Dr Emma Watkins(PhD)

Dr Emma Watkins(PhD)'s Biography

Dr Emma Watkins(PhD) is a children’s entertainer with a focus on integrated accessibility through visual communication combined with creative children's screen media.⁠⁠

Dancer and filmmaker Emma Watkins began her performance career early from the age of 3, nurturing her love of dance and movement, performing ballet, Irish, hip-hop, tap and contemporary dance. After dancing in productions around Australia, France, India, Canada, China and New Zealand, Emma joined Australian children’s entertainment group, The Wiggles.

Emma she was a most popular Wiggles member of from 2013 to 2021. Due to her popularity in the group, she starred in her own spinoff series as a solo Wiggles performer, titled Emma! After departing the group, she debuted her own children's entertainment character, Emma Memma, in 2022.

Emma’s passion for movement and body expression expanded to an interest in sign language and raising awareness of Australia's Deaf community since she was young. Emma completed a PhD (Macquarie University) exploring the integration of sign language, dance and music in children's media, and hold qualifications in Media Arts and Production (UTS), Auslan and Interpreting, Screen Production (Sydney Film School), and full-time dance at ED5 International.

Having been in one of the world’s most famous music groups for nearly a decade Emma ranks as one of Australia’s most successful female entertainers. In addition to playing the drums (which she only learned because Field asked her to, along with dyeing her blonde hair the signature red she sports today), she does ballet, hip-hop, tap, jazz, Irish and Scottish dancing. On top of that, Watkins is a professional filmmaker.

@emmamemmamemma focuses on a new generation of communication, where she and her friends navigate challenges and adventure using sign language, choreographed dance narratives, gesture, mime, singing, speaking, listening, making craft and drawing.⁠

'Emma Memma' features Emma and Deaf dancer and artist, Elvin Lam (Elvin Melvin) highlighting visual language for preschoolers and their family network to give them the skills to communicate through sign and gesture.

Emma Memma’s debut album has won an ARIA in the Best Children’s Album category at the 2023 ARIA Awards.⁠

Emma is deeply passionate about empowering children of all abilities to communicate, connect and create. She enjoys collaborations that centre accessibility, play and creativity.

To enquire about Emma Watkins for your event contact Helene Greenham directly: helene@platinumspeakers.com.au

Speaking Topics Include

The Business of Being a Wiggle

Celebrating creativity, accessibility, and the magic of children’s entertainment