Hunter Writers’ Centre welcomes several new Board Members setting the direction for the next stage of the Centre’s development: Vanessa Alexander (writer and producer), Jess Baker (writer, storyteller and grassroots consultant), Helen Hopcroft (writer and performer), Jamie Lewis (writer and filmmaker), and Lauren O’Brien (writer, podcaster, and lawyer).

Returning to the Board is Glenn Stuart Beatty (writer, poet) as Chair, Ed Wright (writer, publisher, editor, critic and educator) as Vice-Chair, Jon Drane (researcher, academic, writer and editor) as Treasurer, and Rosmairi Dawson (Arts patron) as Secretary.

Of the appointments, Board Chair Glenn Beatty says, ‘I am delighted to welcome five new board members to Hunter Writers’ Centre who, along with our four returning members, bring a wealth of skills, knowledge and experience along with a passion for story telling in all its forms. These new members will help guide us in embracing all storytellers across the Hunter region, fostering a future of growth, innovation, accessibility, and inclusion.’

The Board members of Hunter Writers’ Centre bring a diverse set of skills and experiences that align with the Centre’s evolving vision. Collectively, they offer expertise in marketing, promotions, grant writing, strategic planning, governance, community engagement and law, as well as vast experience in storytelling in all its forms.

The new Board ushers in a new strategic direction for the Hunter Writers’ Centre, focusing on developing the writers, storytellers, and stories of the Hunter region. Their efforts will promote diverse and inclusive storytelling and consolidate Lighthouse Arts at Nobbys-Whibayganba as a central hub for narrative and artistic creation. They are committed to securing a strong and sustainable future for the Centre. By cultivating the power of narrative, the new Board ensures that the writers, stories, and storytellers of the Hunter region are celebrated and supported.

More information about the Hunter Writers’ Centre Board can be found here.