“Warm generosity,
deft poetry,
powerful charisma
and no ego.”
~ Krista Monson- Creative Director- Cirque Du Soleil ~
"Joel McKerrow reminds us
why unplugged MC bards
are as rock-n-rollin their art
as any guitar band."
Joel Mckerrow
is obsessed with STORY and CREATIVITY and the way they can change people and culture.
A creativity specialist, Joel can help you...
INSPIRE your people and your team.
Bring INNOVATION back into your work culture.
Take your event to a whole other level of CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT.
MOTIVATE your students in their Creative Development.
Take leaps forward in your own CREATIVE PRACTICE.
bio...
Based out of Melbourne, Australia, Joel McKerrow is an award winning writer, keynote speaker, creativity specialist, educator, artist, and, having performed for hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world, is one of Australia’s most successful internationally touring, performance poets.
Full-time in his creative career for the past fifteen years Joel is currently the Director of The School for Creative Development and works extensively with leaders, teams, entrepreneurs and creatives to help them navigate their way forward. He is the Artist Ambassador for the aid and development organisation ‘TEARFUND Australia’, is on teaching staff at the Melbourne Young Writers Studio, is the co-founder/host of the The Deep Place: On Creativity and Spirituality Podcast and is a speaker with BOOKED OUT speaker agency. Joel is also very passionate about creative education and over the last fifteen years has taught poetry and the creative process to over 70,000 students in schools/colleges all over the world.
Joel was the third ever Australian representative at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships in the USA as well the co-founder of community arts organisation, 'The Centre for Poetics and Justice' (2010-2013) and the host of the Australian National Poetry Slam for the State of Victoria (2017-2019). He is a highly sought after speaker/performer at conferences, festivals and retreats all over the world including: Story Gathering Conference (Nashville), ITEC (International Transforming Education Conference), The Emerging Writer's Festival, Greenbelt festival (UK), Graceland Festival (Netherlands), Somerset Storyfest, The Global Health Summit, Cairns Tropical Writers Festival, Whitsundays Youth Voices Festival, The Justice Conference (AUS, US and NZ), Williamstown Literary Festival, Christian Education National Conference, Anglican Schools Australia Conference, Amnesty International Conference, and many more.
In publishing Joel has released five spoken word/music albums, four published books of poetry and one creative non-fiction called WOVEN: A Faith for the Dissatisfied. He also has his first Junior Fiction/Graphic novel due for release with Larrikin House publishers in early 2024. Joel has had his work featured in such publications as: Mindfood Magazine, Relevant Magazine, Going Down Swinging Literary Journal, Soul-tread magazine, Spirituality for Youth Work (Cambridge Scholars Press), Australian Stories for the Soul (Strand Publishing), Gestalt Arts and Culture Journal, New Urban World Journal, and many more.
What the People Have to Say
“The old windows are not letting in much light. Nor do they allow people to look out, through and beyond. We see it everywhere: in the cynicism of politics, the machinery of the
market, the intransigence of religion passing for faith, and the ravaged quality of so many human lives. Light is not getting through. We have always waited and asked for better windows, a truer lens, some ways to see the brightness and goodness that we somehow know is there. It is to this deeper, already knowing, that Joel McKerrow appeals. He draws us through a much better window.”
~ Father Richard Rohr,
~ The Centre for Action and Contemplation ~
“Joel is a special human being who brings care and magic to everything he works on. Our community of storytellers are among some of the most creative people in the world, and he displayed a unique ability to inspire and move them deeply.”
~ Harris III ~
~ Director of STORY GATHERING- Nashville ~
I witnessed the incredibly talented Joel McKerrow at STORY Gatherings in Nashville where I was also a main stage speaker. He is captivating. He stole the ‘show’ with an extraordinary blend of warm generosity, deft poetry, powerful charisma and no ego. I left awed and authentically grateful to be in his presence.
~ Krista Monson- Creative Director ~ Cirque De Sole- Las Vegas.
Joel McKerrow does what poets should do ... makes you laugh, think, cry, pray, hope, worship, wonder, and sit back and say, "Ahh, now I see!" In a time when politics, theology, and other important avenues of human intercourse suffer from a flatness of prose and a vacuum of meaning,
Joel walks on stage just when we need him, sounding off with all the craft of a first-rate poet and all the verve of a first-rate performer.
~ Brian McLaren, author/speaker/activist ~
"Joel is a powerful presence in any room. He makes each individual feel seen, valued, and connected to a deeper place. His poetry
is booming, spectacular; but his message even more. He is in the uppermost tier of speakers I've worked with, so much so that I hired him again, and again.”
~ Brooke Shaden – Founder, Promoting Passion Conference ~
Joel McKerrow is a true leader in Australia's performance poetry scene...A man who can tear a roof down with his performances and
bring tears with his subtle eloquence. Joel's writing reveals a wisdom beyond his years and his devotion to his work and to the greater good of all of humanity shines unwaveringly.
~ Luka Lesson ~ Australian Poetry Slam Champion
‘Joel McKerrow is not just some redhead... he's just some redhead who happens to be an exceptional spoken word artist. Fiercely political and humane... the fact that he's a redhead is inconsequential. He's a redhead.’
~ Shane Koyczan- Canadian poet ~