The Full Catastrophe

Rebecca Huntley is one of Australia's most respected researchers on social and consumer trends, and head of research at Essential Media. She is the author of Still Lucky: Why You Should Feel Optimistic About Australia and Its People.

Sarah Macdonald is a broadcaster, writer and facilitator. She currently presents Weekend Nightlife on ABC radio for insomniacs and night owls. Her bestselling book Holy Cow has sold more than a quarter of a million copies and been translated into several languages.

Maxine McKew is an author and Hon Enterprise Professor of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne.

Her most recent book, published by Melbourne University Press in 2014, is Class Act – a study of the key challenges in Australian schooling. This publication followed the success of her memoir, Tales From the Political Trenches, an account of her brief but tumultuous time in the Federal Parliament. 

Maxine’s background traverses both journalism and politics. For many years she was a familiar face to ABC TV viewers and was anchor of prestigious programmes such as The 7.30 Report and Lateline. Her work has been recognized by her peers with both Walkley and Logie Awards. When she left journalism and made the switch to politics, she wrote herself into the Australian history books by defeating Prime Minister John Howard in the Sydney seat of Bennelong. In government she was parliamentary secretary for early childhood and later, for regional development and local government.

Libbi Gorr is a presenter and broadcaster working across print, radio and television. Libbi is currently a guest reporter for the ABC’s flagship current affairs program 7.30, and hosts ABC Radio Melbourne’s Sundays program. She is known for her iconic comedy creation Elle McFeast in the ‘90s and early 2000s for the ABC and Network 10.

Libbi has written two books, The A To Z Of Mummy Manners and The Bedtime Poem for Edible Children. She is a regular columnist with the food and wine magazine Selector and is a regular guest commentator on programs such as Studio 10 and The Project.