Brenda Walker is the 2011 H. C. Coombs Creative Arts Fellow. Professor Walker is currently the Winthrop Professor of English and Cultural Studies at the University of Western Australia.

She has written four novels, the most recent of which, The Wing of Night, won the 2006 Nita B. Kibble Award, the 2007 Asher Award, and was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award in 2006. Her memoir of reading and healing, Reading by Moonlight, won the 2010 Victorian Premier's Award for non-fiction and the 2011 Nita B. Kibble Award.

Brenda will be here for a period of three months from July until the end of September 2011. During her time she will be working on her book provisionally titled The Ovid Reading Group. Brenda is will also work with staff and students in English, particularly in the creative writing field.