The inaugural Newcastle Writers Festival was held in 2013 and was a resounding success. More than 70 writers participated in 38 sessions.
In 2014 in collaboration with Newcastle Library, the festival added a primary schools program. Since then, more than 14,000 students have attended festival events and the Story Hunter program thanks to support from Create NSW, Catfish Foundation, Cessnock City Council, and Newcastle Library.
NWF was established by Rosemarie Milsom who was working as a journalist at the time. The festival is now one of the largest in Australia. It extends beyond the annual event and includes the $5000 Fresh Ink Emerging Writer Prize for regional NSW residents and the unique Story Hunter program, which trains local writers to lead intensive creative writing workshops in primary schools throughout the region.
The festival is overseen by a board, which includes Kate Robinson (President), Rosemarie Milsom (Vice-President), Annette Morrissey (Treasurer), Jenny McPeak (Secretary), Lyn Thurnham, David Couri, Ofa Fitzgibbons, Jane Albert and Dan Cox.
A small, dedicated team presents the festival each year, including Program Manager Amy Lovat, Digital Manager Zoe Drew, and Artist Logistics Manager Cherrie Sheldrick.
As the festival gets closer, the team expands and in 2026 includes Festival Producer Cassie Gilmartin, Volunteer Coordinator Nerida Walker, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Denise Nolasco, and Volunteer Assistant Barbara Rodham. Kirsty Dale, Myra Grierson, and Amber Wilkes are assisting with production. This year’s University of Newcastle intern is James Deefholts.
The festival is indebted to the 170 volunteers who welcome audiences and support the presentation of the event.
Freedom of Expression
Newcastle Writers Festival invites artists to participate in our program on the strength of their work and its contribution to literary and cultural conversation. The festival enables our audience to engage with literature that offers a range of perspectives. An invitation is not an endorsement of the sentiments in a work or of a writer’s views or opinions.
Newcastle Writers Festival supports freedom of expression as a fundamental human right. Writers are free to express their ideas and opinions within the reasonable limits set by the law.
Board Members
President
Kate Robinson
Kate is a specialist in corporate communications. Her professional background includes 12 years in Canberra working in senior public affairs roles with the Federal Government. More recently, she worked with the University of Newcastle, including as corporate communications advisor to the Vice-Chancellor. She is currently a consultant with the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Social Research and Regional Futures
Vice-President
Rosemarie Milsom
Recognising the need for a platform to support regional writers and literary culture in the Hunter region, Rosemarie established Newcastle Writers in 2013 while working as a journalist. She is a member of the NSW Government's Literature Advisory Board, City of Newcastle's Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Commitee, the Global Association of Literary Festival's steering committee, and is the chair of Hunter Creative Alliance.
Treasurer
Annette Morrissey
Annette is a chartered accountant with more than 20 years’ experience in senior financial management, the NFP sector, and commercial. She completed an MBA in 2014. She has extensive experience on Newcastle-based boards including Hunter Women’s Centre, Newcastle Historic Reserve Land Manager (Crown Lands) and Joy Cummings Centre.
Secretary
Jenny McPeak
Jenny is an executive assistant with more than 20 years’ experience supporting entrepreneurs and leaders from organisations in a number of industries including manufacturing, consulting, engineering, and recruitment. Jenny has diplomas in office administration, IATTA UFTAA Travel and social sciences (Management). She is also a NSW Justice of the Peace.
Board Member
Lyn Thurnham
Lyn is managing director of Thurnham Teece, a marketing and PR Company now in its 35th year with locations in Newcastle and Sydney, servicing a diverse national international and local client base. Lyn sits on several boards and is deputy chair of Prostate Cancer Foundation NSW.
Board Member
David Couri
David is the director of independent music festival Bad Vibrations and Bad Vibrations Records, an independent record label dedicated to supporting emerging Australian artists. David works in a leadership position with Aboriginal community services in remote Western Australia. David also dedicates his time as a volunteer youth mentor, and has spent time working with OzHarvest, Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative and AIME.
Board Member
Ofa Fitzgibbons
Ofa is a partnership broker and collaboration expert. With experience across business development, brand, marketing and communications, she supports leaders and researchers to deliver impact through the development of strategic partnerships, helping to build connections between government and industry. She is a project lead within CSIRO's Industry Partnerships team. Ofa is the secretary for CSIRO's Pride Network and a committee member for Women of Colour Australia.
Board Member
Jane Albert
Jane is a lawyer with expertise in commercial and in-house practice. Jane is also on the board of Bravehearts, works with emerging not-for-profits and is undertaking a Master of Science focusing on consciousness studies and embodied research methods.
Board Member
Dan Cox
Dan is a professional communicator with 20 years’ experience as a journalist and broadcaster, event host and podcaster. His professional background includes working in communications and marketing for Samaritans. More recently he's been a radio, television, and digital news journalist with the ABC, before hosting Breakfast on ABC Newcastle for six years. Dan is studying for an MBA/Master of Marketing.
Past programs
Donations
The Newcastle Writers Festival is registered charity with official DGR status endorsed by the ATO. Donations over $2 are tax deductible, and will help us continue to support writers, our schools program, and provide free sessions.
If you would like to make a donation online, please go to our trusted partner GiveNow. Otherwise, please email us for details.
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