All About Women Festival will explore inclusive ideas on gender, justice and equality.
The Sydney Opera House announced the full program for All About Women 2025, featuring more than 50 international and Australian artists, thinkers and storytellers. With individual events on Wednesday 5 and Saturday 8 March, alongside a bumper program on Sunday 9 March, the annual festival returns in-person and online to explore inclusive ideas on gender, justice and equality.
The events include:
- Emmy nominated comedian, actress and writer of Cinnamon in the Wind, KATE, Don’t Worry Darling and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood fame Kate Berlant (she/her) on her debut Australian tour premiering a new stand-up show;
- Kara Swisher, Rachel House, Jaguar Jonze, Grace Tame
- Winner of Australia’s first season of Alone and author of new release We Are The Stars Gina Chick (she/her) in a raw and inspiring conversation on grief, triumph over adversity and blazing your own trail; and
- On opening night, cultural commentator, comedian and All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot debut author Lucinda ‘Froomes’ Price (she/her); multi-award winning singer-songwriter, actor, comedian and Aunty Donna collaborator Michelle Brasier (she/her); Gamilaroi and Torres Strait Islander woman, writer, actor, director and All About Women co-curator alum Nakkiah Lui (she/her); and Ydinji woman and award-winning comedy star Steph Tisdell (she/her), will come together for the return of one of the festival’s most popular events, Feminist Roast.


Marking the weekend of International Women’s Day, All About Women takes over the Opera House stages with its signature panels and conversations and this year includes stand-up comedy, an immersive experience and friendship commitment ceremonies. The program has been curated by the Sydney Opera House Talks & Ideas team led by Chip Rolley alongside prodigious co-curators of individual sessions: Whadjuk Noongar journalist and 10 News First Presenter Narelda Jacobs OAM and award-winning actor and writer for stage, screen and print Michelle Law.

“We can’t wait to welcome the All About Women community back to the Opera House for the thirteenth year. Everyone is in for a treat with never-before-seen comedy from Kate Berlant, an opportunity to plant our bare feet firmly on the ground and find peace of mind with Gina Chick, and the return of crowd favourite Feminist Roast – where much loved comedians and writers celebrate, and take the piss out of, the movement we love. There’s plenty more to come in the new year too, including enriching and challenging events spearheaded by our formidable co-curators,” said Sydney Opera House Head of Talks & Ideas, Chip Rolley.


“There is so much power in women and non-binary folks coming together to talk about the issues we are facing, whether that’s in our workplaces and homes, throughout our country or the world. I’m thrilled to join All About Women as co-curator and look forward to the connection, collaboration and critical thinking the program and line-up of speakers will deliver,” said All About Women 2025 co-curator, Narelda Jacobs OAM.


“I’m delighted to join All About Women as a co-curator following my involvement as a participant and an ardent attendee over the years. The events I’ve co-curated are inspired by hot topics that dominate conversations with the women in my life – from the transformations women undergo at pivotal points in their lives, to the ways modern culture rejigs and repeats old stereotypes. We’ll be having some cracker discussions that I’m sure will continue beyond the steps of the Opera House!” said All About Women 2025 co-curator, Michelle Law.




The All About Women 2025 line-up includes:
- Kara Swisher’s X files – Silicon Valley’s “most feared” and “well-liked” journalist, political commentator and author of New York Times bestseller Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, bringing her trademark wit and sharp commentary to lift the lid on Elon Musk;
- State of emergency – Investigative journalist and author of See What You Made Me Do Jess Hill; Indigenous family violence and sexual assault expert, and Palawa woman, Kyllie Cripps; Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant; human rights advocate addressing gender inequality within religious and culturally diverse communities Zahra al Hilaly; and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty AO with author and gender equality advocate Jamila Rizvi on the alarming rise in domestic violence related deaths in Australia;
- Rachel House – The Power of the Dog, Heartbreak High and Whale Rider actress, and director, sharing her connections with culture, community and creativity in all facets of her life and career – and discussing what it means to be a Māori woman in the spotlight (hosted and co-curated by Narelda Jacobs);
- Skin deep – Cultural commentator, comedian and All I Ever Wanted Was To Be Hot debut author Lucinda ‘Froomes’ Price; science educator, cosmetic chemist and founder of Lab Muffin Beauty Science Dr Michelle Wong; and award-winning beauty reporter and critic Jessica DeFino with author and broadcaster Yumi Stynes on the impacts of beauty standards and skincare routines adopted by increasingly younger generations (co-curated by Michelle Law);
- Ladies, we need to talk – Answer the question ‘is everyone having more interesting sex than me?’ in this live recording of the hit ABC podcast hosted by Yumi Stynes with certified sex and relationship practitioner and author of recent release The Modern Guide to Sex Georgia Grace and Guardian Australia lifestyle editor Alyx Gorman;
- An industry off key – Artists including singer-songwriter, award-winning musician and advocate for survivors of sexual assault Jaguar Jonze aka Deena Lynch and Malyangapa, Barkindji woman and hip-hop artist Barkaa on the racism, sexism and misogyny still plaguing the music industry (hosted and co-curated by Narelda Jacobs);
- Feeling the heat – Comedian and pop culture podcaster Em Rusciano; endocrinologist specialising in ageing and women’s sex hormones Professor Susan Davis; co-founder and CEO of Menopause Friendly Australia Grace Molloy; leading perimenopause and menopause specialist Dr Fatima Khan; and author of Pain and Prejudice Gabrielle Jackson on perimenopause and the commercialisation of women’s health;
- Game changers – Professional soccer player and former Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams, and Ann Odong, women’s sports storyteller and media manager for Football Australia, the Matildas and the ParaMatildas, on the state of play for women in sport with award-winning reporter and podcast host Tracey Holmes (co-curated by Narelda Jacobs);
- The tradwives club – Bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Rosie Waterland; book critic and author of The Honeyeater Jessie Tu; and senior features writer for The Times UK Megan Agnew with Gamilaroi and Torres Strait Islander woman, writer, actor and director Nakkiah Lui on ballerina farms, #MormonMoms and rewinding the clock on domesticity (co-curated by Michelle Law);
- Memorial days – Pulitzer Prize-winning author and one of Australia’s finest literary exports Geraldine Brooks in conversation with her friend and colleague, journalist Jennifer Byrne on immeasurable grief, honouring lost loved ones and the unfathomable task of rebuilding life without them;
- Feminist roast – Former Australian of the Year and activist Grace Tame; multi-award winning singer-songwriter, actor, comedian and Aunty Donna collaborator Michelle Brasier; Nakkiah Lui; Lucinda ‘Froomes’ Price; and Ydinji woman and award-winning comedy star Steph Tisdell in this satirical roast (lovingly) telling feminism to pick herself up by her bootstraps and get on with her (revolutionary) job;
- The Tracy Westerman effect – The renowned clinical psychologist and Nyamal woman revolutionising the treatment and healing of Indigenous trauma;
- Matrescence – Journalist and author Lucy Jones on her latest book exploring the life-altering metamorphosis into motherhood and its impacts on the mind, brain and body (hosted and co-curated by Michelle Law);
- Marry your friends – In a joyful ceremony of mate-rimony, media presenter and producer Marieke Hardy and poet, educator and spoken-word performer Emilie Zoey Baker will bear witness as besties in the audience commit to each other as ‘friends for life’;
- The baby boycott – Co-founder of wellness app Kic Laura Henshaw; reproductive rights journalist and author of The Most Important Job in the World Gina Rushton; and demographer, author and academic Liz Allen with ABC reporter Avani Dias on the reasons behind the declining birth rate;
- The lasting harm – Writer Lucia Osborne-Crowley on her latest release, longlisted for the 2024 Walkley Book Award, exploring the stories of women who gave testimony at the Ghislaine Maxwell trial, the real impact of sexual trauma on their lives and the legal system that consistently fails to deliver justice for survivors, in conversation with Grace Tame;
- They still take the children away – Human rights lawyer, author of recently released memoir Long Yarn Short and Bundjalung Widubul-Wiabul woman Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts on the injustice inside systems that claim to protect First Nations children;
- Rachel Kushner – The acclaimed Booker Prize shortlisted writer of fiction and essays on her body of work including Creation Lake, her new witty eco-terrorism spy novel posing heady questions about the origins and nature of humankind, with Guardian Australia culture editor Steph Harmon;
- Your body, whose choice? – Feminist social commentator, best-selling novelist and writer Jane Caro AM; broadcast journalist and podcaster Charlotte Mortlock; and Indigenous health researcher and Yorta Yorta woman Dr Summer May Finlay, with Gina Rushton on bodily autonomy and abortion access in Australia;
- Punkaliyarra – An experiential journey through deep listening, sound, dance and storytelling produced by Big hART and developed on Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi country with women from the Ieramugadu (Roebourne) community that explores the collective and care-based structure of Aboriginal matriarchy; and
- The lipstick effect – A free exhibition on the Western Broadwalk, pairing the powerful voices of All About Women alumni with artworks from leading Australian female photographers.
KEY INFORMATION
What: All About Women 2025
Wednesday 5 March: Kara Swisher, City Recital Hall
Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March: Various venues, Sydney Opera House
Price: From $35 for in-person events
From $15 for digital livestreams (festival pass of nine events also available)
Tickets: Insiders pre-sale: Tuesday 14 January, 9am
What’s On pre-sale: Wednesday 15 January, 9am
General public on sale: Thursday 16 January, 9am