NBRF Team
The Northern Beaches Readers Festival Inc is a not-for-profit organisation, run by a voluntary committee, consisting of extremely passionate members of the Australian writing and reading community.
Sandie Docker – NBRF President
NBRF founder, Sandie, is an internationally published Northern Beaches-based author of six dual-timeline women’s fiction novels - including The Wattle Island Book Club, The Redgum River Retreat and The Lyrebird Lake Ladies Choir. After identifying a need to promote and showcase the amazing work being produced by Australian commercial fiction writers and the desire for readers of such work to connect with writers, Sandie and the foundation committee delivered the first, highly successful, festival in 2022. The 2024 festival grew in size and reputation, and Sandie is looking forward to working with the team to bring the third Northern Beaches Readers Festival to life in 2026.
Kate Horan – NBRF Vice-President
A Northern Beaches local for over twenty years, Kate Horan is the best-selling author of two novels. Her debut, The Inheritance, was selected as QBD’s Book of the Month for January 2025. Her second novel, On the Edge, will be out with HQ HarperCollins in January 2026. Over the six years since Kate began writing her first manuscript, she has developed a wide network of writing colleagues and relishes opportunities to connect with readers and fellow writers. With eighteen years’ experience in corporate communications, presentation coaching and facilitation, Kate brings a unique skill set to the NBRF committee and looks forward to using these skills to contribute to the festival’s ongoing success.
Helen Signy – NBRF Committee Member
Helen is an Australian/English author whose first novel, Maya’s Dance, was published in 2024. She’s seen what a tough gig publishing can be, especially for emerging writers, and understands the importance of connecting authors with their audiences. She’s also incredibly grateful to the writing community of the Northern Beaches, who welcome newbies with open arms and whose work deserves to be showcased. In her day job, Helen is a journalist and science writer with expertise in strategic communications and grant writing for academics, governments and not-for-profits – skills she will use to attract attention to this brilliant festival.
Richard Proctor - NBRF Treasurer.
Richard has lived on the northern beaches for 20 years. A retired chartered accountant, he has held Finance Director and Company Secretary roles for 30 years and is excited to bring a wealth of financial knowledge to the NBRF committee. Also a keen reader, Richard has established a local gentleman’s book club on the Northern Beaches, and is involved with community progressive groups. Richard's strong sense of community and love of reading is a great fit for the NBRF and its reputation for being a warm and friendly community of readers and writers.
Dr Graeme Woodrow – NBRF Secretary
Graeme has had a lifelong love affair with science, holding senior research and leadership roles in Australia and abroad, including the UK, Switzerland, Canada, Germany and Belgium. His international career brought him close to some of the great names in science, inspiring his passion for storytelling as a means of bringing science to life. A former CSIRO divisional Chief, CEO and company director, he believes narrative is key to communicating in today’s anti-scientific age and is pleased to support our wonderful literary community through the NBRF. He has just completed his first historical novel and teaches beginning writers at the Writers’ Studio. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a former Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
