Keynote Speaker in Australia

Upcoming engagements

Where I will be next, around the country.

29 September 2026Entrepreneurs Summit PerthCrown Perth · Tickets 2 October 2026Entrepreneurs Summit BrisbaneBrisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre · Tickets 6 October 2026Ella Baché Franchise ConferenceVirtual · Strategy presentation 7 October 2026Entrepreneurs Summit SydneyICC Sydney · Tickets 17 October 2026Graduate Management Association of UWAState Reception Centre, Perth 13 November 2026Destination NT ConferenceAlice Springs Convention Centre · Headline speaker 25–26 November 2026The Business Show AustraliaICC Sydney, Halls 5–7 · Tickets 18 March 2027Institute of Learning & Performance SummitBond University, Queen Street, Brisbane

Around Australia and New Zealand

Past engagements beyond Sydney and Melbourne — regional centres, islands, and across the Tasman. Most recent first.

4 September 2024Mortgage ChoiceHamilton Island Conference Centre · Growth story 3 August 2024Affinity Education Centre Managers ConferenceRACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast · Leadership 28 May 2024Harcourts GroupTakina, Wellington NZ · Making AI a friend to your business 5 March 2024Zango presents — CanberraNational Gallery of Australia · 250+ property professionals 9 August 2023Singleton CouncilSingleton Civic Centre, Hunter Valley · Reimagine Regional Business 28 July 2023CBA and Visa — What It Takes to WinToowoomba City Hall 25 July 2023CBA and Visa — What It Takes to WinMerewether Surfhouse, Newcastle

Why Your Event Deserves More Than a Motivational Speech

I have stood on stages across Australia for decades. From intimate boardroom sessions with twenty people to conference halls with thousands of participants. And I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty — the events that change things for people are not the ones with the most impressive stage design or the loudest applause. They are the ones where someone in the audience walks out and does something differently as a result.

That is the standard I hold myself to. It is more than entertainment, more than education. It is about calling people to action. Not inspiration for its own sake. Practical, experience-backed insight that helps your audience think bigger, lead better, and act with more courage. A down to earth approach which is relatable, and actionable.

If you are organising an event and you want a speaker who has built businesses, led teams, made hard decisions, who is deeply curious, passionate and committed to making a difference — let's talk about what your audience needs.

What I Bring to the Stage

Real Business Experience, Not Theory

I have lived the ride of building businesses, the up, the down and the sideways moves — I share with audiences the good, the bad and the ugly. No business journey is linear. I have built and scaled companies, co-founded Big Red Group — a technology business powering the largest experience network in Australia and New Zealand — served as an independent director on multiple boards, and invested alongside some of Australia's sharpest entrepreneurs on Shark Tank Australia across all four seasons.

In 2026, I was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to business, entrepreneurship, and leadership. I share that not to impress but because it reflects something I believe deeply — that business done well creates real value for communities, not just shareholders.

A Message Tailored to Your Room — and Your Region

Every audience is different, and geography is part of that. A room of franchise operators has different pressures to a financial services leadership team in Sydney, a tourism network in Central Australia, or a regional business community in Singleton or Toowoomba. Cost of doing business, access to talent, distance from customers — these land differently depending on where the room is sitting.

I work with event organisers beforehand to understand the audience, the industry, and the questions that matter most. The more detailed the brief, the more research I can do. The result is a keynote that feels like it was written for the specific room in front of me — because it was.

Energy That Lasts Beyond the Event

The best feedback I receive is not "that was entertaining." It is "I changed something because of what you said." My keynotes are designed to leave your audience with at least one clear, actionable idea they can apply immediately. I have people come up to me years later telling me the impact that my keynote made on them. This is why I do it.

Speaking Topics

I tailor every keynote, but these are the themes I am most frequently asked to speak about.

Every topic is delivered with real stories, practical frameworks, and the kind of honesty that only comes from having done the work — not just studied it. There is more on what I cover as an entrepreneur keynote speaker in Australia.

Who Books Me

I work with organisations and event planners across every sector. Some of the most common include:

• Corporate leadership summits and annual conferences
• Industry association events and member gatherings
• Franchise and dealer network conferences
• Property, construction and financial services networks
• Tourism, hospitality and visitor economy events
• Learning and development and capability summits
• Education and early learning provider conferences
• Local government and regional business networks
• Women in business and leadership events
• University and alumni association programmes
• Charity and not-for-profit fundraising events

Whether your audience is fifty or five thousand, my approach is the same — understand the room, respect their time, and give them something they can use. I have written about why business conferences matter in 2026 and where I think business events are heading.

Where I Speak Across Australia and New Zealand

I am based in Sydney and travel regularly to speak at events in every state and territory, in regional centres, and from time to time across the Tasman in New Zealand. I have dedicated pages for the cities where I speak most frequently:

If your event is outside these cities — regional Australia, Canberra, Alice Springs, Hobart, Darwin, or New Zealand — get in touch. Some of the most rewarding rooms I have worked in were the ones that took a flight and a drive to reach.

Booking a Speaker From Interstate

If your event is outside Sydney, there are a few practical things worth knowing up front:

1. Travel and timing — For interstate and regional events I generally travel the day before so that weather or a delayed flight never becomes your problem. For an early-morning start, that is not negotiable
2. Costs — Travel and accommodation are additional to the speaking fee for events outside Sydney. I keep this simple and transparent, and it is in the proposal in writing
3. Make the most of the trip — If I am already flying to you, many organisers add a workshop, a board session, a media appearance, or a smaller breakfast with sponsors. It is far better value than booking each separately
4. Regional venues — I have spoken in convention centres, civic halls, yacht clubs, art galleries, a stadium function room and an island resort. Tell me what you have and we will make it work
5. Virtual sessions — Not every engagement needs a flight. I deliver strategy sessions and conference presentations remotely where that suits the format and the budget
6. New Zealand and international — Happy to discuss. Lead time matters more here, so the earlier the conversation the better

What Does a Keynote Speaker in Australia Cost?

Organisers ask me this early, and it is a fair question. Fees vary widely depending on a speaker's profile, the format, and how much of the day they are involved in. These are indicative market ranges rather than my own fee:

Travel and accommodation apply for events outside Sydney. I discuss investment openly in our first conversation and tailor the proposal to your event's scope, so you know where you stand before anything is committed. You can learn more about my story and career, view my keynote topics, read my latest thinking, or tune in to the Handpicked with Naomi Simson podcast.