LitFest 2025 Speaker Panel

Join us for an exciting speaker panel at LitFest 2025 as we explore the evolving role of human storytelling in an era shaped by artificial intelligence. As technology continues to advance, storytelling must adapt to maintain its power and relevance.

The panel features four renowned authors: Joel McKerrow, an award-winning poet and creativity specialist with 15 years of global performance experience; Jack Heath, bestselling author of over 20 action-packed books, many optioned for film and TV; Rawah Arja, a passionate Muslim author and creative writing teacher from Western Sydney; and Sue Whiting, acclaimed children’s and YA author with numerous bestsellers and award-winning books.

Hosted by two student MCs, this conversation promises to ignite fresh perspectives on creativity, narrative, and the future of storytelling in a digital world.

Timing

6.00pm–6.30pm
- Pre-event nibbles and chats with the authors in the library
6.30pm–7.30pm
- Speaker Panel in the OBLT (Old Boys Lecture Theatre)

Speakers

Joel McKerrow
Creativity specialist Joel McKerrow is an award-winning author, speaker, educator, and is one of Australia’s most successful and experienced performance poets.

For fifteen years full-time he has toured on stages throughout world, including representing Australia at the Individual World Poetry Slam Championships.

Jack Heath
Jack Heath is the bestselling author of more than twenty action-packed books. He wrote his first novel in high school, and it was published while he was still a teenager.

Since then his work has been translated into several languages, shortlisted for many awards and optioned for film and television. His enthusiastic presentations have helped thousands of kids get hooked on reading.

Rawah Arja
Rawah Arja is a passionate young Muslim author from Western Sydney whose work has featured at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, SBS Voices as well as the Sydney Review of Books.

She teaches creative writing workshops at schools, specialising in reluctant readers and writers.

Sue Whiting
Sue Whiting is an acclaimed children’s and YA author and editor who has worked in publishing for twenty years. Sue has written numerous books for a variety of age groups, including the bestselling Missing, the award-winning The Book of Chance and a number of CBCA Notable Picture Books.

As a storyteller and schools’ performer, Sue has informed, inspired and entertained thousands of kids across the country.