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Coaches

Speakers' Corner is committed to hiring coaches who have a proven record as both educators and debaters/public speakers. Below you can find the profiles of our coaches, which demonstrates their well-rounded achievements and wealth of experience in teaching students the art of speaking and debating.

Image of Liam Donohoe — coach at Speakers Corner

Liam Donohoe

Liam graduated from Philosophy at the University of Sydney with First Class Honours. He currently works as an academic at the University of New South Wales, where he tutors logic. Entrusted with and excelling at coordinating one of NSW's largest school programs, Liam looks forward to bringing his coaching excellence organising zeal to Speakers' Corner. 

  • Program Coordinator of St. Ignatius' College Debating Program, 2017-

  • Coach of ISDA, GPS, and Archdale winning teams, 2016-

  • Adjudicator and Debater at Australian and Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championship, 2016-17

  • ISDA Grand-Finalist and GPS Representative 

  • President of the University of Sydney Students' Representative Council, 2020

Elinor Stephenson

Ellie is a student at the University of Sydney and one of the world’s best debaters. A semi-finalist at the World University Debating Championships, a top 10 speaker at the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships, and the current coach of the NSW Schools team, Ellie has an incomparable record of personal and coaching excellence.

  • Coach, NSW State team, 2021

  • Semi-Finalist, Korea World Universities Debating Championships, 2021

  • Head Coach, Kambala School

  • NSW State team representative and National Schools Debating Champion, 2017

  • Coach of ISDA and Archdale winning teams

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Indigo Crossweller

Indigo studies Law at the University of Sydney, and is one of the leading debaters and coaches in Australia. She is currently the Head Coach at Sydney Girls High School, and has represented the University of Sydney internationally. In School, she was a member of the NSW State Debating Team. 

- Head Coach at Sydney Girls High School

-Coach of Year 10 Sydney Girls High School Eastside Team (Champions)

-Coach of Year 7 Sydney Girls High School Eastside Team (Champions)

Debating Achievements

-3rd best speaker Australasian Wom*ns Debating Championships 2021

-Semi-Finalist Australasian Wom*ns Debating Championships 2021

-Member of breaking USU 9 at Australs 2019

-Open quarter-finalist of Australs 2019

-Best Speaker Sydney University Grandslam 2019

-Best Speaker USU Championships 2019

-6th Best Speaker USU BP Novice 2019

-Quarter Finalist ANU Spring 2019

-Highly commended speaker at 2018 National Schools Debating Competition

-Member of winning team at National Schools Debating Championships 2018

-Winner of Best Speaker at the UNSW Debating Day 2017

-Member of the NSW Debating Union Team 2017

-Member of winning team at National Schools Debating Championships 2017



Liam Thorne

Liam is currently studying Medicine, having graduated from a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) degree at the University of Sydney. Liam has over 7 years of debating coaching experience and was formerly the Head Coach at St Aloysius' College. He was formerly a member of the NSW State Debating Squad. 

  • Head Coach at St Aloysius' College

  • Senior Coach at St Ignatius' College, Riverview 

  • Represented the University of Sydney internationally in debating, including reaching the finals of various domestic tournaments

  • Adjudicated the World Universities Debating Championship ​

  • Former Editor of Honi Soit, University of Sydney Student Paper

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James Greenup

James studies Law and Arts majoring in politics at the University of New South Wales and has been debating for eight years. He has spent the last two years debating and adjudicating both for UNSW and as a coach. James has been coaching debating for two years, tutoring for three years and coaching primary school aged children for four. In this time James has worked for Art of Smart, Monte St-Angelo Mercy College, St Ignatius College and Sydney Grammar.


• On the NSW State Squad 2020

• GPS Champion 2018 and 2020

• FED Chief Adjudicator 2021

• Vice President of Competitions for the UNSW Debating Society 2022

• Knockout stages of the last three Australian Intervarsity Debating Championships with UNSW 4, UNSW 3 and UNSW 1.

• Coached a team to a grand final

Isabella Freeland

Isabella is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Advanced Studies at the University of Sydney. She has four years of debating coaching experience and has represented the University of Sydney internationally in debating. 

  • Current debating coach at SCEGGS Darlinghurst

  • Previously coached at Sydney Girls High School & Ascham

  • Represented the University of Sydney internationally at debating 

  • Adjudicator for the GPS competition, Archdale competition & International Debating Competition 

  • School Captain and Debating Captain at SCEGGS Darlinghurst

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Jeremiah Edagbami

Jeremiah is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws and Sciences (Medical Biotechnology) at the University of Wollongong. He is the Principal Coach at Cranbrook, and has coached students in ISDA and Archdale Teams, as well as at the International Debating Championships. 

  • Australiasian Debating Championships (Finalist) 

  • Australian British Parliamentary Debating Championships (Finalist)

  • Judged the Worlds University Deabting Championships

  • Coached teams to the Grand Final, Semi Final and Quarter Finals of the ISDA and Archdale Competitions. 

Kevin Lee

Kevin is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney. He has multiple years of debating coaching experience and is a rising star in the University of Sydney's Debating Team. 

  • Represented USyd at  Australian Debating Championships

  • Represented USyd at Australasian Debating Championships

  • Judged Worlds University Debating Championships

  • Chaired Quarter Finals and judged Open ESL Final at Vienna Pre-WUDC (128 team international tournament)

  • Judged Open Grand Final at Australian British Parliamentary Debating Championships

  • Top 10 Novice Speakers at three tournaments, Top 5 at one tournaments

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