Angela Williamson has been invited to take part in a discussion titled Writing (Re) Productively an event just added to the Feminist Writers’ Festival.

She will be joined by New South Wales Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi, who has been lobbying for abortion law reform and Gabrielle Blair, a Mormon whose tweets about male responsibility for unwanted pregnancies went viral.

Ms Williamson will speak after noted Australian author and journalist Dr Anne Summers AO who will talk about her new book, Unfettered and Alive: A Memoir.

The three day festival is held in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion.

UTS academic Jenna Price said she was “thrilled” Ms Williamson had agreed to speak at the festival.

“Angela Williamson lost her job because she spoke up about access to abortion so she’s a vital voice in the struggle for reproductive rights in Australia,” Ms Price said.

“We are thrilled she has time to speak on our panel.

“These three dynamic and diverse women will talk about their battles to protect reproductive rights - and why writing and speaking matter on issues which are as difficult as this.

“This is a festival to celebrate women writing about women’s rights, their rites and their lived experience.”

Ms Williamson is excited to be invited to speak at the festival.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to speak about such an important public health issue,” she said.

“The pathway I had to navigate and the hurdles I had to overcome inspired me to share my story so others will not have to go through what I had to go through.

“Unfortunately 10 months later Tasmanian women are still having to travel to Melbourne for a legal medical procedure.”

Ms Williamson, who reached an out-of-court settlement with her former employer, said she was not ashamed or embarrassed about speaking about her personal experience.

“To get the best policy reform, politicians must hear personal stories and not just read briefs about a policy,” she said.

“I want to encourage other women to speak up publicly or privately and to do what they can to protect our reproductive rights.

“This festival allows me to shine a light on Tasmania’s situation and it would be great to have a strong Tasmanian delegation, so I encourage Tasmanian women to join me in Sydney.”

Ms Williamson has been approached with other writing opportunities.

She spent four days alone in Melbourne after her termination which cost about $4,500.