Amid the overwhelming noise of expectation, opinion and constant change, many young people are unsure what to believe or who they are becoming. Max Jeganathan brings philosophical depth and cultural fluency to the world’s uncertainty, speaking with clarity, empathy and depth into the biggest questions asked by both students and staff.
A Senior Research Fellow at CPX, Max previously worked as a lawyer and political adviser in the national parliament. Educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford – and currently undertaking a PhD in Law – he brings a rare mix of intellectual credibility and real-world experience. He has spoken in global institutions including Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs, and Amazon, as well as in schools, universities and businesses across Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States.
Max’s presentations are engaging and filled with cultural reference points that resonate with young people. He helps audiences connect the dots between culture, identity, freedom, and flourishing, showing how the Christian story reframes each with hope and coherence. Students appreciate his honesty and humour; teachers value his ability to explain the pressures shaping their students’ lives.
Whether exploring success, freedom, identity, technology, or public life, Max equips communities to think critically and live wisely – and to see themselves as part of a bigger, more meaningful story.
Max is based in Sydney.
Speaking Topics
The Freedom Trap
We live in an age obsessed with choice – but unlimited freedom often leaves us anxious, restless, or overwhelmed. This session explores why the modern exercise of freedom can feel more like a burden than a gift, and considers whether true freedom might involve purpose, limits, and responsibility. Max helps students and teachers reflect on how the Christian vision reframes freedom as something that leads to flourishing, not exhaustion.
What Does Real Success Look Like?
Students are under constant pressure to achieve and perform. But our cultural definitions of success are narrow, unsustainable and unfulfilling. Max unpacks the research behind achievement anxiety, the limits of performance-based identity, and why relational strength and character matter far more than conventional metrics of success. He invites young people to rethink success through a bigger story, offering a vision that is both motivating and liberating.
AI, Utopia and Our Post-Human Future
From AI tutors to synthetic companions, technology promises a future of endless optimisation – but also raises questions about identity, purpose, and what it means to be human. Max explores the hopes and fears shaping our technological moment, the ethical challenges ahead, and how the Christian story invites us to see humanity as more than data, efficiency, or upgradeable machinery. A grounded, hopeful look at navigating a digital future in a way that is thoughtful yet careful, strategic yet relational, optimistic yet wise.
Why Bother with God if I’m Happy?
Many young people feel no need for God. Life seems ok without even considering the possibility He exists. This session explores the nature and sources of happiness, and asks deeper questions about identity, meaning, and hope. Max challenges common conceptions of happiness and shows how the Christian story speaks to our deepest desires and provides a foundation that transcends the turbulence of our times.
Navigating the Climate Wars
Climate anxiety and our polarised public debate on energy security often leave young people unsure of how to think or act. Max offers a balanced, hopeful framework for engaging environmental issues without despair or tribalism. He explores the moral instincts behind climate activism, the pitfalls of fear-based narratives, and how the Christian story grounds both responsibility and hope in caring for the world.
Navigating an Age of Outrage
Our mass media and social media spheres are often loud, angry, and polarised. Young people are told to take sides, cancel fast, and shout loudly. Max explores why outrage culture is so attractive – and so damaging – and gives students tools for building wisdom, empathy, and better conversations. He shows how the Christian story models humility, conviction, and courage, offering a healthier path for healthy disagreement.
Seeking Justice in a Hurting World
Students care deeply about justice but often feel overwhelmed by the scale of suffering and conflict. Max examines the roots of our desire for justice, the weaknesses of outrage-driven activism, and the hope offered by a Christian vision of justice that is grounded, humble, and restorative. A practical session on how to pursue real change with wisdom and compassion.
Strategy, Culture OR Character: Which Matters Most?
Organisations – including schools – often focus on strategy and performance. Others speak of the power of culture and the importance of character. Which one is most important? Max explores how values, habits, and story form the “hidden architecture” of a community’s purpose, and considers how strategy, culture and character relate to each other. A session that helps leaders build habits, foster values and calibrate decisions to build communities of flourishing.
Finding Hope in a World of Chaos
News cycles, global conflicts, and cultural division can leave students feeling overwhelmed and powerless. Max unpacks the sources of this anxiety and offers practical ways to build resilience, ground hope and establish identity. He explores how the Christian story offers a bigger frame for understanding the world – one that makes space for grief yet anchors us in purpose, compassion, and courage.
If God, Why Suffering?
One of the most pressing questions students ask is: Why would a good God allow suffering? Max approaches this with honesty and clarity, exploring common objections and offering a compelling and compassionate framework for thinking about pain, injustice, and hope. He shows how the Christian story uniquely addresses both the intellectual challenge of suffering and the emotional weight it carries – and offers a response that delivers comfort, strength and hope.
Who Am I? Finding Identity in a Post-Truth World
Young people are told to “find their truth,” “define themselves,” and “build their brand.” But this creates pressure, confusion, and constant comparison. Max explores why modern identity feels unstable and offers a deeper, more secure alternative. He shows how the Christian vision of flourishing grounds identity in something unshakeable – giving students freedom, meaning and purpose – empowering them to grow into who they were made to be.
War, Immigration & Public Policy
Students often feel confused by global politics and divided public debates. Max draws on his background in law and federal politics as a political and policy adviser to explain the forces that shape military conflict, migration, and political decision-making – without partisanship or oversimplification. He helps students see the human stories and philosophical ideas behind policy and sets down a Christian framework for compassion, justice, and wise civic engagement.
For Max’s availability and other possible topics, reach out to our booking team.
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CPX Youth & Schools Speakers
Simon Smart
Natasha Moore
Nate Armsberry
