ABOUT

Nelly Thomas is a multi-talented, award-winning Australian comedian, author and broadcaster.

She is also well-known for her media commentary, speaking and expert facilitation.

In 2022 Nelly launched the smash-hit podcast The Single Life of Us. With close to 1,000,000 downloads, it has been featured on Ch9, Ch7 and is consistently in Apple and Spotify’s Top 20 podcasts in Australia. It was nominated for “Best Sex and Relationships Podcast” in the 2022 Australian Podcast Awards. Watch this space for her new podcast out in 2023.

Nelly started in stand-up comedy in 2002 by accident. After years working in the community and education sectors she attended the Jeez Louise Funny Women’s Forum and got roped into giving comedy a go. Six months later she won the National Raw Comedy Competition and found herself doing a show at the Edinburgh Fringe! She has been on stage ever since.

Comedy has taken Nelly all over the world, but she now prefers the quiet life of mum, author, podcaster and media personality.

Nelly is highly sought-after as a key-note speaker, facilitator and MC. She is known for her warmth; as well as her ability to speak to important and sometimes difficult subjects with wit and intelligence. She is a regular guest on ABC Melbourne Radio, Radio National, News Breakfast and various other programs. She also appears on a range of popular podcasts.

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

Nelly is the author of four books including three highly successful children’s books – Some Girls (2017), Some Boys (2018) and Some Brains: a book celebrating neurodiversity (2019). These books have been lauded for their contribution to diversity and humour in children’s literature and one was nominated for the 2022 International Outstanding Books on Disability. She is also the author of two books for adults: What Women Want (a collection of essays) and Some Mums are Fat Molls (a filthy, raucous picture book for adults). She writes extensively in the Australian press.

Nelly lives in Melbourne her two daughters, a grumpy poodle and a very dense Labradoodle. She’s partial to a G&T and terrible TV.

"Unbelievable feedback Nelly – and you have 380+ fans from that room. People have not stopped telling me how brilliant you were! Thank you for MCing our major fundraising event so brilliantly. It takes a rare skill to manage a crowd of nearly 400 enthusiastic women who’ve had a few years between drinks – you did so skilfully and with good humour. You approached our topic with sensitivity, relatability, and passion. The feedback from attendees has been overwhelming and a strongly indicated that you were key to the success of the day! We are so grateful and really look forward to the next one."

Felicity Pringle, McAuley Community Services for Women