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What a Year! Celebrating our Champion Athletes with Disability

IDPWD 2022

“It’s time for you to challenge your unconscious biases, leave your negative perceptions at the door and lift your expectation of what you think people with disability can do. Because it’s always more than you think.” – Dylan Alcott


With International Day of People with Disability coming up on December 3, we’d like to take the opportunity to celebrate a truly incredible year for our champion athletes with disability.

When we say it’s been an extraordinary year in sport, we really mean it. Between Dylan Alcott, Kurt Fearnley, Jessica Gallagher, Madison de Rozario and Ellie Cole, 2022 has delivered an impressive list of accomplishments and accolades… Australian of the Year, Officer of the Order of Australia Medal, Medal of the Order of Australia, Athletics Australia Performance of the Year award, Paralympics Hall of Fame inductee, Commonwealth Games golden double in the women’s T53/54 marathon and 1500m and two women’s tandem cycling Commonwealth Games gold medals, just to name a few.

And the year’s not even over yet.

These proud Australian athletes provide inspiration and hope to the 4.4 million Australians living with disability, constantly challenging misconceptions and breaking down barriers on and off their chosen fields.

As we celebrate their achievements, we also increase awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability – and that’s what International Day of People with Disability is all about.

As the Marathon Man of wheelchair sports, Kurt Fearnley, so wisely observed, “Disability is a natural part of the human condition, yet all too often, people with disability aren’t disabled by their bodies, but they’re disabled by society.”

We all have a role to play in ensuring people with disability have the opportunity to reach their potential and participate fully in community life. By joining the conversation about disability, you can help these athletes challenge stereotypes and make your community and workplace more accessible, respectful and inclusive for people with disability.

Are you ready to help make a difference?

Our champion athletes, Dylan Alcott, Ellie Cole, Kurt Fearnley, Jessica Gallagher and Madison de Rozario, are all passionate and captivating speakers – and they’re ready to share their inspiring stories with your team.

Dylan Alcott: As a talented dual-athlete, Dylan is one of the world’s most celebrated sportspeople and a true Aussie legend. With 23 quad wheelchair Grand Slam titles to his name, Dylan’s accomplishments include a record-shattering 2021 in which he took home Olympic gold and became the first male ever to claim the illustrious Golden Slam. Dylan’s projects off the court, which include The Dylan Alcott Foundation, Ability Fest and Get Skilled Access are testament to his belief that being disabled is no barrier to success, nor to happiness. As a TV commentator, radio DJ and popular motivational speaker, Dylan uses his public stage to normalise and destigmatise disability – and it’s this relentless dedication to changing perceptions that earned him the 2022 Australian of the Year award, the first person with a visible disability to secure the title in the award’s 62-year history.

Jessica Gallagher: With two tandem cycling gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, sight-impaired high-performance athlete Jessica Gallagher cemented herself as one of the greatest female athletes of all time. Having represented Australia in four different sporting disciplines (track and field, alpine skiing, cycling and now rowing), Jessica was the first Australian athlete – Olympic or Paralympic – to medal at both a Summer and Winter Games. Her life outside of sport is just as hectic as her training schedule, filled with commitments as a Board Director at Vision 2020 Australia and ambassador for Vision Australia and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia, as well as seeing patients in her private Osteopathic practice.

Kurt Fearnley: Kurt’s induction into the Paralympic Hall of Fame this year reinforced his place amongst the best-ever Australian athletes. Crowned as the Marathon Man of wheelchair sports, Kurt won five world championships and competed in over twenty marathons around the globe. He also medalled at four Olympic Games, taking home gold medals in 2004 and 2008 and winning the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games marathon. Kurt is an Ambassador of the Day of Difference Foundation and International Day of People with a Disability, as well as board member of Australian Volunteers International, and in 2018 was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his outstanding service and achievements.

Madison de Rozario: In 2019 Madison became the first Australian in history to win the elite women’s wheelchair race at the London Marathon, and a few weeks later collected a hat-trick of gold medals at the World Para-athletics Grand Prix. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Madison won the first ever Paralympic gold medal for the Australian Athletics Team in the women’s 800m and then fought out a stunning win in the Marathon. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Madison successfully defended her golden double of the 2018 Games with wins in the 1500m and Marathon, and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia and the Athletics Australia Bruce McAvaney Award for Performance of the Year.

Ellie Cole: Ellie Cole is Australia’s most decorated female Paralympian, with 17 Paralympic medals to her credit from four Paralympic Games. In 2012, following a 6-medal haul (including 4 gold) at the London Paralympics, Ellie underwent a double shoulder reconstruction and fought hard to get back in the water. She made her return at the 2015 Swimming World Championships, winning 5 medals – 3 of which were gold. She has since represented Australia at the 2016 and 2018 Paralympics, as well as the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. Ellie has been named Cosmopolitan Magazine’s ‘Sportswoman of the Year’, and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to sport. 

With International Day of People with Disability just 6 weeks away, it’s time to lock in a motivational speaker to talk to your team. Our champion disabled athletes will challenge misconceptions and attitudes, and help make your workplace a more inclusive space for all. If you’d like us to introduce you, simply get in touch with us for a chat

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International Women’s Day 2023


On 8th March 2023 we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), highlighting the vital role innovation plays in our efforts to #crackthecode for gender equality.

Bold, innovative ideas and inclusive access to digital technologies and education. That’s what it will take to improve education outcomes for marginalised women, close the digital divide and help combat discrimination.

Thankfully, many remarkable women around the world are using their skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to help make it happen.

International Women’s Day 2023 celebrates the female changemakers harnessing the transformative power of innovation to #crackthecode for gender equality. To break down barriers and create new social, economic and cultural codes that will pave the way for future generations.

Let us connect you with some of these women. Their empowering stories of resilience and determination, and their unwavering commitment to cracking the code, are guaranteed to inspire and captivate.

Planning for your International Women’s Day event starts now!

Rae Johnston
Rae is a multi-award-winning STEM journalist and leading commentator on all things science, technology, video games and geek culture. A proud Wiradjuri woman, Rae is passionate about Indigenous Science – a topic she promotes as a member of the STREAMS Network and explores as host of NITV’s children’s series ‘Rewired’. A part of the prestigious ‘brains trust’ Leonardos group for The Science Gallery Melbourne, Rae is also a mentor for Science Media Centre Australia’s Indigenous Science program and the Superstars of STEM. 

Kate Raynes-Goldie
Kate is a multi-award-winning play-based strategist and world-renowned researcher, futurist and innovation columnist who has been teaching, researching and writing about emerging trends in technology and culture since 2002. As a SheEO Activator, Kate also helps empower female entrepreneurs by investing in women-led ventures that focus on solving social issues. This radically generous global community was designed to support women and ultimately create a perpetual fund supporting female-led ventures for generations to come.

Mia Freedman
Mia is co-founder of the Mamamia Women’s Media Company, and one of Australia’s best-known digital entrepreneurs. Mamamia has an audience of more than 10 million women every month, and with over 200 million downloads and more than 50 different podcasts, is the largest women’s podcast network in the world. With a core purpose of making the world a better place for women and girls, Mia is also the founder of Lady Startup, helping female-founded small businesses launch and grow through online courses, podcasts and social media.

Rhian Allen
Rhian is an entrepreneur, influencer and founder of the multi-million-dollar business, The Healthy Mummy. What started as an e-commerce business in 2010, grew into the biggest and fastest-growing mums-only health and weight loss company worldwide. Reaching $24m turnover with a community of over 1.5 million mums by 2017, Rhian created a fitness app used by over 100,000 mums, a Wellness app and website, launched a beauty range, a frozen food delivery service, a range of health food products and supplements and published 2 best-selling books.

Dr. Catriona Wallace
As founder of one of the first Artificial Intelligence companies to list on the Australian Securities Exchange, Catriona is one of the rare women leaders in advanced technology. An expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse, Catriona is an Adjunct Professor and Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, as well as co-author of the book ‘Checkmate Humanity: the how and why of Responsible AI’. She is universally recognised as one of the top AI speakers and Metaverse commentators in the world.

Jamila Rizvi
Jamila Rizvi is a best-selling author, media personality, podcast presenter and gender equality advocate. As Deputy Managing Director of Future Women, a digital community dedicated to helping women learn, connect and lead, Jamila works with employers to build diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. She also hosts the Future Women podcast and is a well-known media commentator, with regular appearances on TV programs such as ‘The Project’, ‘Today’ and ‘The Drum’.

Elizabeth Broderick AO
As Australia’s longest-serving Sex Discrimination Commissioner and respected United Nations adviser, Elizabeth has worked tirelessly to break down structural and social barriers faced by women and to promote gender equality. Globally recognised as a leader and social innovator, Elizabeth is Global Co-Chair of the Women’s Empowerment Principles Leadership Group, a member of the World Bank’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development and Partner Co-Director with NATO on Women, Peace and Security. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and a recipient of two honorary doctorates of law.


International Women’s Day is always one of our most popular event themes, so make sure you get in touch with us early to secure your speaker of choice – our team is standing by to help!

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3 Biggest Challenges for the Future of Work

It’s fair to say that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on businesses and operating models around the world. Workplace disruption has been colossal – from the whirlwind move to remote work to the rapid rise of new technologies, the 2020’s has been a time of extraordinary change. And it ain’t over yet. The challenges that lie ahead are immense… but so are the opportunities for those brave enough and clever enough to take them.

What will it take to achieve success in our rapidly evolving world? According to Nils Vesk, Australia’s pioneering ‘Innovation Architect’, it will take an adaptive mindset and truly innovative ideas. And to create these ground-breaking ideas, Nils believes we will need to consciously ‘un-think’ how things used to be done, then rethink how things ‘need’ to be done – as he says, only “by doing the unthinkable can we go from ordinary to extraordinary” in the future of work.

Businesses must adapt and innovate to meet these three major challenges if they’re going to thrive in the new world of work.

1) Managing a hybrid workforce

According to a McKinsey survey, while 99% of executives expected employees to spend more than 80% of their time in the office before the pandemic, that perspective is now shared by just 10%. Workers are on the same page, with Accenture’s Future of Work Study finding that 83% now prefer a more flexible hybrid work model.  

Flexibility is good for business too. Gartner’s 2020 ReimagineHR Employee Survey found that when organisations shifted to an environment where employees had a choice over where, when and how much they work, 55% of employees were high performers compared to 36% in the standard office environment.

It seems hybrid work is here to stay, so how best for businesses to manage their workforce?

LinkedIn Learning’s 2021 Workplace Learning Report revealed that communication and emotional intelligence ranked as two of the most important skills required for today’s business leaders.

In a fragmented work world, it’s more important than ever for Managers to set clear roles, goals and milestones, check in regularly with team members, offer support and ensure that workloads are manageable. It’s also critical for Managers to empower their teams to develop a common vision and goal that enables them to work together – especially while apart – to solve problems and find solutions.

2) Getting the company culture right

The pandemic changed the way we viewed the world, and our place in it. Given time to contemplate during lockdowns and restrictions, many have emerged looking for more meaning and a different way of doing things.

In April 2021, a study of more than 30,000 workers worldwide revealed 41% were considering changing professions or quitting in the coming year – this is The Great Reset, and workers are in the box seat.

We have a need for human connection like never before. Without the water cooler check-ins, lunch dates and breakroom chats of the office environment, cultivating a good culture and a sense of belonging in a hybrid working environment is a major challenge.

The younger generations in particular miss the face-to-face connection of the office environment, with research showing that 95% of Generation Z and 93% of Millennial workers struggle with the isolation. It’s that next wave of workers – according to Ashley Fell, social researcher, TEDx speaker and Director of Advisory at McCrindle Research – that value workplace culture above all else.

The 2020 Future of Jobs Report reveals that about one-third of all employers expect to use digital tools to tackle the wellbeing challenges posed by remote work, and to create a sense of community, connection and belonging among employees. Is a digital solution enough though?

The office is where employers really need to define their value in a hybrid arrangement, according to leading media commentator, business analyst and demographer Bernard Salt. He believes that “the office will become the place for learning, ideation, client meetings, socialising, client schmoozing, collaboration and celebration.” Businesses need to make office time count in the culture stakes.

People are also drawn to companies that stand for something greater than profit. Purpose-driven organisations that recognise the importance of aligning their goals with their employees’ purpose will thrive. As Holly Ransom, globally recognised speaker and disruption strategist, says “Knowing your why is one thing, knowing their why is everything.”

Phill Nosworthy, renowned futurist, executive advisor and speaker, also advocates for the importance of meaning and purpose – the ‘why’, not the ‘what’. He believes “Your brand wins when you have people addicted to coming to work because that’s the place they know they can make it count.”

The message is resonating with corporates too. According to PwC research, 79% of business leaders agree that their purpose is central to success going forward.

With businesses competing heavily for talented workers, employee initiatives that place emphasis on personal development, freedom, wellbeing, growth and autonomy will be critical for recruitment and retention success.

While remuneration is also important, innovative non-cash incentives like a shortened work week may need to be considered too. Trends forecaster, business strategist and award-winning speaker Michael McQueen talks about a host of successful worldwide experiments into the 4-day work week, citing improvements in productivity, employee satisfaction and inclusion. He believes “Not only will it give us more time for the things we enjoy, but it will improve worker satisfaction, productivity and environmental sustainability as well.” Something to consider!

3) Reskilling / upskilling the workforce

The 2020 Future of Jobs Report revealed that 84% of employers are set to rapidly digitalise working processes, including the potential to move 44% of their workforce to operate remotely. The same report also inferred that 43% of businesses are planning to reduce their workforce due to technology integration.

This rapid digital transformation poses a great challenge to businesses, with a significant proportion of their workforce requiring additional skills to help them navigate towards the ‘jobs of tomorrow’. The Future of Jobs Report showed that employers expect to offer reskilling and upskilling to just over 70% of their employees by 2025.

Although 85 million jobs are expected to be displaced by machines by 2025, the flip side is the projected emergence of 97 million new roles. Employers believe the most in-demand skills will include critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving, as well as skills in self-management such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility.

The traits that make people human – empathy, connection, imagination, negotiation, storytelling, creativity – can never be replaced by technology. So while there’s no doubt that the digital revolution will require reskilling and upskilling, thankfully it seems it’s human traits that will grow in value as digital integration escalates.

The degree to which businesses are able to meet these challenges will directly impact their ability to flourish in the future of work. Digital transformation, reskilling and upskilling needs to be embraced as an opportunity, and focus placed on building purpose-driven, people-first cultures. Above all, businesses need to be adaptable and open to change – after all, it’s the only thing that’s inevitable. And as Lao Tzu so eloquently put it, “Resisting change is like trying to hold your breath. Even if you’re successful, it won’t end well.”

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The future of work poses some of the greatest challenges organisations have ever faced. We have some of the best minds in the business, including Nils Vesk, Michael McQueen, Phill Nosworthy, Mark McCrindle, Clare Madden, Ashley Fell, Holly Ransom, Future Crunch and Bernard Salt, ready to share their incredible knowledge and unique insights to help your team navigate them. If you’d like us to introduce you, simply get in touch with us for a chat!

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National Mental Health Month, October 2022

Mental Health

It’s no secret that it’s been an incredibly tough couple of years for everyone. Not to put the blame squarely on the pandemic, but results just released from a National Study show just how big of an issue mental health is right now for Australians – and boy, do we have some work to do.

The 2020/21 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing shows that 43.7% of 16-85-year-olds have experienced a mental disorder during their life, while a mammoth 39.6% of 16–24-year-olds experienced mental disorder symptoms in the 12 months leading up to the survey. Loss of income, loneliness and a lack of connection have exacerbated a society-wide issue, and National Mental Health Month is your chance to make mental health a priority.

How can you help?

The best way to raise awareness of mental health issues is by encouraging conversation and promoting positive mental health initiatives. We have a number of experienced and passionate mental health motivational speakers ready to share their stories with your team and help drive genuine understanding and change in your workplace.

Here are just a few of the mental health speakers we can introduce you to:

mark bunnMark Bunn: Former AFL Footballer and best-selling author Mark Bunn tackles high stress, poor sleep, low motivation, negativity and lack of work-life balance in down-to-earth, highly entertaining style. Using a fascinating blend of Western science, ancient Eastern medicine and the secrets of the world’s healthiest and highest performing people, Mark shows audiences simple ways to supercharge their resilience, become more positive and look after themselves. Mark shares proven, timeless health wisdoms like earthing, circadian medicine and transcendence, productivity tips from Richard Branson, Tim Ferriss and Arianna Huffington and explains why things like epigenetics, gut health, happiness and having a higher purpose are so important. Read more about Mark here

Chelsea PottengerChelsea Pottenger: Chelsea Pottenger is a proud ambassador for R U OK? and Gidget Foundation Australia, and a leading authority on mental wellbeing. An accredited mindfulness and meditation coach, Chelsea is Australia’s poster girl for mental health and a dynamic motivational speaker. Her presentations take teams on an incredible journey, showing them how to build their resilience and maximise their potential. Chelsea ensures her audiences walk away with life-changing tools to help them become more successful and energised, fully invested in improving their own mental and physical wellbeing. Read more about Chelsea here.

Leanne HallLeanne Hall: Leanne Hall is an integrative psychologist, committed to guiding people on a journey of prevention, self-nurturance and sustainable health. A practising Clinical Psychologist, personal trainer, nutrition coach, published author and TV presenter, Leanne is passionate about all things health and wellbeing, sharing practical tips to help people take care of their minds and bodies. Combining positive psychology and mindfulness techniques, Leanne speaks on a wide range of health topics including beauty myths, women’s self-esteem, body image, relationships, parenting, teenage mental health, the foods you should pack in your children’s lunch boxes and how much exercise you need. Read more about Leanne here.

kath koschelKath Koschel: Over the course of five years, former professional cricketer and Iron Man competitor Kath Koschel broke her back twice, was told she would never walk again and lost the love of her life to suicide. Kath defied all medical prognoses by teaching herself to walk again, and believes that kindness played a huge part in her lengthy recovery. Kath went on to establish The Kindness Factory, a global not-for-profit organisation and movement inspiring ordinary people to do EXTRA ordinary things – a movement that has so far inspired more than 4 million acts of kindness. Kath’s story of adversity and resilience is powerful and uplifting, and her presentations inspire audiences worldwide to be the best versions of themselves. Read more about Kath here.

Amanda JohnstoneAmanda Johnstone: Amanda Johnstone is passionate about suicide intervention and prevention, having worked as an advisor for over 15 years to youth suicide prevention retreat ‘The Timeout House’ and the ‘Youth Suicide Action Group’. Her belief that technology has a significant role to play in increasing the health and wellbeing of the general population on a global scale was the driving force behind her Social Health Innovations company, Transhuman. It also led to the creation of her mental health app ‘Be A Looper’, which has helped prevent suicides in over 87 countries, and saw Amanda awarded one of TIME Magazine’s 10 Global Leaders under 35 in 2019. Amanda’s experience, determination, quick wit and compelling speaking style make her one of the most in-demand mental health speakers around. Read more about Amanda here.

michael nagelDr Michael Nagel: Dr Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor specialising in cognition, stress, human development, behaviour and learning. Nominated as Australian Lecturer of the Year every year since 2010, Michael has been a guest on ‘Sunrise’, ‘A Current Affair’, ‘The Project’ and New Zealand TV’s Breakfast program, and has authored 19 books. His powerful presentations unpack the neuroscience around the positive effects of mindfulness, while providing practical strategies to help audiences incorporate mindfulness into their lives. Read more about Michael here.

emma-murrayEmma Murray: As an accredited mindfulness and meditation teacher, NLP Master Practitioner and Clinical Hypnotherapist, Emma Murray is widely considered to be one of Australia’s master mindfulness and high-performance mind coaches. Emma’s strategies, exercises and daily practices are fast and effective methods to attain and maintain awareness, improved emotional regulation and enhanced focus. Her presentations show people how to feel re-energised, connected to their passions, confident and valuable, replacing struggle with calmness, optimism, acceptance and worthiness. Read more about Emma here.

Jackie-FureyJackie Furey: A university-trained psychotherapist, Jackie Furey specialises in empowering people to bring out the best in themselves and the people around them in love, life and work. Jackie makes regular radio and tv appearances, and in the past eight years has spoken in over thirty major cities around the world. Renowned for her thought-provoking, dynamic and entertaining presentations, Jackie is passionate about showing people how they can have more of a say in how their life works, to know who they are and to take what they want and need. Read more about Jackie here.

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With Mental Health Month just 4 weeks away, it’s time to lock in a mental health motivational speaker to talk to your team. Our wonderful experts, including Amanda Johnstone, Mark Bunn, Chelsea Pottenger, Kath Koschel, Leanne Hall, Dr Michael Nagel, Emma Murray and Jackie Furey, are all dynamic and inspiring speakers guaranteed to ignite positive mental health conversations. If you’d like us to introduce you, simply get in touch with us for a chat.

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Todd Sampson Shows us Scientifically Proven Ways to Build a Better Brain

Todd Sampson

What kind of man would attempt a death-defying Houdini escape while chained underwater? Or a 120-metre climb up a rockface in Utah’s Moab Desert… blindfolded? A crazy man, some might say. But Todd Sampson isn’t crazy – he’s simply on a mission to prove that anyone, at any age, is capable of a great deal more than they realise. And he’s going to show you how.

If you’ve ever tuned in to ABC’s hit TV show Gruen, you’ll recognise Todd Sampson’s artfully dishevelled form dissecting the global advertising industry’s greatest hits and misses. Todd has headed some of the most successful advertising agencies in the world and is a well-known creative genius – even taking home the coveted Cannes Titanium Lion for Creative Campaign of the Year. His clever Earth Hour initiative, widely recognised as one of the best ideas ever, is officially the biggest environmental movement in history.

Todd’s impressive achievement reel also includes credits as an award-winning documentary-maker, presenter, producer, writer and adventurer. This unique blend of skills has seen him co-write, produce and host a number of critically acclaimed international documentaries including BODYHACK and Life on the Line.

As a self-confessed science-nerd with officially diagnosed ‘extreme optimism bias’, Todd continually puts himself through epic and unquestionably risky experiments in his constant quest to understand the limits of the human body. And it makes for mesmerising viewing (unless, of course, you’re his wife!).

As the writer and host of the award-winning Discovery Science Series Redesign My Brain, Todd reprised his role as a human guinea pig as he explored the scientific frontier of neuroplasticity.

The premise of this unique and ground-breaking series was simple: For over 70 years, science has told us that our brains are fixed – we are born with the brain we have, it develops rapidly until age 7 and then it starts a steady decline from age 30 until we die. Job done. But modern science has now shown that our brain is plastic and that we have the ability to improve it at any age, and at any time. A challenge Todd set out to scientifically prove in his customarily hazardous style.

Redesign My Brain, which won Documentary of the Year and is now being shown around the world on the Discovery channel, is the inspiration behind Todd’s extraordinary new keynote presentation, ‘Brain.Power’.

This unique presentation will show you scientifically proven ways to boost your brain power and build a better brain. Todd will take you behind the scenes of his extraordinary journey, and provide you with practical tools, strategies and techniques that will prove that you are capable of more than you ever thought possible.

According to Todd, “The difference between an ordinary brain and an extraordinary brain is within all our reach – we just have to reach for it.” Luckily, thanks to modern science, he can show us how!

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Todd Sampson is now taking audiences on a unique Brain.Power journey, sharing scientifically proven exercises to help people build stronger and smarter brains. And that’s got to be good for business! As one of our most highly sought-after motivational speakers, Todd’s thought-provoking presentations are delivered with incredible vivacity and humour, leaving event-goers ready to tackle every new challenge ahead with renewed energy. If you’d like to talk to us about engaging Todd for your next event, get in touch with us now!

 

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Anthony Laye: Mind-blowing Mentalist, Keynote Speaker and MC

Anthony Laye

Whether he’s blowing minds with his breathtaking mastery of illusion, empowering audiences as a keynote speaker or expertly working the crowd as MC, Anthony Laye has earned his reputation as one of the world’s premier entertainers.

It’s not often you find someone so adept at entertainment in all its forms. But creating a lasting impression is what Anthony Laye does best, and his unique skillset enables him to do that in an astonishing number of ways.

The Mentalist
Nothing keeps an audience on the edge of their seat like a game of Russian roulette with a live nail gun! With a captivating blend of showmanship, sharp observation, psychology and illusion, Anthony takes audiences on a gobsmacking journey full of laughs and wonder, leaving them with a sense that they’re not the only one in control of their thoughts. Unique, interactive and absolutely unforgettable, Anthony’s performance is guaranteed to deliver maximum impact!

The Keynote Speaker
Anthony’s innate ability to connect with people has helped him become a brilliant mind-reader. But as he proves in his presentation about the power of human connection, you don’t need to be a mind-reader to build rapport and communicate with influence. One of our most highly sought-after motivational speakers, Anthony empowers audiences with practical strategies to make them more effective listeners, observers, communicators and influencers – at work and at home. They’ll discover how to decode human behaviour and learn the secrets behind communicating with confidence in this highly entertaining keynote.

The Event Host and MC
These days, hosting an event is about more than a quick intro and a welcome skit. It’s about creating a flow between formalities, keeping the event on schedule, entertaining the crowd and ensuring the energy is right for the whole night. Next generation MC’s pilot the entire event experience, and it takes an expert to steer the ship. Thanks to thousands of hours at the helm, Anthony is one of the best there is!

Whether you’re looking for an entertainer, MC, keynote speaker or a clever blend of the three, Anthony Laye has the talent and experience to take your team on a journey they’ll never forget. If you’d like to talk to us about engaging him for your next event, get in touch with us now for a chat!

 

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‘Thirteen Lives’ Immortalises Thai Cave Rescue: Meet the Australian Cave Diving Heroes

Thai cave rescue

‘I just want to warn you. You’re going to dive to the end of the cave. You’re going to see these kids. They’re all looking healthy and happy and smiley. Then, you’re going to swim away, and… they’re probably all going to die.’

The story that transfixed the world has now been immortalised on the big screen in a gripping new movie, ‘Thirteen Lives’. The recreation of the near-impossible Thai caves rescue mission is given the full Hollywood treatment, with Academy Award-winning Director Ron Howard producing and directing, and commanding performances by stars Colin Farrell, Viggo Mortensen and Joel Edgerton bringing the story to life.

In 2018, the world held its collective breath as 13 boys from the Thai Wild Boars soccer team lay trapped deep inside an underwater cave system for seventeen days after rains flooded cave passages. More than 5,000 people, including 100 government agencies, 900 police officers and 2,000 soldiers, were involved in the rescue effort as the boys – eventually located over two kilometres into the caves – waited in darkness.

With their unique combination of medical expertise and advanced cave diving skills, leading underwater cave diver Dr. Craig Challen and fellow Australian cave diver and anaesthetist Dr Richard ‘Harry’ Harris, were asked to join the international rescue mission to save them.

With no precedent to follow, the men worked long days under intense scrutiny and extreme pressure, putting plans in place to get the stranded boys through miles of narrow flooded tunnels in zero-visibility water. The decision was made to anaesthetise them and bring them through the claustrophobic tunnels unconscious, one by one. Every 30 minutes or so during the journey of more than five hours, the boys would be dosed with ketamine to keep them sedated.

Richard explains the decision, saying “It was either leave them to die a very slow, awful death from starvation, exposure, or infection, let alone the psychological terror… or you’d take them out and probably they’ll die, but they’ll be anesthetised and asleep when that happens…”

Miraculously, all 13 members of the Thai soccer team survived the ordeal. And when Richard surfaced from the caves, as the last person out, the world celebrated. Their mission was complete, and the two Australian men became international heroes.

Craig and Richard were both awarded a Star of Courage as well as the Order of Australia for service to the international community for their selfless bravery during the successful rescue. In 2019, they were also named as the first dual Australians of the Year for their heroic efforts.

In 2020 Craig and Richard released their book, ‘Against All Odds‘, providing a riveting inside account of the Thai cave rescue. With Ron Howard’s critically acclaimed feature film ‘Thirteen Lives’ now showing on Prime Video, it’s the perfect time to engage these Australian heroes to speak at your next event!

 

More about Dr. Craig Challen and Dr. Richard Harris

craig challenDr. Craig Challen SC OAM is a member of the Wet Mules, a diving group that takes on some of the world’s deepest underwater caves. He has explored caves throughout Australia, New Zealand, China, Thailand, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands, as well as shipwreck sites in the South China Sea, Solomon Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Craig is a veterinary surgeon by profession, founding Vetwest group of veterinary practices in 1993 (which later became Australian Animal Hospitals), until retiring in 2017 to concentrate on diving. Craig is also an enthusiastic helicopter and aeroplane pilot! Read more about Craig here.

richard harrisDr Richard Harris SC OAM worked with AusAID in Vanuatu for two years, helping to provide much-needed medical services including anaesthesia and intensive care. His diving career spans thirty years, and has seen him complete record-breaking and daring expeditions all around the world. Richard’s passion and skill for underwater exploration has also enabled him to work on documentaries, feature films and with teams from across the globe in the roles of diver, underwater cameraman and medical support.

Richard is a member of the Explorers Club of New York, as well as diving group Wet Mules alongside Craig Challen, and is currently working as an anaesthetist at South Australia’s emergency medical retrieval service, MedSTAR. Richard was a proud recipient of an Australian award for Outstanding Contributions to Cave Exploration. Read more about Richard here.

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As two of our most popular motivational speakers, Craig and Richard share their captivating story with infectious positivity and enthusiasm, uplifting hearts and inspiring people to believe in the impossible. If you’d like to talk to us about engaging Craig or Richard (or perhaps both) for your next event, get in touch with us for a chat!

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Leading Your Team Out of the Pandemic and Into Success

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Effective leadership has always been critical to the success of a business, but the definition of what it takes to be a good leader has evolved greatly over the last two years. While the fundamentals of good leadership hold tight, our pandemic learnings have necessitated a whole new set of critical leadership skills for future leaders. So as we head into a post-pandemic work world, what exactly will it take to be a good leader?

For businesses to flourish in a post-Covid work world, where a hybrid workforce is likely to be the norm, the next generation of leaders needs to embrace the lessons learned through the pandemic and lead their team with empathy and integrity. Leaders will need to be humble, tech-savvy, collaborative, trustworthy, kind, flexible, positive, authentic and innovative. They’ll need to possess emotional intelligence, be a visionary guide and an enthusiastic cheerleader for their team. Not much to ask, right?

Leadership expert Lisa McKinnes-SmithAccording to Lisa McInnes-Smith, renowned performance expert and author of 7 best-selling books, heading into the post-covid era the best leaders “are not only self-aware and clear in purpose, but they have also developed daily habits and patterns that motivate and influence their team in a flexible working environment.”

Lisa believes that best-practice bosses of the future need to demonstrate their leadership by:

1. enabling their team to feel cared for while they work from home
2. focusing on the high-value behaviours that bring results both personally and professionally
3. helping people transition between workplace situations
4. creating an atmosphere of open communication
5. developing a culture where different views benefit the team
6. helping people manage their own performance and monitor their personal wellbeing
7. helping people keep a sense of humour about their situation
8. leading discussions around personal and team wellbeing

LinkedIn Learning’s 2021 Workplace Learning Report revealed similar findings, with communication across remote or distributed teams and emotional intelligence ranking as two of the most important skills required.

Revered American business executive and philanthropist Sheryl Sandberg once said, “True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed… Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection.”

If you’re looking for a prime example of this, someone who embodies all the key attributes of a good leader, look across the ditch to Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s treasured Prime Minister. Her live Facebook chats, relatable style and kind actions resonate with people on an emotional level, while her clear, decisive political leadership has earned an unparalleled level of trust from her countrymen.

As Lisa McInnes-Smith says, “the quality of an organisation’s performance depends on the quality and depth of its leaders.” And it seems that to be a good leader in the post-covid era, you need to lead with genuine care and compassion. As far as silver linings of the pandemic go, we think that’s a pretty special one.

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Lisa McInnes-Smith is a gifted communicator, passionately inspiring people to elevate their performance with simple, practical steps. She’s presented to more than 2 million people across 26 countries, authored 7 best-selling books and is the first person outside North America to be inducted into the international Speaker Hall of Fame. Imagine what she could do for your business! One of the most uplifting and entertaining motivational speakers out there, Lisa will inspire your team to greatness – talk to us about engaging her for your event today!

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Finding the New ‘Business as Usual’ in a Post-Pandemic World

For decades, ‘business as usual’ meant reporting to the office, meeting with colleagues and sitting at your prescribed desk until home time. In a matter of weeks, everything changed. Covid-19 arrived, and along with it terms like ‘unprecedented’ and ‘lockdown’ – words that would completely and irrevocably disrupt standard operating procedure for businesses around the world. Now the question beckons – in a post-pandemic world, what exactly is ‘business as usual’? And is remote work here to stay?

WIs remote work the new business as usual?hen the pandemic struck, businesses scrambled to transform the way they operate, thanks to a seismic shift that was never part of their 5-year plan. Workers were given a crash course in modern technology and sent home from the office with a remote log-in and a prayer. Working from home was no longer just an option for the lucky few, it was the only option for everyone.

While most workers were happy to skip the obligatory commute to work and have the freedom to customise their days to suit their personal needs, bosses were forced to re-evaluate their attitudes towards remote work.

Bernard SaltAccording to Bernard Salt, leading media commentator, business analyst, demographer and one of Australia’s most in-demand keynote speakers, the view used to be that “if you were working from home, you were having a bit of a bludge, having a day off. That was the unspoken culture.”

But thanks to a new digitally connected world, tools like Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams helped ease long-held negative perceptions around remote work productivity. And rightly so. Recent findings from a two-year study of more than 800,000 employees, conducted by Great Place to Work, found working from home was just as productive as working from the office – possibly more so.

Creating value for a hybrid workforce

The 2021 Accenture Future of Work Study found that 83% of workers now prefer a more flexible hybrid work model.

In Bernard’s view, “for 25 years prior to the pandemic, about 5% of workers were working from home according to census results.  But during the pandemic, we developed a taste for this way of working because it delivered empowerment and contributed to our lifestyle. In a post-Covid world, it could be that 15% of the workforce regularly (say 2 days per week) work from home – that net extra 10% equates to more than a million workers working from home in some kind of hybrid arrangement.”

So how can business leaders create a post-pandemic work world that will keep hybrid employees happy and productive?

According to Bernard, that hybrid arrangement is where employers really need to define their value if they’re to succeed. He believes that “work tasks requiring concentration and creativity will be done from home, while the office will become the place for learning, ideation, collaboration with colleagues as well as client meetings, socialising, schmoozing and celebrating. Out with open plan cubicles; in with agile collaboration spaces.”

“In the post-Covid era there needs to be purpose and value in coming into the office – the workplace needs to be a space for engagement and learning, where inhouse or external experts teach and transfer knowledge. Offering workers high-value experiences, like the chance to learn from and be inspired by corporate and industry leaders, is one way to build a happy hybrid workforce.”

Although we all hope we’ve seen the back of pandemic life, the experience has proven that disruption itself isn’t always a bad thing. In Bernard’s words, “sometimes a shakeup like WFH is precisely what is required to test whether the old way of doing things is the best way forward. The post-pandemic era offers the opportunity to rebuild a better version of the world we left behind.”

So maybe the time was right to re-evaluate the old ‘business as usual’ model, and now we’ll re-emerge a more flexible, digitally-savvy, compassionate and productive society. After all, as Henry Ford said, “If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got”.


Bernard Salt is one of the best minds in the business when it comes to the future of work. As a leading media commentator and business analyst, as well as author of six best-selling books, Bernard is one of the most popular and captivating business speakers on the corporate speaking circuit. If you’d like to engage Bernard to talk to your team about the opportunities that lie ahead, get in touch with us for a chat!

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Top 5 Resilience Tips to Get You Through the Week

“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” – Elizabeth Edwards

History is full of inspiring examples of human resilience. People who have overcome incredible challenges and adversity to not only survive, but thrive.

Did you know that JK Rowling’s Harry Potter manuscript was rejected by 12 major publishing houses before being picked up? Or that Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City Star because his editor thought he lacked imagination? And Thomas Edison failed over 10,000 times in his efforts to invent a commercially viable electric lightbulb before he hit the jackpot.

While perfecting the art of resilience won’t necessarily make you famous, it will help you navigate your way through testing times – and Coronavirus has certainly thrown some doozies our way. With Mental Health Month coming up in October, and Australia once again in lockdown limbo, there’s never been a better time to shine a light on strategies, like resilience, that will help get you through.

Resilience gives you the power to cope when things go wrong, to adapt and bounce back even stronger. And while resilience is a long-game, we thought we’d start small and ask Chelsea Pottenger, accredited mindfulness and meditation coach (and one of our most popular Keynote Speakers), for 5 actions you can take today to help you get through the week. One week at a time is manageable, right?

1. Start the day the right way.
How often do you wake up, roll over and reach for your phone first thing in the morning? Most of us are guilty of this. But did you know this can cause the release of cortisol (our stress hormone)? When the first thing you see when you open your eyes is negative news, an email from your boss or client that triggers your emotions, or your social media feed, it can start your day off on the wrong foot.  Try leaving your phone in a different room when you sleep and use an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake you in the morning.

2. Practice gratitude.
Research shows that just a small amount of gratitude goes a long way. Practicing gratitude can positively shift your mindset, build resilience and even improve your overall general health. Try thinking or journaling three things you are grateful for when you first wake up and sit with this feeling for a moment.

This simple exercise will put you in a great frame of mind for the rest of the day. If you’re feeling worn out or stressed throughout the day, try thinking about those three things – it will give you a new perspective.

3. Add movement to your day.
Exercise releases endorphins, which makes us feel good for the rest of the day. And we don’t have to engage in a vigorous workout or run 20km to experience the benefits. An article published in the Journal of Occupational Science found that just 10 minutes of walking at lunchtime improved people’s resilience and energy. So take 10 minutes today and get walking!

4. Start a meditation practice.
Research shows meditation can positively change your brain structure, helping you regulate your emotions and build resilience. Start small and build up to a 10min meditation practice.

5. Mindset reset.
Ruminative thought patterns can derail our day. When we are stuck thinking about a problem, stress or worry, we lose focus on what is essential. Dr Lucy Hone, a Professor and Well-being expert uses a powerful question to re-centre our thoughts. By asking yourself, “Is this helpful or harmful?” we can take a moment to reset our focus and start being productive again by breaking the negative thought pattern loop.

These 5 simple actions will help you build your resilience, enabling you to better tackle the challenges ahead… one week at a time. And who knows? Maybe you will make the history books!

 

Looking for ways to help get your team through the months ahead? We have some incredible speakers, including Chelsea Pottenger, available to present during Mental Health Month. Our Mindfulness and Resilience experts are available for live and virtual events of any size – get in touch with us for a chat!