The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne’s CBD has launched a new festival for November, with Yanis Varoufakis as a special guest.

The festival, entitled Interrobang, gives Australians the opportunity to submit questions relating to everything from politics to comedy, with a chance to have an expert respond. The questions will then be put to a vote. Those judged to be the most interesting will make up the festival’s program.

Seeking informed responses, organisers have put together a ‘brains Trust’, made up of 25 “of some of the brightest and most enquiring minds from around the world”, Emily Sexton, head of programming, told Neos Kosmos.

“We set ourselves a mission to bring together people who have a range of knowledge and expertise in more than one discipline.

“I think we succeeded in creating a diverse and exciting lineup that covers everything from politics and policy, to art and comedy,” said Ms Sexton.

“Obviously Yanis Varoufakis has an extraordinary mind. We think he’ll be able to give interesting insights into the questions about what’s happening in Europe socially, politically and economically, including the refugee crisis,” said Sexton.

“Having been a public political figure for some time he can also give a broad historical perspective that will be complemented by other members of our brains trust.”

Among those joining the former minister and Sydney University lecturer are author and journalist Mary Kostakidis​, medical anthropologist Gregory Phillips, and comedian and writer Rob Delaney.

Once questions have been finalised and allocated to the brains trust, the program’s format will be curated to suit each question, ranging from one-on-one lessons to large scale debates.

The Interrobang will take place on 27 and 28 November and will consist of over 26 events.

Questions to Yanis Varoufakis and other participants can be submitted through the Wheeler Centre website and Twitter using the hashtag #askinterrobang.