Event Chairs

Check out what events your favourite chair is hosting

There are a wide range of event chairs who will host events during the festival. Find your favourite from the A-Z list below and don't miss them leading riveting conversations. 

  • Gabriella Bennett

    Gabriella Bennett is a former editor of Alba, The Times's Scottish lifestyle section. She writes two columns a week, one for Alba and one for the Scottish edition of The Sunday Times Home. She is also an author and broadcaster.

  • Alistair Braidwood

    Alistair Braidwood runs the Scottish cultural website Scots Whay Hae! and hosts the accompanying podcast.

  • Bryan Burnett

    Bryan Burnett is a Scottish television and radio presenter, best known for his work with BBC Radio Scotland.

  • Beth Cochrane

    Beth Cochrane is a cultural programmer, producer, and writer based in Edinburgh.

  • Teddy Jamieson

    Senior Features Writer for The Herald. Interviewer of the Year & Arts & Entertainment Journalist of the Year, Scottish Press Awards, 2022.

  • Lesley McDowell

    Lesley is an author of fiction and non-fiction. With her newest novel 'Love and other Potions' featuring in the festival programme.

  • Nicola Meighan

    Nicola is a music journalist and broadcaster who regularly writes for The Herald and presents music / arts shows on BBC Radio Scotland.

  • Kirsteen Paterson

    Insightful interviewer with outstanding research skills and extensive knowledge of Scottish politics.

  • Arusa Qureshi

    Arusa Qureshi is a British author and writer, formerly Editor of The List, she has also written for The Guardian, Time Out, NME and others. Her writing extensively covers music.

  • Kavan Stafford

    Kavan P. Stafford is an author, poet and reviewer based in the south side of Glasgow in Scotland. His work has appeared in numerous publications throughout the UK and beyond, including The Glasgow Review of Books, The Big Issue, Beir Bua, Tether’s End, The Common Breath, Reservoir Road Literary Review and many more.

  • Zoe Venditozzi

    Zoe is a writer and podcaster with short stories and poems published in various magazines and books.

Browse the full programme

From author events to creative workshops and 'Waterstone's Ones to Watch' we have an event to suit every book lovers taste.
Click "All" for the full event list