In 2025, SYP UK is running the Into, Ahead and Launch streams of the mentorship scheme.
Click here to apply to the mentorship Into stream.
Click here to apply to the mentorship Ahead stream.
Click here to apply to the mentorship Launch stream.
If you have any questions, please email SYP UK Mentorship Lead Priyanka at mentorship@thesyp.org.uk.
SYP UK 2025 List of Mentors
Cat Mitchell
Senior Lecturer in Publishing, Programme Leader for Creative Writing and Publishing BA, University of Derby
Cat Mitchell is a Senior Lecturer in Publishing and the Programme Leader for the Creative Writing and Publishing BA at the University of Derby. She previously worked in the publishing industry, including four years at Penguin Random House in various publicity and marketing roles. She is currently researching disability in publishing, and in 2021 published the Access Denied report, which investigated barriers for disabled job seekers and employees in the industry
Michaela O’Callaghan
Marketing Manager at Bounce Sales and Marketing
Michaela is a Marketing Manager at Bounce Sales and Marketing, a sales agency that represents over 40 different children’s publishers to the trade, many of them independent. Michaela was an SYP UK Co-Chair for two years and is passionate about accessibility and regional diversity within publishing. Michaela started in publishing remotely during lockdown but now lives in Bedford and commutes into London.
Ellis Poolford-Moore
Senior Audio Acquisitions Manager
With over a decade of experience in audiobook publishing, Ellis currently leads the acquisition strategy for Bolinda Audio, a prominent global independent audiobook publisher. In her role, she oversees acquisition and their publishing schedule, managing the release of at least 100 titles each month. She’s involved from acquisition stage all the way through to production and the final audiobook release. Ellis specialises in acquiring audiobooks for both the trade and library institutional markets, ensuring a diverse and compelling catalogue.
Throughout her career, Ellis has acquired a wide range of high-profile audio rights, from Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends to Patricia Cornwell’s iconic Kay Scarpetta series, all while championing both established and emerging voices in fiction and non-fiction. Recently, she has been instrumental in launching Bolinda Originals, further expanding their innovative audio offerings, and strengthening their position in the audio industry.
Georgia Holmes
Audio Rights & Acquisitions Manager at Bolinda
Georgia has worked in the publishing industry for over 7 years. She began her career as an assistant at the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency, moving up to Associate Agent, before transitioning into audio at W.F. Howes. She currently works in audio acquisitions at independent audiobook publisher Bolinda, managing a list of bestselling and award-winning authors and audiobooks
Fran Roberts
Marketing Manager, Reaktion Books Ltd
Fran Roberts is marketing manager at the small independent publisher Reaktion Books, where she has been for the last 4 years. Her experience has taken her from Palgrave Macmillan to I.B.Tauris, DK, and The London Book Fair. She is passionate about sharing great stories and helping young publishers get into and ahead in their careers. After working in the industry for over 15 years, she is eager to see the newest members excel. [she/her]
Kelly Urgan
Editor (specifically, developmental and copy editor)
Kelly Urgan is a London-based editor and proofreader for both publishers and independent authors. She specialises in historical and fantasy fiction. She’s got a passion for all things related to history, and when she’s not reading, you can find her in one of London’s many museums or hiking in the Surrey Hills.
Reitha Pattison
Head of Rights, Yale University Press
Reitha Pattison works for Yale University Press London as Head of Rights. She began her career at Polity Press in Cambridge where she established the press’s first Rights & Permissions department. She also managed Polity’s prestigious translations list. She took a break to pursue doctoral research, after which she returned to publishing and worked for Cambridge University Press for ten years, becoming their Head of Rights and Permissions. Taking a break from academic books, she worked for Rebellion in Oxford. She set up their first Rights department and licensed their huge portfolio of comics, graphic novels, speculative fiction, and board games. She has been a freelance editor of poetry and prose, and has published her own work in the form of essays, poetry and short fiction.
Siobhan Humphries
International Marketing Coordinator at Capstone Global Library Ltd
Siobhan Humphries is currently an International Marketing Coordinator for Capstone Global Library, a children’s educational publisher. She markets their print titles and EdTech products to international educators worldwide. In 2023, Siobhan was the UK Co-Chair of the SYP and completed her masters in Publishing at UCLan. Hailing from the midlands and now residing in the North West, Siobhan is passionate about increasing regional diversity in the publishing industry