Book Catherine.....
Organizing a conference, keynote speaker, function, debate, panel, personal development day or a bit of entertainment for the AGM?
Need some color, laughs, warmth and energy? An engaging, informed, thought provoking speaker who can read a room and deliver to a brief?
Catherine Deveny is one of Australia's busiest and most highly regarded professional speakers. She lectures, emcees, debates, facilitates and performs stand-up comedy for tens of thousands of people a year. She speaks on a diverse range of topics from new and old media, changing family and work life, cycling, feminism, disability, mental illness, comedy and inspirational presentations based on her own life.
BOOK CATHERINE for your next function, conference or think tank as the perfect MC, panel member, keynote, stand up spot, after dinner chat or inspirational guest speaker. Her school talks, writing master classes, workshops and professional development day sessions are extremely popular. Here’s what some people have had to say about her...
"Catherine Deveny joined us with less than 24 hours notice, stepping in for Nelly Thomas who is 6 months pregnant, battling a nasty flu and under strict doctors orders to stay in bed. Catherine certainly delivered an amazing performance. She was vibrant, exciting, hilarious but also provided reflection about life and our neighbours and the importance of looking after each other. A perfect fit for our audience and the charity we were raising funds for".
Jody Allatt & Silla Moller - Bellevue Philanthropy
“The audience was thoroughly entertained, informed and inspired: she consistently disarmed all with her wit and candidness”
Caitlin Malcolm, National Gallery of Victoria
‘Putting Catherine Deveny in a room with a group of PhD candidates to talk about communicating their research findings to the general public brings the phrase ‘cat amongst the pigeons’ to mind. It certainly made for some very nervous postgraduates. However, two hours later you’d have been hard pressed to find a more inspired, motivated and generally switched on bunch, ready to take on the world and make a real difference. Thanks, Catherine!’
Simon Clews, Director Writing Centre for Scholars and Researchers
The University of Melbourne
“Catherine Deveny is what every festival needs – a firecracker – albeit a well-organised, well-prepared and professional firecracker!”
Rosemary Cameron, Festival Director and CEO
Melbourne Writers Festival
“Catherine is the perfect Q and A guest. Smart, funny, informed and engaging.”
Tony Jones, Q & A, ABC
“Deveny live, is just like you want and expect her to be: smart, funny, iconoclastic and dangerous”
Elly Varrenti, ABC Radio National
“I write with our wholehearted thanks to you for your hilarious and intelligent arguments as a debater.”
Suzanne Gasper, State Library of Victoria
Thank you Catherine so very much for presenting the masterclass at the state conference. The participants really valued the experience, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. In fact, a few participants said that it was the highlight of the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English 2010 conference.
Kate Gillespie, Education Officer The Victorian Association for the Teaching of English READ MORE
I also had great feedback from our speakers who thoroughly enjoyed your chairing style. I loved it and still have an image in my mind of those three kids in a car at the airport with a bag of Twisties - have passed on the advice about how to keep kids in line with "You're not my favourite yet but you're getting close."
Beth Phelan, Conference Director The Mind And It's Potential and Happiness And It's Causes
“It was wonderful having Catherine, she was amazingly generous with her story. People who attended are still letting us know how good it was and how great Catherine was. Perfect for our organization’s AGM.”
Jeanette Large, Victorian Women’s Housing Association
“Catherine was responsive to her audience and really appropriate for our event. She was able to tailor her presentation to our groups needs and was thoroughly enjoyed by all”
Sarah Rosenberg, ARAFEMI (30th Anniversary)
“Catherine Deveny had us laughing and quietly crying, such extremes of emotion all in such a short space of time. The empathy of Catherine to tell it like it is in life had us reflecting on our topic of connection. When the session drew to a close we just wanted more but had to survive on the memories and the sharing later of how good the session made us feel. All 180 participants would be keen to share the moment again with Catherine, such was the caliber of the presentation. Thanks Catherine.”
Fiona Rowe, Business Manager
Ranfurly Primary School
“Catherine told some hilarious stories at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre High Tea afternoon at Fintona. She had us in hysterics. She was truly witty”
Chanelle, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre
“You never know what to expect out of Catherine’s mouth, but it never disappoints. She’s hysterical and passionate”
Hayley, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.
“Catherine spoke at one of our monthly events and it was hilarious, personal, open, honest, anecdotal and rational.”
Terry Kelly, President Victorian Skeptics
“Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival hit full throttle as Catherine Deveny took the driver’s seat as moderator. Catherine entertained the crowd with her unique mix of shock comedy and intellectual humour.”
Ken Beer, Young Engineers Australia
“Catherine Deveny is a superb speaker. Funny, outrageous, and acute, she had her audience totally engaged. She knows how to entertain, but she also knows how to make people think, and to see things differently.”
Associate Professor David McCooey, Deakin University
“She filled the Courthouse to capacity and the audience was absolutely captivated with her. Catherine’s ability to talk on almost any subject, humorously as well as sincerely, without notes, was brilliant.”
Averil Dickenson, Daylesford Words in Winter Festival
“Catherine’s presentation was both thought provoking and insightful. She had us all in fits of laughter one minute and in tears the next. “
Helen Hatherly, Australian Association of Special Education
“My Professional Writing students in their evaluations of the course claimed Catherine as one of the outstanding highlights of the Semester. These students are hard markers and can spot a phoney at a thousand paces. We’ll keep on getting her out to Vic Uni as long as she keeps kicking – and boy can she kick!”
Michael Hyde Lecturer, Faculty of Arts, Education & Human Development
Victoria University
“Her generosity and continued commitment to the women with whom we work, is demonstrated by the comments she makes on these occasions. She always manages to judge the audience perfectly and use humor beautifully, mixed with some serious messages that support our work and clearly reflect a strong value alignment with the organization. Her warmth and her energy are always instrumental in ensuring that every occasion she MCs for Fitted for Work is a great success.”
Marion Webster, Founder and National Chair Fitted for Work
Catherine can craft something for your needs. Here are some of her recent presentations....
‘The Ten Things you need to know before you die, and The Ten Things I learn on the way.’
‘43 years and 20 hairstyles. A hilarious ride through Catherine’s amazing life from growing up disadvantaged and dyslexic in public housing to becoming a comedian, writing for television, teaching English in Japan, writing columns, becoming an atheist poster girl surviving heartbreak, cancer, three children and a public stoning to falling in love again and being named one of the top 10 Most Influential Melbournians.’
'Porn. Why it's Good For You.'
'Social networking. How we have more connections but less cross pollination.'
'How feminism advances men.'
'I'm a 1970s mother. Benevolent neglect, quality boredom and independance through indifference.'
'Australian voters are bored and frustrated by politics and politicans but deeply and passionately engaged with issues. And why.'
'Australia has an emotion. And it's envy.'
'Freedom of speech is over-rated.'
‘When you don't know what to do, do anything. Our society, families and workplaces have a fear of failure, are change resistant and risk adverse. Why and how we must encourage making mistakes.’
'Australians don't discuss they barrack.'
‘Tantrum With Reality. Let’s get to the best possible place with the least amount of damage.’
‘We are being run by dead guys. There are a disproportionate amount of middle aged, middle class rich white men who are straight (or acting) God fearing (or pretending) running the joint. Why we need to diversify the public and how we can.’
‘The Offensoratti. How they are helping our society progress and how offence is good for out health.’
‘Comedy, Comment and Procrastination. Writng workshop perfect for any group.’
NEW!
‘80's music trivia quiz. Crimp your hair, pull on your legwarmers and rock out with your frock out to Culture Club, Pseudo Echo, Wham and Flock of Seagulls.
Catherine's hugely popular 80's music trivia quiz is a one size fits all crowd pleaser. We do it all (the equipment too!) thanks to Galaga, the tech gimp in the CHOOSE LIFE tee shirt.’
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