For 10 years, Sara Mansour has directed and led significant Australian cultural institutions and events.
In 2013, aged 19 years, Sara – a poet and writer herself – co-founded Bankstown Poetry Slam, the first poetry slam in western Sydney.
Under Sara’s leadership, it has grown into Australia’s largest regular live poetry event.
Bankstown Poetry Slam won the Special Award at the 2023 Premier’s Literary Awards – the first arts organisation to receive this honour – and the 2016 Western Sydney’s Leadership Dialogue Pemulwuy Prize.
Sara has curated and hosted over 150 poetry events. She’s also coordinated high school programs for young people, established Australia’s first ever National Youth Poetry Slam and directed multiple festivals.
Her efforts have built lasting connections and uplifted the voices of marginalised young people.
Lawyer Sara sits on the boards of the Crescent Institute and Monkey Baa Theatre Company, and volunteers with Arise Foundation, running poetry workshops for women who’ve experienced domestic violence.