Our Judges
We are honoured to welcome all judges to our panel and excited for the insight and inspiration they will bring to our young creators.
Zeno Sworder is an award-winning writer, artist, and picture book creator whose work explores themes of family, belonging, and identity through powerful storytelling and evocative illustrations. Passionate about literacy, creativity, and cultural diversity, Zeno brings a unique voice to children’s literature—one that speaks to both the challenges and hopes of young people today.
He is best known for My Strange Shrinking Parents, which was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year 2023, and took home both Best Designed Children’s Picture Book and Cover of the Year at the Australian Book Designers Awards 2023. His debut work, This Small Blue Dot, earned international acclaim with a place on the IBBY Honour List 2024 and was recognised with the CBCA Award for Best New Illustrator and a Notable Book listing in 2021.
Shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2023, Zeno continues to be one of Australia’s most compelling creative voices, inspiring young readers and emerging artists with his thoughtful, visually rich stories.
As our Judge of the Year for IAEA 2025 arts competition, which is part of the International Youth Arts Fun Festival, Zeno brings his deep understanding of storytelling, design, and imagination to support the next generation of artists. His presence is especially meaningful in the context of this year’s theme—“Future Home”—as his work invites us to reflect on family, cultural roots, and the evolving concept of home in an ever-changing world.
Alfred Cheng is a groundbreaking thread artist known for his unique technique of weaving a single black thread across a canvas, connecting points along its edges. His minimalist yet powerful style creates a striking visual experience that challenges how we see materials and meaning in art.
More than just a line, the black thread becomes a symbol—linking elements, creating harmony, and revealing hidden tension. In Alfred’s hands, thread transforms into a tool for exploring identity, power, and the invisible structures that shape our world.
His art invites viewers to reflect on boundaries, connections, and their place within society. By embracing the diversity and complexity of postmodern life, Alfred Cheng’s work encourages us to see the world—and ourselves—through a new lens.
As the Judge of the Year for the IAEA 2025 Arts Competition at the International Youth Arts Fun Festival, Alfred will share his insight into this year’s theme, “Future Home.” Through a live demonstration, he hopes to inspire young artists to reconnect with the purity of the world and reimagine their role within it.
Dr. Ming Wu is a multidisciplinary designer, educator, and researcher whose work bridges architectural design and urban sociology. As Co-Founder and Design Director of Studio W Architects, he leads projects that explore how the built environment shapes—and is shaped by—human experience.
Ming holds a PhD in Architecture and Urban Sociology. At the University of Melbourne, he has served as a researcher, teaching fellow, and studio leader in the Master of Architecture program, with a focus on identity, spatial practice, and social transformation. His professional experience spans both local Melbourne and International design contexts, contributing to a diverse range of projects and collaborations.
With a socially engaged and research-informed design sensibility, Dr. Wu brings a distinctive perspective to the IAEA 2025 Arts Competition. As a judge, he looks forward to encouraging and inspiring young artists as they respond to this year’s theme, “Future Home.”
Yin Lu (b.1997) is a Chinese-Australian visual artist, fine artist, designer, and muralist whose practice bridges tradition and contemporary expression. Best known for her acclaimed poker card series, Yin’s work draws deeply from her Chinese heritage, weaving together Eastern aesthetics with modern influences to create bold, narrative-driven pieces that explore identity and cultural connection. In recognition of her distinctive voice, she was named one of the 50 Women Artists to Watch in 2025 by Arts to Hearts Project and Florence Contemporary Gallery.
Based in Brisbane, Yin is also the founder of T.W.Y., a Gold Ambassador of Luk Fook Jewellery Brisbane, and a dedicated BCLS art & craft teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) from Queensland University of Technology in 2018 and completed her Master of Primary Teaching at the University of Queensland in 2020.
Yin’s work has been exhibited internationally across China, Australia, Japan, the U.S., Germany, France, and Italy. Her practice has also been widely published in respected platforms and magazines, including People’s Daily (Overseas Edition), Friend of the Artist, Create! Magazine, The International Art Market Magazine, Modern Renaissance Magazine, and Art and Type Magazine, among others.
Plastic Thing: Hong Kong’s ‘Plastic’ Culture Art
Yan Ip, a renowned illustrator from Hong Kong, made a bold decision after graduation to become a full-time illustrator, focusing on Hong Kong’s “plastic” culture. This thematic choice quickly garnered her a substantial following among young enthusiasts. Since launching her page in 2013, Plastic Thing has attracted over 400,000 fans, underscoring the broad appeal of her artworks. She dedicates up to 10 hours daily to her craft, drawing inspiration from daily observations—ranging from quirky dating stories to the frustrations of dieting and the everyday life of Hong Kong residents. Her artworks, characterised by crisp lines and vibrant colors, transform these everyday scenes into dynamic illustrations.
Besides painting, Plastic Thing actively shares her illustrations and animated shorts on social media platforms, where they often receive enthusiastic responses from netizens. Her portfolio includes the “Plastic Thing” series, which captures various life scenes, and the “Plastic Think” project, which delves into social issues, showcasing her artistic expression of global concerns.
Plastic Thing’s accomplishments extend beyond the digital realm; she has held several successful exhibitions and published books such as “Plastic Thing: Much Ado About Plastic,” “Goddess Training Manual,” and “Everyday Plastic.” Her collaborative project with Garfield enriched her artistic career and solidified her creative prowess and essential status in art.
Plastic Thing’s story and her artworks provide visual enjoyment and inspire many young artists to chase their dreams. Her continuous creative output reminds us that even the seemingly trivial details of daily life can be transformed into meaningful and vibrant art.
More about Plastic Thing:
Website: https://plastic-thing.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yanip1012
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plasticthing
Teresa Chung
Teresa Chung is an accomplished watercolour artist and community leader whose life journey spans media, public service, and the arts.
In 1969, she was recruited from Hong Kong by the Australian Broadcasting Commission to join Radio Australia, where she worked as a broadcaster. Since then, Teresa has proudly called Australia home for 56 years, raising three children while actively contributing to the Chinese community and charitable causes.
Her distinguished service has been widely recognised. In 2001, Teresa received the International Year of Volunteers Award from the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Steve Bracks MP, for her outstanding voluntary service. In 2006, she was appointed a Justice of the Peace in Victoria by the Governor in Council. In 2018, she was elected as a Signatory Member of the Victorian Artists’ Society in recognition of her contribution to the arts, and from 2018 to 2022, she served as President of the Melbourne Masonic Society.
Fifteen years ago, Teresa joined the Victorian Artists’ Society, where she studied watercolour painting under the guidance of Julian Bruere and other esteemed masters. Deeply inspired by the medium’s beauty, she has since dedicated herself to continuous learning and exhibition practice. Her works have earned Highly Commended Awards on three occasions.
Teresa aspires to further develop her unique artistic style, blending the elegance of Chinese ink painting with the expressive qualities of Western watercolour.
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Evelyn Seebacher
Judge of IAEA 2024
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Jane Long
Judege of IAEA 2024
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Jye Marshall
Judge of IAEA 2024
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Arabella Wang
Judge of IAEA 2024
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Hankel Bux
Judge of IAEA 2024
