Fenella Kernebone is a conference & festival director, ideas and content strategist, MC and presenter who has shaped some of Australia's most significant stages — SXSW Sydney, TEDxSydney & Sydney Ideas — and has worked with clients across culture, business, technology and the public sector.
As Head of Programming for SXSW Sydney, she helmed one of the largest conferences in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, working with world-class speakers and partners to create unforgettable experiences. She previously led TEDxSydney as Head of Curation and served as Head of Programming at Sydney Ideas, University of Sydney.
A sought after moderator, interviewer, speaker and MC, Fenella has been on countless stages, from writers’ and ideas festivals to awards night’s and conferences, spanning tech, arts, business, design, culture and more. She is also an accomplished TV, radio and podcast presenter and producer having hosted programs on ABC TV, Triple J, Radio National and SBS TV.
She is Director of Frankly Group and serves on the board of Performance Space.
Events
Conversations for Good: Across political philosophies
Thursday 16 July, 6:30pm for Sydney Ideas at the University of Sydney.
What can we say about the common good in a world marked by deep moral, philosophical, and religious disagreement? Join political philosophers Luara Ferracioli and Alexandre Lefebvre in conversation with Fenella Kernebone in this second in the Conversations for Good series.
Discover the fundamental beliefs that shape us, from our sense of self to our national identity and political systems. What values should we hold in common? What divides us? And how can we engage openly, listen generously and argue critically in pursuit of a better society?
Make Good Festival @ Bundanon
How We Relate: Sunday 31 May, 10am – 10.50am
Join psychologist Ahona Guha in conversation with Fenella Kernebone, as she unpacks the forces shaping how we connect, communicate and care for one another. Drawing on her work with both victims and perpetrators of abuse, Guha offers a nuanced understanding of human behaviour, power and accountability.
Exploring themes of attachment, conflict, trust and repair, she shares practical tools to recognise unhealthy dynamics and build stronger emotional awareness. This thoughtful and considered conversation focuses on building relationships grounded in respect, honesty and care.
Make Good Festival @ Bundanon
Wild Against The Odds: Sunday 31 May, 12pm – 12.50pm
Inspired by her book Nature’s Last Dance, award-winning environmentalist Natalie Kyriacou takes audiences deep into the frontlines of conservation efforts, in conversation with Fenella Kernebone.
From jungles and oceans to courtrooms and communities, this talk reveals the lesser-known experiences of scientists, activists, and innovators refusing to let nature disappear quietly. Along the way, you’ll discover how unconventional animals are reshaping our ideas of beauty, why investors are suddenly interested in whale poo, and what the fight for nature looks like in the 21st century.
Blending humour, heartbreak and hope, this is a powerful journey through the strange battle to save the wild, and a reminder of what we’re fighting for.
Conversations for Good: Across Platforms @ University of Sydney
Wednesday 22 April 2026, for Sydney Ideas
The first in the Conversations for Good Series. This conversation explored how we got to this point in the state of public discourse today. Is big tech skewing our views and undoing our capacity for tolerance? What actually divides Australians and more importantly, what brings us closer? How do we create – and regulate – spaces for dialogue that encourage open exchange, not outrage; that expand our worldview, not retreat into echo chambers?
Hear from digital platforms researcher Joanne Gray, and one of Australia’s foremost social trends researchers, Rebecca Huntley. Hosted by Fenella Kernebone, cultural curator, speaker and presenter.