15/08/2025

Meet Penny Evershed, Head of Supply Chain at Simon & Schuster, who is a recipient of the George Robertson Award in 2025 for her unwavering dedication and contribution to the industry.

How and when did you enter the book industry?

I began my career in the book industry in 1992 as secretary to the State Manager of Angus & Robertson Bookworld. Our office was tucked behind the A&R Imperial Arcade flagship store on Pitt Street Mall, placing me at the heart of busiest bookshop in Sydney amongst books and booklovers. I was an avid reader, so it felt like a perfect fit — and I often found myself helping out on the shop floor, soaking up every part of the retail experience.

As my role evolved, I began working closely with publishers to coordinate in-store book signings, which regularly drew crowds of up to 300 people for authors such as Robert Ludlum, Wilbur Smith, and Tony Curtis. These connections led to an opportunity in 1995 to join Transworld Publishers as Product Manager, overseeing their internationally distributed product.

From there, the rest is history.

What has kept you in publishing over the years?

Books and people and simply, because I love my job. I get to work with the greatest product in the world — books — which brings joy to people of all ages and it’s always changing. For 15 years, I had the joy of working with children's books, and it was fun every single day. Helping bring stories to life and contributing to literacy and education gave me a purpose and pride and I felt like I was really making a difference to people's lives.

'A lightbulb moment came when I coordinated an event at a festival. It was not a difficult or challenging task, it wasn't noticed beyond the small event itself but when I received a photograph of an auditorium of children holding up a book that I had organised for them, grinning and cheering, it epitomised why I loved my job.'

What have been some of your career highlights?

'I feel incredibly lucky to have built a career that’s taken me through so many corners of publishing.'

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work on some truly iconic brands — from Star Wars and Little Golden Books to Enid Blyton and I've been part of launching the careers of amazing authors like Nicholas Sparks, Diana Gabaldon, and Lee Child.

One of the moments I’m most proud of was helping to launch Jessica Townsend’s debut novel Nevermoor. It hit the Top 10 on release, won four ABIA Awards, and sold over 100,000 copies in just the first three months. Seeing that kind of response to a children’s book was incredible.

It was also a real privilege to work alongside Dr Anita Heiss and Tiwi Islander students to publish Nginingawila Ngirramini for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. That book was the first in the ILF program to be sold widely in bookstores and distributed to schools across Australia. It was rewarding knowing it reached so many communities and gave voice to local stories.

Sometimes it’s the little things that turn into something big. I still remember spotting Who Moved My Cheese? buried in the order-to-order backlist and thinking it had potential. We launched it to the trade — and it ended up staying on the Non-Fiction bestseller list for five years.

'That’s what I love about this industry: it’s creative, dynamic, and when you trust your instincts, you get to see real results.'

Another moment that stands out was when Peter Usborne asked me to grow the Usborne Children’s business in Australia. I coordinated bespoke spinner displays for stores nationwide — and within a year, sales had grown by 47%. It was one of those practical, on-the-ground initiatives that made a huge difference.

Of course, not everything always goes to plan. During COVID, when supply chains were in chaos, I had to draw on every bit of my experience to keep things moving. It was one of the most challenging times of my career, so being awarded the Simon & Schuster International CEO Award in 2021 for managing the global supply chain crisis meant a great deal. That moment felt like everything I’d learned over the years had come together.

What’s next for your career? Is there a particular project or challenge you'd like to tackle next?

My career has changed so much since I first started out as a secretary, but one thing has remained constant: I’m good at making things happen.

'In my current role, I’m challenged every day with new and exciting projects and I’m still learning, I hope that never changes.'

Looking ahead, the focus is on embracing change, managing growth, and working closely with industry partners to keep improving in everything we do. That sense of forward momentum is what keeps me motivated and inspired.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given in the industry? How have you applied it?

Very early in my career, my Managing Director said something to me that has always stayed with me: "We are publishers, but we are also a business." That simple line shaped the way I’ve approached my work ever since. I’ve always tried to strike a balance between passion and practicality, staying true to what I love about books and storytelling, while never losing sight of the commercial side of what we do.