Reese Witherspoon to visit Australia on speaking tour

Oscar winning Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon will visit Australia and New Zealand in July as part of a speaking tour.

The Legally Blonde star will be the headline speaker for The Simpatico Conference which aims to inspire women “to be more ambitious, self-aware, and confident”.

The US actress and film producer will visit Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland on July 12, 14, 16 and 18 respectively.

Tickets are not cheap – the two-day Australian program costs from $1997 for “The Delegate” package including meals and drinks, or for an additional $500 you can also get preferred seating and a VIP reception and photo with Witherspoon.

Witherspoon, who recently turned 40, owns a film production company called Pacific Standard which produced Gone Girl and also Wild. She also has her own clothing brand and is active in charities including Save the Children and Childrens Defence Fund.

“Reese Witherspoon embodies the philosophy of The Simpatico Conference. She is talented, intelligent, passionate, diverse and committed to making a difference,” said Simpatico Connection managing director Jacqueline Nagle in a statement.

“We are bringing a lineup of six incredible women who will inspire each delegate to be more ambitious, self-aware, and confident.”

Witherspoon’s last visit to Australia was in 2011 to promote her film Water For Elephants. In February she was filming her new HBO series Big Little Lies in Malibu, and is also set to join Matt Damon and Christoph Waltz on the movie Downsizing.

* The Simpatico Conference is on July 12-13 at the Brisbane Convention Centre; July 14-15 at Dockside Pavilion Darling Harbour in Sydney, and July 16-17 at Peninsula Docklands Convention Centre in Melbourne.

– Sydney Morning Herald