Guest Speaker Bios

Dr Ankhi Mukherjee

A Professor of English and World Literatures at the University of Oxford and Fellow in English at Wadham College, her teaching and research specialisms lie in Victorian literature and culture, postcolonial studies, and intellectual history, in particular the history of psychology and psychoanalysis. Her research has been supported by the British Academy, the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK), the Wellcome Trust, and the John Fell Fund (Oxford). Her second book, What Is a Classic? Won the British Academy’s Rose Mary Crawshay Prize in English Literature in 2015.

Rebecca Wait

Rebecca Wait is the author of four critically acclaimed novels, the most recent of which, 'I'm Sorry You Feel That Way', was a Book of the Year for the Times, the Guardian, and BBC Culture and was shortlisted for the Nota Bene Prize. Her previous novel, 'Our Fathers', was a Book of the Year for the Guardian and was Waterstones Thriller of the Month. Two of her novels have been optioned for film and TV. Her other two books are 'The Followers' and 'The View on the Way Down'. Her WriteSpace session will be focused on learning about writing fiction for the complete beginner to the already keen writer, including how to craft an effective opening and the importance of character in shaping a story.

Nayanika Mahtani

Nayanika originally trained as an investment banker before eventually becoming a copywriter by day and author by night. She has since published several successful childrens’ stories as well as co-writing a screenplay based on the life of Shakuntala Devi. She has been invited as a speaker at the Jaipur Literature Festival from 2015 to 2018, as well as conducting readings & workshops all through the UK. 

Todd Gallicano

Todd Calgi Gallicano is a screenwriter, film producer, and the author of the acclaimed Sam London Adventure series. Mr. Gallicano has sold screenplays to major studios and developed scripts with several of Hollywood’s top producers. His upcoming feature releases in November on Netflix and stars Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, and Jason Biggs. Mr. Gallicano has been a featured speaker at book and publishing conferences around the world and spoken to thousands of students about creative writing and the craft of storytelling.

Susannah Hart

Susannah Hart is an acclaimed poet whose work graces renowned publications like Smiths Knoll, Poetry London, and Magma. Her debut collection Out of True was winner of the Live Canon First Collection Prize in 2018, and her poem 'Reading the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy' won first prize in the 2019 National Poetry Competition. 

In addition to her poetry, she serves as a board member of Magma Poetry, works as a freelance copywriter, and is a dedicated governor at a local primary school. Recognised as a poet of distinction since 2006, her words resonate universally, inviting readers to explore the human condition.

Anjana Ahuja 

Anjana Ahuja is an award winning science writer at the Financial Times in London. Her weekly opinion column ranges across such topics as genetics, astronomy, AI, pandemics and biodiversity. She was previously a staff writer and columnist at The Times, and has contributed to BBC Newsnight, New Scientist, Radio Times and the New Statesman. In 2022, her book Spike: The Virus versus The People, co-written with former pandemic adviser Sir Jeremy Farrar, was shortlisted for both the Orwell Prize for Political Writing and the Royal Society Science Book Prize. Anjana is an honorary fellow of the British Science Association, and a former trustee of Sense About Science, a charity that champions better policymaking in public life. She also participates in Speakers for Schools, and regularly chairs public events with leading scientists. She has a PhD in space physics from Imperial College London.

Katie Greenall

Katie Greenall (she/they) is a director, theatre maker & writer. Since graduating with a degree in Acting and Community Theatre from East 15, she has been delivering projects and making work with Young People and Communities all over London and internationally. She has worked with organisations such as the Donmar Warehouse, NYT of GB and the National Theatre. Katie is the Young Company Director at the Bush Theatre and Theatre Royal Stratford East. In 2023, As We Face the Sun - which she co-directed with Bush Theatre Artistic Director Lynette Linton - was nominated for an Offie.

Cara Vaitilingam

Cara Vaitilingam (she/her) is a director, facilitator and producer from Bristol. She started her directing career while still at university with a collaboration with Sir Tim Rice and his team on a production of From Here to Eternity at the Bloomsbury Theatre. She has since directed at the Pleasance Theatre, Drayton Arms and Golden Goose Theatre, and produced for Khameleon Productions and Insane Root Theatre. Cara now works full-time at the National Theatre and hosts musical theatre night I Found My Island.