Mandy Nolan

Comedian, Author, Journalist, MC, Keynote Speaker, Humour Therapist, Activist & Educator: Mandy Nolan has never just been one thing. After running as the Greens candidate for the seat of Richmond in 2022 and coming close she translated her loss  into an Award winning show for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival: The Candidate along with ABC TV's Compass airing 'See Mandy Run' with the full cut on docuplay. In 2025 she did it again, with a promise for her third attempt in 2028. Drawn to the spotlight  Mandy  kicked off her comedy career over 30 years ago, supporting her heroes Whoopi Goldberg and Ertha Kitt and more recently spied Ruby Wax laughing in the front row of her country hall gig. Wax later congratulated Nolan on being ‘hysterically funny.’ It’s not surprising, her peers have declared her as one of the strongest comedic talents in the country. ‘The funniest non famous comedian’ says Wil Anderson who also remarks ‘no one wants to follow her.’ It’s perhaps why she’s always done things her way.

A 5 times published author Nolan’s titles include ‘What I Would Do If I Were You’ & ‘Boyfriend’s We’ve all Had and Shouldn’t have’ ‘Home Truths’, ‘Women Like Us’ coauthored with Ellen Briggs and her most recent ‘The Full Mandy’. Sydney Morning Herald’s Bruce Elder called Nolan ‘the country’s sharpest and wittiest comedic columnist’.

Oh, and by the way, Nolan is also the mother of 5 children, who she credits as the true source of her creativity. ‘When I had kids, everything else looked easy!’ So who is she? Comedian? Author? Politician? Teacher? ‘All of those things’ laughs Nolan. 'A long time ago I realised what drives me. I’m a trouble maker. Or as I like to reframe it, a change maker. And I’ll use whatever is required to drive the change. Be that a joke, or a vote.’