Eltham to join BWF
The Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) has announced that Kate Eltham will join the festival as director in October.
Eltham, who is currently CEO of the Queensland Writers Centre (QWC), replaces outgoing director Jane O’Hara, who confirmed in April that she will be stepping down after this year’s festival.
Eltham has been CEO of QWC since 2006, and in 2010 she founded if:book Australia, an institute dedicated to the future of the book.
BWF chair David Fishel said in a statement that he looks forward to working with Eltham on the future development of BWF. ‘Kate has proved a strong and capable leader during the last few years in her role with the Queensland Writers Centre,’ said Fishel. ‘BWF will present her with new challenges and opportunities.’
Fishel also thanked O’Hara, who he said ‘has contributed to the development of the Brisbane Writers Festival in a number of different capacities’. ‘We are extremely grateful to Jane for the breadth of the contribution she has made, and wish her well in her next chosen endeavours,’ he said.
Eltham said in the same statement that she is ‘thrilled and honoured’ to take up the role of BWF director. ‘Brisbane Writers Festival is Queensland’s biggest annual celebration of books, writing and ideas,’ said Eltham. ‘As a festival attendee, I have been inspired many times by its programs and speakers. As its future festival director, I am excited by the challenge of crafting inspiring and diverse cultural experiences for Brisbane audiences. I am incredibly fortunate to inherit all the strength and vitality that Jane O’Hara and her team have built at Brisbane Writers Festival. Jane has left me incredibly big shoes to fill.’
This year’s BWF will be held between 5 and 9 September. The program for the festival will be released at the end of July. For more information, visit the festival website here.
Category: Local news
