Dennis Haskell, English and Cultural Studies Professor at The University of Western Australia, is the new Chair of the Australia Council Literature Board.

An Australian literature specialist, Winthrop Professor Haskell was the poetry critic for the ABC Radio National's Books and Writing program for three years and was awarded the Western Australian Premier's Award for Poetry in 2007 for his collection All the Time in the World.

Federal Minister for the Arts Peter Garrett said Professor Haskell's wide-ranging experience as a published poet, editor, critic and academic meant he would bring a special appreciation of the sector to his new role.

Professor Haskell's research interests include poetry from the Medieval period to the present, creative writing, south-east Asian writing in English, literary modernism and post-colonial literature.

Professor Haskell, whose work has appeared in more than 17 books and dozens of journals, will replace Dr Imre Salusinszky as Chair.

The Australia Council is the Australian Government's principal arts funding body. The Literature Board supports the Australian literature sector through direct funding for outstanding literary creators, and funding for infrastructure support to the sector and professional development of writers.

The appointment is for a three year term.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Dennis Haskell (+61 8) 6488 2071
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs) (+61 8) 6488 5563 / (+61 4) 32 637 716