Teen Gala 2023

Corbin is a graduate of Nossal High School with a passion for public speaking, debating, theatre and linguistics. As a Russian-speaking immigrant from Kazakhstan, and a transgender man, his support for LGBTQ+ rights, politics, trans liberation, multiculturalism and linguistic diversity are deeply personal. In 2023 Corbin came runner-up in VCAA's Plain English Speaking Awards with a speech about trans rights in Australia and worldwide.

Juliet is a fourteen-year-old girl who has been fortunate enough to grow up with a passport constantly in hand. While finding her home in United States, Malaysia and Australia, Juliet has found a love for reading and writing. The diversity of storytelling throughout these cultures and lands is her inspiration. Juliet enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her dog named Oslo. She loves watching old movies with her grandmas, mango smoothies and taking long walks on the beach.

Wesley is a recent high school graduate and a Kwong Lee Dow Scholar at the University of Melbourne. He has a background of community service in his local area, Monash City, and a special interest in Mental Health, Youth Voice and Indigenous Australia. Wesley avidly champions youth rights, previously leading a five-year-long campaign to Federal Government for a dedicated Headspace Centre, which concluded successfully after the centre was delivered in 2020. As an advocate for multiculturalism, Wesley represented Australia as a delegate in the Edinburgh International Culture Summit. He has acquired a certificate in four courses from Harvard University, including “Children’s Rights in Theory and Practice”. In school, Wesley served three years as the student Co-Editor for publications, and is the Debating Vice-Captain. This year, Wesley won the State Championship of the Plain English Speaking Award (PESA), and represented Victoria at the National Final.

Saskia de Leeuw Kyle (she/her) is a writer and aspiring journalist based in Melbourne. She loves to write and read fiction (especially YA romcoms). You can find her work on the website Rosie Respect. She was a member of the 2023 YMCA Youth Press Gallery and the winner of the 2023 One Teen Story Competition. Saskia loves film, literature, languages, and travel and she aspires to be a teen author.

Felix is an aspiring young public speaker at Preston High School. He can’t wait to grow up and be able to make a change in the world through the art of public speaking. He is passionate about maths, poetry and science. Felix would like to thank their friends and family for giving them the confidence to take opportunities like this.

Mali Hawke is a stand-up comedian. He has most recently hosted Up Next Comedy at Arts Centre Melbourne, was a finalist in The Melbourne Comedy Festival's Class Clowns in 2021, and has since performed in various other lineups including Wheeler Centre's 'Mum's The Word' gala.

Poppy Holden is a Year 10 student from Melbourne. She won the Stonnington ‘What’s Your Story?’ competition in 2019 and 2021, and the VATE ‘A Story in Miniature’ in 2022. She has always loved stories - reading them and writing them.

Abigail Kay is a year 9 student who lives in the outer reaches of Melbourne with her family, her dog, her cat, two guinea pigs and a stick insect. She won the Year 7-9 OutLoud Secondary Slam 2023. Abi developed a passion for reading and writing at a very young age. Much of her work stems from her love of visual art and music, intertwining the expressiveness and creativity of different art forms. She could never choose a favourite poet. Her perfectionism led her to overthink this bio.

Reggie is a young singer/songwriter from Melbourne. They find solace in writing music, drawing inspiration from a range of genres.

Rehe Kōrero are the 2023 Word – The Front Line Champions! Winning the title after competing against hundreds of poets from across Tāmaki Makaurau in the largest youth poetry event in Aotearoa New Zealand. Milan Moala, Piremina Ngapera, Koromiko Jacob-Williams and Billy McCarthy are powerful indigenous spoken word artists who create multi-voiced works that celebrate their culture while speaking truth to power.

Fig is a 17-year-old emerging poet and artist. They grew up in rural Victoria, and much of their work is inspired by the bush terrain where they grew up, finding ways to integrate the themes of native Australian flora and fauna into their artworks. Fig has performed previously at the 2022 Teen Gala, with their collection of poems titled "words for edan." They were also made runner up of the 2022 Redroom Poem Forest competition with "rural preteen." Their work has been published online many times in a variety of ways, both visual and written mediums.

Claudia Sherman is a Year 12 student from Melbourne. Claudia’s love of literature, history, and travel has encouraged her passion for writing. She aspires to explore and develop this in her future.