For Australian writers their 35th birthday is a bittersweet event, because it means they’re no longer eligible for one of our most prestigious prizes: The Australian/Vogel Literary Award.
Perhaps with writerly disappointment in mind, publisher Allen & Unwin has just extended the deadline for the prize until the end of June. Now in its 30th year, the prize includes $20,000 and publication by Allen & Unwin. Previous winners have included literary legends such as Andrew McGahan, Tim Winton and Kate Grenville.
Also this month writers under-25 get their chance to enter the John Marsden Award for poetry and fiction. Selected by the celebrated children’s author himself, there are are separate prizes for under-18s and under-25s. Entries close 21 August.
Today we announce the final speakers joining the Deakins Lecture series.
Professor John Daley from the Grattan Institute brings more than 20 years of experience in policy and corporate roles from ANZ banking to University of Oxford. He joins the Greening Capitalism panel looking at how big business can adjust to climate change. Also confirmed for Greening Capitalism, investment specialist Ian Gibson founded Attunga Capital to invest in niche industries currently managing in excess of $200 million in assets.
Signing up for Politics of Climate Change, Labor Parliamentarian Mark Dreyfus is used to controversy having previously litigated in the High Court in the Stolen Generation case. Managing director of Origin Energy Grant King brings more than 15 years of experience working in oil, gas and electricity to out Futute Energy Solutions panel.
Finally Order of Australia recipient Professor Rob Adams brings his insights on how our cities will need to be redesigned for the future of climate change in Innovating the Cities.
When Irish author Colm Toibin came to Melbourne he spoke to Michael Williams about his novel Brooklyn, being the youngest child and how Irish charm shouldn’t be trusted.
