Why Slade Group supports the Sorrento Writers Festival.
Each April, a remarkable thing happens in the seaside town of Sorrento on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Over four days, writers, thinkers, journalists and readers gather to talk about books, ideas and the issues shaping our society. The Sorrento Writers Festival has quickly become one of Australia’s most vibrant literary events, bringing together more than 180 speakers across 160 events in 2026 alone.
For Slade Group, our sponsorship of the festival is both professional and deeply personal.
It reflects not only the work we do in the arts sector nationally, but also our belief that thoughtful discussion – particularly when people disagree – is essential to healthy institutions, healthy workplaces and healthy societies.
A place where ideas can breathe
The festival was founded and is directed by Corrie Perkin, someone I had the privilege of serving alongside on the board of The Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas. Corrie has a rare talent: she creates forums where ideas can be expressed with passion, but also with respect.
That may sound simple. In reality, it is increasingly rare.
Across public life today, debate can quickly collapse into rigid binaries. Nuance disappears. Curiosity gives way to certainty. Too often, disagreement is treated not as an opportunity to learn but as a signal to disengage – or attack.
One of the quiet achievements of the Sorrento Writers Festival is that it resists that trend. Its stated aim is to provide a “safe and mutually respectful place in which to have meaningful conversations, exchange ideas and spark creativity.” That ethos matters enormously.
A festival of many voices
The 2026 program reflects the breadth of contemporary Australian intellectual life.
Among the many speakers appearing this year are:
- Helen Garner, one of Australia’s most revered literary voices
- Geraldine Brooks
- Tony Abbott
- Heather Rose
- Jock Serong
- Shokoofeh Azar
- Peter FitzSimons
The 2026 Barry Jones Oration will be delivered by Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty – a reminder that festivals like this are not just about books but about ideas that shape science, politics, culture and civic life.
When you gather voices like these in one place, something valuable happens: perspectives collide, overlap and evolve.
What this has to do with recruitment
At first glance, a writers festival might seem far removed from the work of an executive search and recruitment firm.
In reality, the connection is profound.
At Slade Group, we spend our days working with organisations and leaders across myriad sectors. Our job is to find people who can lead institutions thoughtfully through complexity for complexity is unavoidable.
Workplaces today are navigating generational change, shifting social expectations, technological disruption and profound debates about identity, values and purpose. The ability to work with people who think differently is no longer optional. It is essential.
The strongest teams are rarely those where everyone agrees. They are the ones where people can challenge each other intelligently, respectfully and productively.
But there is an important boundary.
We are open to disagreement, but we do not work with organisations or individuals who approach debate in ways that are disrespectful, militant or one-eyed. Productive dialogue requires curiosity, humility and a willingness to listen.
Without those qualities, conversation stops – and progress stops with it.
This is why the values of the Sorrento Writers Festival resonate so strongly with us.
A small town with big conversations
Part of the festival’s magic lies in its setting.
For four days each April, the coastal village of Sorrento becomes a hub for conversations about literature, politics, history, science and culture – drawing writers and readers together in one of the most beautiful parts of Victoria.
It is a festival grounded in place but expansive in spirit – curiosity, respect and a willingness to explore ideas from multiple perspectives – also something we value deeply at Slade Group.
Which is why supporting the Sorrento Writers Festival feels less like sponsorship and more like alignment. Because whether in literature or leadership, the same principle applies:
The most interesting conversations happen when thoughtful people are willing to listen as well as speak.
I look forward to seeing you there!
sorrentowritersfestival.com.au
Anita is the Executive Director of Slade Group, and a member of the advisory board. In a career spanning roles working in government, not-for-profit, public company and the SME sector, Anita has a broad view of the landscape of Australians at work. Committed to making a difference in her professional and personal life, Anita is a Director of the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing & Ideas, previous Chair of Melbourne Girls Grammar School, and a Non Executive Director of online men’s lifestyle publisher Boss Hunting.