ABOUT US
Power, Politics, Passion.
Founded in 2016, the Canberra Writer’s Festival has become a beloved event in the national literary calendar – a favourite amongst Australia’s reading, writing and publishing communities.
Canberra is the centre of the nation’s decision and policy making, but it is also a city of poets, authors, journalists, artists and experts. The festival’s perennial theme ‘Power Politics Passion’ captures the depth and breadth of what makes Canberra unique.
The festival celebrates literature, ideas, and storytelling in all its forms and provides a platform for both established and emerging writers to share their work and engage with audiences.
CWF is a place where diverse thinkers come together to explore the big questions that occupy our nation’s consciousness: What do we value? Whose stories are heard? How do we reckon with the past and imagine the future?
The festival’s lively and varied program of events includes master classes, dinners, author talks, panel discussions, workshops, book launches, and performances. All set against the backdrop of some of Australia’s most iconic national institutions.
Who We Are
Board
Jane O’Dwyer, CEO of the Cooperative Research Centres Association, leverages over 25 years of experience in politics, media, peak bodies, and higher education to advance Australia's innovation potential. An alumna of ANU, the University of Wollongong, and Curtin University, Jane is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has lived in Tokyo, Washington DC, and Rome.
Jane O'Dwyer
Chair
Gregory, a First Australian from D’harawal country with the Lyrebird as his Dreaming, is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra and Director of Lyrebird Dreaming Pty Ltd. He has served as Australia’s Ambassador in West Africa, the UN, and as the first Threatened Species Commissioner. Gregory holds degrees in Economics and Foreign Affairs, speaks French and Mandarin, and is passionate about human rights, climate change, and being a good dad.
Gregory Andrews
Deputy Chair
Putri Handrianti is the finance manager at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, with over ten years of financial management experience in higher education and research, including roles at ANU and the University of Canberra. She holds a Bachelor of Communication, a Master of Professional Accounting from the University of Canberra, and is a member of CPA Australia.
Putri Handrianti
Treasurer
Members
Allan Behm specialises in political and security risk evaluation, policy analysis, and navigating the policy/politics interface. With nearly 30 years in the Australian Public Service, he was Chief of Staff to Greg Combet (2019-2013) and senior advisor to Senator Penny Wong (2017-2019). A prolific author and commentator, he wrote "No, Minister" and serves on the boards of the Canberra Writers Festival, FearLess Outreach, and the Centre for Ethics in National Security. He holds degrees in philosophy and Asian studies and speaks Indonesian and French.
Allan Behm
Member
Sunil Badami is a writer and academic and teaches creative writing at the University of Technology Sydney. His work has been published here and overseas, including in Best Australian Stories and Essays. He devised and presented the ABC Radio show Sunday Takeaway, plus acclaimed documentaries, including the Priz Marulić-nominated Riddle. Mystery. Enigma.
Sunil Badami
Member
Frank Bongiorno, a historian and Professor at ANU, is President of the Australian Historical Association and a Distinguished Fellow of the Whitlam Institute. He has authored award-winning books, including The Sex Lives of Australians and The Eighties. Bongiorno is a Fellow of several academic societies and a Member of the Order of Australia.
Frank Bongiomo
Member
Hannah has a decade worth of experience in coordinating events, gaining a diverse skill set from working in the not-for-profit sector and one of Canberra's National Cultural Institutions. She has organised national book tours, Canberra-based author events, and volunteers for various causes. A passionate reader, she hosts a monthly book club and loves contemporary Australian fiction.
Hannah Brown
Member
Tom Greenwell, co-author of Waiting for Gonski, long-listed for the 2022 Australian Political Book of the Year, contributes to Inside Story on education, politics, and media. He teaches History and Politics at Hawker College, Canberra, and is a professional associate of the News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra.
Tom Greenwell
Member
Team
Beejay Silcox, a Canberra-based writer and literary critic, regularly contributes to national and international publications like The Guardian, Times Literary Supplement, and The New York Times. Her award-winning short stories have been featured in various Australian anthologies and published globally.
Beejay Silcox
Artistic Director
Travis Green
Chief Executive Officer
