Ever wanted to spend an evening with Kevin Rudd? Well, now’s your chance because the former prime minister is set to give Newcastle a fair shake of the sauce bottle at a special Newcastle Writers Festival event in November.
Hosted by ABC’s Matt Bevan, the event will see Rudd discuss his most recent book, The Avoidable War, which explores the likely outcomes of a war between the United States and China and proposes solutions based on his own extensive diplomatic experience.
“We are thrilled to finally be going ahead and appreciate that Mr Rudd has made the time to visit given how busy he is,” Newcastle Writers Festival director Rosemarie Milsom said.
“Since leaving politics he has been outspoken about several issues, including the campaign for a royal commission into media diversity. He is someone who speaks his mind and backs it up with knowledge and experience.”
The 26th prime minister of Australia, who served from 2007 to 2010 and then as foreign minister from 2010 to 2012, before returning as prime minister in 2013, has been president of the Asia Society Policy Institute since January 2015.
Rudd graduated from the Australian National University with honours in Chinese studies and is fluent in Mandarin. He also studied at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei. He has studied, lived in, and worked with China for more than 40 years.
Tickets for An Evening with Kevin Rudd on Tuesday, 22 November at NEX are on sale now. Visit newcastlewritersfestival.org.au for more information.
