We are very excited to announce the line up for the first of our forums: Create our city’s heart and soul. Our panel will explore where Brisbane’s cultural heart and soul lies, and how we can keep it alive. Joining us on the day will be:

Matthew Condon — journalist and acclaimed novelist. Matthew was born in Brisbane and left in 1986, not returning for 20 years. He lived in the UK, Germany and France. Educated at the University of Queensland (and at the Goethe Institute in Germany), Matthew has worked for some of Australia’s leading newspapers. He is one of the finest feature writers around, and is regularly published in The Courier-Mail’s Q Weekend magazine. His latest novel is The Trout Opera. He is currently writing a book on the city of Brisbane as part of the University of NSW Press’ series on Australian cities.

Kim Wilkins — novelist and writing teacher. Kim was born in London, and grew up at the seaside north of Brisbane. Despite a short-lived career as a bass player and singer in the 90s, she has devoted her life to writing. Kim has degrees in literature and creative writing, and teaches at the University of Queensland, and in the community. Her first novel, The Infernal, a supernatural thriller was published in 1997. Since then, she has published across many genres and for children, young adults and adults. Her latest books, contemporary epic romances, are published under the pseudonym Kimberley Freeman. Kim has won many awards and is published all over the world. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and two small children.

Malcolm Snow — CEO of South Bank Corporation. Malcolm is one of Australia’s leading public planners and landscape architects. He has won more than 30 national and state awards for urban management and design excellence. For a decade until 1998, he was Head of Design for the City of Melbourne, a position that saw him win the Prime Minister’s Award for Urban Design for the Melbourne CBD Revitalisation Strategy.

Kathleen Noonan — popular Saturday columnist and feature writer with The Courier-Mail. Kathleen began her journalism career in Mackay before working in South Africa and the UK. She has written for The Australian and The Courier-Mail, and regularly writes about the inner city and its surrounds in her philosophical weekly column in The Courier-Mail’s ETC (entertainment, travel and culture) liftout.

Leah Cotterell — One reviewer said Leah Cotterell could “sing the shopping list and melt you heart” (Rhythms magazine, June 2002). Brisbane audiences have melted over this talented singer/songwriter’s performances for the past 20 years. In recent years you may have heard her on ABC radio and TV, or seen her performing as a singer spanning many genres including jazz, country, hillbilly Gospel and traditional music. Leah has also appeared in professional theatre productions for La Boite, TN! and QTC and has also earned outstanding reviews for her four appearances in the review series Women In Voice. In 2005 with her musical partner Helen Russell (Double Bass), Leah completed Foolish Things, a history of popular music in Brisbane which debuted in the Queensland Music Festival at City Hall, and became a Story Hall exhibition at The Museum of Brisbane. A West End resident, Leah is firmly entrenched in Brisbane’s inner-city music culture.

Kelly Higgins-Devine will be the MC for the event. Many of you will know Kelly as the irrepressible Drive program presenter from 612 ABC Brisbane. Kelly’s passion for her job is not just about exploring the issues of the day, but also about sharing her love for the Brisbane Lions and for the song, Devil Went Down to Georgia, with the largest number of people possible. Kelly joined ABC’s NewsRadio network a decade ago, and has been with local ABC in Brisbane since 2004.

So come and join us at the Ithaca Auditorium, Brisbane City Hall, on Saturday October 24, from 1pm-3pm. Entry is free and there will be music and entertainment for the whole family.

The Brisbane Institute is honoured to have opera singer Maroochy Barambah singing a blessing song, ahead of a performance by Daki Budtcha / Turrbal, as part of the welcome to country by the traditional owners.

Musical entertainment will also be provided by the Tropical Dance Duo, while audience members have the opportunity to re-imagine Brisbane on inner-city maps.

If you feel inspired before the day, leave us a comment to tell us what you think is important to sustaining Brisbane’s cultural heart. Or you can have your say by completing our survey.