Entertainment
7 March, 2026
‘Creativity is a critical skill’
CREATIVITY and innovation will be the focus in Cairns this month, with author and science storyteller Cristy Burne visiting to present at the Global Speakers Summit and run a free creative writing workshop at Cairns City Library.
The summit runs from Friday 13 March to Monday 16 March.
Ms Burne, known for blending science, adventure and storytelling in her books and keynote talks, says creativity is a critical skill for the future.
“Creativity is how we solve problems and find courage when the path forward isn’t clear,” she says.
“Creativity is just this innately human thing that we can take pleasure in making something, that we can be in the flow and entirely focused on something outside of ourselves.”
At the Global Speakers Summit, Ms Burne will join international presenters to explore communication, leadership and the power of ideas.
Ahead of the event, Burne will host a free creative writing workshop at Cairns City Library on Monday 9 March from 5.30 to 7pm.
At the workshop, she will work directly with emerging and beginner writers to stretch their imaginations and amplify their own voices.
“Creative writing is just making something out of words, and yet it’s so exhilarating and satisfying,” she says.
“We’ll be writing stories, sparking ideas, making connections. My focus is always on making the creative process fabulous and fun.”
Ms Burne believes creativity is closely linked to resilience.
“Science teaches us that progress comes through experimentation, that we have to try, fail, adjust and try again. Creativity is exactly the same. There’s no perfect way to create, there’s only experimenting and growing and moving forward, even though the future is uncertain.”
With global conversations and local workshops on the agenda, Ms Burne says she hopes participants leave feeling more confident about sharing their ideas.
“Creativity builds possibility,” she says.
“If people leave feeling braver about sharing their ideas, then that’s a win.”
The free workshop at Cairns City Library on Monday 9 March offers local writers an opportunity to engage directly with Burne ahead of the Global Speakers Summit at the Cairns Convention Centre from 13-16 March. For more information visit: www.bit.ly/3MXH5aK
