Our friend and wonderful CEO, Anna Moulton will leave Magabala Books in September 2023.

Anna has provided exceptional leadership of our organisation for almost 10 years, through a period of intense growth and transformation.

Throughout her time as CEO Anna maintained her deep commitment to the cultural foundations and purpose of the organisation and worked closely with the Board to ensure Magabala’s unique social, cultural and commercial objectives were balanced.

Leading with care and heart, Anna expanded our passionate and hardworking team to 16 staff and saw Magabala sales quadruple since 2015, leaving the organisation in its strongest position yet.

Working closely alongside Publisher Rachel Bin Salleh, Anna led Magabala Books to a point of national and international recognition – winning the ABIA Small Publisher of the Year in 2020 (shortlisted 2019, 2021, 2023) and the 2023 Bologna Prize for Children’s Publisher of the Year, Oceania.

‘Anna will be deeply missed by us all at Magabala. Her steady hand, deep insight, commitment, fairness, integrity and self-effacing humour have contributed to the success of this little Blak bush banana. Her legacy is far-reaching’, said Rachel Bin Salleh.

Chairperson Tony Lee said:

‘Anna’s leadership over the past decade has made a significant contribution - not only to Magabala Books but to First Nations literature and publishing more broadly.’

‘Anna successfully navigated and supported the Magabala team through an incredibly difficult and uncertain time, dealing with a pandemic, our recent flood and the ongoing challenges and politics of publishing as the incredibly strong ally and professional we know her to be,’ he said. ‘While she will be greatly missed, she leaves us in a position of strength and much opportunity.’

Anna Moulton said

‘Working for Magabala has been the greatest privilege and joy. I will miss the incredible team who make Magabala the success that it is – each and every staff member, the dedicated Board and all the creators with whom I’ve worked. In particular, I will miss the partnership with Rachel Bin Salleh who has been a constant source of guidance, inspiration and groundedness. And the books! It’s hard to tear myself away from the excitement of the forward list. However, it is a great time to be leaving the organisation, which is in such a strong position and with so much potential ahead.’

Anna with Magabala Director Edie Wright at the CBCA Conference.