Because creativity is far too important
to be left only to the creatives.
Inspiring Keynotes
Dynamic
MCing
Conference Performance Poetry
Poetic Wrap Up
Joel is a true creative genius and his impact on my team was nothing short of extraordinary."
~ Clark Kirby — CEO Village Roadshow ~
Transforming Stagnation into Creative Momentum.
– Visionary Speaker – Creative Strategist – Storytelling Expert – Highly-Acclaimed Educator – Best-Selling Author – Award Winning Performance Poet – Engaging MC –
Joel McKerrow is a creativity, storytelling and communication specialist who has inspired hundreds-of-thousands people across the globe with his passionate performative style, highly inspiring keynotes, strategic training and dynamic event-hosting. Full-time in this work for over sixteen years, delivering more than 300 presentations in 2025 alone, Joel is one of Australia's most booked speakers and presenters.
Australia’s only certified Applied-Narrative-Intelligence specialist, Joel works with organisations in many different industries, to leverage the power of STORY and CREATIVITY in their communication, marketing, innovation, customer-service, leadership, well-being, culture-building and so much more. Joel empowers leaders to transform their organisations through visionary thinking, narrative-driven leadership and creative-problem solving.
Joel McKerrow is an award-winning Australian author, bestselling writer, highly-acclaimed educator (speaking in over 80 schools in 2025), and one of the country’s leading spoken word artists. He is the 2025-26 VIC/TAS president for Professional Speakers Australia (PSA), the Director of The School For Creative Development, an author with Penguin Random House, the Artist Ambassador for Tearfund Australia, host of The Deep Place Podcast and the third ever Australian representative at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships.
Major Business Keynote Topics
The Creative Shift:
A masterclass in
Creative Breakthrough
The World Economic Forum ranks creativity as the #1 soft skill for the future of work. Yet, most organisations either pay it lip-service, treat it like a luxury, or hand the entire creative process over to generative AI. The result? Our creative muscle is atrophying. With over 70% of social media content now AI-generated, cutting through the noise will require something far more human.
This session is a deep-dive into Strategic-Creativity It is a roadmap for the creative-process of innovation. Yes, AI is a powerful tool for efficiency and scale, but if you want to truly connect with customers , if you want to spark innovation and re-energise your team, nothing beats human-centred curiosity, imagination and creative thinking.
Creativity is not a skill for some, it's a process for everyone. So, what if every person on your team could, on cue, tap into inspiration, find creative flow, and turn ideas into impactful innovation? That’s not a luxury. That’s your competitive edge.
Story-Driven:
Leveraging the power of Narrative-Intelligence
The force that drives ALL human behaviour is STORY. The force that drives the success of your business and your leadership is STORY.
We tell our stories and then our stories becomes us, both as individuals and as organisations. Therefore, every problem you face is a STORY problem. Your organisation will rise and fall on the basis of the stories told about it and within it.
How crucial it is then, to recognise the shaping power of story & learn how to leverage that power. This is narrative intelligence.
If you want to communicate vision, motivate your team, connect with clients, boost your brand, enhance work culture, or increase customer engagement and sales – it is all about telling the right stories, at the right time, in the right way.
In an era of content overload and digital fatigue, people are craving the meaningful and the memorable. For moments that take our breath away and invite us into something extraordinary. Whether through events, hospitality, design, customer experience, or communication, this is the purpose of intentional experience-design.
This keynote/training dives into the art of experience design through the lens of story: how to shape customer journeys that resonate emotionally, build loyalty, and spark transformation. We’ll explore how small moments create big impact, how narratives guide customer perception, and how intentional design turns ordinary interactions into unforgettable encounters.
The Art of Experience
Designing Moments that Matter
Leading from Within
The Self-Awareness Every Leader Needs
What’s happening within a leader will always shape what happens through them. In the face of change, crisis and constant demand, the most effective leaders are not just strategic thinkers, they’re deeply self-aware.
This is crucial as the level of burn-out and breakdown amongst leaders is on the rise. Leaders feeling drained and disconnected from their sense of self and their purpose. The problem is, we are really good at plugging the holes, until the damn wall breaks. We see this reality over and over.
The truth is that leadership simply isn’t sustainable without well-being and self-awareness. This keynote explores the internal narratives that drive leadership behaviour, revealing how creativity, emotional insight, and a re-authoring of personal story form the foundation of resilient, values-aligned leadership. Because if you want to lead others well, you must first understand the story you’re leading from.
Tailored to fit the brief for the event.
Each available as keynote, workshop or full day training.
Dynamic MCing
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.
"Joel is remarkably gifted at reading a room and knowing where to take them. He effortlessly blends into any event and brings such meaningful words to take the event forward." (William Decker – Graceland Festival)
Conference Performance Poetry
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.
Poetic Wrap Up
Capturing the Collective Experience
This is something truly and uniquely special. At conferences all over the world Joel uses his observational and linguistic skills, to translate what has been communally shared within the conference into a one-off, unique poetic performance that is delivered back to the delegates.
It is a poetic wrap-up that is sure to leave your attendees with both their hearts and their mouths wide open. Available either after each main session, or at the end of a conference.
This is what it can look like...
Why Joel...?
Because you want a speaker 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.
Trusted by...
