Catch Anita Heiss at the below sessions at the 2025 Brisbane Writers Festival Festival  —  9 - 12 October 2025

Sessions:

2025 First Word Address Keynote by Anita Heiss

3:30–4:30pm, Thursday 9 October,
Powerhouse Theatre

BWF’s 2025 opening speech will be delivered by one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors, Dr Anita Heiss AM, who is a proud member of the Wiradyuri nation of central New South Wales. Heiss publishes across genres including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s fiction.

Free Event

Anita Heiss, Living Legend: In Conversation with Nicole Abadee

8:30–9:30pm, Thursday 9 October,
Underground Theatre

Name any literary genre and there’s a good chance Anita Heiss has published a book in it. Reflecting on her astounding career, Heiss discusses the different approaches required to craft rom-coms, historical fiction, non-fiction and children’s books and how she works across these disparate forms while maintaining her singular voice.

Place as Story-Holder and Story-Teller

4–5pm, Sunday 12 October
Fairfax Studio
Featuring: Nardi Simpson, Anita Heiss, Fiona Foley. Chair: Sharlene Allsopp

These writers explore the agency of place/Country in meaningful and diverse inner lives of their central characters, these books exemplify the delicate art of breathing new life into history.

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