2026 Festival
Speaker Profile
Inala Cooper
Inala Cooper is a Yawuru woman with German and Irish heritage, from Rubibi/Broome in Western Australia. She has a masters degree in human rights law and has long been an advocate for Indigenous rights, access to education and social justice. She is a regular contributor on ABC News Breakfast and The Drum.
World Book Day: Why Books, Bookshops, Libraries and Writers Festivals Matter
Thursday April 23
Halcyon Hall, The Continental
9.00am
/
60 mins
John Boyne, Barry Jones and Sally Rippin with Inala Cooper
Our Festival kicks off with an acknowledgement of World Book Day and a discussion about the role of books in our lives, and importance of book-connected activities, discussions and debates
Humanities Need A Hug: Critical thinking in an AI-dominated world
Friday April 24
Portsea Village
9.00am
/
60 mins
Elizabeth Finkel, Jane Montgomery Griffiths and Sean Scalmer with Inala Cooper
Don’t Mention The “R” Word: How close is Australia to becoming a republic?
Friday April 24
Portsea Village
1.30pm
/
60 mins
Dennis Altman, Esther Anatolitis and Mark McKenna with Inala Cooper