We are proud to introduce the 2026 Chief Minister's Reading Challenge Ambassadors. Representing the ACT Chief Minister and Education Directorate, these local authors share a common mission to ignite a lifelong passion for literacy across our schools. Our Ambassadors are here to champion the joy of reading, visiting classrooms and encourage every student to reach their reading goals.
Emma Grey is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author of seven books, including two teenage novels and the women’s fiction titles PICTURES OF YOU, THE LAST LOVE NOTE and START AT THE END. Her books have been translated into more than ten languages and optioned for TV. She grew up in Canberra and went to Garran Primary School.
David Conley is currently a teacher, author, illustrator and presenter for and about children’s books. He aims to inspire children (and adults) to get out there and read, write and draw as often as they can. At the beginning of 2026 he released the first book in a new series called Ludicrous Legends, which he is illustrating with author extraordinaire Jol Temple. David is quite convinced you would enjoy his books.
Emma Batchelor (she/her) is a queer, autistic, writer, multidisciplinary artist and arts advocate from Kamberri (Canberra). Emma’s first novel ‘Now that I see you’ was the winner of the Australian/Vogel Literary Award in 2021. She is currently developing her third novel with funding support from artsACT as well as a live performance work that adapts her writing for the stage. In addition to her own creative practice, Emma curates arts events for SpringOUT festival and is an artsworker supporting young and emerging artists. She is the Chair of MARION, a Board member of The Stellar Company, and a member of the Minister’s Creative Council.
Local novelist, his work includes 300 minutes of Danger and forty other books translated into ten languages.
Local Poet and Author of children’s books Shoctopus, Moonfish and RapperBee.
Jacqueline is an international award-winning author and creative coach. Her most recent titles include the Ariana Treasure junior fiction series and Meet Matilda at the Festival which was part of the Penguin Random House Australia Aussie Kids series. Her picture books have won awards in the US and been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards. Jacqueline received the 2017 Anne Edgeworth Fellowship from the ACT Writers Centre (renamed MARION) and served as a board member of the centre as a way to support the writing community. Jacqueline has appeared at various literary events including the Canberra Writers Festival and NSW Kids and YA Festival. Jacqueline hopes her stories will encourage readers to learn more about the world and help to cultivate an empathetic, accepting and inclusive community. She has visited a number of schools and is passionate about nurturing lifelong readers, writers and creatives.
Lisa
Kalma
Lisa Kalma-Grech is a local Canberra author and former primary school teacher with a love of all things Dr Seuss and Roald Dahl. She loves writing humorous children’s stories and poetry for the whole family. Her debut picture book, My Llama Drama, was inspired by her visits to a local llama and alpaca farm with her son, where they met and walked lots of llamas in all sorts of colours and sizes, who also seemed to have a language of their own.
Dr Stephanie
Owen-Reeder
Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder OAM is an award-winning author and illustrator of over 30 children’s books. Her historical novel Lennie the Legend is currently being made into a feature film, and her latest environmental picture books are Rakali of the Riverbank and Peculiar Parents.
Tania
McCartney
Local illustrator and author whose latest releases include Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants, Dorrie, Plume: Christmas Elf and Wildlife Compendium of the World.
Internationally published children’s author Amelia McInerney lives in Canberra, where she spends most of her days writing humorous picture books. Amelia’s first picture book was the CBCA Notable Book, The Book Chook. Her latest titles are Neil, the Amazing Sea Cucumber and Jeff Giraffe. Her next picture book, Lucky, is publishing in mid 2025.
Cate is a recognised figure in the Canberra literacy community, particularly through her involvement with MARION (formerly the ACT Writers Centre).
Rachel Head graduated from the Canberra School of Art in the 90s and has exhibited extensively. She has a bachelor’s in arts and diplomas in Painting & Printing and Education. After winning a major scholarship from the Hewia Nakajima Foundation, Rachel travelled to Japan and studied in the printmaking department at Kyoto Seika University. Rachel has exhibited in Canberra and Sydney, has collections of works in Tokyo, National Gallery of Australia, and in the chief ministry office Australia. Recent art exhibitions have been dedicated to donating. The themes have involved preservation and conservation of environment and animals.
Catherine Meatheringham
Catherine Meatheringham is a children’s author who writes picture books that invite children to join in with the story. Her books feature playful language, onomatopoeia, imagery. Her books have been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, Highly Commended in the ACT Notable Awards and read on Playschool.
Lead Officer
Senior Project Officer