Rachel Bin Salleh OAM, Publisher at Magabala Books has been awarded the 2025 Pixie O’Harris Award by the Australian Publishers Association (APA) as part of the 2025 Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA).

Rachel is descended from the Nimunburr and Yawuru peoples of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Starting her career in publishing at Magabala Books in the 1990s, Rachel became publisher in 2014. In 2025 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for outstanding contributions to First Nations literature.

In its announcement, the APA said: "Rachel has quietly changed the Australian publishing landscape. From Broome in WA, she has encouraged the Australian publishing industry to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, while also being incredibly generous in sharing her knowledge of publishing First Nations stories."

On receiving the award, Bin Salleh said: "I am honoured and deeply humbled to receive such an accolade from the judges and my peers in the industry. Thank you for your belief and support in this space, not only for me but also for Magabala Books and all those I work with. Publishing stories, experiences and ways of being for First Nations children (and all our children) is one of the most important jobs we have. To create safe spaces, develop imaginations, challenge the status quo, and to let children laugh like no one is listening, sustains my journey on this planet. It has been a joy and a privilege to serve my community."

The award is named in honour of children’s book author and illustrator, Pixie O’Harris (1903 – 1991), who had a longstanding career in publishing and painted many murals in hospital wards, health centres and schools.

This award will be presented at the ABIA ceremony at Zinc Fed Square in Naarm/Melbourne on Wednesday, 7 May 2025.