Natasha Brown: Blurred lines

From the power of language to the prejudices of privilege, Brown’s work confronts societal boundaries.

Natasha Brown | Roanna Gonsalves

Exploding onto the literary scene in 2023, Natasha Brown’s first novel, Assembly, drew critical acclaim for its succinct prose and insight into race, class and privilege, in only 100 pages. Her latest novel, Universality, skewers nepotism and journalism in a satire that secured Natasha a place on the longlist of the 2025 Booker Prize. Drawing from her own experience as a Black British woman, her novels’ theme centred on power has unsurprisingly resonated with Australian and international audiences.

In her first Australian appearance since Assembly was released, join Natasha alongside UNSW’s Roanna Gonsalves for an evening of conversation and critique. Together, they’ll chart the frontiers of privilege examining the boundaries of cultural pluralism and power.

Live Event & Venue Information

Leighton Hall is located inside the John Niland Scientia Building at UNSW Sydney's Kensington campus (G19). Please note this is a live event only, and will not be available via livestream.

Access

Wheelchair Access

The closest accessible drop off point to Leighton Hall is via Gate 11, Botany Street. More information on getting there can be found via our interactive accessibility map available here.

Assisted Listening

Leighton Hall utilises hearing assistive technology available. Patrons wishing to use this service must collect a Roger™ inductive neck loop receiver from the venue staff, and this system can be used with a hearing aid or cochlear implant with a T-coil, or with headphones.

Contact

To book and discuss access services, please call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485 or email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au.

Public Transport & Parking

Leighton Hall (John Niland Scientia Building) is easily accessible via public transport. The closest light rail stop is the UNSW High Street (L2 line) and the closest bus stop is UNSW Gate 14, Barker Street (303). For more information please call the Transport Infoline on 131 500 or visit transportnsw.info.

Free parking is also available in the Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) from 5.30pm. For access to free parking, event patrons must park in the UNSW Permit Holder bays, available on all levels. The Botany St Car Park (Gate 11) parking station is located here.

Paid casual and visitor parking is offered via the CellOPark App and ‘pay by plate meters’ in all other UNSW car parks. For more information head here.

Contact

For all enquiries please email centreforideas@unsw.edu.au or call the Centre for Ideas on 02 9065 0485.

The Centre for Ideas is happy to receive phone calls via the National Relay Service. TTY users, phone 133 677, then ask for 02 9065 0485. Speak and Listen users, phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 02 9065 0485. For more information on all other relay calls visit here.

Speakers

Natasha Brown

Natasha Brown is a multi-award-winning British author whose books examine the intersection of power and language through the observation and satire of topics ranging from race and class to industry and nepotism. She has been described as ‘one of the most intelligent voices writing today’ by the Guardian and is The Chair of Judges for the International Booker Prize 2026.

Her first novel Assembly was published in 2021 and has been translated into 17 languages, winning the Betty Trask award in 2022. Her second novel, Universality, was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2025.

Roanna Gonsalves

Roanna Gonsalves is an author, Senior Lecturer within the UNSW School of Arts and Media and co-founder and co-editor of Southern Crossings. She serves on the Board of Writing NSW and on the International Project Reference Group for the ARC-funded project 'Connecting Asia Pacific Literary Cultures.

Her novel, The Permanent Resident, won the NSW Premier’s Literary Award Multicultural Prize 2018, and her research interests are in the sociology of literature, social media, creativity studies, and postcolonial literature.