Nicola Santilli is a non-binary freelance book editor living on Dharug Country (Western Sydney). They have over 15 years’ experience editing books for Australian children and young adults, most recently as a Senior Editor at Allen & Unwin.

Nicola has highly developed skills in structural editing, copyediting, proofreading and art directing all kinds of children’s books from junior fiction, middle grade and young adult fiction to graphic novels, illustrated fiction and picture books. They have worked with many award-winning and bestselling children’s authors and illustrators, and are proud to help emerging and established creators make beautiful, fun and inclusive children’s books. Nicola is particularly interested in stories that reflect the diversity of the world we live in, so all young readers can see themselves reflected on the page.

Nicola is an Associate Member of the Institute of Professional Editors, an Australian Publishers Association (APA) Industry Partner and a member of the APA Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. They have attended the APA Residential Editorial Program (2022) and Graphic Novel Editing Intensive (2026), and served on the #LoveOzYA Committee (2017–2018).

In 2025, Nicola established The Steph Bowe Prize for Young Writers in memory of their friend, beloved YA author Steph Bowe. The Prize is designed to encourage and support unpublished Australian YA writers aged 18–25.