Five minutes with Meg Wilson, the new CEO of ACT Writers Centre
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I first met Meg Wilson in 2018 when I was a participant in the ACT Writers Centre’s HARDCOPY manuscript development program.
An effervescent, passionate advocate for Canberra’s creatives, Meg was a welcome ray of sunshine to me and my fellow ‘Hardcopiers’, always there with an encouraging word and a warm smile. It gave us all a tether throughout what was a sometimes overwhelming experience.
Now, Meg has stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer of the ACT Writers Centre, with accessibility and longevity at the centre of her vision. But as she tells us, it almost didn’t happen, describing her start with the ACT Writers Centre (ACTWC) as something of a “serendipitous accident”.
“I started in 2017 as a sub-contractor for three months to update expired memberships and fell in love with the organisation, the staff and the members,” says Meg.
“I have always had a passion for storytelling, and to experience working in an organisation whose purpose was to foster and promote writing—I had never experienced work satisfaction like that before.”
Meg became Office Manager in 2018, which she says allowed her to “dive headfirst into the Canberra writing scene”. While she admits it was a steep learning curve, she says she “I loved every minute”, crediting former Director Sarah Mason with helping create an organisation that Meg “truly believed in”.
In 2020, Meg was asked to step in on a short-term basis as Interim Director, which coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a real opportunity to hone my skills and to step up to guiding ACTW through what’s been a very big test for many arts organisations,” says Meg.
“2020 allowed us to examine some long-standing issues and provided the opportunity to redefine a lot of our organisational practices and implement new operational policies. This includes a code of conduct to ensure ACTW will always be an inclusive and safe space.”
Now in her new role as CEO, Meg is keen to continue this work.
“I am so excited to continue to lead ACTW, and it is a genuine pleasure to manage and work with such a fantastic and dynamic team.”
2020 also marked the 25th anniversary of the ACTWC, and Meg says that looking to the next 25 years and beyond is their current challenge.
“…We are looking towards building the strongest foundation we can for the next 25 years,” she says. “I believe that vision and long-term planning are the key to organisational vitality.”
“My main aim as CEO is to ensure we produce quality programs that develop all levels of writer, and are relevant and accessible to people from all backgrounds. ACTW are a reputable conduit between writers and the publishing sector.”
“We’re committed to a thriving landscape of writers and readers.”
For those unfamiliar with the ACTWC and their work, Meg explains that the Centre “is leading the charge in changing perceptions and highlighting the necessity of writing centres as advocacy bodies and generators of professional and creative excellence”.
On a practical level, the Centre provides workshops, talks, programs, festivals and mentorships for local creatives across all forms of the written word—and Meg is excited about what the Centre has in store for 2021.
“We are so excited about our 2021 program! We’ve worked hard this past year to ensure that all our programs are adaptable and reflective of the sector’s needs,” she says.
“This year we’re launching a new flagship program called Access All Areas (AAA). This is a year-long program structured as monthly sessions which explore behind-the-scenes of the Australian publishing industry.
We’re also running two extended versions of digital programs we offered in 2020: Next Level Poetry with Melinda Smith and Manuscript Masterclass with Nadine Davidoff.”
These will be the first of the ACTWC’s new three-month-long series of masterclasses, with more creative workshops to be announced later in the year.
As for those who are looking to support local authors, Meg recommends starting with the two locals at the top of her To Be Read list—Ghost Bird by Canberra’s own Lisa Fuller which Meg is currently “inhaling” and Hide Out by Jack Heath.
