At the end of 2013, the Australian Publishers Association (APA) announced it would no longer host the annual Book Design Awards after doing so for 61 consecutive years. The annual awards have long been the singular gathering for designers and our associates – publishers, editors, typesetters, printers and other collaborators – to discuss, critique and revel in exceptional book design. At a time when much of our collaboration happens via email, coming together in person is an important part of maintaining this productive and collegial community. For the longest running design award in Australia to end so unceremoniously would have been a profound loss for the publishing community.

So it was that eight designers and a business person formed a committee on a volunteer basis to build a new non-profit host organisation. On 21 March 2014 the group was officially incorporated as Australian Book Designers Association Inc.

With generous support from our founding sponsors, the inaugural ABDA-run awards were held on 22 August 2014 alongside the Melbourne Writers Festival, followed by 2015 awards in May alongside the Sydney Writers’ Festival.

The egg of the awards soon became the chicken of the Association. A design-led association taking over the awards provided an opportunity to reimagine how the awards were structured and run, but also what else the design community might need. Discussions around ABDA’s purpose led to ambitious ideas about involving the publishing design community. The resulting mission statement extends beyond a once-a-year award hosting role.

The Founding Committee – 2014/15

Alex Ross (President)
Zoë Sadokierski (Vice President)
W.H. Chong (Secretary)
Andrew Egan (Treasurer)
Sandy Cull
Jenny Grigg
Evi Oetomo
Daniel New
Miriam Rosenbloom

The Second Committee – 2015/16

Zoë Sadokierski (President)
Miriam Rosenbloom (Vice President)
W.H. Chong (Secretary)
Andrew Egan (Treasurer)
Mark Campbell
Adam Laszczuk
Daniel New
Matt Stanton
Lisa White

The Third Committee – 2016/17

Zoë Sadokierski (President)
Matt Stanton (Vice President)
Adam Laszczuk (Secretary)
Mark Campbell (Treasurer)
Alissa Dinallo
Peter Long
Imogen Stubbs
Laura Thomas
Lisa White

The Fourth Committee – 2017/18

Mark Campbell (President)
Alissa Dinallo (Vice President)
Adam Laszczuk (Secretary)
Imogen Stubbs (Treasurer)
Regine Abos
Amy Daoud
Hazel Lam
Peter Long
Laura Thomas

The Fifth Committee – 2018/19

Mark Campbell (President)
Alissa Dinallo (Vice President)
Regine Abos (Secretary)
Hazel Lam (Treasurer)
Amy Daoud
Hannah Janzen
Peter Long
Jessica Lowe
Andy Warren

The Sixth Committee – 2019/20

Hannah Janzen (President)
Astred Hicks (Vice President)
Pooja Desai (Secretary)
Andy Warren (Treasurer)
Philip Campbell
Jessica Horrocks
Michelle Mackintosh
Emily O’Neill
Ngaio Parr

The Seventh Committee – 2020/21

Hannah Janzen (President)
Nina Heryanto (Vice President)
Pooja Desai (Secretary)
Philip Campbell (Treasurer)
Nada Backovic
Akiko Chan
Trisha Garner
Sarah Mitchell
Claire Orrell

The Eighth Committee – 2021/22

Mary Callahan (President)
Mietta Yans (Vice President)
Trisha Garner (Secretary)
Nada Backovic (Treasurer)
Megan Ellis
Jenny Grigg
Danielle Maccarone
Klarissa Pfisterer
Mika Tabata

The Ninth Committee – 2022/23

Mary Callahan (President)
Mietta Yans (Vice President)
Megan Ellis (Secretary)
Liz Seymour (Treasurer)
Josh Durham
Susan Le
Klarissa Pfisterer
George Saad
Ashley Tardy
Sophia Matelli (Student Intern)

The Tenth Committee – 2023/24

Mary Callahan (President)
George Saad (Vice President)
Susan Le (Secretary)
Liz Seymour (Treasurer)
Maya Abraham
Emi Chiba
Elysia Clapin
Josh Durham
Jenna Lee
Lucia Fox-McPhee (Student Intern)