Nelly Thomas has been described as one of Australia’s most natural comedians.

An award-winning performer, she was listed as one of Australia’s “most innovative thinkers” in The Age Newspaper’s, The Zone and was featured on the ABC’s Big Ideas: The Smartest Stuff on TV, Radio and Online.

Nelly is a regular guest on ABC Local Radio and Radio National and writes extensively in the print and online media, including as a columnist for New Matilda. She has published one book, What Women Want (Random House, 2012) and produced a DVD, The Talk – a comedic sexual health and ethics DVD for young people. She is currently writing her first children’s book with renowned illustrator, Sarah Dunk.

Nelly sprung into comedy suddenly, winning the Triple J Raw Comedy competition in 2003 (at the ripe old age of 28 and with a working life behind her). Since then she’s done all the things comedians normally do – toured Australia and overseas, established a Melbourne Comedy room, done a bit of radio and telly and performed at hundreds of gigs and a couple of dozen festivals. She’s also directed shows by some incredible comedians including Maria Bamford and Stella Young.

Alongside her normal comedy work, Nelly has forged a specialist and stellar career in comedic health promotion and is highly sought after as a health promotion speaker and MC.

She performs at and MC’s conferences, functions and other events; often travelling the country delivering key-notes on a range of health and social issues, especially around women’s and adolescent health.

Finally, and most importantly, Nelly was once an uner-13s Girl’s BMX Champion and has grown two humans of her own.