Joel McKerrow

Joel McKerrow's Biography

Joel McKerrow has spent the last fifteen years captivating hundreds of thousands of people, on global stages, with his passionate performative style and highly inspiring keynote presentations.

Joel is an award-winning writer, keynote speaker, performer, Master of Ceremonies, educator and one of Australia's most successful performance poets. Joel was the third ever Australian representative at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships and is currently the Director of The School for Creative Development and the Vic/Tas Vice-President for PSA (Professional Speakers Australia).

Why Joel?

• Because you want a speaker/MC who leaves your audience buzzing long after the event. Joel’s talks are energising, motivating, and unforgettable.

• Because Joel ignites creative breakthrough within even the most skeptical. Your audience will leave inspired, equipped, and moved—whether they’re fist-pumping with excitement or wiping away tears of connection.

• Because Joel turns creativity into action. He bridges the gap between inspiration and implementation, delivering practical tools and mindsets that drive productivity, innovation, and lasting ROI for your organisation.

• Because Joel empowers burnt-out teams with resilience and a renewed sense of purpose. He helps those feeling stuck to rediscover their passion and re-engage with their work in meaningful ways. He changes culture.

Renowned singer Kate Cebrano describes Joel’s work as, ‘completely free, reckless and unbound in his expression.’ whilst the CEO of Village Roadshow lauds Joel as, ‘a true creative genius’ and says of his work with their executive, 'His impact on my team was nothing short of extraordinary.’

A Creativity and Innovation Specialist, Joel regularly presents at events all over the world. From the Sydney Opera House, to Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Centre, to The Metropolis in Montreal, Joel has presented at some of the most esteemed and iconic global venues. Joel is dedicated to helping leaders, teams and individuals cultivate the environment that creativity and innovation need to thrive. He champions the idea that CREATIVITY and STORY are far too important to be confined to those traditionally labeled as ‘creative' or 'story-tellers.' Rather, he urges, they are THE source for both professional and personal breakthrough.

Joel’s extensive portfolio includes clients from Village Roadshow to Hager Electric, to AIME, to the Sydney Writers Festival,  to the Global Health Summit, to the International Transforming Education Conference. No matter the industry he will bring creative breakthrough for your people. Joel has also shared the stage with leaders such as Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King), Krista Monson (Cirque du Soleil), Seth Godin, Ken Black (ex.Nike Creative Director), Annabel Crabb, Lisa Wilkinson, and Kate Ceberano.

A prolific writer himself, he has published seven spoken word/music albums, eight different poetry books, a graphic novel series and a soon to be released trilogy with Penguin-Random House. Joel is the host of the The Deep Place: On Creativity and Spirituality Podcast and the artist Ambassador for the aid and development organisation, TEARFUND Australia.

Joel also brings half-day and full-day training into workplaces to help teams not simply pay-lip-service to creative-thinking, but to fashion innovative-practice as a key-component in the way they operate. Alongside this he engages extensively with the education sector, presenting at over fifty schools annually where he has taught the creative process to hundreds of thousands of students.

Whether within the corporate or NFP world, the creative industries or the education sector Joel will not only WOW your people, he will bring next-level inspiration, breakthrough creative momentum and intentional innovation all to help them realise their own creative potential.

Soul-Stirring Performance

Joel's performance poetry is a powerful blend of emotion, insight and creative expression that resonates deeply with audiences, no matter the industry. Time and time again, people adamant that they are "not into poetry," have expressed that Joel's performative work was actually their favourite part of a conference.

Whether to kick-off or close an event, bring a creative-edge between speakers or woven seamlessly into his own keynote presentations, Joel's poetry captivates and inspires, offering moments of both humour, reflection and connection.

Joel can also craft specifically-commissioned performance pieces for events to lead attendees into deeper engagement with their themes. Whatever you need it to look like, Joel's performances provide a unique and unforgettable experience that elevates the entire conference, making it both impactful and memorable.

Dynamic Event Hosting

Whether at the Melbourne Town Hall, the Athenaeum Theatre, or the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Joel has served as the Master of Ceremonies for countless events, bringing his expertise and dynamic presence to every event he has hosted.

Known for his energetic and engaging stage presence, he brings a unique blend of humour, warmth, and professionalism to each event, ensuring they run smoothly and memorably. Whether guiding a conference, a festival, a retreat or a corporate gathering, Joel’s ability to weave storytelling with event management makes him a sought-after MC who keeps audiences entertained and engaged from start to finish.

To enquire about Joel McKerrow for your next event contact Helene Greenham directly – helene@platinumspeakers.com.au

Speaking Topics Include

Unleashing Creative Momentum:

Turning Inspiration into Innovative Breakthrough

What if every person on your team could, on cue, tap into inspiration and turn it into powerful, game-changing, innovative solutions? Most of us don’t consider ourselves inherently creative, or see its value in our careers. Yet, according to the World Economic Forum, Creative-thinking is the NUMBER ONE, in-demand, soft-skill for the future of work. Indeed, in a world that is constantly changing, no matter the industry, learning how to Unleash Creative Momentum might just be THE single most transformative skill needed for your organisation.

StoryWork:

Engaging Narrative to Spark Change

The stories that we tell become who we are – both as individuals and within the cultures of our workplaces. The success of an organisation therefore rises and falls on the basis of the stories told within it and about it. Welcome to StoryWork—a powerful approach to leveraging narrative to ignite both personal and organisational change. In this keynote Joel will demonstrate how the right stories, told in the right way, can shift perspectives, build a sense of shared purpose, and create a culture of engagement and trust.

Leading from the Inside

How Creativity Fuels Wellbeing in Leadership

As burnout and stress rise, leaders often feel drained and disconnected from their sense of purpose. This session is designed to address the increasing demands on leaders in today's high-pressure business environments. A keynote that will not only explore how creativity can serve as an antidote for any leader striving for long-term resilience, fulfilment, and a deeper sense of meaningful work; but will also awaken each persons unique creative-self, no matter how dormant this self has been.

An Analogue Poet in an AI World

Creativity and Connection in the New Era

In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and artificial intelligence, what happens when we skip the messy, human-centered process of creativity and rush to the output? In this session Joel unpacks how embracing the tension between analogue and AI, process and product, can lead us to breakthroughs that are not only innovative but also deeply human. Joel offers a roadmap to harnessing creativity that isn’t just reactive but transformative, ensuring that we don’t lose the soul of creation in the surface level of efficiency. This talk is a call to pause and rediscover the power of creative connection even as we reshape the workforce for more efficiency with AI.