Meet the team: Claudia Nankervis – Program Officer

An interview with Claudia Nankervis, Stella’s new Program Officer.

Claudia has extensive experience across film, podcasts and television. After graduating from RMIT with a Bachelor of Communications in 2017, she worked for a production company in New York before returning home to join the Melbourne International Comedy Festival as Associate Producer for TV events. In 2020 she co-founded SUZY, a female-led production company developing original work that focusses on young modern life in a domestic Australian setting. Claudia’s successful storytelling event and podcast Backyard Stories has completed an international tour in 2022, starting at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and ending with shows in Amsterdam, New York and London. She is thrilled to join Stella.

When you are not working, what do you like to do?

I run a storytelling event called Backyard Stories, which is a platform for storytelling, sharing and engaging. The stories are recorded live and published as podcast episodes. It began in 2019 in my backyard in Carlton, Melbourne, then moved to a venue called the Brunswick Artists Bar. I believe everyone has a story to tell, and some of the best stories you hear are often by someone that doesn’t tell them for a living.

What excites you most about working at Stella?

I’m excited to work with female and non-binary writers who inspire me, and to work for an organisation whose mission is to celebrate and champion those writers. Also I’m excited to be surrounded by and discussing new and old books every day! 

What are you reading now?

I just finished Wifedom by Anna Funder and have finally started The Years by Annie Ernaux, which had been sitting on my bedside table for months. 

What’s your favourite Stella Prize book?

The Museum of Modern Love is a book that I’ve returned to many times. When I was in high school I fell in love with Marina Abramovic, and then lived in New York for a bit after I graduated – so it’s a perfect combination of people and places I love. 

What’s your favourite independent bookstore? 

Too many to list! I go to Paperback Bookshop regularly in Melbourne CBD, The Grumpy Swimmer in Elwood, and I love browsing Readings on Lygon St after a film.