10 years of
all about women

Celebrating a decade of the Sydney Opera House's annual feminist talks festival

All About Women has a unique energy and sense of connection, quite different from other festivals and talks I’ve been to at the Opera House. You can feel it as you weave through the theatres and foyers, stop at the café or browse in the bookstore. It’s that feeling of being part of a community of people of all ages and backgrounds, excited and inspired at having thought, experienced or learned something unexpected or new.

Since the first All About Women was presented in 2013, more than 72,000 people have attended the festival and millions more have watched the talks online. Just as the community has evolved, so too has the program. What started out as predominantly a talks event has transformed into a celebration of feminism for everyone, presented across a number of venues with hands-on workshops and visual arts, together with a diverse program of speakers from around the world.

I would like to acknowledge all the passionate AAW curators over the years, Ann Mossop, Danielle Harvey, Edwina Throsby and now co-curators Chip Rolley and Larissa Behrendt, and their dedicated, skilled teams. Together they have been the driving forces behind the festival’s evolution, as have the hundreds of speakers who have been so open and honest, sharing their personal stories, thought-provoking ideas and new perspectives with us all.

As we prepare to celebrate the 10th anniversary of All About Women, I hope you will enjoy taking a look at some of the highlights over the past decade.

Louise Herron AM, Sydney Opera House CEO

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

All About Women
07 April 2013

Maria Atkinson
Nicole Beaumont
Dawn Casey
Sarah Clark
Catherine Deveny
Audette Exel
Clementine Ford
Virginia Hausegger
Louise Herron
Anne Hollonds
Shelly Horton
Rebecca Huntley
Dixie Link-Gordon
Sarah Macdonald
Brooke Magnanti
Nigel Marsh
Danielle Miller
Samantha Mostyn
Maya Newell
Diana Nguyen
Deeqo Omar
Barbara Toner
Judith Whelan
Julie White
Kathryn Wicks

Liza Mundy at her talk ‘The Richer Sex’

Liza Mundy at her talk ‘The Richer Sex’

Leymah Gbowee signing books in the Concert Hall foyers

Leymah Gbowee signing books in the Concert Hall foyers

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Liza Mundy at her talk ‘The Richer Sex’

Liza Mundy at her talk ‘The Richer Sex’

Leymah Gbowee signing books in the Concert Hall foyers

Leymah Gbowee signing books in the Concert Hall foyers

“There are no fearless leaders, just leaders who don't let fear stop them”

Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee in discussion with Ann Mossop

All About Women
30 March 2014

Robin Barker
Alison Bechdel
Daniel Bergner
Catherine Brenner
Jane Caro
Bella Elwood-Clayton
Kaz Cooke
Annabel Crabb
Geraldine Doogue
Ilwad Elman
Mona Eltahawy
Rebecca Huntley
Michaela Kalowski
Cassandra Kelly
Natasha Mitchell
Yaara Bou Melhem
Jennifer Senior
Ann Sherry
Lucy Siegle

Writer Jennifer Senior in discussion with Natasha Mitchell. Image: Prudence Upton

Writer Jennifer Senior in discussion with Natasha Mitchell. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy and Ilwad Elman chaired by Ann Mossop on the ‘Girl Rising’ panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy and Ilwad Elman chaired by Ann Mossop on the ‘Girl Rising’ panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy in conversation with Yaara Bou Melhem. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy in conversation with Yaara Bou Melhem. Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

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Mona Eltahawy and Ilwad Elman chaired by Ann Mossop on the ‘Girl Rising’ panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy and Ilwad Elman chaired by Ann Mossop on the ‘Girl Rising’ panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy in conversation with Yaara Bou Melhem. Image: Prudence Upton

Mona Eltahawy in conversation with Yaara Bou Melhem. Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

All About Women
08 March 2015

Randa Abdel-Fattah
Rosie Batty
Larissa Behrendt
John Bell
Susan Carland
Jane Caro
Kaz Cooke
Annabel Crabb
Geraldine Doogue
Sylvia Earle
Rayya Elias
Elizabeth Farrelly
Clementine Ford
Catherine Fox
Mia Freedman
Esther Freud
Helen Garner
Roxane Gay
Elizabeth Gilbert
Germaine Greer
Celeste Liddle
Judith Lucy
Tara Moss
Anita Sarkeesian
Brigid Schulte
Simran Sethi

Clementine Ford, Celeste Liddle, Roxane Gay, Tara Moss, Anita Sarkeesian and Germaine Greer, chaired by Geraldine Doogue. Image: Prudence Upton

Clementine Ford, Celeste Liddle, Roxane Gay, Tara Moss, Anita Sarkeesian and Germaine Greer, chaired by Geraldine Doogue. Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Annabel Crabb in discussion with Julia Baird discussing Crabb's book 'Breaking the Wife Drought'. Listen here. Image: Prudence Upton

Annabel Crabb in discussion with Julia Baird discussing Crabb's book 'Breaking the Wife Drought'. Listen here. Image: Prudence Upton

Randa Abdel-Fattah: What I Couldn't Say, All About Women 2015. Watch the full talk here.

Randa Abdel-Fattah: What I Couldn't Say, All About Women 2015. Watch the full talk here.

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

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Clementine Ford, Celeste Liddle, Roxane Gay, Tara Moss, Anita Sarkeesian and Germaine Greer, chaired by Geraldine Doogue. Image: Prudence Upton

Clementine Ford, Celeste Liddle, Roxane Gay, Tara Moss, Anita Sarkeesian and Germaine Greer, chaired by Geraldine Doogue. Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

Annabel Crabb in discussion with Julia Baird discussing Crabb's book 'Breaking the Wife Drought'. Listen here. Image: Prudence Upton

Annabel Crabb in discussion with Julia Baird discussing Crabb's book 'Breaking the Wife Drought'. Listen here. Image: Prudence Upton

Randa Abdel-Fattah: What I Couldn't Say, All About Women 2015. Watch the full talk here.

Randa Abdel-Fattah: What I Couldn't Say, All About Women 2015. Watch the full talk here.

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton

A snippet from a talk by feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian

A snippet from a talk by feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian

All About Women
06 March 2016

Michelle Arrow
Van Badham
Muriel Barbery
Carrie Brownstein
Kerry Carrington
Jennifer Clement
Raewyn Connell
Sarah Dingle
Catherine Fox
Alice Fraser
Alix Generous
Rodin Genoff
Masha Gessen
Susan Goodwin
Rachel Hills
Narelle Hooper
Emma Jane
Miranda July
Piper Kerman
Crystal Lameman
Hyeonseo Lee
Sarrah le Marquand
Lee Lewis
Brian Lobel
Sarah Miller
Michael Mosley
Tara Moss
Mallory Ortberg
Margie Orford
Rhoda Roberts
Zan Rowe
Sampa the Great
Ann Sherry
Anne-Marie Slaughter
Amelia Telford
Lynette Wallworth
Rosie Waterland
Jennifer Whelan
Fiona Winning
Charlotte Wood
Fiona Wright

Masha Gessen, Ann Sherry, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Mallory Ortberg, Crystal Lameman and Jenny Brockie. Image: Prudence Upton

Masha Gessen, Ann Sherry, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Mallory Ortberg, Crystal Lameman and Jenny Brockie. Image: Prudence Upton

Alice Fraser interviews Mallory Ortberg. Image: Prudence Upton

Alice Fraser interviews Mallory Ortberg. Image: Prudence Upton

Artist/filmmaker Lynette Wallworth and musician Sampa the Great on the Women of Letters panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Artist/filmmaker Lynette Wallworth and musician Sampa the Great on the Women of Letters panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Fiona Winning chairs 'The Boys' Club' panel, featuring Sarah Miller, Van Badham, Rhoda Roberts and Lee Lewis. Image: Prudence Upton.

Fiona Winning chairs 'The Boys' Club' panel, featuring Sarah Miller, Van Badham, Rhoda Roberts and Lee Lewis. Image: Prudence Upton.

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Masha Gessen, Ann Sherry, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Mallory Ortberg, Crystal Lameman and Jenny Brockie. Image: Prudence Upton

Masha Gessen, Ann Sherry, Anne-Marie Slaughter, Mallory Ortberg, Crystal Lameman and Jenny Brockie. Image: Prudence Upton

Alice Fraser interviews Mallory Ortberg. Image: Prudence Upton

Alice Fraser interviews Mallory Ortberg. Image: Prudence Upton

Artist/filmmaker Lynette Wallworth and musician Sampa the Great on the Women of Letters panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Artist/filmmaker Lynette Wallworth and musician Sampa the Great on the Women of Letters panel. Image: Prudence Upton

Fiona Winning chairs 'The Boys' Club' panel, featuring Sarah Miller, Van Badham, Rhoda Roberts and Lee Lewis. Image: Prudence Upton.

Fiona Winning chairs 'The Boys' Club' panel, featuring Sarah Miller, Van Badham, Rhoda Roberts and Lee Lewis. Image: Prudence Upton.

“The bones of our ancestors are in and of the land, that's why our land is not and never will be for sale.”

Canadian First Nations woman Crystal Lameman discusses belonging to the land, alongside Amelia Telford and chair Rhoda Roberts,

All About Women
05 March 2017

Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Van Badham
Julia Baird
Josephine Cashman
Santilla Chingaipe
Lucy Clark
Zoë Coombs Marr
Jessa Crispin
Geena Davis
Janine di Giovanni
Thordis Elva
Guilia Enders
Cordelia Fine
Mei Fong
Clementine Ford
Catherine Fox
Danielle Harvey
Fauziah Ibrahim
Carmel Johnston
Marcia Langton
Sarah McDonald
Michael Mosley
Zoë Norton Lodge
Karen O'Brien
Tom Stranger
Jess Thom
Lindy West
Kyle Wiens

“Media itself can be the cure for the problem it’s created.”

Geena Davis on media representation

Image: Prudence Upton

Image: Prudence Upton







Youth activist Jean Hinchliffe speaks about her favourite All About Women talk: ‘Hate Male’ by Clementine Ford.

Youth activist Jean Hinchliffe speaks about her favourite All About Women talk: ‘Hate Male’ by Clementine Ford.