Anna Polson is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Picton Dawn Chorus, a group focused on protecting and restoring native birdlife in the Waitohi Picton area. With a real passion for conservation and bringing people together, Anna works hard to spread the word about how important it is to protect New Zealand's unique birds and their habitats.

In her role, Anna coordinates a range of community programs designed to teach locals, schools, and groups about how they can help protect native birds. Whether it's through workshops, events, tours or collaborative projects, she encourages people to get involved and take action to help tackle issues like habitat loss and predation.

Anna's focus is on encouraging the community to become involved in projects like planting native trees and controlling predators. She believes the best way to conserve New Zealand's birds is by working together as a community – for the benefit of future generations.

When she's not working on local projects, Anna loves tramping, sailing, checking traplines, reading, gardening, and getting involved in other environmental projects across the region.

Courtney Clark Michaels is a Marlborough based romance writer. Her passion for writing strong, independent heroines and sexy, smart men is equaled only by her passion for travel, online shopping, and patting other people’s dogs. With a degree in English and Criminology, Courtney writes contemporary romance from right here in Marlborough.

Emma Tucker is an associate at Gascoigne Wicks Law Firm. She is from Marlborough and descends from the iwi that have been here since the 13th century, as well as from colonial families that have been here since the late 19th century. She attended Te Aute College in the Hawke’s Bay before completing her law degree at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.  Emma also has an Honours Degree in Classical Studies. Emma lives in Blenheim with her husband and two children. When not in the office, Emma often volunteers with local community organisations. She has a passion for reading and is thrilled her children do too.

Jane Forrest Waghorn has been a session chair at the Marlborough Book Festival since its inception in 2014.

Jane is a Pākehā of Scottish and Irish descent. Like many settler descendants featured in Richard Shaw’s Unsettled, she has been reflecting on her connection to this whenua and has been reading widely on the subject. Jane is also in her second year of studying te reo Māori at Te Ataarangi classes in Blenheim.

Jane and her winemaker husband Simon co-own Astrolabe Wines with two of their three daughters, Libby and Arabella. Jane served as General Manager of the business until passing the role to Libby in 2020.

Over the course of a diverse career, Jane has worked as a children’s librarian, taught sex education to teenagers, antenatal education to expectant parents, and literacy to primary school students.

Astrolabe’s new urban winery and cellar door, Small Town Winery, located in central Blenheim, was developed in collaboration with Rangitāne Investments, Apollo Projects, and Astrolabe Wines. In May 2025, the project was awarded Silver in the Tourism and Leisure category at the Commercial Property Awards. The festival is especially grateful to host a Saturday night author panel in this stunning venue.

Over the years, Jane has interviewed many of Aotearoa’s leading authors, including a particularly memorable 2024 panel with Ockham winner Emily Perkins and the legendary Sue McCauley.

Liz Ward is the manager of Heritage Marlborough, the Marlborough District Council’s heritage unit. Liz has a PhD in New Zealand Political History and has a varied background, including teaching New Zealand history at University level. She loves to talk all things history, and to encourage New Zealanders to grapple with what Te Tiriti/The Treaty of Waitangi means for us as a country.

Dr Peter Meihana is of Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa ki Te Ra Tō and Ngāi Tahu descent. He is the author of Privilege in Perpetuity, Exploding a Pākehā Myth. The book is based on Peter’s doctoral thesis, which examined the notion of Māori ‘privilege’ and its role in the colonisation of New Zealand. He has published articles and chapters on this topic and the histories and traditions of Te Tauihu o Te Waka-a-Māui. Peter is a senior lecturer in Māori History at Massey University and lives in Blenheim.

Rae Heta (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Te Kohera) has a background in education and is on the board of Maata Waka. Rae has been a session chair at the festival and a long term supporter alongside Whaia Margy Crosby of the festival’s kaupapa helping the committee extend warm manaakitanga to guest authors. This year, Rae is living in Tamaki Makaurau studying for a Diploma in oral Māori fluency - Rumaki Reo Programme, a one-year total immersion course at Te Wānanga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa.  She will return to Waiharakeke to interview Stacy Gregg at the festival.

Tania Miller is Collections Librarian at Marlborough District Libraries. After a summer working at her Aunt's bookshop at 16, then studying English at University, Tania's love for books and reading knows no bounds. She will steer any conversation around to books and what her friends are (or should) be reading. A self-confessed library-evangelist, she believes that children' should be issued with two things at birth - a birth certificate and a library card. Tania believes that books change lives and open worlds, and it is her dream to get to interview some of her favourite writers at the Marlborough Book Festival. "I have been interviewing authors as part of the MBF for three years now and I think every time - what a privilege it is to get to talk to these intelligent and creative individuals - I don't think I'll ever get over the fan-girl nervousness tho, I am forever in awe of what these people do".

Tessa Nicholson has been a session chair at the Marlborough Book Festival since 2014, our very first year. Tessa is a journalist and has worked in radio, daily news and magazines. She is a former editor of Wine Press and New Zealand Wine Growers magazine. Tessa is also the author of Jane Hunter Growing a Legacy (2010) and 50 years, 50 stories: Marlborough the region that turned the wine world upside down (2021). There’s no way to overstate Tessa’s love of reading books, at times she reads a book a day, but she also finds time for her other passions: horses and following rugby. Tessa and her husband Ross have four adult sons and live in Marlborough with their Samoyed dogs.