arts practice

Izzy is the author of Raw Salt (Vagabond Press), which won the 2024 Anne Elder Award and was shortlisted for the Colorado Prize for Poetry.

Her work has been recognised through major fellowships and residencies including the Marten Bequest for Poetry and a BR Whiting Residency in Rome, with further development supported by Varuna, Bundanon, The Wheeler Centre and Punctum’s Seedpod program, as well as the ASAL Fellowship and ASA Award Mentorship.

Her work has been widely published and anthologised including in Best of Australian Poems 2025, Meanjin, Plumwood Mountain, Cordite, Westerly, Island, The Contemporary Australian Feminist Poetry Anthology, Australian Poetry Anthology and more.

She regularly presents and performs, with highlights including Melbourne Writers’ Festival, NT Writers’ Festival, Emerging Writers’ Festival, Junction Arts Festival, Forest Fringe (Edinburgh), Melbourne Fringe, National Young Writers’ Festival and with Young Arts Paris.

Leadership & Producing

Alongside her artistic practice, Izzy has held senior leadership roles across Australia’s literary and arts sector, and is currently Creative Producer at Red Room Poetry, collaborating with the Artistic Directors to lead national programming including Poetry Month. She has previously served as Artistic Director & Co-CEO of the Emerging and Digital Writers’ Festivals, Arts Engagement Coordinator at Maribyrnong City Council, and Co-Director of the National Young Writers’ Festival.

Izzy has served as a judge for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and as a peer assessor for Creative Victoria and Creative Australia, and has contributed in various capacities as an industry advisor. Her governance experience includes serving on the Arts Advisory Panel at Merri-Bek Council, as a Board Member at Collingwood Yards, and she currently sits on the Hide+Seek Festival Steering Committee with Moorabool Shire Council.

about izzy

Izzy Roberts-Orr is a poet, festival director and creative producer based on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Regional Victoria.

Her work spans literature, performance and site-responsive practice, alongside artistic leadership across major literary festivals and national arts programs.