Our Managing Director Mark Rubbo has been named the 2015 recipient of the Lloyd O’Neil Award for a person who has made a significant, dedicated contribution to the development and reputation of the Australian book industry. The award was announced at tonight’s Australian Book Industry Awards in Sydney.

Mark is a past president of the Australian Booksellers Association and was founding chair of the Melbourne Writers Festival. In 2006 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia. In 2009, he established the Readings Foundation, which assists Victorian organisations that support the development of literacy, community integration and the arts.

Lloyd O’Neil was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1991 in recognition of his distinguished service to the local publishing industry. The award that commemorates this exceptional figure recognises the long service of similarly outstanding individuals in the Australian book world.

Previous recipients of the Lloyd O’Neil Award include Robert Sessions head of publishing at Penguin (2013), Margaret Fulton (2011), Chairman of Allen and Unwin, Patrick Gallagher (2010) and David Malouf (2008). You can find out more information about the Australian Book Industry Awards here.