Two-time Scotiabank Giller Prize winner, two-time Man Booker finalist, and the brilliant mind behind Washington Black and Half-Blood Blues.

Esi has a gift for uncovering untold stories from history’s margins and bringing them to vivid life. Her work explores race, identity, and belonging with prose that critics call “perfectly executed” and “magical.” Washington Black made Obama’s favourite books of 2018 list, and the series based on the book was released on Disney+ in July 2025.

Based right here in Victoria, Esi will be joining us at the Summit to share insights on storytelling, craft, and the power of centring voices that history tried to sideline.