Waverley Council in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs is seeking two new award judges for the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. Suitible candidates from across the country are encouraged to apply. Judging takes place from mid-April until October annually and can be undertaken remotely.
Award judges determine which of the year’s nominations best fulfill the Nib Award’s specific criteria of excellence in research, high level of literary merit, readability and value to the community. The three-member judging panel operates on staggered three-year terms, with a new judge appointed each year to replace the outgoing member. This year, two positions are offered, a one-year maternity leave position (2026 only) and a three-year position for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 awards.
Waverley Council’s $40,000 Nib Literary Award is an annual celebration of the best in Australian research-based literature. The award is made possible through the generous support of Principal Sponsors Mark & Evette Moran and community partner Gertrude and Alice Bookstore Café.
An honorarium of $3,000 (+GST if applicable)/year is offered for this role. Paid annually.
Further information and submission portal can be found here.
Expressions of interest close on Friday, 10 April 2026 (11:59pm, AEDT).
Submissions
Interested candidates are asked to provide:
(Responses to each question are limited to 350 words).
1. An indication of preferred judging term:
* One-year maternity leave position (2026)
* Three-year judging panel position (2026, 2027, 2028)
* No preference (select this option to be considered for both)
2. A short biography detailing background and experience as an author, academic, literary critic, or book industry professional.
3. A brief CV.
4. A description of advocacy, or willingness to become an advocate, for research, literature, and Australian publishing.
5. A statement outlining interest in joining the judging panel.
6. Judging criteria for the Nib Award includes high literary merit, quality of research, readability and value to the community. Please supply the title of a recent (last 5 years) literary work, which you feel best fulfils this criterion. You may wish to add brief comments.
7. A statement outlining your commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion.
Application process
Submit your expression of interest via this online form.
Submissions close 10 April 2026.
The successful applicant will be contacted no later than 30 April 2026.
Award background
Established in 2002 as The Waverley Library Award for Literature, the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award remains the only award of its kind presented by a local government authority. Award nominations are open to all Australian writers regardless of their experience, chosen subject matter or genre. In 2026, the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award offers a total $53,000 prize money, including a $40,000 major prize.
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