Ramona Koval

Ramona Koval is known for her wit and wisdom.

Although she pursued studies in science, during her celebrated career as a broadcaster she made interviews with significant writers her signature. She presented The Book Show on Radio National for six years, before that, Books and Writing for thirteen years. She has written for newspapers and international journals, and had her interviews published in book form. Speaking Volumes: Conversations with Remarkable Writers, was published by Scribe Books to enthusiastic reviews. She is the editor of The Best Australian Essays (Black Inc.)

Ramona’s most recent books include A Letter to Layla: Travels to Our Deep Past and Near Future, Bloodhound: Searching for my Father and By the Book: A Reader’s Guide to Life. Ramona is an Honorary Fellow in the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne

Ramona Koval has travelled extensively and brought home conversations with some of the most respected authors writing in English, including Nobel Laureates Harold Pinter, Toni Morrison, Saul Bellow and Doris Lessing. She is an active participant in Australian literary festivals, and has been invited to take part in international festivals in Edinburgh, Montreal, Cheltenham, Wellington and Berlin.

Ramona Koval has served on the board of Australian Book Review, the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award Advisory Committee, and the Asialink Awards Literary Committee. She has judged the radio section of the Walkley Awards twice, and been a judge of non-fiction for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards twice, once as chair of the committee. In 1995 she won the Order of Australia Media Award. She was the Staff-Elected Director on the Board of the ABC from 2002 – 2006. In 2008 she was invited to participate in the Australia 2020 Summit.

Ramona Koval has worked as an academic at RMIT University and the University of Melbourne, and before that as a microbiologist and geneticist.

Ramona is available to MC, Compere and facilitate corporate events, and will add humour and style to any function with her professional, entertaining and personable approach.