Creative Australia acknowledges the tragic passing of Emeritus Professor Brenda Walker, novelist, essayist, editor, professor of literature, and much-loved former Board member and peer.

Born in Grafton, New South Wales in 1957, Brenda gained a PhD in English at the Australian National University, before moving to Perth to take up a position at the University of Western Australia. It was here that she would supervise the many research students who went on to academic and publishing success, rising to the position of Winthrop Chair in English and Cultural Studies. She also had stints as a visiting fellow at Stanford University and the University of Virginia, and worked as a mentor at Varuna, The Writers’ House, in Katoomba.