Sharon Flindell- CEO of writing WA
Anna Moreau
WABN: Describe a day at work.
SF: "To borrow an expression from writer Nam Le, I spend my day 'trafficking in words'. A single day includes anything from responding to enquiries about publishing and editing and writing workshops and other aspects of the writing industry, to liaising with industry groups, to writing newsletters and reports and media releases, to collaborating with member organisations and other partners in the delivery of writingWA's various professional and audience development programs."
WABN: What has been the most challenging event in your career?
SF: "Developing Hungary's first contemporary arts festival, presented in Budapest in 1992. When I initiated the festival in 1990 I was based in London and was commuting back and forth to Budapest every few months.
"The development process was also made interesting by the fact that I didn't speak Hungarian, and that Hungary at that point in time did not have convertible currency. But (post the fall of the Berlin Wall), it was a really exciting time of change in Hungary and I was able to work with that and generate a lot of enthusiasm for the concept of the festival.
"I also built some very strong relationships with colleagues across the cultural, political and business sectors in Budapest and these relationships were all fundamental to the festival's success. Ultimately it was a cultural first for Hungary as well as a critical and financial success."
WABN: How do you deal with egos in your workplace?
SF: "Ego isn't necessarily a bad thing - it drives people to achieve. Generally I think managing ego is about making sure everyone has an opportunity to contribute and then is appropriately recognised for that contribution."
WABN: Is there a business model that you strive to achieve?
SF: "I tend to look across the country to the Queensland Writers Centre and envy the level of investment they've been able to secure from their state government. That investment has enabled them to grow the capacity of their organisation and to achieve a very effective level of service delivery for the writing sector in Queensland."
WABN: What frustrates you the most about your sector and what would you do to change it?
SF: "I'd like Western Australian writers to be as widely recognised and celebrated as our sports heroes. WA hosts some of the nation's most successful and highly regarded authors, but with one or two notable exceptions, many of our literary talents are not as well known or widely read as they deserve to be.
"writingWA therefore works hard on a number of different fronts to promote Western Australian literature and bring our stories to new audiences."
WABN: What were you doing before your current position?
SF: "For the majority of my career I've worked as an independent producer and promoter, working primarily with international festivals. I've also worked in local government...and once spent a few months pretending to be a gardener."
