9:45 – 10am
Introductions

10 – 11am
BRIGHT SHINING

Julia Baird, in conversation with Rabbit from The Podvan Podcast

We all fell hard for Phosphorescence, which became an essential panacea in a world blighted by difficulty (remember the pandemic?) And now Julia Baird has delivered Bright Shining, and we need it just as much. Exploring the beauty and power of ‘grace’, Bright Shining is a wide-ranging and inspirational tome. ‘Turn your faces to the sun’ with us this festival morning.

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11.30am – 12.30pm
LOST

Jane Caro, Gail Jones and Karleah Olson. Moderator: Steph Vizard

Australia has long been fascinated by our vast spaces and by the potential to become ‘lost’. Our three authors play with this fear in very different ways. Jane Caro’s thriller takes us to remote Barrington Tops where a woman’s scream echoes; Gail Jones’ latest traverses a lonely desert road; and Karleah Olson writes an Australian gothic fiction centered on the disappearance of two young people from coastal WA. Get lost with us.

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9:45 – 10am
Introductions

10 – 11am
A BITE TO EAT WITH ALICE

Alice Zaslavsky, in conversation with Cheryl Akle

She counts Nigella Lawson and Yotam Ottolenghi as fans. She adores puns and loves a funky spec. She’s a human dose of sunshine. She’s Alice Zaslavsky – four-times bestselling cookbook author and host of hit ABC TV show, A Bite to Eat With Alice. From growing up at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, in Tbilisi, Georgia, to emigrating to Australia, Alice Zaslavsky’s family and her kitchen is at the heart of all she does. Please join us for a bite to eat with Alice.

Please note: due to an urgent family situation, Virginia Trioli can no longer join Words on the Waves 2025. We thank Alice Zaslavksy for stepping up in her stead.

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11.30am – 12.30pm
DO YOU KNOW STELLA?

Jumaana Abdu, Dylin Hardcastle & Emily Maguire. Moderator: Debra Dank

Founded in 2012, the Stella Prize celebrates the outstanding contributions of Australian women and non-binary writers. Meet three remarkable authors who made this year’s longlist, who all exemplify the diversity of talent in storytelling promoted. Jumaana Abdu brings us Translations, set in rural NSW; Emily Maguire transports us to the ninth century with her tale of a female pope in Rapture and Dylan Hardcastle brings an unashamed celebration of queer life in all its vibrancy and colour in A Language of Limbs.

Please note: due to unforeseen circumstances Inga Simpson can no longer join this panel, and has been replaced by Dylin Hardcastle.

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1:30 – 2:30pm
THE POWER OF A GOOD ESSAY

Esther Anatolitis, Brooke Boland, David Marr. Moderator: Ashleigh Wilson

Inspired by the release of Essays That Changed Australia, we are discussing the influence an essay can have. Editor of Meanjin, Esther Antatolitis, presents her picks of influential essays, writer Brooke Boland presents her debut collection Gulp Swallow, and iconic journalist, author and essayist David Marr talks about his collection, My Country.

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3 – 4pm
CAN WE STOP THE VIOLENCE?

Jess Hill, Sonia Orchard, Shannon Molloy. Moderator: Ginger Gorman

In this hard-hitting session, we grapple with violence against women and children in Australia and the failures of our legal system. Jess Hill expands on her groundbreaking Quarterly Essay and Australia’s National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. Sonia Orchard and Shannon Molloy share works that are part-memoir, part-investigation; adding a crucial personal reflection to the conversation. What is working? And what needs to change for a brighter future?

** Content Warning: This session contains reference to acts of grooming and family and sexual violence.

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1.30 – 2.30pm
POETRY, NOW

Maxine Beneba Clarke, David Stavanger, Peter Kirkpatrick. Moderator: Keri Glastonbury

Over a century ago, poetry was all the rage. More recently, it has surged in popularity again. What role does it have in our national consciousness? Poets Maxine Beneba Clarke, David Stavanger and Peter Kirkpatrick share their thoughts (and maybe a poem or two!) Please note: This panel is dedicated to showcasing contemporary Australian poetry. Each year Words on the Waves commits to this focus to honour the memory of late local poet Robert Adamson.

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3 – 4pm
NEW WORLD ORDER

Geoff Raby, Bruce Wolpe & Emma Connors. Moderator: Jonathan Pearlman

It feels like we are on the brink of a new world order… but are we? Or is this business as usual (and we are just paying more attention)? This trio of experts – Geoff Raby, Bruce Wolpe and Emma Connors – will unveil their killer insights into urgent issues ranging from China to Trump, democracy to human rights.

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