We are so pumped to introduce you to the team who will be bringing you the 2023 Emerging Writers’ Festival this June.

The team is buzzing with excitement for what’s in store at #EWF23 but before we unveil all our secrets, let’s get to know the team a little better! There are so many new faces on the Emerging Writers’ Festival team this year that we didn’t want to do a typical, run-of-the-mill ‘meet the team’ post. Instead, in true EWF style, we’ve asked each team member our most burning questions. This way, you won’t just be meeting the EWF team, you’ll really get to know them!

So, what are you waiting for? Read on to get acquainted with the #EWF23 team!

Introducing… the operations team!

Meet Jes Layton, co-CEO & Executive Director 

Hi Jes! Since you’re brand new to the Executive Director role, what excites you most about this role? 

I’m most excited to have the opportunity to help steer an organisation and community I am desperately passionate about through this time of necessary change in so-called Australian arts, culture and literature.

Since we’re a festival of writers for writers, what forms of writing spark your interest the most? 

I love pretty much all forms, genres and styles of writing, but my absolute faves have to also, totally incidentally, be what I write which is speculative fiction, queer nonfiction and in terms of forms graphic/comic work!  

Since starting your new role with EWF, what has got you hyped for being part of making this year’s festival happen? 

I have been snooping over the shoulders of the new Programming team helmed by the incredible Ruby-Rose and I’ve gotta say as a previous artist and attendee, there’s something really special about this year’s curation of artists and events. So psyched for the program to be out in the world LIVE!

Meet Folole Tupuola, Operations Manager 

So Flo, as someone who’s been on the EWF team for a while now, what are you most excited about for the 2023 crew with these EWF-newbies on the team? 

I’m excited to be a sponge again and absorb more exciting innovations and learnings, team adventures and plenty of fun with the crew! I’m truly grateful to be a sponge 😉 

As you know, we’re a festival for writers, so what sort of writing are you into? 

I’m a huge fan of short poems because I naturally speak metaphors which becomes a pandora box journey for listeners. I’ve been collecting books on the diversity of Pasefika folk tales, legends and gods!!

Since you have been on the team for multiple festivals, what is most exciting to you about what’s coming for EWF 2023? 

The programming team epitomises the festival as being ’emerging’! It’s going to be a spectacular festival program and cannot wait for the passionate team to bring it to life. This festival is going to be two weeks of celebrations and I cannot to share delicious cake with everyone!

Meet Henry Farnan, Marketing & Publicity Coordinator

What excites you most about being part of the EWF team in 2023, Henry? 

The EWF team has been so lovely and welcoming after my move from Boorloo/Perth. I feel very lucky for the chance to get to know the literary sector of the eastern states with them. 

We’re a festival for writers, so what sort of writing are you into? 

For some reason, despite my love for queer modes of storytelling and poetic practices, I always find myself indulging in the kitschiest, pulpiest science fiction and fantasy I can get my hands on. There’s something interesting to me about the patterns of mythology always reproduced in these sorts of stories, but in neon and with silly names. 

What is most exciting to you about what’s coming for EWF 2023? 

I’m really excited for interstate emerging writers to be able to get involved with all the online events we have coming. It truly is going to be a national festival this year. 

Introducing… the programming team!

Meet Ruby-Rose Pivet-Marsh, co-CEO & Artistic Director 

With so many new faces on the team in 2023, what is exciting you most about being part of the EWF team in 2023, Ruby? 

We are all having a really nice time being silly billies in the office together, which hasn’t happened for as few years for obvious reasons. That’s honestly really nice and I didn’t realise how much I missed that vibe.

As you well know, we’re a festival of writers for writers, so what sort of writing are you into? 

I have love for most kinds of writing to be honest. I do tend to read non-fiction/essay a lot. I am trying to get back to that very special feeling of just reading for enjoyment, which for me comes from reading fiction, but I am out of practice. I really love going to the library and just picking up something random and having a read – it’s always surprising. 

What is most exciting to you about what’s coming for EWF 2023? 

We have been having fun with the program to celebrate our 20th Birthday – I hope that comes across! 

Meet Jess Zanoni, Program Coordinator 

As someone who has been an artist in a previous festival, what excites you most about being part of the EWF team in 2023? 

Learning! From my fellow team, from festival partners, from the incredible artists on our program, and the many rich, insightful conversations that will take place across the 11 days of EWF. In starting any new job, there is so much absorbing involved, so I’m excited to just absorb the wealth of ideas and wisdom within this festival. 

We’re a festival for writers, so what sort of writing are you into? 

I love fiction and memoir that is relationship/character-driven — writing that is emotionally precise, cerebral, sensual. I’ve been obsessed with Anais Nin this year. Her work is simultaneously wildly comforting and invigorating to me. 

What is most exciting to you about what’s coming for EWF 2023? 

As a team we keep saying that this year’s program feels particularly fun and celebratory. We have fresh site-specific events and collaborations planned that honour artistic and cultural movements both locally and abroad, and special performance events that will focus on writing that is cheeky and silly. I’m most excited for writers and readers to feel the connection and belonging that comes from laughing and feeling moved by something together. 

Meet Hasib Hourani, Associate Producer 

As someone who has been an artist in a previous festival, what excites you most about being part of the EWF team in 2023?   

Working with a team made up of the very community it exists to serve is thrilling. It’s such a good group and such a good year to work with the festival. 

We’re a festival for writers, so what sort of writing are you into? 

I’m not so invested in plot-driven narratives. I like a slow-burn exploration of relationships regardless of genre. I’m a poet but am really picky with poetry. I love Richard Siken and Ilya Kaminsky and Etel Adnan. 

As an insider on the programming team, what is most exciting to you about what’s coming for EWF 2023? 

We’re celebrating our twentieth birthday and being really playful with the program this time around. This year includes events that have only existed as dreams within the community for a few years now.

The 2023 Emerging Writers’ Festival team is so excited to share everything that is coming for #EWF23. Stay tuned on our socials and blog to be the first to know all the news around this year’s festival!