Celebrate the 2025 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award finalists and winners with us at Bondi Pavilion! Join James O’Loghlin, author, broadcaster and host for this special cocktail event, alongside this year’s shortlisted authors, judges and Waverley’s community of readers. 

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award celebrates quality literature anchored in excellent research. Initiated by Waverley Council in 2002, the Nib is now one of the most prestigious and valuable literary awards in Australia and has distributed more than $500,000 to former winners including Tim Low, Helen Garner, Gideon Haigh, Clare Wright and Delia Falconer. The Nib is the only award of its type presented by a local government.

Submissions are judged against the criteria of excellence in research, high literary merit, readability, and value to the community. Winners are decided by an independent panel of three expert judges, drawn from across the literary sector.

At this catered cocktail event, the six winners of the $1,500 Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize will be celebrated, and we’ll be announcing the winners of the $4,000 Nib People’s Choice prize and the $40,000 Major Prize.

The winners of the Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize 2025 are:

Max Dupain by Helen Ennis

Black Witness by Amy McQuire

Mean Streak by Rick Morton

Cactus Pear for My Beloved by Samah Sabawi

Clever Men by Martin Thomas

I Am Nannertgarrook by Tasma Walton

Additional Event Information:

Dress: Cocktail Attire
Arrivals: 5:30pm
Acknowledgements from 6pm

Note: This is a standing cocktail party event with some limited seating. Please advise us at nibaward@waverley.nsw.gov.au if you have any special requirements.

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award is made possible thanks to the generous support of Principal Sponsors Mark and Evette Moran, and the assistance of community partner Gertrude and Alice Bookshop and Café.

Waverley Council's artistic program supports the free expression of ideas. All artists, panellists and guests reflect and speak their own views.