HELEN BAIN - Founder and Director

The new Queensland / Northern NSW agency SPEAKERS INK is up and running with overwhelming support and encouragement from speakers and clients.

Many key Queensland speakers have thrown their total commitment behind Speakers Ink and the unique opportunity to see a fully independent Queensland agency develop and flourish.

SPEAKERS INK will strive to be a literary speakers agency of excellence, committed to providing a quality service with professional guidance, support and management for all speaking engagements.  This new Queensland agency will focus on improving all aspects of literacy and in providing opportunities, inspiration, motivation and practical help.

On every occasion we work closely with each booking to ensure the best possible outcome from every visit organized through Speakers Ink. Our aim and motivation is to promote oral communication, literacy and confidence and to inspire students in creative endeavours by connecting them with literary speakers of excellence.

…A little about me:

• a former librarian with over 20 years experience

• more than 6 years experience in Queensland working directly with schools, local writers and illustrators providing professional events

• recognised and trusted by over 100 speakers to handle their engagements in schools, at festivals, libraries, councils and events since 2002

• I have directly dealt with over a thousand schools, arranging bookings and events

• and am firmly committed to improving literacy through membership of:

- The School Library Association of Queensland

- The Children’s Book Council of Australia (committee member)

- The English Teachers Association of Queensland

- The Queensland Writer’s Centre 

- The Brisbane Writers Festival

I have developed strong partnerships with UQ Cyberschool, the State Library the Brisbane City Council, the Gold Coast City Council and many Brisbane-based bookshops.

I can also provide opportunities with a wide variety of interstate authors who continue to seek opportunities to visit Queensland / northern NSW schools and libraries.

"Thank you for your valuable assistance with Gold Coast City Council’s 2009 Library & Information Week program, Literati. We wish to express our sincere thanks to Speakers Ink for the professional manner in which the bookings were co-ordinated. We look forward to continuing to work with Speakers Ink to increase awareness of the library service through providing leading edge programs and events."

(Library Services, Gold Coast City Council, May 2009)

“It's been my privilege to know Helen Bain for many years and I'm thrilled that she's established Speakers Ink, a Queensland-owned and based agency genuinely committed to schools and writers alike. Helen has my absolute confidence and support.”  (Simon Higgins, author, Winner of the 2007 Fellowship of Australian Writers Literary Award, published in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, the USA and Japan.)

“Helen Bain has represented me and numerous other speakers for many years and has always been incredibly professional and looked after all of us extremely well. So it's without hesitation that I am following her to her new agency and giving her my 100% support!” (Rebecca Sparrow, author & columnist.)

“As a Queensland-based speaker, I think  the establishment of "Speakers Ink" is a an exciting and positive initiative for all involved  - speakers and Queensland-based clients.   Helen Bain has already established herself as an agent with a well-respected reputation of  commitment, experience, knowledge and efficiency.  The launching of her  wholly Queensland owned and operated speakers agency - Speakers Ink -  builds on this reputation, and can only result in very good outcomes for speakers and clients.”  (Narelle Oliver, Qld author and illustrator.

As well as a variety of speaking requests, SPEAKERS INK represents many wonderful authors and illustrators suitable for the 2010 Book Week theme - Across the Story Bridge. August 20 to 27. 

Please feel free to contact SPEAKERS INK with any enquiries or booking requirements throughout the year.

View and print our up to date speakers flyer HERE