The Rising Star award recognises emerging talent in the Australian publishing industry – trade, educational or scholarly – who demonstrate ongoing excellence and growth in their role and contribution to their profession.
Rising Stars must have been part of the industry for no more than 10 years, and are considered for their:
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enthusiasm, reliability and integrity
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ability to take initiative, solve problems and provide solutions
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ability to work effectively as part of a team, and to provide team leadership
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key contributions made in their role and/or in the wider industry
Past shortlistees have come from a variety of roles and backgrounds across the industry. From editorial, publishing and production, to sales, marketing and publicity, right through digital, data, design, and distribution.
The Rising Star award represents a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible early-career staff who are making a significant impact in your organisation, and publishing more broadly.
Rising Star award 2026
Stay tuned for updates on the Rising Star award nominations in 2026.
Rising Star award 2025
The winner of the 2025 Rising Star award is Arlie Alizzi of Magabala Books, announced at the BookUp conference in Sydney on 7 August from a shortlist of six industry professionals.
Past Rising Star award winners
Previous Rising Star winners include editors, book designers and marketing professionals – learn more about them below.