MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SIMON & SCHUSTER AU

Jane Curry is the Managing Director of Simon & Schuster Australia and New Zealand, and a highly respected figure in Australian publishing. With executive leadership roles at Ventura Press, Quarto ANZ, Macmillan and Weldon Publishing, she brings decades of experience championing authors and understanding what makes writing impactful, influential and lasting. A board member of the Australian Copyright Agency and the Brisbane Writers Festival, and co-host of The Publisher and The Writer podcast, Jane is deeply connected to the literary community. Her combination of commercial acumen, editorial instinct, and genuine commitment to authors makes her a brilliant judge for The Hope Prize.

FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

Julia Gillard served served as the 27th Prime Minister of Australia; the first and only woman to have held the office. She is a global leader in education, gender equity, and public policy. She is the author of three books, including Women and Leadership, co-authored with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Not Now, Not Ever, reflecting on her iconic misogyny speech. She currently chairs the Wellcome Trust and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, and serves as Patron of CAMFED, championing girls’ education across Africa. A lifelong advocate for bold ideas and social justice, she brings intellectual rigour, a global perspective, and a deep love of literature to the judging panel.

CHAIRMAN OF READINGS BOOKS

Mark Rubbo is one of Australia’s most respected literary figures and the Chairman of Readings Books; Australia’s largest independent book chain. A founding chair of the Melbourne Writers Festival, Mark has spent over five decades nurturing literary culture. In 2006, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community through the promotion of Australian literature. From his early days running a record and bookshop on Lygon Street to receiving the Lloyd O’Neil Award for distinguished service to the book industry, Mark has remained a tireless advocate for books, ideas, and most importantly, writers. He brings unmatched industry knowledge and an incredible understanding of literature to our judging panel.

BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Elif is a beloved literary doyenne having published 21 books which have been translated into 58 languages. Her novel, The Island of Missing Trees was a finalist for the Costa Award, British Book Awards, Women’s Prize for Fiction and was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick. And 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

She holds a PhD in political science, and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She is also a Fellow and President of the Royal Society of Literature and has been chosen among BBC’s 100 most inspiring and influential women.