Fenella Kernebone is a conference director, content strategist and presenter who has shaped some of Australia's most significant ideas stages — SXSW Sydney, TEDxSydney & Sydney Ideas — and has worked with clients across culture, business 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.
An accomplished TV and radio presenter, podcast host, and MC, she has hosted hundreds of events spanning tech, arts, business, design and culture. She also coaches speakers and organisations on how to tell their stories with confidence and impact.
She is Director of Frankly Group a consultancy offering conference programming, MC and facilitation, speaker coaching and strategic advisory services. She also serves on the board of Performance Space.
Events
Make Good Festival @ Bundanon
How We Relate: Sunday 31 May, 10am – 10.50am
Join psychologist Ahona Guha as she unpacks the forces shaping how we connect, communicate and care for one another, in conversation with Fenella Kernebone. 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
This conversation explored how we arrived at this moment in public discourse and social cohesion. Is big tech skewing our views and eroding our capacity for tolerance? What actually divides Australians — and more importantly, what brings us closer? How do we create spaces for dialogue that encourage open exchange rather than outrage, that expand our worldview rather than retreat into echo chambers?
With digital platforms researcher Joanne Gray, social trends researcher Rebecca Huntley and hosted by Fenella Kernebone.