Broadcast personality and former journalist Wendy Harmer will keynote the Local & Independent News Association summit at the end of this month.

The event takes place at the Canva Spaces at 2 Lacey Street in Sydney’s Surry Hills across the afternoon of March 30 and the whole of the following day.

Author, comedian, radio host and playwright, Harmer (pictured) began her journalism career at the Geelong Advertiser before working for The Sun, 2DAY FM and the ABC, where she hosted television and radio programs over about 20 years. An MO Award recipient, she joins LINA members to share some of the highs and lows of reporting in regional towns, in the suburbs, and on national platforms.

LINA executive director Claire Stuchbery says she is thrilled to see registrations coming in for the inaugural event, which will bring LINA members, industry stakeholders, policy-makers and thought-leaders together for a one-and-a-half day programme of workshops, presentations and networking.

The speaker line-up also includes Michelle Rowland, minister for communications, speaking about the Government's priorities for news media.

Stuchbery and board member Alan Sunderland travelled to Canberra recently to meet with MPs and discuss LINA's work. More on this at the summit.