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In this newly established position, Anna Minns will champion the children and families' programs building opportunities for children and teenagers to deepen their engagement with books, authors, and the literary world.
In her role as Ambassador, Minns will also advocate for Festival Family Day, a combination of free and ticketed events on site at the Festival at Carriageworks, and the associated Young Adult events.
In 2008, Minns left criminal law to dedicate her career to sustainability and waste reduction. She established TerraCycle in Australia & New Zealand, and founded Boomerang Labs, Australia’s pioneering circular economy accelerator, building and fostering entrepreneurial and circular business communities. She is currently the Engagement Manager for textile recovery and technology business BlockTexx.
On her appointment, Minns said, “I could not be more excited about this opportunity. Dr Seuss said it best when he wrote, "The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go". Books transport you through time, around the world and into new worlds, and for kids they are a gift that expand their outlook and consciousness. I have one son that still lets me read Dr Seuss to him (and two that don’t). I am thrilled to be supporting a Festival and a community that celebrates and shares these gifts.”
The Sydney Writers’ Festival’s Children’s and Families’ program encompasses several areas, including our community outreach initiative, Russ the Story Bus, a mobile library that connects writers and illustrators with primary school students across NSW. During the Festival, the education program includes Primary and Secondary School Days, which presents a program of renowned authors and illustrators to share their work with students over the day; and Students Sessions, conducted in collaboration with NESA (New South Wales Education Standards Authority), offering high school students talks aligned with their curriculum.