bonsoir Lune has written and illustrated Watermelon Pool, Grandma’s Summer Vacation, Because…, Merry, Annyeong, The Trash Can Fairy, Carrot Kindergarten, Snow Child, Snow, Water, Winter Duvet, Grandma Carrot, and Dear Star.

Brithi is an imaginative 11-year-old with an insatiable appetite for the magical world of Harry Potter. She finds herself captivated by enchanting tales that weave together magic, heartfelt connections, and intriguing mysteries. Like the pages of her favourite books, her dreams are ever-changing—today she envisions herself as a compassionate veterinarian, tomorrow as a brave police officer protecting her community.

THE CABIN COMPANY is an art unit consisting of Kentaro Abe (1989-) and Saki Yoshioka (1988-), and mainly writes picture books. They also have many other paintings and three dimensional works. They formed the unit in 2009. They graduated from the Faculty of Education and Welfare Science, Oita University in 2011. Their solo exhibition titled DodoSanka toured five cities in Japan from 2024 to 2025. They are currently working on a closed school as an atelier.

Carolina S. Yana is a musician, arranger, music illustrator, and educator with more than 30 years of international teaching experience. She is the founder of Swara Harmony Music School (Bandung, Indonesia), which since 2004 has guided thousands of students through ABRSM and RSL Awards programs in both classical and contemporary music. Her creative work — combining music, pedagogy, and illustration — aims to build bridges between sound and story, art and empathy. Hutan Musik is her first major bilingual musical fable, inspired by her lifelong belief that every sound, when shared with sincerity, can shape the world we make.

Young-Eun Chang holds a PhD in German Literature from the University of Bamberg in Germany and is a Professor in the Department of German Language and Culture at Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul. Since 2025 she has been an honorary Professor. She is an Advisory Board Member of the Korean Research Center for International Children’s and Adolescent Literature in Seoul. She specialises in comparative studies of German and Korean children’s books. Her interests include reading and teaching children’s literature.

Chen Junhua (pen name Heroald Chern) is an award-winning Singaporean author, educator, and storyteller whose works weave moral lessons and local fauna into timeless fables. His books, Beware the Sunda Slow Loris and Other Singaporean Fables, and The Dance of the Sambar Deer: and More Singaporean Fables, have won international awards including the Nautilus and Feathered Quill Book Awards. As a champion of creativity and design thinking in education, Junhua now leads an AI-powered 3D animation studio that is adapting his debut work, Library of Mystory, into a musical featured-film teaching imagination and the timeless moral of 'you reap what you sow'.

Chloe Chang is an award winning illustrator based in sunny Singapore, where she spends her time reading, drawing, and applying sunblock lotion. Chloe has since worked in both television and print as an illustrator and character designer. She was awarded the inaugural Illustrator of the Year in 2024.

Chong Lingying is a writer and publisher based in Singapore. She is a member of literary arts collective, Books& Collective. She manages business development at Marshall Cavendish Education. In 2022-2023 she managed the launch of BookData.sg and the Frankfurt Book Fair pilot for Singapore Book Publishers Association. She ran independent comics publishing house, Asiapac Books, from 2018 to 2022. She has served on the committees of the Singapore Book Publishers Association and Sing Lit Movement (previously BuySingLit). In 2020, she co-founded COMIX.SG, Singapore’s online home for comic artists.

Claire is a designer and artist with a passion for visual storytelling across mediums. She is also the illustrator of the Southeast Asian fantasy comic Tiger Girls. When she is not in the rabbit holes of a hyperfixation deep dive, she draws fantasy-inspired works on her art account on Instagram: @comatomato.

Clair Wang 是香港國際文學節的活動及傳播經理，她已負責三屆青少年讀者節，致力於向更多年輕讀者推廣閱讀與創作的樂趣，Clair 擁有香港大學英語文學碩士學位。

Clair Wang is Events & Communication Manager at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, where she has overseen the Young Readers Festival for three years. She holds an MA Diploma in English Studies (Literature) from HKU.

Clara Mok loves reminiscing about her childhood and wants to capture snippets of Singapore’s past before they disappear. She is the author of a bilingual picture book series, Flying Cart Adventures, which was funded by the Lee Kuan Yew Bilingualism Fund. A graduate of Nanyang Technological University, she was selected for the Mentor Access Project in 2016/17 by the National Arts Council and the 2025 Emerging Writers by Singapore Book Council. She is an English educator who shares her love of writing with her students.

Claudia Ju is the author of the bilingual children’s book, My Singapore Childhood, winner of the Popular Singapore Reader’s Choice Awards. She began her career as a journalist in Singapore before moving into the corporate world, where she has led communications and public affairs for major technology and finance firms across Asia and Europe. A specialist in cross-cultural communications, she draws on her bilingual storytelling to create narratives that resonate across borders and generations, celebrating love, memory, and timeless nostalgia.

Crispin Rodrigues is the author of 4 collections of poetry, the latest being dragon.paper.wind. (Pagesetters, 2024). He is also the co-editor of Crazy Little Pyromaniacs, an anthology of young Singapore poets. His work has been featured in several online and print journals. He is currently working on a new poetry collection.

儿童绘本作者，代表作品包括《你看见喜鹊了吗?》《苏丹的犀角》《溜达鸡》等。作品曾获“信谊图画书奖”文字组佳作奖，深圳读书月“年度十大童书”，大鹏自然童书奖，第七届和第十届“中国童书榜”最佳童书，第十五届国家文津图书奖推荐图书，2022新京报年度阅读推荐，第七届“丰子恺儿童图画书奖”首奖，以及2024法国童书金刚奖中年级组冠军（13万学童投票）。作品已被翻译成英语、法语、韩语、葡萄牙语等多国语言。

Dai Yun is an author of children’s picture books. Yun’s stories vary widely in theme and style, and some of her most acclaimed books include The Wandering Chicken, Sudan’s Horn, Where Can We Go and Have You Seen the Magpie. Her books have won some of the most important awards in China, including being listed among the Recommended Books by the National Library of China’s Wenjin Book Award. She is also the First Prize winner of the prestigious Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Book Award in 2021. In France, her book won the 35th Prix des Incorruptibles (Grade 3-4) in 2024, voted by 130,000 children. Her works have been published in multiple other languages including English, French, Korean and Portuguese.

Dr Daniel Fung is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and a senior consultant at the Department of Developmental Psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). He is the Chief Wellness Officer at NHG Health and was former CEO of IMH from 2021-2026. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor at all three Singapore medical schools, Immediate Past President of the College of Psychiatrists, Academy of Medicine Singapore (2021–2025), and Past President of the International Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Allied Professions (2018–2022). Dr Fung has authored 36 books and over 210 peer-reviewed papers. He is widely recognised for developing community mental health programmes and innovative treatments for neurodevelopmental conditions in children.

Darel Seow is an award-winning visual storyteller and educator known for illustrating tales of the natural world with a unique brand of wry wit and whimsy. His illustrated works include Marvellous Mammals: A Wild A to Z of Southeast Asia and Where Are All the Birds? His multi-disciplinary practice spans public art and interactive experiences, with commissions from the British Museum, Asian Civilisations Museum, and the Singapore Art Museum. Beyond his studio practice, he is a dedicated educator who has engaged 30,000 students from over 50 schools, using storytelling and play to explore man’s changing relationship with nature.

David Liew, an illustrator of children’s books, also crafts miniature worlds. Formerly a junior college teacher, he transitioned to professional illustration. His works include series like Ellie Belly, The Plano Adventures, and Change Makers. Liew instructs Picture Book illustration at the National Institute of Early Childhood Education and teaches art at Republic Polytechnic. He serves as Regional Advisor for the Singapore Chapter of the Society of Children’s Books and Illustrators.

David Tay Ang Shun is a marketing executive at Pansing Distribution (DefinitelyBooks on TikTok and Instagram) where he handles book campaigns, author publicity, merch, and "scrolls TikTok for work”. He has managed book tours in Singapore and Malaysia for authors such as Hwang Bo-reum, Jemimah Wei, Kim Jiyun, Lee Miye and Vanessa Chan, among others. He has written CNF and (embarrassing) poetry. He also enjoys birdwatching.

黄家裕是一位深耕教育创新与青年赋能领域的资深公益领袖。他目前担任陈一丹基金会全球合作总监，负责管理国际合作项目及大规模教育捐赠基金，致力于将前沿的学术研究转化为深远的社会影响力。此外，David 兼任一丹教育研究院副院长，并担任《YiPai刊》编委，通过该出版物深度探索全球教学法的创新边界。

黄家裕拥有房地产开发与投资领域的跨界背景，这赋予了他对公益组织的可持续发展有独特视角。作为青少年创业与领导力项目的资深导师，他始终热衷于为亚洲及全球青年构建充满活力的学习生态系统，激发下一代的自主创新精神。

David is an experienced philanthropic leader dedicated to education, youth empowerment, and the cultivation of future-ready mindsets. As the Global Partnerships Director at the Chen Yidan Foundation, he oversees international collaborations and a significant education endowment, driving initiatives that merge rigorous research with scalable impact. David serves as Vice Chairman of the Yidan Education Research Institute and is a key member of the editorial board for YiPai Mook, a publication at the forefront of pedagogical innovation.

Drawing on a diverse professional background in property development and investment, David brings a unique perspective on organizational growth and sustainability to the social sector. He is a passionate mentor in youth entrepreneurship and leadership, committed to creating learning ecosystems that foster innovation and agency for young people across Asia and beyond.

Ecology meets storytelling in Debby Ng’s work, which brings conservation science out of journals and into everyday life. A Singapore-based ecologist, photojournalist, and National Geographic Explorer, she weaves photographs and narrative to translate research on infectious disease into stories about how people, animals, and the environments they share shape community health. She is the author of Marvellous Mammals, a children’s book that introduces families to Southeast Asia’s most elusive wildlife through vivid, research-grounded storytelling. Debby lectures at the National University of Singapore, where she completed her doctoral studies.

Photo by Wallace Woon.

A former educator, leadership consultant and trained counsellor, Denise has a keen sense of stakeholder identification and engagement. She enjoys the school classrooms with young people, and facilitated leadership and people management courses for adults both locally and overseas. Denise holds an Honours degree in History from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the National Institute of Education (NIE), and a Master of Social Science in Professional Counselling from Swinburne University of Technology, where she was awarded Best Overall Performer. In 2020, she was one of 40 leaders in the NCSS 40-Under-40 social services sector programme. Most recently, she was selected as one of the civic and grassroots leaders for the refreshed People’s Association Leadership Community Programme, and was chosen to be featured in PA’s latest annual report.

Denise started Closetful of Books after six years of working with children’s literature. With Closetful of Books, she shares her love for reading through specially-tailored workshops with authors and illustrators and super-duper fun book fairs in local and international schools. Denise also puts her studies in Mass Communications and English Literature to good use by spending all her time reading.

Dennet is the driving force behind TableMinis, spearheading everything from business development to brand creation with unmatched vision and determination. With his finger on the pulse of the gaming industry, Dennet leads TableMinis into uncharted territories, blending his business acumen with his passion for D&D and TTRPGs to create a gaming experience like no other. As a Dungeon Master, he weaves spellbinding tales that transport players to realms of wonder and adventure, embodying the spirit of tabletop gaming at its finest.

Duriya Aziz is President, International Education at Scholastic Inc., leading the company’s global education strategy with a focus on literacy and maths, learning ecosystems, and large-scale partnerships that improve reading and maths outcomes for millions of children. A champion of accessible, culturally relevant content, she has spent over 30 years in education publishing, shaping curriculum reform and driving innovation across print, digital, and AI-enabled learning. Duriya speaks frequently on global literacy and numeracy, reading behaviour and the future of children’s content, and is deeply committed to empowering young readers to discover the joy of reading and the worlds they can imagine - and build.

Dr Edmen Leong has been with the Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) since 2010 and currently serves as Director of Specialised Educational Services (SES). He oversees a range of programmes, ensuring their quality, innovation, and meaningful impact on learners. His PhD research examined how readers with dyslexia can be motivated to read despite their challenges, inspiring his continued involvement in teaching to stay connected with students and educators. A former foster parent, Edmen’s experiences have deepened his belief in inclusive education and the vital partnership between home and school to empower every child to learn, grow, and thrive confidently.

Eibhlin is on a mission to change the life narratives of one million youths—one story at a time. Frustrated by the lack of relatable role models, she began cold-calling global leaders in high school, sharing their journeys through a newsletter that grew to 7,000 weekly student readers. To reach underserved youth without Internet access, she published The Phoenix Perspective—an award-winning book read by 2,500+ youths in over 30 countries. Eibhlin has shared her story on global stages including TEDxYouth@Tokyo, National Taiwan University, and NUS, inspiring young readers to dream boldly and shape brighter futures for themselves and their communities.

Elisha Tushara is a correspondent at The Straits Times, where she covers education and community issues. A former secondary school teacher, she made the switch to journalism in May 2023, bringing more than a decade of teaching experience to her craft. As a mother of two and a keen explorer of multimedia tools, Elisha hopes to bring unique insights and uncover meaningful narratives that resonate with readers. Her current interests and focus areas involve managing screentime for children and the use of EdTech tools in Singapore’s education landscape.

Elizabeth Gohis a children & teens librarian who plans and manages educational initiatives, including festivals and exhibitions, to bring reading and art to young people in Singapore. As an English literature graduate, she enjoys exploring how visual mediums and storytelling intersect.

Emily Lim-Leh is a multiple-award-winning author of over 50 children’s books. She was named Mediacorp’s Singapore Woman Award Honoree for inspiring readers and is a recipient of the Public Service Medal (Covid-19) from the Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, for her voluntary book initiatives for the community. Her historical fiction, Little Hero and Little Hero’s Wish, published by Penguin Books SEA, are inspired by her father’s childhood experiences in 1940s and 1950s Singapore. Both books became The Straits Times and Amazon Singapore’s #1 Bestsellers (Children’s Books). Her latest picture book in the Earthkeepers series, Giant Clam Calamity, co-written with fellow author Pauline Loh, spotlights our precious marine life.

As a child, Emmanuelle dreamed of rainforests, monkeys, colorful bird feathers so she could fly above the canopy. At six, she decided she was going to be an ornithologist and her path led her to the Bornean rainforest where she met orangutans for her Phd Studies. From this deep chlorophyll immersion is born Emmanuelle’s desire to convey her wonder for this world, and write stories of animals, nature, people and carry readers away page after page, to make them dream, laugh, think.

EorG (Evelyn Ghozalli) has illustrated over 80 children’s stories and written several under the pseudonym EorG. She has won numerous awards, including the Samsung KidsTime Award 2016, Best Illustrator Award at the Islamic Book Fair 2018 and the Indonesia Art Award 2018. She is the founder of the Indonesian Children’s Book Illustrators Circle (KELIR).

Esther hopes to bring education to life! She does so through her own curriculum company, which writes curriculum, conducts training for teachers, and conducts programmes with museums and schools. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer at NIEC and a children’s book author. To her, books are excellent resources for exploring the world, diving into different places and gaining new perspectives.

Esther Siam is a Singapore-based author–illustrator and former physics educator. She creates picture books that blend science, food heritage, and fantasy. Her titles include The Good Germs That Make Bread (2024), The Enchanted Orchard: A Taste of Home (2025) and The Starry Sea Bakery (forthcoming). Her work celebrates Southeast Asian traditions while introducing STEM concepts in imaginative, child-friendly ways, fostering curiosity, intergenerational connection, and cross-cultural understanding. She has been featured on Channel 8 Mediacorp for her creative and educational storytelling.

Etika Filashofia is a researcher and children’s author whose work explores the intersection of storytelling, literacy, and culture. She began her career as a freelance columnist before dedicating herself to writing for young readers. Her experience in journalism shapes her sensitivity to language, perspective, and narrative. Etika has written two children’s novels that celebrate imagination, empathy, and local wisdom. Beyond writing, she actively researches multiliteracies and visual narratives, focusing on how stories can nurture children’s understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Eva Nukman is a writer and editor specializing in children’s literature and literacy advocacy. Her works have received international recognition for their creativity and quality. One of them, Misteri di Pasar Terapung (A Mystery at the Floating Market), won the Samsung Kidstime Author’s Award 2015 in Singapore. Passionate about stories that inspire and nurture imagination, Eva has edited and mentored hundreds of children’s manuscripts for Litara Foundation, Room to Read, Let’s Read, and other institutions. Known for her attention to detail and commitment to excellence, she believes every word and illustration should create a meaningful reading experience. Through Litara, she champions multilingual literacy and the celebration of local voices in children’s books.

Far’ain Jaafar is an educator, published children’s book author, and one of the founding members of IBBY Singapore. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through education, advocacy, and literature for young readers.

An award-winning advocate and educational leader, Far’ain brings over 15 years of experience in education and youth development. Her work centers on empowering children, women, youth, and families, with a strong focus on fostering inclusive communities and equitable opportunities. Through her writing, leadership, and community engagement, she continues to champion meaningful representation and social impact across educational and literary spaces.

Faye Dorcas Yung Schwendeman is a scholar of children’s literature focusing on cross-cultural, historical, and social perspectives. She received her MPhil and PhD in children’s literature from the University of Cambridge, where she examined representations of East Asian cultures in Anglophone texts. She was a research fellow at the Internationale Jugendbibliothek in Munich, where she began her work on wartime children’s magazines. Currently, she is Specially Appointed Assistant Professor at the University of Tsukuba and also teaches British cultural studies and children’s literature at Daito Bunka University.

Felicia Low-Jimenez is the Publisher at Difference Engine, an independent comics publisher based in Singapore. She holds a Master’s degree in Literary Theory and Asian Studies, with a focus on anime and manga, and has worked in bookselling and publishing for over a decade. She believes that stories have the power to change the world. She is also one half of the writing team behind the bestselling Sherlock Sam series of children’s books and the writer of the young adult fantasy comic, Tiger Girls.

Felishia Henditirto is an Indonesian illustrator specialising in children’s literature. Her work combines whimsical storytelling with vivid illustrations that explore everyday life and meaningful moments. Felishia’s recent publications include Maya Loves the Sun by Disha Mathur, Forest Bath by Jen Barton, and Sometimes We Pray by Mary Wagley Copp (2026), Her illustrations have been featured in the Asian Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in Singapore and the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) in Slovakia. Passionate about inspiring young readers and fellow artists, Felishia is dedicated to bringing stories from imagination to life, offering insights into the creative process and contemporary children’s literature. Felishia is represented by Astound US Illustration Agency.

Foo Swee Chin’s prolific career as a comic book artist and illustrator spans more than two decades. She has collaborated with American and Japanese publishing houses and game developers. Her versatility as an artist allows her to easily cross genres from dark, twisty and melancholic to sweet and whimsical. She has great empathy for animals and environmental causes and always curious and open to new ideas.

Francesca Wah is an educator, author, and founder of BLESS, a charity that supports families living in rental flats. Passionate about nurturing confident and compassionate learners, she writes children’s storybooks that inspire curiosity, kindness, and awareness of the world around them. Her two series, Digital Adventures and Forest Friends, empower young readers to navigate the digital world responsibly and care for the environment sustainably. Guided by the belief that every child—regardless of background—deserves the chance to learn, dream, and thrive, Francesca hopes to spark meaningful conversations that shape a more inclusive and empathetic generation.

With numerous leadership roles in storytelling-related organisations, Fred Minn has built a career in creating interactive content from picture books. Following a family legacy in the publishing industry, his work over the years has focused on making books and culture more accessible to children, while supporting the development of the picture book industry by actively participating in the work of foundations such as IBBY.

His efforts in organising the annual NAMBOOK Festival and the biannual NAMI COUNCOURS, held at one of South Korea’s most popular tourist destinations, Nami Island, have brought picture books and the art of picture book illustration out of traditional venues such as libraries, and into the realm of active participation and enjoyment for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have joined the events over the years.

Galen Yeo loves reading and is an avid book collector. An award-winning TV writer, director and producer, he co-founded The Moving Visuals Co., one of Singapore’s leading content producers. His credits include a wide range of genres: entertainment; documentaries; kids; and short-form content for channels like Mediacorp, Disney, Nat Geo, History Channel, and many others. From novellas to podcasts, he enjoys storytelling in all forms and mediums. He has moderated several AFCC talks over the years, and looks forward to learning from other creators.

Dr Gan Sujia is a lecturer, literacy enthusiast, and lifelong book-lover who teaches academic writing at SUSS. For the past eight years, she has guided students to find their voice on the page, in the classroom, and beyond, proving that academic writing doesn’t have to be dull. Her research looks at how children read metafictive books, the playful ones that break the rules, and how these stories spark dialogue, critical thinking, and global awareness. Outside academia, she escapes through novels, documentaries, and dreamy museum feeds, always chasing stories that stretch the imagination.

George M Jacobs is the co-author of Read Aloud Asia and teaches at Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation. He serves on the board of the International Ecolinguistics Association and has written on ecolinguistics and on reading.

Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte is Principal at SJI International Preschool. She holds a PhD in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about the development of children, especially those in their early years. Having been in the field of Early Childhood Education for more than 30 years, Geraldine held multi-portfolios from classroom teaching to faculty appointments to overseeing the professional development of almost 3,000 Early Childhood educators including pioneering an award-winning child study centre for more than a decade. As a seasoned speaker she has presented papers in conferences and workshops both locally and internationally. Geraldine has deep theoretical and practical knowledge on Early Childhood Care and Education and has been called upon to support national and global initiatives, including being appointed an ECDA Fellow for sectoral leadership in Singapore. Geraldine also sits on local charity board committees which include the Singapore Book Council and Every Child Matters. She is the board deputy chairperson for UNESCO’s Category 2 Centre’s governing committee at the Institute of Early Childhood Development (IECD) in Seychelles.

Gina is a Singapore-based storyteller and writer of Afterlife: The Boy Next Realm, a Southeast Asian-inspired young adult fantasy graphic novel shortlisted for the 2024 Singapore Book Awards and the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award. A participant of the NAC-NLB Writer’s Lab (2024), she is currently developing her debut full-length speculative fiction novel. She has spoken at various literary festivals and conducted workshops on writing and world-building. Her other works include the short-form series Another Day in Paradise with Viddsee Studios, featured in international film festivals, and the stage play Permanence with Toy Factory Productions.

Glenda is a passionate arts producer specialising in programmes for children and access. A strong advocate for amplifying children’s voices and advancing inclusivity, she established the Children’s Panel to co-curate the annual Children’s Season Signature Programmes line-up, and led accessibility initiatives in partnership with educators, healthcare professionals and social service agencies, resulting in resources such as social stories, sensory bags and inclusive programmes. She enjoys collaborating with artists to bring fresh ideas into diverse spaces. Glenda is currently a Programmes Manager at the Children’s Museum Singapore, and was previously a Programmer with the Children and Youth cluster at the Esplanade.

Gloria Seow loves penning picture books that weave fun facts into spellbinding stories of nature and adventure. She is a professional copywriter, editor and nature guide. Gloria has over 15 years of nature education experience leading walks and workshops for schools, corporates and private groups. She has headed the Education Committee in Nature Society Singapore since 2008 as former Chairperson and current Vice Chairperson. Learn more about Gloria at lorisowl.wordpress.com/about

Fo Ler is a UI/UX designer with a multidisciplinary background, having worked across motion graphics, print, and wayfinding design. Her versatility and openness allow her to approach user experience design with fresh perspectives and a strong sense of visual clarity.

Grace is a passionate educator with 12 years of experience as a literacy and language teacher, nurturing the joy of learning among children in Singapore and the region. With a heart for bringing worlds to life, she has pioneered new TEDx talks, interschool public speaking programmes, KidsREAD programmes, working in intergenerational settings to celebrate the love of reading, speaking and learning.

Hidayah Amin is the publisher of Helang Books and IBBY Singapore founding member. Hidayah’s first short story, ‘The Funny Accident’, was published when she was 11. When the Singapore government acquired her childhood home, Hidayah resumed writing and published ‘Gedung Kuning: Memories of a Malay Childhood’ in 2010. Since then, she has written nine non-fiction books and 11 children’s books—‘The Mango Tree’ book won the 2015 Hedwig Anuar Book Award for Best Children’s Book while ‘Leluhur: Singapore’s Kampong Gelam’ is the winner of the 2021 NUS Singapore History Prize. Like Hemingway, Hidayah writes to express; not to impress.

Irdina Zainol is an experienced early childhood educator who began her journey as a trainee teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Monash University and an Advanced Diploma in Early Childhood Leadership from NIEC. Throughout her career, she has taught in various preschool settings. She is currently a Language Specialist with PCF Sparkletots Preschool, where she supports the development of meaningful Mother Tongue Language learning experiences and strengthens teacher capacity in the preschool sector.

Jacinta Liu is a Chinese-Australian children’s book author and oracle card creator. She walked away from a successful career at a prestigious investment bank in search of something more. That deeper purpose surfaced when her daughter’s life-threatening illness and recovery ignited a profound calling to write for children. Jacinta’s debut picture book with illustrations by Freda Chiu was published by Hachette Australia in 2025. Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West is a heartfelt tribute to heritage, family, and the powerful women who shape us.

Jack Wong (黃雋喬) was born in Hong Kong and raised in Vancouver. In 2010, he left behind a life as a bridge engineer to pursue his Bachelor of Fine Arts at NSCAD University in Kjipuktuk / Halifax, Nova Scotia; he has called the east coast of Canada home ever since. Working as a children’s author/illustrator, Jack seeks to share his winding journey with young readers so that they may embrace the unique amalgams of experiences that make up their own lives. His debut picture book, When You Can Swim, received a Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, a Governor General’s Literary Award, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, and was a finalist for the Ezra Jack Keats Award. His second picture book, The Words We Share, received an Atlantic Book Award and was shortlisted for the Ontario Library Association’s Blue Spruce Award. His other titles include All That Grows (Groundwood), and forthcoming titles from Scholastic and Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Jane Wee has been a librarian with NLB since 1993. She started her career as a Librarian with the Public Libraries, joined the National Reference Library in 1998, and between 2012 to 2015, was the Region Head of Eastern Libraries comprising six branches in the Eastern part of Singapore. Currently the Head of Chinese Language, she is responsible for the overall strategic directions and implementation of nationwide reading programmes for the Chinese Language. Her team works on the development of the Chinese physical and digital collections in the entire public library network

Jayashree Panicker is a writer and literary translator. Her short fiction and poetry have been featured in Quarterly Literary Review Singapore, The Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singaporean Short Stories: Volume Five, and Mahogany Journal. Her poetry translations have been featured in an anthology published by a Toronto-based publishing house, trace press.

Dr. Jessie Huang is a children’s book writer, illustrator, and researcher whose work explores bilingual storytelling, cultural identity, and the preservation of local and Indigenous languages through picture books. She has created several award-winning bilingual titles in collaboration with schools and communities across Taiwan. As the former President of the Taiwan Children’s Literature Research Association, she has been active in promoting Taiwanese children’s literature internationally and fostering dialogue between creators, educators, and scholars about the evolving landscape of stories for young readers.

Dr Jiow has lectured and trained over 50,000 parents, government leaders on new media topics, both locally and internationally. His research investigates the impact of media on the family, cyber wellness and cybercrime. He has presented academic papers on parental mediation, video gaming and gamification. Dr Jiow currently serves as a member of the Films Consultative Panel and Media Literacy Council, and he teaches in the Communication and Digital Media programme at Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). He is also Deputy Director at SIT Teaching and Learning Academy looking into nurturing the applied learning and competency-based education practice.

九儿，从事雕塑设计多年，2012年开始图画书创作与研究。第一位入选国际儿童读物联盟（IBBY）荣誉榜单的中国女画家。曾获中国好书奖、文津图书奖、丰子恺儿童图画书奖佳作奖、图画书时代奖金奖、陈伯吹国际儿童文学奖年度图书（绘本）奖、美国伊索荣誉奖、美国弗里曼图书奖儿童文学类银奖，第二届卓越大师奖得主，曾担中国上海国际童书展金风车青年插画家大赛评委。多部作品输出到法国、美国、德国、俄罗斯、瑞士、加拿大、瑞典、印度、韩国、越南、阿拉伯等国家和中国香港、台湾地区。2015年、2024年受邀在北京首都图书馆举办个人艺术展。

Josef Lee tells stories through pictures. As a picture-book author & artist, his illustrated short stories have been shared online since 2008. In 2017, Josef successfully published his first picture-book via crowdfunding. Since then, he has published over 20 picture-books and 1 novel adaptation, in Singapore, China, Taiwan, Korea and Thailand. Josef also launched the 'House of Mini Picture Books' in 2021 - a free online library of original picture stories by local authors, to be downloaded, printed, and DIY-ed into mini picture books.

剑桥法学背景，前律师，现为新加坡双语儿童阅读倡导者，致力于响应国家双语教育”基石”方针。持有儿童文学教育硕士及北京语言大学对外汉语教学证书。参与编选国家图书馆管理局 2025 年华文绘本指南《九岁前必读的 120本绘本》，并曾任丰子恺儿童图画书奖创始执行总监。现于美国妇女协会杂志撰写”无界图画书”专栏，定期在图书馆为孩子们领读，引导家长甄选优质绘本。

Joy Lang [Tansy T.] is a Cambridge-educated former lawyer turned advocate for the Singapore bilingual child. She holds an M.Ed. in Chinese Children’s Literature and a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language from Beijing Language and Culture University.

Joy curated recommendations for the National Library Board’s 2025 Chinese picture book guide, and previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Feng Zikai Chinese Children’s Picture Book Award. She currently writes her column Picture Books Without Borders for the American Women’s Association magazine, regularly reads to children at the library, and guides parents toward meaningful books that build thinking skills and bilingual foundations.

Jyoti Narayan is a TISS-certified Library Educator, trained in Social Emotional Learning as a facilitator and founder of the Read-e Book Club, a platform that promotes a love for reading through libraries, storytelling, and book-based programs in schools and communities. She works deeply with children, educators, and books to create joyful, meaningful reading experiences. She believes in the power of collective collaboration to take love for reading and books far and wide. She is currently working on developing a SEL-based Reading Program.

Jyotirmoy Saha is a media entrepreneur and the Founder of August Media Holdings, a top content creator for kids and youth that has titles on air in 120 countries. His company has won multiple international awards and he is personally credited on over 60 TV and film titles.    

Kaoru joined Kadokawa Gempakstarz as the first full-time Chinese female comic book artist in Malaysia in 2001. Her ornate, Japanese manga-influenced art style has won her many fans. Since 2013, she has transformed into a comic screenwriter, leading her team to create the “Candy” and “Prince” comic series. These two comic series have achieved excellent results, with total sales reaching 4.5 million and 1.6 million, respectively.

A veteran educator with 19 years of experience at the Singapore American School, Kate Brundage is an Elementary School Librarian and the International School Libraries Network (ISLN) representative for the AFCC Teachers and Parents Programme Committee.

Katie Day is an American teacher-librarian who has lived in Asia since 1997, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. She is actively involved in the Red Dot Book Awards (Singapore), the Neev Book Awards (India) and the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) YA Translated Book Prize.

Kavita Ichaa Dawn Malhotra is a Positive Psychology Practitioner, Author, and Holistic Well-being Coach dedicated to helping children and youth cultivate resilience and self-belief. Overcoming hearing impairment since childhood, she embodies the strength and optimism she teaches. Her first book, Our Himalayan Rose, honours her grandmother’s legacy and guides dementia caregivers with compassion. Her upcoming book explores resilience through legendary heroes from myth, history, and today.

Kim Dong-soo is an acclaimed Korean picture book author and illustrator whose work explores children’s empathy, ethical awareness, and respect for life. Her representative works, How I Caught a Cold and My Almighty Rubberpowered Airplane, were selected among the 100 Korean Picture Books at the Frankfurt Book Fair. In 2024, she received the 65th Korea Book Award for To Do List and continues to expand her artistic world through her ongoing creative practice.

Kim Inae Sujung is a Korean writer, literary critic and translator. She studied at Chung Ang University in Seoul and the University of Munich and received a PhD degree from Chung Ang University for her thesis on “The comparative study of German and Korean folktales”. Since 1990 she has been teaching about children’s literature at Chung Ang University and several other universities and colleges in the ROK. As a writer of children’s books herself she has participated in international literary exchange programs, such as the International Writing Program in Iowa (1996) and the Writers-in-Residence program of LTI Korea at the University of Bonn (2011). Besides, she has worked as a jury of various children’s literature awards and consultant for a number of cultural institutions and foundations in the ROK. From 2013-2016 she has acted as chairperson of the Korean national section of the International Board of Books for Young People (IBBY).

Klaas Verplancke is an internationally acclaimed animator, designer, author and illustrator of more than 150 books, which have been translated to more than 60 languages. His quirky illustrations, known for their sense of humor and surrealism, have been commissioned by The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Museum of Modern Art New York, to name a few, and has been selected for the annuals of American Illustration, Society of Illustrators, AOI, and 3x3 magazine. He has won the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award, was a top-five finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards and has received 18 consecutive nominations for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, resulting in an worldwide invitations as a juror (Bologna Illustrator Exhibition, Nami Concours Korea, and more), teacher, reviewer, and curator. Klaas is also lecturer of Image Design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. Find him at www.klaas.be

Kristin Garanchon is a children’s book illustrator, visual artist, and college professor based in Quezon City, Philippines. Her work explores storytelling, cultural identity, and emotion through expressive, character-driven illustrations. She has collaborated with major Philippine publishers, including Phoenix Publishing, NCC, and Vibal Publishing, with one of her illustrated books featured at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2025, where the Philippines is Guest of Honour. As an educator at CIIT College of Arts and Technology, she mentors young artists in visual storytelling and design. Kristin continues to bridge art and education, creating works that inspire imagination and celebrate Filipino narratives.

Lam Yuen Foong started his professional career in engineering. He later moved into Business Development and felt a need to develop human capital in values. Lam has served in the church in his own capacity and also as a missionary in China. He has also published a book with Discovery House Publishing Asia.

Lauren Ho is a Malaysian author who writes across genres for both children and adults, including the international bestseller Last Tang Standing. Her work explores identity, relationships, and the emotional undercurrents of contemporary life. She lives in Singapore with her family. IG: HelloLaurenHo

Lee Seow Ser is a former legal advocate turned community advocate, author and mother of two. She co-founded and leads “To SIR (Socially Inclusive Reads) With Love”－a Finalist (Communities of Good, Groundup) in Singapore’s President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards 2025－using creative arts resources, experiential programmes and human-centric interactions to promote empathy. Her first book Si Ma Guang and the Giant Jar with braille, tactile pictures and dyslexia-friendly font was a 2017 IBBY Outstanding Book for Young People with Disabilities. She also supports deafblind persons with tactile communication using the UK Deafblind Manual Alphabet.

Lena Anlauf is a German author and book designer whose books have won numerous awards and have been translated into eight languages. She is part of Cornelia Funke’s residency program in Italy and has been selected as Writer-in-residence 2026 in Iceland by the Goethe-Institut. After studying book studies and philosophy, she is now researching historical picture books and working as editorial director for children’s and young adult literature at the German publishing house “kunstanstifter”.

Lena Lok is an arts educator, illustrator, and lecturer at Republic Polytechnic’s Diploma in Arts & Entertainment Production Management, where she teaches Arts Management and Production Design. She brings over 16 years of experience in designing creative learning programmes for children and families, having collaborated with leading institutions such as the Singapore Art Museum, National Gallery Singapore, and National Museum of Singapore. Lena has played a key role in shaping immersive arts initiatives through her past leadership with Art Wonderland and Amazing Art Shuttle, and continues to contribute to their development in a consulting capacity. Her practice centres on creating meaningful art experiences that integrate storytelling, illustration, and community engagement. Passionate about nurturing imagination through the arts, Lena explores how visual storytelling can connect young audiences to culture, creativity, and self-expression.

Le Thu Phuong Quynh is a Vietnamese expert in publishing, education, and reading culture development, with more than 14 years of experience working with international NGOs and in the children’s book industry. She is the Global Literacy Manager at Room to Read, where she supports literacy programs across India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Her experience extends to facilitating writer and illustrator workshops, developing training curricula, and advising on book development for literacy-focused initiatives throughout Asia. Quynh also participated in many activities with other publishers and libraries to help children expand their reading skills and foster a long-lasting love for books.

Li Khee enjoys learning new languages. She interprets and translates between English and Mandarin, while working hard to hold conversations in Japanese and Thai. She also writes about life and travel in a regular column for Lianhe Zaobao’s Fukan.

When not honing her literary craft, Li Khee can be found storytelling at the libraries, and working with metals as a manufacturing engineer.

Lin Shiyun is the founder and executive director of 3Pumpkins, a community arts and development charity dedicated to fostering social change through strong human connections. Since 2016, she has conducted practice action research into the experiences of children living in public rental housing, uncovering the importance of supportive social networks for their wellbeing. To address these challenges, Shiyun established the Tak Takut Kids Club (TTKC), a community-based program for children aged 7 to 14. By partnering with government agencies, schools, and healthcare providers, TTKC aims to strengthen community ties and promote resilience. Shiyun’s interdisciplinary and child-centric approach not only supports children’s growth but also offers valuable insights for urban communities seeking to enhance social mobility through local collaboration.

Lisa Zuliana is a passionate librarian dedicated to nurturing a love for stories from the very start of life. She curates and conducts vibrant programmes for children aged 0–6, their parents, and preschool educators, believing that a lifelong love of reading begins in the cradle. With a heart for imagination and play, she creates spaces where children can explore, dream, and grow through books. Her research interests centre on gender equality and the empowerment of young minds—because every child, she believes, deserves the confidence to think boldly and imagine endlessly.

喜欢游泳、散步、阅读和看电影。1995年参加“陈璐茜手制绘本教室”后开始创作绘本。已出版二十余本绘本，作品曾获信谊幼儿文学奖、金鼎奖、丰子恺儿童图画书奖、瑞典彼得潘银奖、上海好童书奖及意大利博洛尼亚插画展入选。现在与家人居住在台北。

Liu Hsu Kung began creating picture books after attending “Chen Luqian’s Handmade Picture Book Workshop“ in 1995. Since then, he has published over twenty picture books, and his works have received awards including the Hsin-Yi Children’s Literature Award, Golden Tripod Award, Feng Zikai Children’s Picture Book Award, the Peter Pan Prize Silver Award (Sweden), Shanghai Good Children’s Book Award, and were selected for the Bologna Children’s Book Fair illustration exhibitions.

He enjoys swimming, walking, reading and watching movies. He currently lives in Taipei with his family.

Loh Chin Ee is Associate Professor at the English Language and Literature Department and Associate Dean (Impact & Partnerships) at the Office for Research at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. Her research focuses on reading at the intersection of equity, technology and globalisation.

She is the co-editor of Little Things: an Anthology of Poetry (Ethos, 2013) & Poetry Moves (Ethos, 2020). Her most recent edited book is The Reading Lives of Teens: Research and Practice (Routledge, 2025). You can read more about her work on www.lohchinee.com.

Low Ying Ping made her US debut this year with the middle grade novel, Song of the Yellow Dragon. She has previously published two middle grade fantasy series, Mount Emily and Prophecy of the Underworld, in Singapore. She has also written for younger children: a three-volume English adaptation of the Chinese classic, Journey to the West, and a picture book titled Starlight in a Bottle. Her books have won the Singapore Book Awards and were shortlisted for the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award and the Popular Readers’ Choice Award. A short story has also won second prize in the British Fantasy Society’s short story competition.

Lucia has been working in academic libraries, and also as a freelance illustrator and editor in the children’s publishing industry. Trained in Cultural Anthropology, Chinese Literature, Art and the Library and Information Sciences, she is now the language specialist for Chinese and Korean children’s literature at the International Youth Library in Munich, Germany.

Manjit Kaur is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of GDP Capital and Co-Founder of Himalayan Rose, an impact-led platform dedicated to healing, resilience, and flourishing for individuals, families, organisations, and communities. A passionate advocate of Positive Psychology in leadership and life, she helps people and systems grow through purpose-driven transformation. She presented at the 2024 European Conference on Positive Psychology on applying the Me, We and Us model within organisations.

Maryam Binte Mohammed Nidhar is 13 years old and her current favourite book is 1984 by George Orwell. Maryam’s current dream is to become a lawyer to help and represent the less fortunate in pro bono cases.

May Thu is a Designer at local comics publisher Difference Engine SG and a freelance illustrator. She has illustrated for Wei Wei’s Piece of Cake and Lyna Lankylegs and the Bright Hill Gang: Raining Coconuts, published under Epigram Books. She is inspired by stories with heart and loves to experiment with different visual methods of storytelling through her illustrations, comics, zines, etc... Her works can be found online at @absorbingblue.

Melanie Lee is the author of the award-winning middle-grade graphic novel series, Amazing Ash & Superhero Ah Ma and picture book series, The Adventures of Squirky the Alien. She also wrote Out & About in Singapore, a travel guide series for children. She is a part-time communications and creative writing lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Melissa Candrasaputra is an author-illustrator and freelance creative. She loves print media so much that you will likely find her reading a paperback or a magazine at the kopitiam under her HDB block. Melissa co-authored and illustrated “Our Feelings” bilingual series, and was shortlisted finalist of 2025 Illustrator of the Year. She is also the overall creative force behind the book SITE.MA: Singapore in the Eyes of Mother Artists (2024). Melissa was born in Semarang, Indonesia, before moving to Singapore at the age of fifteen.

Dr. Michelle Chan, who earned her PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London, is affiliated with the Department of English Language and Literature at Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Her research includes Victorian Literature, Fantasy, and Children’s Literature, with a recent focus on healing and picture books, fairy tales, translating visual narratives, and transmedia presentation of children’s literature. Most of her works concern how children’s texts are received and reinterpreted in contemporary society. She has received funding to promote Asian children’s literature, including Korean picture books and Hong Kong children’s literary history, respectively.

Michiko Matsukata is a curator at the Chihiro Art Museum since 2003 and has curated exhibitions such as Contemporary Picture Book Illustrations from Korea, Polish Picture Book Artists, Ib Spang Olsen: The Soul of Denmark, and most recently, Józef Wilkoń, Painter at 96- Master of Poland. She also was in charge of exhibitions of Chihiro Iwasaki and Japanese Picture Book Artists held in several Asian countries. Besides curating exhibitions, her responsibilities include looking after the museum library as well as the educational programmes.

Morris Gleitzman is one of Australia’s most beloved authors for children and young adults, renowned for combining humour with heartfelt storytelling. His award-winning books, including Once, Then and Two Weeks with the Queen, tackle complex themes with warmth and wit. Gleitzman’s stories feature resilient young protagonists who apply creative thinking to life’s challenges in ways that inspire empathy and optimism in readers worldwide. A former screenwriter and columnist, he has received numerous literary honours, was the Australian Children’s Laureate, and in 2019 appeared on a stamp. He believes that storytelling helps children overcome obstacles and find their place in the world.

Muhammad Jalaluddin Usman is an illustrator and comic storyteller who actively develops creative media for children. Alongside his teaching activities, he designs educational games, ranging from digital RPGs to board games, aimed at fostering critical thinking and imagination in young learners. His work explores visual and narrative storytelling as tools for learning and cultural engagement. Through comics and games, he seeks to create meaningful literacy experiences that invite children to learn, imagine, and shape their own worlds.

Muhammed Shahril Shaik Abdullah is currently a senior librarian with the National Library Board, Singapore where he oversees reading programmes for children aged 1 to 9. He holds a Master of Education from Monash University (Australia) and a Master of Science in Information Studies from Nanyang Technological University. His research interests include children’s literature and critical education. Some of his writings have been published in the book KOMENTAR: Renungan Isu-Isu Semasa published by MediaCorp, and in AMP’s Karyawan magazine.

Mya is 10-years-old and her favourite local book/series is the Maizey Lee series by Erni Salleh. Her hope is that the world she grows up in will be filled with peace and there will be no more war. Perhaps she will be an English teacher, an author or marine biologist. But for now, she is preparing a short book to raise awareness for the homeless in Singapore and hope it can be printed before her birthday.

Thu Ngo Ha has been a literary translator since 2012. While her works span a variety of genres Thu is most notably associated with children’s literature. Some of her significant English – Vietnamese translations include Wendelin Van Draanen’s Flipped, Beatrix Potter’s A Very Naughty Rabbit, Benji Davies’s The Storm Whale, Oliver Jeffers’s Here We Are and works by Dr. Seuss. With a Master degree in Cultural Studies (Sydney), she taught translation and interpretation at the University of Languages and International Studies, VNU Hanoi until 2018. She is also an active speaker and trainer, sharing her expertise in translation through public events and publications.

Quynh Huong (Hu) is a famous picturebook author and researcher of children’s literature in Vietnam. She is the author of more than 15 children’s books. Her works have won National Book Awards, been selected for The White Ravens 2025 and have their copyrights sold through The UK and Korea. She is currently the General Director of Slowbooks - a unit specializing in publishing high-quality children’s picture books in Vietnam. She is interested in social topics and enjoys engaging in difficult topics such as death, migration or climate crisis for children and teenagers. She believes that children’s picture books are a powerful tool in reflecting the changes and movements of society. By depicting the truth of life, children’s books raise thousands of questions to think about and sow a seed of hope for future generations.

Nicola is a librarian with the National Library Board. She works in the Collection Planning and Development team, which helps to select titles for the libraries. As someone passionate about literature, she subscribes to the notion that every book has a value and that there is a reader for every book. In her (very limited) free time, she strives to #readallthebooks, but as of now will settle for having a really awesome TBR booklist.

Nilay Yılmaz holds a PhD in children’s literature and literary studies, with a focus on representations of childhood images in Turkish literature. She has worked as a university lecturer, teaching courses on language & culture studies, literature, creativity, drama, child studies and methods for language skills to children. Her work also focuses on creative writing, reading and developing higher-order thinking skills through games, stories and art. Many of her books and stories for children have received literary awards. For the past four years she has actively worked on children’s rights, especially supporting children affected by the earthquake through bibliotherapy and expressive art workshops. She also works with children undergoing cancer treatment in hospitals, conducting mindfulness-based workshops that include breathing exercises, yoga, storytelling and games. As an author, she regularly meets children in schools through creative workshops inspired by her books. She also leads creative programs in museums for both children and adults, combining museum drama, reading, philosophy, creative writing, paintings, photography, and other forms of expressive arts. As a teacher trainer and educational consultant, she collaborates with teachers, educational institutions and NGOs on critical thinking, metacognitive learning strategies, creative thinking and program designing. She has served as the president of Turkish section of IBBY (International Board on Books For Young People) for the past five years.

Nor Azlindah is an experienced early childhood educator and Malay language specialist with over 14 years in the sector. She holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with a Minor in Special Education from SUSS and has completed professional qualifications in early childhood care and education. Currently a Language Specialist at PCF Sparkletots Preschool, she mentors teachers, develops workshops and trainings for early childhood educators, and designs curriculum for Malay language, fostering Mother Tongue literacy and cultural identity in young learners.

Norlin Samat is a publisher and the author of Ally’s Adventures, a bilingual children’s book series whose interactive story sessions are enjoyed by both children and parents. She also publishes and translates children’s books from underrepresented countries, bringing diverse voices and experiences to young readers. An educator at heart, Norlin designs community-centred programmes that connect cultures and highlight lived experiences through story. She holds a postgraduate diploma in education and a Master of Arts in Language Studies.

Nur-El-Hudaa is an editorial consultant and a published author and translator of children’s picture books, short stories and poetry. She has received awards such as the inaugural Mastera Prize for poetry translation and the Golden Point Award for her short stories and translation. In 2023, she was selected by the National Arts Council to join the Virtual Residency programme for poetry translation at the National Centre for Writing in UK. As an editorial consultant, she helps writers and publishers develop books for publication. Nur-El-Hudaa volunteers with the National Library Board as a storyteller.

Nur Syafiqah is a Malay Language Specialist at PCF Sparkletots with over a decade of experience in early childhood education. She is currently pursuing a degree in Childhood and Early Years Studies, combining hands-on practice with academic knowledge to strengthen language and cultural education. Passionate about the Malay language, culture, and traditions, she strives to inspire children’s love for their heritage while supporting teachers in delivering meaningful, culturally rich learning. At this level, she contributes to enhancing the Malay curriculum and empowers educators to create engaging experiences that celebrate identity and nurture holistic development.

Omkwan is the founder/director of CREAM Bangkok, a creative literacy centre dedicated to inspiring a love of reading and storytelling in children. With a background in Literature and Children’s Book Illustration, and strong experience as a kindergarten teacher, she is passionate about creating meaningful, engaging literacy experiences for young minds. In 2019, she founded CREAM as a space where children can embrace their creativity and express themselves through various forms of storytelling. Her work nurtures curiosity and imagination, encouraging children to explore and share their stories—making literacy a joyful and exciting adventure of their lives.

Phanidchanok “NidNok” Damnoentam is a writer, curator, and creative producer dedicated to nurturing a culture of reading and learning among children and families. Her work spans exhibitions, festivals, and storytelling projects that connect books with everyday life. She develops programmes and curates experiences that inspire empathy, imagination, and reflection through picture books and shared reading. As host of The Rookie Mom podcast and moderator of public dialogues on childhood, education, and parenting, she bridges creative practice with social impact—building communities that grow together through stories.

Philip has illustrated for major publications including The New York Times, Monocle, and The Boston Globe, designed toys for the renowned French company Djeco, and created large-scale installations for public spaces such as Lotte and IFS shopping centres in Asia. Despite this diverse experience, picture books remain at the heart of his artistic practice. Known for simple, colourful shapes, iconic characters, and graphic landscapes, his style transforms stories into vivid visual journeys. His techniques range from digital collage to traditional painting on wood.

His work has been featured in American Illustration, Communication Arts, and has earned prestigious awards, including the Bologna/SM International Illustration Prize, a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators NY, the White Raven Award, selection at the Biennial of Illustration in Lisbon, and the Prix des Adultes and Prix des Médiateurs – Figure-Future at Montreuil. He has served on juries for major events such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award (CICLA) / Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair, and Sharjah International Book Fair.

Pham Thị Hoai Anh is an independent children’s picture book author and the founder of Vietnam’s ICBC (Initiative of Children’s Book Creative content). Through ICBC, Hoai Anh spearheads diverse educational programs and art activities, including visual art exhibitions, reading concerts, and drama performances. Passionate about reading with children, she strives to enrich their artistic experiences and spread the joy of reading, considering it a vital responsibility as a children’s book author.

Priscilla Tey is an award-winning illustrator, multimedia artist and author. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), she works with a variety of media from watercolour, to digital illustration and large scale installations. Priscilla is internationally known for her books In-Between Things, and Counting in Dog Years (Candlewick Press), which have received praise from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Public Library. Her book The Vicious Cycle will also be published in late 2026 by Macmillan Publishers (US).

Priti Sharma is the Managing Editor at the Epigram Literary Foundation, where she has worked for over a decade. She draws on more than 23 years of experience teaching and developing language and literature courses at the tertiary level, with a focus on children’s and postcolonial literature.

Priyanshi is a 17-year old student currently studying Literary Arts at SOTA. She enjoys going out for meals with her friends, participating in Model UN, and watching cute animal videos when trying to procrastinate on her work. She has recently started a podcast with her friends to talk about youth issues and experiences (Let’s Face It on Youtube and Spotify), and is also a writer in The Aegis Collective, a digital newsletter which aims to highlight community organisations and social issues. She has also been a youth moderator and reader at the Singapore Writers’ Festival.

Rachelyn Gordon is a Singaporean children’s author and creative writing educator who believes in the power of stories to build empathy, critical thinking and communication skills in young readers and writers. Her picture books, Rosie and the Mamak Shop (2000), Curly (2022) and Frank (2024) are warm and funny stories about identity, friendship, resilience, and above all, the power of laughter. Rachelyn has taught in international schools where she held leadership roles. She now focuses on leading workshops that help children explore real-world issues, discover their voices and write with passion. When she’s not writing, teaching, or reading picture books, she’s running after her son, Samuel, King of Tah Ching. Find out more at rachelyngordon.com or on Instagram at @teacherwhowrites.

Roger Jenkins is a Singaporean who has been a professional storyteller since 1998. He is a popular performer/trainer in schools, libraries and at community events with his spontaneous, comedic and interactive style of telling.He has been associated with access and working with people with disability since founding Hi Theatre in 1984. He regularly audio-describes Wild Rice productions making theatre accessible to the vision-impaired, and has performed at the Enabling Village with PWDs on several occasions. He won the 1995 Singapore Literature Prize with From the Belly of the Carp and has self-published two collections of traditional stories with teachers/parents.

Having worked in public communications and publishing for 25 years, Ruth is currently the Publisher at World Scientific Education, where she acquires children’s books on Asian and STEM themes, while managing a team of editors, designers and illustrators. Ruth is also the author of the bestselling Timmy & Tammy preschool series, which has sold over 400,000 copies and is passionate about encouraging children to love reading and about supporting the local arts.

Sally Murphy is an author, poet and academic. Her award-winning books include Pearl Verses the World, Worse Things and Queen Narelle, and she has poems published in magazines and anthologies across the world. Also a passionate educator, she lectures in literacy education at Curtin University in Perth.

Sarah Ang is a children’s book author and illustrator who gathers inspiration from nature and her love of history and science. Her books encourage children to be curious about the world around them. A keen advocate for the environment, Sarah wrote her three books, The River that Brings Us Life, Charlie the Sweeper and the Three Little Sheep Build a Better Future to inspire the young towards a cleaner, brighter, more sustainable Singapore.

Shameer Bismilla is an early childhood and primary school teacher, currently teaching at the German European School, Singapore. With a Master’s degree in Education from the Nanyang Technological University, he has more than 25 years’ experience in curriculum planning, English as a Second Language (ESL), coaching, teacher mentoring and classroom management. He is passionate about promoting literacy and a love of reading in children. As an Associate Lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, Singapore, he conducts regular workshops on professional development for teachers. He has also co-authored two picture books – The Boy and the Box and The Girl and the Box. His new Picture book is Zakee and the The Quiet Magic of Being You.

Shamini Flint is a Malaysian author best known for her lively and engaging children’s books. Her popular Sports Diary 10-book series, published by Allen & Unwin, follows the misadventures of a sporting superhero (not!) while Ten is a powerful middle-grade novel about a young Malaysian girl who dreams of playing football (used in Singapore’s P5 syllabus). Through Ten, Flint inspires readers to challenge stereotypes. Flint’s picture books—such as Turtle Takes a Trip—combine humour with gentle lessons about conservation. A lawyer turned writer, Shamini has delighted readers with side-splitting humour and an unmistakably Southeast Asian voice.

Shankar Gomathinayagam is the Founder and CEO of Learner Circle and Publisher at Shankar Pathippagam, a 38-year-old Tamil publishing house with over 1,000 titles across diverse genres. He has brought to light more than 500 authors worldwide and leads the 10,000 Young Authors Program, aiming to create a million young writers. A winner of multiple awards in EdTech innovation and digital growth, Shankar bridges tradition and technology through his ventures Learner Circle and Spini. His work unites publishing, education, and creativity, inspiring children to express themselves and educators to reimagine learning.

Siyuan Aw was born in Singapore and has lived and worked in Shanghai and London. For many years, he guided creative work at agencies such as BBH Shanghai, Ogilvy London, and DDB Singapore — shaping stories, listening for meaning amid noise. Alongside this professional journey runs a quieter current: a devotion to art, meditation, and nature. His paintings, exhibited in Shanghai and Singapore, explore the stillness that exists between light and breath — the space where thought dissolves into being. His debut picture book, Oneness With Your Wings, emerged from a solitary journey across Mongolia, where he met Bekku and his eagle. It is a meditation on release and renewal — on the strength it takes to let go, and the freedom that follows.

Sophia is a Singapore-based teen Bookstagrammer and the creator behind @thechattychapter, where she focuses on YA literature, reader reflections, and thoughtful book recommendations. She began her Bookstagram in 2025 as a personal learning challenge, using social media to share her love for books. Through her work, Sophia has discovered how digital platforms enable youths to shape their own reading cultures, amplify diverse voices, and influence book discovery among teens. Her experience reflects how Bookstagram can be more than a creative outlet: it can be a space for youth expression, confidence-building, skill development, and active participation in today’s literary scene.

Sophie Lizeray is a best-selling author-illustrator of Wandering Angkor, Fisso’s World in Cambodia and Dancing Devas, illustrated books on Southeast Asia for adults and children. She earned degrees in science, humanities and art (and probably doodled a bit too much on her class notes). As a bicultural woman, Sophie creates stories that intertwine cultures, for the little girl in her to find her reflection in books, and for all readers to feel seen in our vibrant, multicultural and fast-paced world. She also weaves well-being practices such as Mindfulness and Yoga into her author and wellness events.

Theresia Enny Aanggraini received her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Literature for Children and Young Adults from the Ohio State University in 2015. She is an associate professor of English at Faculty of Letters, Universitas Sanata Dharma, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Her interests include Literature for Children and Young Adults, Drama, and African American Literature. Chocolate is her favorite food and drink.

Tori Tadiar is an award-winning illustrator and comic artist from the Philippines. She is an IT professional by day and works on comics and stories every chance she can get. Her goal is to tell stories that introduce readers to and immerse them in alternate worlds based on the culture of the land she calls home. Tori is the author and artist of the graphic novels Sagala and Twinkle, Twinkle; and the illustrator of the chapter book Team Abangers at Ang Estilong Trumpo. She is currently working on the Philippine folklore-inspired middle grade comic series Ilustra, published by Disney-Hyperion.

Victor Fernando R. Ocampo is the author of the International Rubery Book Award shortlisted The Infinite Library and Other Stories (Math Paper Press, 2017; Gaudy Boy, 2021; Vibal, 2025 ) and Here be Dragons (Canvas Press, 2015), which won the Romeo Forbes Children’s Story Award in 2012. His experimental interactive fiction piece The Book of Red Shadows debuted at the Singapore Writers Festival in 2020 (Spaceship 13/Luck-IT) and its prequel story in an escape room format (with Tusitala), in 2026.

His writing has appeared in many publications including Apex, Future Fiction, Strange Horizons, 科幻世界 (Science Fiction World) and The Quarterly Literature Review of Singapore, as well as anthologies like The Best New Singapore Short Stories, Fish Eats Lion: New Singaporean Speculative Fiction, LONTAR: The Journal of Southeast Asian Speculative Fiction, as well as the World Fantasy-award winning Mapping New Stars: A Sourcebook on Philippine Speculative Fiction.

Virine Hutasangkas is an Assistant Professor at Faculty of Humanities, at Chiang Mai University. Her main interest focuses on French children’s literature and global picturebook trends, exploring diverse thematic landscape from around the world.

Vitali Konstantinov is a German author, illustrator and comic artist. He studied architecture, graphic art, painting, and art history and has been writing and illustrating books for more than 20 years, which have been published in 40 countries. His work has earned the title “Best German Book Design” and he won the “German Children’s Book Prize 2025” for his illustrations in Genius Eyes – A Curious Animal Compendium. Vitali also presents his books worldwide at interactive readings and workshops.

Vivian Teo is the author of middle-grade book series My BFF Is an Alien and Mikaela Kong, published by Epigram Books. Her books have been shortlisted for the Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award, the Singapore Book Awards and the POPULAR Readers’ Choice Awards.

Vivian is also a freelance writer whose work has appeared in CNA and CNA Lifestyle. She enjoys writing about parenting, education, social and financial issues, and blogging on her parenting/lifestyle website, The Stuff Childhoods Are Made Of, at vivianteo.com.

Bingjie is a Chinese Language Specialist at PCF Sparkletots Preschool in Singapore, where she focuses on curriculum design and teacher professional development in early childhood education. She is also pursuing her Doctor of Education at Teesside University (UK). A certified Advanced Bilingual Picture Book Reading Instructor, she has led workshops on children’s literature, storytelling, and multilingual education at national platforms such as the National Library Board and AFCC. Passionate about picture books and digital innovations, she explores how AI can support mother tongue learning and enrich children’s reading experiences.

Wastana (he/him) is a visual artist based in Bandung, Indonesia. After graduating in Visual Communication Design from the Bandung Institute of Technology he decided to become full-time illustrator.

He loves to tell a story, and he is always creating story-driven works from fantasy-themed to slices of life with vibrant and eclectic elements. He inspired by music, movies, Indonesian culture, fashion and most of all from his surroundings: nature, personal experience, travelling, people on the street, animals, how people interact and the list goes on. Life inspires him.

Wayne Rée (he/they) is a Singaporean writer. Together with Benjamin Chee, he co-created Work-Life Balance, the prose/comics hybrid that won Best Literary Work and Book of the Year at the 2023 Singapore Book Awards. He also co-created the comic, Worlds Apart: A Conversation About Mental Health, with Nurjannah Suhaimi. In 2025, Worlds Apart was reprinted in the anthology, How Are You Feeling?. Wayne lives with his wife and their cat/gremlin.

Since 2020, Wilson has been keenly involved in the ins and outs of Armour Publishing, eventually taking up the role of General Manager in 2024. As the spearhead of the organisation, Wilson champions the propagation of purposeful content in four core genres: General, Christian, Education, and most aptly, Children’s books.

Over the past year, Wilson has led his team to sift out content that equips, educates and encourages readers. Whether it is collaborating with veteran authors to market their stories, or lending a platform to first-time writers who are dipping their toes into the literary scene, Wilson is constantly on the lookout for good stories.

Wong Swee Yean is a professional storyteller with over 20 years of experience bringing the richness of Asian folktales to life across Singapore and the region. A four-term President of the Storytelling Association (Singapore) and Director of the 398.2 Storytelling Festival, she believes stories are bridges that connect generations, cultures, and hearts. She blends storytelling with playful elements such as paper crafts, music and movement to spark imagination and make traditional tales feel fresh and relevant.

Wu Liangyu is a teenage artist and poet. Her work has been exhibited at Singapore Art Week, Science Centre Singapore, the School of the Arts (SOTA), and the Visual Arts Centre. In 2024, she founded Project InkLink, a youth-led organisation dedicated to forging connections through literature. Her works have appeared, or are forthcoming, in anthologies such as Eunoia Review, OF ZOOS magazine, This Is Southeast Asia, and Sine Theta Magazine. She also occasionally competes in debate.

叶壮是多个心理学专业组织的正式成员，其中包括中国心理学会（CPS）、中国科普作家协会（CSWA）以及美国心理科学协会（APS）。作为一名科普作家与译者，他著有《边成长，边成熟》（The Catalyst of Growth）等作品，并翻译了广受好评的著作《自驱型成长》（The Self-Driven Child）。此外，叶壮还是《三联生活周刊・少年新知》的常驻专栏作者。

Ye Zhuang is an active member of several prestigious professional psychological organizations, including the Chinese Psychological Society (CPS), the China Science Writers Association (CSWA), and the Association for Psychological Science (APS). As an accomplished writer and translator, he is the author of The Catalyst of Growth and the Chinese translator of the acclaimed book The Self-Driven Child. Additionally, Ye Zhuang contributes regularly as a columnist for Sanlian Lifeweek: Junior Insights.

YZ is one-third of the Singaporean bookstagram account, WordWanderlust. Together with his besties, Bren and Kess, WordWanderlust posts unfiltered (and unhinged) reviews of books of various genres. YZ in particular believes that reading and collecting books are two separate hobbies, evident from his constant need for new shelf-space to house new books with pretty covers and special editions with gorgeous stencilled edges. "You can never have too many books" is one of his favourite penchants.