Rosemarie Milsom Appointed as New Director of Adelaide Writers' Week

Adelaide Festival Corporation has announced the appointment of Rosemarie Milsom as the Director of Adelaide Writers' Week for the 2027-2029 festivals.

A respected leader in Australian literary culture, Rosemarie Milsom is the long-serving founding director of Newcastle Writers Festival, which she has established as one of the country's leading literary events.

Ms Milsom brings to the role of Adelaide Writers' Week Director a deep passion for writing and reading, a global outlook, extensive connections within the Australian literary industry and a keen interest to profile South Australian story telling in an international context. 

Adelaide Festival Chair Judy Potter welcomed Rosemarie's appointment to lead Adelaide Writers' Week into its next era.

“Rosemarie is an outstanding advocate for writers, with a strong understanding of the cultural conversations shaping Australian literature today,” said Judy Potter.

“Her approach aligns perfectly with the spirit of Adelaide Writers' Week - curious, inclusive and intellectually rigorous. We are thrilled to welcome her and look forward to the vision and energy she will bring to the role. We are confident Rosemarie's tremendous breadth of knowledge and connection with writers and readers will build on the special place that Adelaide Writers' Week has locally, nationally and internationally,” she said.

Adelaide Festival Executive Director Julian Hobba remarked: “We're delighted to welcome Rosemarie as our new Writers' Week Director. She brings a clear, compelling and generous vision to the role based in a love of writing and reading that is shared by the Writers' Week audience. She promises to be an excellent leader within the Adelaide Festival organisation over the coming years.”

Incoming Adelaide Writers' Week Director Rosemarie Milsom said she was honoured to be appointed Director of the festival.

“Adelaide Writers' Week has a remarkable legacy and an engaged, passionate audience,” said Milsom.

“I am honoured to join the team and look forward to contributing to its continued evolution.”

Alongside founding and directing the Newcastle Writers Festival, Ms Milsom is a former journalist and broadcaster. She is a member of the NSW Government's Literature Board and City of Newcastle's Community and Culture Strategic Advisory Committee and serves on the steering committee of the Global Association of Literary Festivals. She was also appointed Panel Chair for the Walkley Book Award in 2023 and 2024.

Ms Milsom will commence in the role in mid-May and Adelaide Writers' Week will run from 27 February – 4 March, 2027 with program details being released from 27 October, 2026.