Joan
Saxton

Speaker Profile

In the 1960s long before anyone else had a lecture agency or conference organising business, Joan Saxton, Australia's first lecture agent, was invited to talk at the University of Melbourne on the topic: 'Why Pay a Speaker?' Running an agency based upon payment to speakers was a challenge in those particular times, though completely accepted now as are other lecture agencies and professional organisers. Joan says pioneering is always a thrill and gets the adrenaline going.

Breaking new ground is not new to Joan. Years ago, with two others - a missionary doctor and a senior social welfare officer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya (as it was then), Joan pioneered Family Planning, amid much criticism from some quarters, and eventually became the President of the Family Planning Association of Malaya working voluntarily in its clinics.

47 years ago in Australia, and with advice and blessings given by Sir Zelman Cowen when Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Melbourne, Joan set up the Joan Saxton Speakers' Agency. Today she is recognised everywhere as Australia's first lecture agent, with such leading lecturers on her books as James Strong, Sir Leslie Froggatt, Peter Couchman, Ita Buttrose, Peter Couchman; and Sir James Hardy.

Such is her keen interest in this field, she has advised other lecture agencies which have opened over the last ten years. She is happy for anyone to ring her with no obligation at all.

Joan has a well experienced background in personnel management, as well as social welfare in England, Singapore and Malaysia. She has also lectured in each of those countries, as well as in America (as far north as Alaska). As a result, and particularly through her television and broadcasting experience here and overseas, Joan has a fine knowledge and understanding of people, and the business world generally. She is listed in the Who's Who of Australian Women.

Joan became a Life Member of the National Speakers Association of Australia when she spoke at their Melbourne Conference in 1992.

Joan's most prestigious invitation to speak since 1957 was to address the Memorial Dinner for Sir Edward (Weary) Dunlop in November 1993, given by the Australian Asian Association and attended by the Governor, various Consul Generals and others at the private dining room of the MCG Melbourne. Joan is a brilliant and warm speaker who has won an international speech contest in Calgary, Canada.

Joan was married to Richard Alan (Dick) Saxton in 1949. Dick graduated from Swinburne with a Diploma of Mechanical Engineering in 1946 and became a project manager for the Gas and Fuel Corporation. Dick spent several years in Asia with Joan before returning to Australia. He spent 1963 in Antarctica as the officer in charge of the Australian expedition to Wilkes Station. Dick was awarded a silver Polar Medal in 1969 and was a member of the ANARE Club. Dick died on 28 February 2011 after a long illness.

She may be seen below speaking at the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of Saxton Speakers' Bureau