Meet the Team

Jo Cook is an English educator and mentor, with over 20 years’ experience in secondary education. She holds a Master of Education and a Graduate Certificate in Writing, Editing and Publishing, and presented the 'Search for Social Justice' Picture Book unit at the Australian Association for the Teaching of English and the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association National Conference in Canberra in 2023.

Through her teaching, mentoring and creative practice, Jo is committed to empowering young people to use storytelling as a vehicle for social awareness, equity and change. 

Mirabel is currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science at the Australian National University. In the first, school-based version of this project in 2022, she won the Audrey Fagan Young Women's Enrichment Grant, and co-cordinated the project. She authored A Tale of Rags and Riches, which is a picture book focusing on income disparity and wealth gaps. Mirabel holds a current Working with Vulnerable People Card (ACT) and is interested in social justice issues - particularly with regards to equal access to healthcare. 

Regina is currently studying a Bachelor of Primary Education (Creative Arts) at the University of Canberra. She is a previous participant of a school-based version of this project - authoring and illustrating Memories - a picture book around the social issue of grieving. Regina holds a current Working with Vulnerable People Card (ACT) and has a special interest in all things artistic.

Lauren is an undergraduate university student studying a double degree: a Bachelor Arts and a Bachelor of International Relations at the Australian National University. She participated in the first iteration of this project, where she wrote and illustrated her own book Chain Links, a picture book on the social issues of bullying. Lauren holds a current Working with Vulnerable People Card card (ACT) and has special interests in creative writing and artistic endeavours.

Mark is currently studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education at the University of Canberra. He is a previous participant of a school-based version of this project - authoring Skeleton Boy - a picture book around the social issue of anorexia. Mark holds a current Working with Vulnerable People Card (ACT) and has a special interest in creative writing, illustrating, editing, and youth work.