Jean
Kittson
Speaker Profile
Jean Kittson is one of the best known and most popular media personalities in Australasia. Her talents span speaking, writing and acting and she can be found amusing audiences in the theatre, in print, on radio and television; and at many a conference or event.
She made her comedy debut at Melbourne's legendary comedy venue Le Joke in a series of solo performances, and then in the stage version of Let the Blood Run Free. This show later became a television series for Network Ten and Britain's Channel Four, and was distributed worldwide.
Jean earned national fame through ABC TV's The Big Gig as a comic chameleon, with characters as diverse as Veronica Glenhuntley the lovelorn newsreader; Candida the new-age aerobics instructor; Rose McCloud, the acerbic air hostess and many others. Following this success, Jean teamed up with Maryanne Fahey to become the first female comedians to have their own show on Australian TV, Kittson Fahey, which won a Silver Medal at the New York Television Festival.
Jean Kittson's other television appearances include starring in Channel 9's series Flat Chat, as a regular guest on Good News Week and as a presenter of the ABC's Media Dimensions program. She is also well known for her lively comedy debates in The Great Debate series. Jean has also been a regular guest on ABC TV's The Einstein Factor and The Glass House.
In 1990 Jean starred in the David Williamson play Siren. In 1991 and 1992 she starred with Glynn Nicholas and Philip Scott in The Big Giggle, a stage version of the TV show. In 1995 Jean wrote and performed her own one-woman play Escape, and other theatre highlights include A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Night of the Missing Bridegroom and Behind the Mask. Jean also performed Love Letters with Glynn Nicholas for the Melbourne Arts Festival and revisited the role in 2003 at the Noosa Arts and Cultural Festival with the late Campbell McComas.
On radio Jean has been a writer and performer with Sydney's 2DAY FM, a regular guest on ABC's 702 with Richard Glover and a breakfast presenter with MIX 106.5.
Jean has amused audiences in print with columns in Health Smart magazine, New Weekly magazine, the Sunday Telegraph magazine, and The (Sydney) Magazine, a monthly supplement with The Sydney Morning Herald. She has appeared in a number of television commercials and in 1998 published a collection of humorous observations titled Tongue Lashing which became a Penguin best-seller.
Jean has also appeared in many feature films, among them Bill Bennett's The Nugget in 2002, and Hating Alison Ashley in 2005, starring alongside Delta Goodrem.
Jean Kittson's performance and style have returned to the theatre. With a decade away from her much loved theatrical audiences, she has received wide acclaim with Mums the Word 2: Teenagers, the sequel to her famous play Mums the Word, and has recently finished performing in a sellout season of Calendar Girls.
Jean is an Ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Australia, Macular Degeneration Foundation, Junction Works, and Remifemin.
Jean is one of the most in demand corporate performers equally at home as the most polished and creative master of ceremonies or the hilarious comedienne.
Travels from Australia
Client Comments
Client Comments
- Jean Kittson was an absolute pleasure to work with and was very well suited to the event and to our clientele.
Treasury Casino and Hotel - Jean was absolutely OUTSTANDING. She was careful to do her research and cover the core topics and weave in the theme of diversity and inclusion in an engaging, insightful and humorous way. We have had so much terrific feedback
NSW EEO Practitioners' Association - Jean was excellent. The presentation was very entertaining
Sullivan Dewing - Jean was very well prepared, pitched her presentation at the right level and was extremely well received by the audience.
Commonwealth Bank - From the first day, once the strongly male audience had gotten used to a smart female, Jean went from strength to strength. Great to work with and we would recommend whole heartedly.
Waldron Smith Management - Jean was excellent for our awards ceremony, she was very funny and entertaining for our guests.
Beyond PR - Jean is a fantastic speaker and always is extremely well prepared This was a mining industry function and she had researched it well. This is the second time Ms Kittson has been our MC and once again she did an outstanding job.
Mitsui & Co - Ms Kittson is an absolute marvel! She agreed to take on the APSEA 2006 entertainment slot at extremely short notice. As a result, she was given only a very "brief" brief about this newly-emerging and complex industry. Not only did she entertain the audience (in fact, she had them in teary fits) but she presented an industry-relevant segment from an extremely funny and original perspective. She was clearly the highlight of the event. I am impressed with Jean's thorough professionalism - her ability to take on such a difficult task on such short notice is testament to her talent and commitment to her clients. I would have no hesitation recommending Jean - and, indeed, engaging her again myself! She is an outstanding entertainer and a delightful and charming person to boot. Thanks to Saxton's and to Jean for a job well done!
Australian Spatial Information Business Assoc - I wished to express our thanks and sincere appreciation for your excellent role of Mistress of Ceremonies at our recent National Congress. We have received a number of verbal comments regarding your professionalism as well as how your humour and research added to an overall positive experience of Congress.
BBC Entertainment - Jean was absolutely fantastic. She was great with the winners and all attendees both before her stand up and after
East Gippsland Institute of TAFE - Jean was terrific. She is very personable, highly professional, extremely talented and most eager to be involved. Jean showed what a charming and highly intelligent person she is by staying well after her performance and participating in some of our activities the next day notwithstanding that she was accompanied by her children and Husband. Jean was very much appreciated by our delegates. Her booking was an inspiring choice, even if I say so myself.
Bus & Coach Association (NSW) - Our feedback is all positive - very happy with Jean Kittson
Association of Women Educators - She was terrific
Australian Institute of Company Directors - Jean is a very entertaining and generous speaker. She was very well received by our attendees.
LGMA NSW - An absolute delight, well researched, polished, accomplished, professional and excellent. Would definitely re-book.
Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia - The feedback we've received is that your speech is probably the best post-lunch speech that they've had in a long time. That's high praise indeed for a girl! I am sure you knew how well received you were on the day, the response from the audience was unequivocal.
It was an absolute pleasure having you here and I hope that you enjoyed the event as well.
Australian Institute of Company Directors - Clever lady.
AMCA (NSW) - Jean had done her research thoroughly on the insurance business and got many laughs on such things as 'Marine Hull Insurance' which apparently is a mystery to everyone, and the signing of an insurance contract across the kitchen table - it was hysterical. She also included reference to two guys that had done something for charity during the day and referred to them personally and made their day! Absolutely lovely and charming.
The Conference Team - She was very good, the audience responded really well to her.
Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival - Jean Kittson was delightful to deal with
Youth Literature Festival - Alot of comments received about Jean and her sense of humour. It was obvious that she had done her homework on Elgas and by integrating this into her speeches, got the dinner crowd on side and involved. A great choice for our Awards Night. Kept it moving and entertaining.
Elgas Limited - Jean was highly entertaining and created a personalised routine based on our crowd and their interests. We sent out feedback forms to our delegates and everyone has raved about Jean and how much they enjoyed the entertainment.
AGL - Jean Kittson was a true professional in all aspects - and a lovely lady to boot! As an MC she was perfect for our function, wrapping our audience up in a little cocoon of warmth and humour and creating just the right ambience. Even when there were slight mechanical glitches, Jean smoothly carried on and the audience were none the wiser. Thank you for recommending her.
Australian Family - Yet again Jean Kittson proved to be entertaining while keeping the crowd under control and working her way through the "must say" items (partners, setting the scene etc.).
Australian Business Arts Foundation - Jean was challenged with a hard topic to facilitate
Tailored Statements - Jean was amazing, she managed to make a very technical and dry topic entertaining with her anecdotes and comical insights into the every day. She was fantastic!
EAN Australia - Jean was well received by our guests and the evening seemed to flow well with humour and her professionalism.
Master Builders Association of Australia - Jean Kittson was a terrific guest speaker & the audience thoroughly enjoyed her performance.
East Gippsland Institute of Tafe - Jean was absolutely fabulous - well prepared, well researched, well presented. Oh and she stole the hearts of about 100 guys.
LME Downunder - Jean's vibrant personality, affable nature and wonderful zest for life make her a fantastic speaker and personality. She has many 'fans' present and they couldn't get enough of her. She was willing to please and open to everything we suggested.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of SA & NT Inc. - Jean Kittson's presentation was a sensational performance and captivated the entire audience.
CSL Limited - Jean is just the best speaker - not only her expression but her humour.
Law Office Management Group Inc. (NSW) - Jean was great. She prepared herself well and read the group well - very professional and very funny.
RAC - Jean was incredible! The audience absolutely loved her performance. She was truly professional and read the audience well.
Aged Care Queensland - Jean was well prepared and delvered a witty, engaging and entertaining performance.
Electric Cement - Jean obviously puts in a great deal of time and effort into her presentations - she was able to entertain an extremely varied group of people with her humour.
Bass Hotels and Resorts - Jean was absolutely outstanding. She researched the topic with great thoroughness and was really able to target her presentation to her audience. Intelligent, perceptive and witty and managed to put a light-hearted view but insightful spin on some difficult issues.
Young Irrigation Network - One of the great debaters - superb delivery from extensively researched material. A lady and comedian of the highest order - witty, sensuous and clever.
Goldwell Cosmetics - What a brilliant performance! Not only did you contribute a creative address but you did so with charm and good manner.
Housing Industry Association - Jean was fantastic - she really contributed to the debate and I appreciated the extra time and effort she kindly gave to ensure the event was a success.
Guardian Pharmacy - Very few comedians would take the time to research an organisation as thoroughly as Jean did. Her efforts were well rewarded by a very appreciative audience. That is when they could stop laughing to do so!
Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria - Fantastic! Dynamic! Amazing! A real star! Jean created a script and is a lovely and accommodating lady. She was perfect as a representative of Aherns: articulate, intelligent and gorgeous!
Aherns
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"To see the earth as it truly is, small and blue and beautiful in that eternal silence where it floats, is to see ourselves as riders on the earth together, brothers on that bright loveliness in the eternal cold."
Archibald MacLeish