Authors

Clarke Gayford knew he wanted to be a fisherman before he was 10 years old and had memorized all the Latin, Maori and English names of the fish of the Gisborne, New Zealand coastline he called his backyard. In a 15-year career as a successful television and radio host, Clarke created the cult-status Otago University student television chronicle Cow TV and fronted a variety of high-profile travel, entertainment and music shows before responding to the call of the sea and quite literally diving back into it in his mid-30s to front Fish Of The Day. An active advocate of 'spare fishing' over 'spear fishing', Clarke is passionate about connecting people to the ocean. Clarke is the partner of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and father to daughter Neve, and lives in Auckland. Mike Bhana is a celebrated documentary director, cameraman and writer dedicated to the ocean and ocean conservation. During his 23 years in the television industry, he has produced, directed and shot over 60 hours of natural history documentaries and prime-time material for channels like Discovery, Animal Planet and National Geographic, including 28 films specifically about sharks. His documentary work has resulted in more than a dozen international awards for excellence. While he has a special love of the ocean, Mike has also travelled the world with the Red Cross, documenting the work of its teams in some of the most dangerous and stricken areas of the planet and more recently co-founded Sea Aid, a not-for-profit organisation aimed at supporting the Pacific Islands achieve better health outcomes. Mike lives on the Coromandel Peninsula with his family where he has been known to effortlessly whip out a kingie and a couple of crayfish before breakfast (sustainably of course). That's if the surf isn't calling.

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Carlos Biggemann was born in Bolivia and has lived in the coastal city of Dunedin, New Zealand since 2006. His passion for photography began as he experimented with light and movement while still at high school. Following his passion, he obtained a Certificate in Digital Photography at Aoraki Polytechnic in 2012. Carlos’ photographic career includes acting as Special Olympics official photographer at regional and international Special Olympics competitions. Carlos was also an official photographer at the National Down Syndrome Achievement Award ceremony held in Wellington at the Parliament House. He was an accredited photographer at the Carnaval de Oruro in Bolivia, and a photographer for noted New Zealand milliner Lindsay Kenneth for his hat fashion show, and appointed photographer for the book A Passion for Fashion, a biography of Lindsay Kenneth by Hilary Hunt. Carlos presented five exhibitions, three in Bolivia and two in New Zealand. Carlos’s work was recognised internationally in the My Perspective Contest in London. In 2014 his photograph “Spread Your Wings Little One” was a nominated finalist among close to 300 images submitted. In 2015 his photograph “A Journey Never Ends” was one of 25 shortlisted images out of more than 250 submissions. In 2016 his photograph “Colours of Fire” was awarded second place, and with the same image Carlos was the first recipient of the Stephen Thomas award — the prize was delivered in London by Dame Judi Dench. In 2018 his photograph “Autumn Trees” won the People’s Choice award, and in 2020 his photograph “Snowy Morning” was Finalist. At the World Down Syndrome Congress in July 2018 in Glasgow, UK, Carlos delivered a presentation entitled “Down Syndrome is not a disability, disability is not to try.” In 2021 Attitude Pictures made a documentary about Carlos, his life and photography, and the development of the book CUMULUS: an anthology of skies. Carlos lives with his whole heart.

Miro Bilbrough is a writer and filmmaker who grew up in New Zealand and lives in Australia. Her poetry chapbook Small-time spectre was published by Kilmog in 2010, and she has a Creative Doctorate of Arts in screenwriting and screen studies from the Writing and Research Centre, Western Sydney University. Her critically acclaimed feature films are Being Venice (2012), which premiered at Sydney Film Festival, and Floodhouse (2004). Excerpts and trailers, as well as her six-minute ciné-poem Urn (1995), can be viewed at www.mirobilbrough.com

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Alesha Bilbrough-Collins (The Lion) is a chef who has worked across the hospitality industry, including stints for Ottolenghi and Ramsay Holdings in London. Returning to New Zealand, Alesha and husband John (The Bear) opened BearLion Foods, which has had various incarnations, and these days operates as a sustainable and organic food, catering and private chef business based in Upper Moutere, Tasman.

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A Duffy Books in Homes role model since 2014, author Judi Billcliff spends a lot of time visiting schools throughout New Zealand delighting students (and teachers) with her poetry performances. Judi is the author of the popular 'Granny' series of poetry books and has written numerous poetry and drama sources for teachers. Judi lives and works from her home in Hamilton. Deborah Hinde has brought many picture book manuscripts to life with her gorgeous illustrations. Titles she's illustrated include the best seller Moo and Moo and the little Calf too (Allen&Unwin, 2016) and The Spaghetti Giraffe (Flat Bed Press, 2017) a Storylines Notable Book 2018, along with her own independently published titles Hare and Hollybee Hope wants a Prickly Coat. Deborah lives and works from her home-based studio in rural Waikato.

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