Master of Ceremonies
Dr Jacinta Parsons
Radio Broadcaster & Writer
Dr Jacinta Parsons is a radio broadcaster and writer from Melbourne, Australia who has worked at community radio station Triple R, and for the ABC at Double J, ABC Radio Melbourne, and ABC Radio National. She has released three books, Unseen (2020), A Question of Age (2022) and her most recent in 2025 – an investigation on wisdom and the elder woman – A Wisdom of Age.
She works extensively as an advocate for chronic illness and against age discrimination in both her work and in role as a speaker around the country. She is the co-chair of Rollercoaster Theatre, a company dedicated to access for intellectually disabled and neurodiverse actors on Australian stages and enjoys teaching at RMIT university in Media and Communication.
Parsons currently hosts the Friday Revue and Saturday Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.
Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.
Keynote Speakers
Marie Østergård
Library Director at Aarhus Public Libraries
Marie Østergård is Library Director of Aarhus Public Libraries in Denmark and co-inventor of Next Library, a biannual international conference gathering thought leaders and innovators from over 30 countries around the world in a highly interactive forum discussing the development of libraries for the benefit of communities. Marie engages in international conversations and co-operation across the world about library development, democracy, advocacy and leadership.
Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.
Anna Burkey
Chief Executive Officer at Australia Reads
Anna Burkey is a creative entrepreneur and storyteller, with a passion for books, reading, the arts, and education. Hailing from Scotland, where she was on the founding team of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Anna now lives in Melbourne, on Wurundgeri country.
After several years with State Library Victoria and the Centre for Youth Literature, Anna's now working with the Australian Publishers Association and the Books Create Australia consortium on Australia Reads. Australia Reads looks at ways our industry can work together nationally to get more Australians reading more books, more often.
Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.
Louise Denoon
Executive Director - Community Partnerships at State Library Queensland
Louise leads the partnership between State Library and local government for the delivery of library services across Queensland. This partnership includes First 5 Forever, now in its 10th year, that leverages the library network to empower families through brain building resources, environments and experiences.
Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.
Session Speakers
