Tommy Dean
Is an American comedian with a unique understanding of Australia, its audiences and above all, what makes us laugh. Indeed, the cultural divide between Americans and Australians provides much of his intelligent observational humour. Tommy’s performance style is laid back to say the least and he’s consistently a stand out winner with audiences across his adopted nation. Firmly established as one of Australia’s most sought-after comic performers and writers, he is a huge hit with theatre audiences, corporate clients and festival producers and on TV and radio shows. In constant demand on the live circuit, Tommy is a regular headline act in comedy venues around Australia. He has also performed in many of the leading comedy clubs in the USA as well as New Zealand, North America, Europe and South East Asia. Some of Tommy Deans’ TV credits include: Spick and Specks, Sunrise, The Glasshouse, O’Loghlin, (regular guest and writer), Backburner (writer), The Fat (guest and writer), Good News Week, Thank God it’s Friday, The Today Show, and the Take No Prisoners Amnesty International Comedy Festival for Foxtel.
Jean Kitson
As a performer and scriptwriter for stage, television, radio, magazines and newspapers, Jean Kittson came to national attention on ‘The Big Gig’, followed by Let the Blood Run Free, Kittson Fahey, Good News Week, the Glasshouse, Flat Chat, The Einstein Factor, Media Dimensions and Strictly Speaking. Well known for her comedy debates for the ABC, Channel 9 and Channel ten, she has been a regular columnist with New Weekly, Sunday Telegraph, the Sydney Morning Herald – Sydney Magazine, Inspire Magazine, the Readers Digest Health Smart magazine and The Hoopla. She is the author of ‘Tongue Lashing’, published by Penguin, as well as her latest book ‘You’re still hot to me’, published by Pan Macmillan. Her film credits include Hating Alison Ashley and The Nugget. Theatre includes Mum’s the Word, Calendar Girls, Siren, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is a regular guest on ABC 702 radio drive programme, Thank God It’s Friday.
Shankari Chandran
Is an Australian Tamil lawyer and the author of Safe Haven (2024), Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens (Miles Franklin Literary Award 2023), Song of the Sun God (2022), The Barrier (2017) and Unfinished Business (2024, Audible). She is the deputy chair of Writing NSW and lives in Sydney with her husband and four children.
Robyn Davidson
Is the author of several books including Travelling Light, Desert Places and the international best seller Tracks. Born on a cattle property in Queensland, she went to Sydney in the late sixties, before going to Alice Springs to prepare for her journey across Australia. Her recent memoir, Unfinished Woman, was published in 2023. She has travelled extensively throughout her life, and has lived in London, New York and India. She is now based in regional Victoria.
Chris Hammer
Is a multi-award-winning Australian crime fiction author. His first novel Scrublands was an instant bestseller. His most recent book is The Seven.
Wendy Harmer
Has enjoyed a long and successful career in journalism, stage performance, TV and radio broadcasting and as an author. She has written some 30 books for children, young adults and adults. Her latest is her memoir Lies My Mirror Told Me.
Richard Glover
Richard Glover’s books include the bestsellers The Land Before Avocado, Flesh Wounds and Love, Clancy. His latest is Best Wishes – a book about making the world a better, less annoying place, one wish at a time. He writes weekly for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age and presents the comedy show Thank God It’s Friday on ABC Local Radio.
