2026 Festival

Speaker Profile

Monica Attard

Professor Monica Attard OAM spent 30 years at the ABC, working across radio and television. Monica holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Law, Order of Australia for services to journalism and is the winner of five Walkley Awards for excellence in journalism (including gold).

Podcasting Mania: Has it reshaped the media landscape?

Friday April 24
Ellen Grant Hall
3.00pm / 60 mins

Monica Attard, Mark Kenny and Clare Stephens with Libbi Gorr

Democracy’s Frontline: Tales from investigative journalists who hold power to account

Saturday April 25
Sorrento Bowls Club
2.30pm / 60 mins

Monica Attard, Charlote Grieve and Kate Wild with Mark Kenny

Over their outstanding journalism careers, our three guests have exposed wrongdoings and bad behaviour - often at great personal cost. Join academic Mark Kenny as he explores the reporting journey of shining light in dark corners. 

Fault Lines: Journalism’s role in a fractured world

Sunday April 26
The Ballroom, The Continental
1.30pm / 60 mins

Monica Attard, Jon Faine and Louise Milligan with Ranald Macdonald  

Modern media is suffering a crisis of public trust and an increasingly diverse and fragmented market. Meanwhile, star journalists and commentators too often  focus on the brand rather than the story. Yet good journalism still has immense capacity to scrutinise, reveal and hold institutions and individuals to account.