Gene Smith

Gene Smith is a cultural leader and producer with almost a decade of experience curating and delivering major international literary and ideas events. 

Most recently, he has led the programming department at Emirates Literature Foundation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he also assumed the role of lead curator and producer for Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Middle East's flagship celebration of books and ideas. 

Previously, Gene was at Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali, Indonesia to consult on the international programme for their 20th anniversary edition. And from 2019–2022, he was Associate Director at Melbourne Writers Festival.

He has produced over 1,000 events over the course of his career, helping countless writers and thinkers connect with audiences around the world in both live settings and across digital platforms, and has sat on peer assessment panels for grants and prizes, including for Creative Victoria and the prestigious Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. 

 

Photo by Leah Jing McIntosh