AustLit

The creative producer of Markwell Presents, Steven Maxwell grew up in Western Sydney, where he was first drawn to live performance at the Q Theatre and through high-school musical productions. Since then, he has continued to write creatively and play music.

In the early 2000s, Maxwell met Brad Jennings while the two were teaching in Townsville. They subsequently formed a creative partnership that led to the founding of Markwell Presents. Around the same time, Maxwell undertook a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing through the Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane). He and Jennings relocated to Brisbane in 2004, where they quickly established Markwell Presents as a leading producer of youth theatre, particularly through its Artist-in-Residence program.

Maxwell's involvement in the company comprises a mix of creative output and business enterprise through his roles as writer, production producer, business and marketing manager, finance officer, workshop facilitator, camera operator, editor, and designer.