Words of recommendation from Rohan Connolly (Footyology), Kaarle McCulloch (Olympic medallist), Courtney Walsh (Fox Sports) and Michael Turner (Kick360).

Rohan Connolly

I’d go as far as to say [Harper] is one of the most talented, driven and capable young men I have come across in any endeavour, let alone this particular field.

I was immediately struck by Harper’s capacity to research, ask intelligent questions and to think on his feet.

I have kept an eye on his work, and have been very taken by his enthusiasm and his ability to keep generating ideas for content, such as his daily Olympic video podcast during the recent Tokyo games, which was able to acquire the services of some high profile journalistic and sporting talent.

I have also subsequently asked Harper on several occasions to write articles for the Footyology website, and each time he has delivered on time a very well-structured and engaging article which I have been more than happy to publish and which has delivered very impressive website traffic. 

This young man has a heap of talent, is mature, considerate and I think one of the brightest prospects I’ve seen attempt to enter the media industry.

Kaarle McCulloch

Harper contacted me to participate in his podcast ‘Where Do We Begin?’ before the Tokyo Olympic Games. I usually would not accept these opportunities… However, what helped me accept this opportunity was the originality of the podcast concept coupled with two young people (Harper Pestinger and Lachie Gibbs) who have a bold vision for where they want to take their podcast and what they hope to achieve.

Harper made me feel comfortable and was eager to learn about me. I was willing to engage and open up about complex topics (such as body image). As a result, a genuine episode was created that was touching and insightful.  It is not often that I find this particularly easy with media members due to a feeling of them having a hidden agenda. However, I felt as though Harper was a genuine listener who adapted questions as the interview evolved – a technique that I rarely encounter in a journalist who typically has pre-prepared questions, which I often answer before the question has been asked.

Michael Turner

Kick360 was founded to support the growth of Australia’s most skilled up-and-coming media talent. Harper was selected from a pool of very talented writers and presenters to join our team.

Since our formation Harper has shown exceptional skills in both his writing and investigative abilities. He is also a very skilled multi-media operator…producing high quality off-tube podcasts with hosts…in different locations.

Harper has proven himself to be very knowledgeable and professional in his conduct. He has a strong ability in telling a story succinctly and breaking down complex scenarios in a simplistic but holistic manner.

His ability to quickly analyse and break down a live sporting event [then] quickly detail a synopsis of the event [is] something many seasoned journalists are unable to do.

I firmly believe that Harper…will be a high-calibre and very skilled media professional for the entirety of his career.

Courtney Walsh

It was clear…that Harper was organised, capable of being flexible in regards to changing circumstances, and determined to make the podcast as informative as possible.

Harper demonstrated a depth of knowledge that indicated he had researched the subjects the podcast was covering during the Olympics. He also grasped some of the key stories that unfolded in Tokyo and was able to pursue those topics through questioning that added insight to the coverage.

Given his enthusiasm, I am sure that Harper will flourish further as he continues to pursue his education and adds more experience and skill to his talent.