Owning the Page: Identity and Writing Your Truth

Tarntanya (Adelaide), Australia

Olivia De Zilva’s work has been published in The Guardian, SBS and Australian Poetry Journal, among others. Olivia graduated with a Master of Philosophy from the University of Queensland and is the author of Plastic Budgie (Pink Shorts Press) and Eggshell (Spineless Wonders).

Appearing in: Owning the Page: Identity and Writing Your Truth

Eora Nations (Sydney), Australia

Associate Professor Ee Ling Quah’s most recent work, Fire Dragon Feminism: Asian migrant women’s tales of migration, coloniality and racial capitalism (Bloomsbury 2025), blows flames at neoliberalism and builds solidarities for more sustainable and just futures. She researches, writes and teaches about migration, race, gender, sexuality and feminism.

Appearing in: What Will People Say? and Owning the Page: Identity and Writing Your Truth

Singapore

Prasanthi Ram (she/her) is a Singaporean Tamil author. Her bestselling debut short story cycle, Nine Yard Sarees, was awarded the 2024 Singapore Literature Prize in English fiction. Currently, she is working on her sophomore novel on ageing and care.

Appearing in: Owning the Page: Identity and Writing Your Truth

Naarm (Melbourne), Australia

Dr Samah Sabawi is an award-winning author, playwright and poet. Her latest memoir has been shortlisted for the 2025 Stella Prize, The Age Book of the Year award and the NSW Literary Awards’ Douglas Stewart Prize. In 2020, Samah’s independent theatre work won the Green Room Award for Best Writing.

Appearing in: Opening Night Gala and Owning the Page: Identity and Writing Your Truth

Eora Nations (Sydney)

Hasib Hourani is a Lebanese-Palestinian writer, editor, arts worker, and educator living on unceded Gadigal Country. His debut book, rock flight, was released with Giramondo (AU) and Prototype (UK) in 2024, and New Directions (US) in 2025.

Appearing in: Opening Night Gala, Owning the Page: Identity and Writing Your Truth and Not Just Pretty Rhymes