Meet the team
Catherine Carvell - Co-Regional Advisor
Catherine Carvell is the author of Darcy Moon and the Deep-Fried Frogs, a middle-grade chapter book published by Fremantle Press. She has been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators for over 15 years and has a deep passion for children’s literature and the joy of reading. Catherine holds SCBWI close to her heart, treasuring the lifelong friendships she has formed as well as the invaluable sense of community and connection the organisation provides. She lives with Toby the Silky Terrier and her two teenage children in the sunny suburbs of Perth.
Email: australiawest-ra2@scbwi.org
Jodie Davidson – Co-Regional Advisor
After many years spent working as a Project Coordinator and later marketing within the construction industry, a choice to focus solely on an art career has lead Jodie towards an environmentally sustainable practice together with a nature inspired philosophy. Her motto that 'there is nothing wrong in art' reminds us that the creative process is just that, a process. It is about taking the time to explore creativity in order to find a balance to the constant busyness we all have in our modern day lives. Through classes, workshops, music, public speaking and artwork, Jodie shares her thoughts and practices to encourage others to find their balance through the use of creative activity.
Email: australiawest-ra@scbwi.org
Kelly Canby – Assistant Regional Advisor
Author/Illustrator Kelly Canby was born in London, England, at a very young age. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia, and is quite a bit older. Kelly spends her days in the studio drawing and painting and when she isn't in the studio drawing and painting she's probably in another room drawing and painting. She draws and paints a lot. Also, she is surprisingly good at parallel parking.
Web: kellycanby.com
Briony Stewart – Illustrator Coordinator
Briony Stewart is the author and illustrator of several award-winning books for children, including the 'Kumiko and the Dragon' series and 'We Love You Magoo' which was a CBCA Early Childhood Honour Book for 2020. Briony lectures on children's literature at university and conducts talks and workshops with children across Australia. She loves live drawing challenges, day dreaming and discussing dragons, bunnies and how to tame lions.
TBA – Regional Coordinator
Frané Lessac – Co-PAL Coordinator
Frané Lessac is an author and illustrator, having created beautiful illustrations for more than fifty books for children. She was born in New Jersey and lived on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat and later London before moving to Australia. Frané loves to travel and create books based on her worldwide journeys. Frané visits schools, libraries and festivals around the world sharing the process of writing and illustrating books empowering both children and adults.
Web: franelessac.com
Dianne Wolfer – Co-PAL Coordinator
Dianne lives on the south-west coast with her husband, Pete and dog, Harry. She is author of 16 books for teenagers and young readers. Her latest title Nanna's Button Tin is a gentle story about a little girl searching for a very special button. Dianne writes across genres and her award-winning historical fiction Lighthouse Girl and Light Horse Boy inspired Black Swan Theatre's recent adaptation The Lighthouse Girl as well as the 2015 Perth Festival street theatre performance of The Giants. 2017 CBCA Notable Book, The Shark Caller is a quest novel inspired by the ancient practise of calling sharks. Dianne has just completed a PhD researching Animal Characters in Children's Literature.
Web: diannewolfer.com
Sandi Parsons – Critique Group Coordinator
Sandi Parsons lives and breathes stories, as a reader, writer and storyteller. Sandi's creative nonfiction has been published in MiNDFOOD, Frankie, Chicken Soup for the Soul and Growing Up Disabled in Australia. She lives in Western Australia with her favourite husband, some problem puppies and many teetering stacks of books.
Web: sandiwrites.com.au
James Foley – Treasurer
James Foley makes children's books for children who read books. If you're a child and you're eating his books, you're doing it wrong. His picture book Stellarphant is available around the world. It was voted Picture Book of the Year in the 2022 Children's Book Council of Australia's Shadowers' Choice Awards; it was named an Honour Book in the 2022 CBCA Picture Book of the Year category; it was voted into Australia's Top 50 Kids Books; and it was selected for the International Youth Library's prestigious White Ravens List. It has been shortlisted for a further eight awards. James' latest graphic novel series Secret Agent Mole follows agents Max Mole, Helena Hippo and June Bug, for whom no mission is too dangerous or ridiculous! James' earlier books have scored multiple honours, both in Australia and internationally. He lives in Perth with his wife Renae, their 2 kids, and a labrador called Frankie. He's an ambassador for Books In Homes and Room To Read. He's a massive Marvel movie nerd, and comes from a long line of queuing enthusiasts.
Web: jamesfoley.com.au
Denis Knight – Webmaster
Denis Knight was born in the late 1960s near Perth, Western Australia, and grew up in a quiet suburb not too far from the beach. He spent most of the 1970s watching Doctor Who and Monkey, and most of the 1980s listening to ZZ-Top. He now spends his days managing complex computer systems for shadowy government departments, and his nights writing science fiction adventure novels for young readers, including the Hunter Black alien conspiracy series, and the Max Neutron intergalactic espionage series. He lives in Western Australia with his wife, his two children, and his extensive collection of The X-Files DVDs. He has never been eaten by space wasps or abducted by aliens-as far as he knows.
Web: denisknight.com