Festival director and journalist Will Yeoman has been selected to lead Writing WA as chief executive from April 24, taking over from the former boss Sharon Flindell.
Mr Yeoman has been a journalist at The West Australian since 2008, working as literary editor before shifting to cover arts and travel.
He also has extensive experience as a festival director and currently works as the artistic director of York Writers Festival and York Festival.
In 2015, Mr Yeoman founded New Norcia Writers Festival and worked as the festival director until 2019. He was also the director of Perth Festival Writers Week for the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
As a freelance music critic, Mr Yeoman regularly contributes to the Gramophone and Limelight magazines.
Writing WA deputy chair Holden Sheppard said Mr Yeoman’s vision for Writing WA would be focused on delivering what writers needed from the state’s peak writing body.
“Speaking for the Writing WA board, we are united in our confidence that Will’s energy and extensive arts experience make him the perfect candidate to lead us into our next chapter,” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with Will and I am confident Writing WA will continue to evolve and thrive under his expert guidance.”
Mr Yeoman said he was excited to provide writers and readers with a year-round program that would bring the WA community together.
“Western Australian writing has always possessed a unique voice and its authors, poets and other artists of the word deserve to be encouraged and supported at every stage of their journey from emerging writer through to late-style master,” he said.
“Moreover, passionate readers of their work deserve the same courtesy, for one cannot exist without the other.”
Former Writing WA chief executive Sharon Flindell joined the organisation in 2005 and resigned from the leading role in December last year.
