The Great Debate

Daniel Evans is the Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre, and a celebrated director, playwright, and theatre-maker. With a career spanning over 20 years, Evans began his journey at Queensland Theatre at age 16, winning the Young Playwrights Award. He has since established himself as a trail-blazing theatre-maker with acclaimed works such as Oedipus Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Drizzle Boy and Vietgone. Daniel has also been a driving force behind Queensland Theatre’s Door 3 program, supporting independent creatives. His leadership is shaping a vibrant future for Queensland’s theatre scene, fostering local talent and delivering compelling productions.

Kelly is a curious broadcaster who finds the extraordinary in the everyday and shares it with her ABC Evenings listeners. She began her ABC career in 1999 after working in commercial radio and has since covered reporting, news reading, and presenting. In 2004, she took on the Statewide Afternoons program, later hosting Drive for six years before returning to Afternoons in 2012. Named ABC Local Radio Broadcaster of the Year in 2007, Kelly brings warmth, insight, and a thirst for knowledge to every show, inviting experts, celebrities, and everyday people to help her uncover fascinating truths and fresh perspectives. 

Craig is an award-winning broadcaster with over a decade of experience sharing stories across Queensland, now waking up Brisbane each weekday morning alongside co-host Loretta Ryan. Known for his adventurous spirit, Craig has broadcasted live from locations like the top of Brisbane's Story Bridge and Queensland’s Gulf Country cattle stations. Originally from Rockhampton, he studied engineering and business before discovering his love for radio. When not on air, Craig is an avid adventurer, musician, and Sunday night TV weather presenter for ABC News. His passion, energy, and local knowledge make him the ideal companion to start your day. 

Loretta began her radio career at 17 and has worked across scheduling, production, promotions, news, and presenting. She spent seven years at Stereo Ten completing a newsroom cadetship, then 16 years at Triple M as News Director and co-host. At Radio 4BH and 4BC, she hosted various programs including Breakfast and Afternoon shows. Beyond radio, she’s worked in television, PR, and marketing, hosting lifestyle and music programs, and is a sought-after MC and moderator. Since 2015, Loretta has been with ABC Radio Brisbane, presenting across all programs and hosting the Regional Drive show in 2016.

Jenny Woodward is a seasoned weather presenter for ABC TV News, widely recognised across Queensland. With 25 years in the industry, she holds multiple diplomas, including in Creative Arts, Speech and Drama, and Interior Decorating. Jenny’s career began at Channel 10 in Toowoomba, before moving to Channel 7 in Brisbane, where she contributed to the children’s show Wombat. Since joining ABC News, she has presented weather across the state, known for her lively reports, often surrounded by animals at events like the Brisbane Ekka. Jenny is also a sought-after guest speaker, compere, and the winner of a 2004 Queensland Media Award. 

Rachel Burke is a practicing multidisciplinary artist, designer, and author based in Brisbane, Australia. Known for her vibrant, tactile wearable artworks and iconic tinsel creations, her work is inspired by a love for naive craft materials and transforming the mundane into the magical. Rachel has exhibited her work in many gallery spaces across Australia, including Side Gallery, The Museum of Brisbane, Walker Street Gallery, Saint Cloche Gallery, and The Australian Centre of the Moving Image. She has also published six books: Make It Up (March, 2025), Fancy Long Legs (2024), Craft Roach (2023), Pla Pla: Gather, Make, Play. (2023), Be Dazzling (2018), and Daphne & Daisy (2017).

Neridah is a choreographer, performer and theatre maker. She's toured her work to The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, USA, England and extensively throughout Australia with Lala Parlour, Common People Dance Project, The Brides of Frank and The Escapists. She's worked as an actor/choreographer for La Boîte, Queensland Theatre, Imaginary Theatre, DeBase, Metro Arts, Brisbane Powerhouse, PlayLab, Flipside Circus and NORPA. She's choreographed large-scale community projects for Queensland Music Festival and QPAC's Out Of The Box Festival. Neridah runs her own company called the Common People Dance Project where she runs various community dance projects including the Living Room Dance Party, the Socially Distanced Dance Party and the Eisteddfod with a regular outcome each year at Brisbane Festival, The Horizon Festival in the Sunshine Coast, the Spark Festival in Ipswich and Wynnum Fringe. She performed Boyle and Waters in LEOTARD at Metro Arts and toured through Queensland. Neridah performed in Dirty Fame Flash Candles Club at the Judith Wright Centre, Brisbane Comedy Festival and has recently returned from a tour from outback Queensland.

Karmichael Hunt is currently coaching Rugby League in Queensland with the Souths Logan Magpies/Brisbane Broncos. He has professionally played Rugby League prior with the Magpies as well as the Brisbane Broncos, AFL with the Gold Coast Suns and Rugby Union with QLD Reds & NSW Waratahs, as well as representing his country as part of the Australian Wallabies. This means, Karmichael is the first person in Australia to have reached an elite level in three different football codes, two at a National level. Hunt made his debut for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL in 2004 and won the Dally M Rookie of the Year award that same year. He has also represented Queensland Maroons in State of Origin during 2006-2009. When Hunt transitioned to a new Challenge in the AFL, with 3 years at the Gold Coast Suns, he was named in the Courier Mail 2011 Queensland Australian Rules football Team of the Year.