Event Speaker: Nadine Presley

NADINE PRESLEY is a Syrian Canadian author whose debut picture book, The City of Jasmine (Harper, 2025), is inspired by the beauty of her hometown of Damascus, a place she has held in her heart since leaving over a decade ago, and now she gets to share it with the world. She is also the author of forthcoming titles including A Ramadan Night (Simon & Schuster, 2026) and Where There Is Love (Harper, 2026), with more on the way. Nadine works as a literacy educator and Arabic program coordinator. With a passion for anti racism work and promoting pride for Arab Muslim heritage, she is also a speaker for children, youth and adults. She currently lives in Canada with her husband and three boys, thriving on delicious Syrian food and the loving hugs of her boys.