30 Business Keynote Speakers in Sydney for Events

Jonno White
Jul 29
18 min read

Last updated: July 2026

Business keynote speakers in Sydney cover far more than broad inspiration. The strongest options bring current experience in leadership, artificial intelligence, growth, customer experience, culture, innovation, governance and organisational change. This guide brings together 30 Sydney-based speakers whose work can support conferences, executive forums, company events and leadership days.

As of July 2026, Sydney offers a deep mix of professional speakers, working executives, researchers, founders and advisers. That variety is useful, but it can also make the choice harder. A well-known name is not automatically the right name for your audience. The most useful speaker is the person whose experience, topic and delivery style match the result you need from the room.

The names below are presented alphabetically by surname for easy navigation. Some focus on the future of business and technology. Others bring depth in sales, communication, social impact, customer experience, governance, mindset or team performance. Each profile highlights the speaker's current role, strongest topic fit and one distinguishing element that may help an organiser decide whether to explore the speaker further.

Use the list as a practical starting point. Open the linked profiles, compare the topic against your event brief and ask for a written outline showing what the audience will understand, feel and do differently after the session.

A good shortlist also considers the role the keynote plays in the program. The opening speaker may need to create a shared frame, while a closing speaker may need to consolidate learning and turn a full day into one clear next step.

Why business keynote speakers in Sydney matter

A business keynote matters when it helps a room see an important issue more clearly and act on it. The event may need to prepare leaders for AI, rebuild confidence after change, improve customer focus, strengthen culture, challenge a growth plan or give executives a shared language for a difficult decision. The topic should therefore come before the fame of the speaker.

Sydney events also serve very different audiences. A listed-company leadership forum, professional association conference, sales kick-off, startup gathering and nonprofit summit may all use the phrase business keynote, but they require different levels of commercial depth, evidence, energy and audience participation. A speaker who is excellent for a broad conference may not be the best fit for a small executive room.

The practical test is simple. The speaker should understand the audience, connect the keynote to the event theme and leave people with a clear idea they can use. Strong organisers also check whether the session can be tailored, whether the speaker can support questions or a workshop, and whether the examples make sense for the sector.

That clarity also protects the budget and the program. It reduces the risk of choosing an entertaining session that does not serve the event's central purpose.

1. Nick Abrahams

Futurist, keynote speaker and adjunct professor, Nick Abrahams

Nick Abrahams is a Futurist, keynote speaker and adjunct professor with a Sydney base and a business-focused speaking practice. The work covers artificial intelligence, digital disruption, innovation and human skills. For event planners, the strongest fit is a conference or leadership program that needs clear ideas connected to current organisational decisions.

His current keynote program includes industry-specific AI sessions built around real-world case studies and immediately usable insights. This gives leadership teams a practical bridge between emerging technology and the decisions they need to make now. View the current LinkedIn profile.

2. Layne Beachley AO

Keynote speaker and founder of Awake Academy, Awake Academy

Layne Beachley AO is a Keynote speaker and founder of Awake Academy working from Sydney. The keynote work covers leadership, sustained success, resilience and values-led performance. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Her speaking work draws on a record-setting professional surfing career and a later focus on helping people lead with courage and self-belief. That combination gives business audiences a clear way to examine pressure, ambition and long-term performance without reducing the session to sporting stories alone. View the current LinkedIn profile.

3. Mark Bouris AM

Executive Chairman and business speaker, Yellow Brick Road

Mark Bouris AM is an Executive Chairman and business speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers entrepreneurship, small business, finance and commercial leadership. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Yellow Brick Road identifies Bouris as its current Executive Chairman, while his public work also includes business education and mentoring for entrepreneurs. This makes the perspective especially relevant for founder events, growth conferences and audiences that want lessons grounded in building and leading commercial ventures. View the current LinkedIn profile.

4. Dr Kelsey Burton

Lecturer and public speaker, UNSW Business School

Dr Kelsey Burton is a Lecturer and public speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers leadership, negotiation, business innovation, AI and entrepreneurship. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

UNSW lists Burton as part of its Business Innovation Team and describes speaking and teaching interests that include leadership, negotiation, AI and human behaviour. That mix is useful for events seeking an academic voice that can connect organisational research with practical conversations about leaders, teams and emerging technology. View the current LinkedIn profile.

5. Ross Dawson

Futurist, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and author, Ross Dawson

Ross Dawson is a Futurist, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and author working from Sydney. The keynote work covers AI, future of work, strategy, innovation and opportunity. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Dawson combines keynote speaking with executive workshops and strategy sessions focused on making useful decisions amid fast-moving technological and social change. The value for a business audience is not only a forecast, but a structured conversation about what leaders can do with the signals they are seeing. View the current LinkedIn profile.

6. Catherine DeVrye

Keynote speaker and author, Great Motivation

Catherine DeVrye is a Keynote speaker and author with a Sydney base and a business-focused speaking practice. The work covers customer service, change, resilience and workplace performance. For event planners, the strongest fit is a conference or leadership program that needs clear ideas connected to current organisational decisions.

DeVrye has a current 2026 speaking schedule from Sydney and a long-running keynote practice centred on service, change and practical workplace action. This is a strong fit for organisations that want accessible business lessons, humour and clear takeaways for customer-facing teams or broad staff conferences. View the current LinkedIn profile.

7. Tony Eades

Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Founder and keynote speaker, Salted Stone

Tony Eades is a Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Founder and keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers brand strategy, customer experience, growth and digital transformation. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Salted Stone lists Eades as Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, and describes current work spanning brand strategy, speaking, sales enablement and customer experience. The combination suits business audiences looking for commercially grounded ideas about how brand, marketing, sales and customer experience work together. View the current LinkedIn profile.

8. Dr Neryl East

Leadership keynote speaker and adviser, Neryl East Communications

Dr Neryl East is a Leadership keynote speaker and adviser working from Sydney. The keynote work covers trust, credibility, communication and leadership presence. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Professional Speakers Australia named East its 2026 Educator of the Year, recognising sustained depth in training, facilitation and professional education. That recognition gives event organisers a useful signal when the brief calls for a speaker who can move from an engaging keynote into practical leadership development. View the current LinkedIn profile.

9. Professor Peter Heslin

Professor of Management and keynote speaker, UNSW Sydney

Professor Peter Heslin is a Professor of Management and keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers growth mindsets, learning, leadership development and careers. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

UNSW credits Heslin with pioneering research on growth mindsets in organisations and developing the concept of being in learning mode. That research base gives leadership audiences a more precise way to discuss learning, feedback and adaptability than simply telling people to adopt a positive attitude. View the current LinkedIn profile.

10. Amanda Johnstone

Founding CEO and AI keynote speaker, Transhuman

Amanda Johnstone is a Founding CEO and AI keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers artificial intelligence, ethical technology, innovation and modern leadership. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Johnstone leads Transhuman and speaks about AI from the perspective of a technologist who has spent years building and communicating emerging technology. This provides a practical contrast to purely speculative futurism and suits events where leaders need to consider both commercial opportunity and responsible use. View the current LinkedIn profile.

11. Ronni Kahn AO

Founder and Visionary in Residence, OzHarvest

Ronni Kahn AO is a Founder and Visionary in Residence working from Sydney. The keynote work covers purpose, social enterprise, sustainability and courageous leadership. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

OzHarvest identifies Kahn as Founder and Visionary in Residence, and her speaking work connects organisational purpose with the practical challenge of reducing waste. The story gives business audiences a concrete example of turning a social problem into an operating model, a movement and a leadership platform. View the current LinkedIn profile.

12. Jeremy Khoh

Founder, facilitator, keynote speaker and academic, Khoh Partners

Sydney audiences can hear Jeremy Khoh, a Founder, facilitator, keynote speaker and academic. The work sits at the intersection of communication, feedback, psychological safety, leadership and adaptability. That combination suits corporate events where delegates need both a strong point of view and practical language they can take back to their teams.

Khoh combines current facilitation work with teaching at UNSW Business School and the University of Sydney Centre for Continuing Education. That blend is valuable for teams that want practical communication tools backed by commercial experience and current adult-learning practice. View the current LinkedIn profile.

13. Simon Lesch

APAC Lead, AI and Transformation, and keynote speaker, Archetype

Simon Lesch is an APAC Lead, AI and Transformation, and keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers AI, marketing, communication, transformation and social impact. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Archetype presents Lesch as a Sydney-based AI keynote speaker whose work helps organisations make emerging technology useful for communication and business change. This is a relevant fit for marketing, communications and corporate affairs audiences that need AI content tied to real organisational practice. View the current LinkedIn profile.

14. Dr Claire Madden

Social researcher and keynote speaker, Hello Clarity

As a Social researcher and keynote speaker, Dr Claire Madden offers Sydney event organisers a perspective grounded in generational change, employee engagement, social trends and the future of work. The content is designed for business audiences rather than general inspiration, making the speaker relevant when the brief calls for ideas that can shape choices after the event.

Madden translates research on generations and social change into strategic applications for managers, leaders and organisations. That makes the keynote useful for workforce, culture and customer events where people need to understand changing expectations without relying on stereotypes. View the current LinkedIn profile.

15. Michael McQueen

Keynote speaker, change strategist and author, Michael McQueen

Michael McQueen is a Keynote speaker, change strategist and author working from Sydney. The keynote work covers change, future trends, innovation and organisational relevance. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

McQueen has been recognised by Professional Speakers Australia as Keynote Speaker of the Year and works with organisations navigating rapid change. The practical benefit is a session that helps leaders distinguish temporary noise from shifts that require a real response in strategy, culture or customer experience. View the current LinkedIn profile.

16. Alex Moffat

Interactive keynote speaker and NeuroLeadership practitioner, Alex Moffat

Alex Moffat is an Interactive keynote speaker and NeuroLeadership practitioner with a Sydney base and a business-focused speaking practice. The work covers mindset, change, human connection and high performance. For event planners, the strongest fit is a conference or leadership program that needs clear ideas connected to current organisational decisions.

Moffat combines leadership experience, neuroscience concepts and cognitive illusions in participatory keynote experiences. That format can help a conference audience experience ideas about attention, assumptions and perception rather than only hearing them explained from the stage. View the current LinkedIn profile.

17. Professor Kristy Muir

Chief Executive Officer and international keynote speaker, Paul Ramsay Foundation

Professor Kristy Muir is a Chief Executive Officer and international keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers social impact, systems change, philanthropy and leadership. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

The Paul Ramsay Foundation lists Muir as CEO, a UNSW professor and a seasoned international keynote speaker who works across social impact and systems change. That background makes the perspective valuable for purpose-led businesses, nonprofit leaders and cross-sector events dealing with complex social challenges. View the current LinkedIn profile.

18. Associate Professor Sandra Peter

Co-Director, Sydney Executive Plus, University of Sydney Business School

Associate Professor Sandra Peter is a Co-Director working from Sydney. The keynote work covers AI, emerging technology, the future of work and executive learning. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Sydney Executive Plus lists Peter as a Co-Director and positions the initiative around emerging areas of business, technology and society. This makes Peter a strong fit for executive audiences seeking a research-informed explanation of how AI and digital change are reshaping work and leadership. View the current LinkedIn profile.

19. Professor Kai Riemer

Professor of Information Technology and Organisation, and Co-Director, Sydney Executive Plus, University of Sydney Business School

Professor Kai Riemer is a Professor of Information Technology and Organisation, and Co-Director working from Sydney. The keynote work covers digital disruption, generative AI, future of work and organisational change. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

The University of Sydney identifies Riemer as Professor of Information Technology and Organisation and Co-Director of Sydney Executive Plus. The role provides a strong platform for business keynotes that explain how technology changes organising, communication and management rather than focusing only on tools. View the current LinkedIn profile.

20. Alison Shamir

Imposter syndrome expert and global keynote speaker, Conquer Your Imposter

Alison Shamir works as an Imposter syndrome expert and global keynote speaker and is available for Sydney business events. Key areas include confidence, self-doubt, influence and high-performing leadership. The value for a corporate audience is a session that links professional experience with a clear challenge, framework or next step for leaders and teams.

Shamir delivers neuroscience-informed keynotes and workshops for organisations seeking to address the performance effects of persistent self-doubt. The topic is especially relevant for leadership development, women in leadership and talent programs where capable people hesitate, overwork or avoid visible opportunities. View the current LinkedIn profile.

21. Naomi Simson OAM

Entrepreneur, business leader and keynote speaker, Naomi Simson

Naomi Simson OAM is an Entrepreneur, business leader and keynote speaker with a Sydney base and a business-focused speaking practice. The work covers entrepreneurship, customer experience, growth and leadership. For event planners, the strongest fit is a conference or leadership program that needs clear ideas connected to current organisational decisions.

Simson speaks from experience building RedBalloon and co-founding Big Red Group, with current keynote work based from Sydney. That gives business audiences a direct view of growth, brand, customer experience and the choices involved in scaling an Australian enterprise. View the current LinkedIn profile.

22. Anders Sörman-Nilsson

Futurist and global keynote speaker, Thinque

Anders Sörman-Nilsson is a Futurist and global keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers digital transformation, future trends, innovation and human behaviour. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Sörman-Nilsson was Professional Speakers Australia Keynote Speaker of the Year in 2022 and leads a speaking practice focused on change and future readiness. The work suits events that need a broad future lens connected to customer behaviour, strategy and the human implications of digital change. View the current LinkedIn profile.

23. Brian Steel

Leadership consultant and keynote speaker, Steel Edge Consulting

Brian Steel is a Leadership consultant and keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers leadership, team performance, culture and leading under pressure. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Steel Edge positions Steel as a Sydney-based leadership adviser and speaker working with leaders and teams on stronger performance and decision-making. This makes the offer relevant for internal leadership conferences and executive events where the audience needs practical ideas about how leaders show up under pressure. View the current LinkedIn profile.

24. David Thodey AO

Chair and business speaker, Ramsay Health Care

David Thodey AO is a Chair and business speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers innovation, technology, digital transformation and corporate governance. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Ramsay Health Care lists Thodey as Chair and notes current roles including Chair of Xero and Chancellor of the University of Sydney. That portfolio gives senior audiences a rare cross-sector perspective on governance, transformation and leading large organisations through sustained change. View the current LinkedIn profile.

25. Dominic Thurbon

Founder and internationally engaged speaker, Alchemy Labs Australia

Dominic Thurbon is a Founder and internationally engaged speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers behaviour change, disruption, strategy and purpose-led leadership. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Alchemy Labs describes Thurbon as an entrepreneur and speaker who helps organisations drive behaviour change in the face of disruption. That makes the work useful for transformation programs where an event needs to move beyond awareness and help people understand what changes behaviour at scale. View the current LinkedIn profile.

26. Steve Vamos

Speaker, adviser and author, Steve Vamos

Steve Vamos is a Speaker, adviser and author with a Sydney base and a business-focused speaking practice. The work covers leadership, organisational change, technology and learning through disruption. For event planners, the strongest fit is a conference or leadership program that needs clear ideas connected to current organisational decisions.

Vamos brings executive experience that includes leading Xero and Microsoft Australia, alongside current speaking and advisory work on leading through shifts and shocks. The perspective suits senior leaders who want honest lessons about change, decision-making and the limits of relying on old operating assumptions. View the current LinkedIn profile.

27. Dr Mark van Rijmenam

Strategic futurist and global keynote speaker, Futurwise

Dr Mark van Rijmenam is a Strategic futurist and global keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers AI, exponential change, trustworthy innovation and future strategy. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Van Rijmenam presents the Architect of Tomorrow approach, designed to help leaders turn fast-moving technological change into clearer choices and action. This is a strong fit for large conferences and executive events seeking a structured, future-focused keynote with direct relevance to strategy and risk. View the current LinkedIn profile.

28. Abbie White

Founder, CEO, growth strategist and keynote speaker, Sales Redefined

Abbie White is a Founder, CEO, growth strategist and keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers sales, go-to-market strategy, AI, growth execution and change. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

White leads Sales Redefined and delivers current keynote programs on the balance between AI acceleration and human advantage in revenue teams. The focus makes the work relevant for sales kick-offs, partner conferences and growth events where delegates need practical choices rather than generic motivation. View the current LinkedIn profile.

29. Taryn Williams GAICD

Business founder, tech CEO and keynote speaker, Taryn Williams

Taryn Williams GAICD is a Business founder, tech CEO and keynote speaker working from Sydney. The keynote work covers entrepreneurship, digital disruption, personal brand and technology. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Williams has founded and exited technology and talent businesses and continues to speak at business conferences on disruption, entrepreneurship and brand. That experience is useful for founder, marketing and innovation audiences that want candid lessons from building, funding and changing businesses. View the current LinkedIn profile.

30. Kirryn Zerna CSP

Keynote speaker and creator of The Connect Effect, Kirryn Zerna

Kirryn Zerna CSP is a Keynote speaker and creator of The Connect Effect working from Sydney. The keynote work covers trust, leadership, customer experience and human connection. This fits corporate events that need current experience, a clear point of view and practical ideas for leaders and teams.

Zerna combines more than two decades in communication, leadership and governance with a keynote framework focused on the human dynamics behind performance. This gives organisations a practical way to connect culture, customer experience and leadership at a time when technology is changing how work gets done. View the current LinkedIn profile.

What these speakers show us about business events

Across these Sydney business keynote speakers, several useful patterns stand out. First, the most credible sessions are anchored in active work. Founders speak from building companies, executives speak from leading organisations, researchers bring current evidence and specialist speakers bring a defined body of practice. That helps the content move beyond a polished story.

Second, technology is no longer a separate conference topic. AI and digital change now intersect with leadership, customer experience, sales, communication, ethics, governance and the future of work. The most useful technology speakers make those links visible and help non-technical leaders understand the decisions that belong to them.

Third, organisers are increasingly looking for application. A memorable story still matters, but it is stronger when the audience also receives a framework, question, practice or decision tool. This is especially important when the keynote sits inside a longer leadership program or strategy day.

Finally, the right fit depends on the room. Topic credibility, tone, audience size, sector experience and the purpose of the event all matter. The best choice is not a universal winner. It is the speaker whose material serves the specific outcome the organiser has defined.

Another pattern is the value of credible specificity. Speakers with a narrow, well-developed idea can often tailor more effectively than speakers who promise to cover everything. Specificity gives the organiser something concrete to brief, promote and connect to other sessions. It also helps the audience remember the central message after the event. This does not mean the topic must be small. It means the promise should be clear.

How to use this list

Start by writing one sentence that describes the change you want from the audience. For example, leaders may need to make better choices about AI, sales teams may need to close an execution gap, or a whole organisation may need a clearer way to talk about trust and change. Use that sentence to narrow the list by topic.

Next, ask the shortlisted speakers for a written response to the brief. Look for evidence that the speaker understands the audience, the sector and the role of the keynote inside the wider event. A useful response should explain the central idea, likely takeaways and how the content will be tailored.

Then compare delivery format. Some events need a high-energy main stage session. Others need a research-led presentation, an interactive experience, a fireside conversation or a keynote followed by a workshop. The format should support the outcome, not merely fill a time slot.

Before confirming, check the current role, topic, location, availability and any travel requirements directly with the speaker or authorised representative. Put the agreed topic, duration, audience, customisation and follow-up assets in writing so everyone is working from the same brief.

Finally, decide how success will be noticed. A useful measure may be the quality of questions, a shared language used later, or one action leaders commit to after the session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What topics do Sydney business keynote speakers cover?

Sydney business keynote speakers cover leadership, AI, innovation, sales, customer experience, culture, governance, entrepreneurship, social impact and the future of work. The useful choice depends on the outcome of the event. Start with the problem the audience needs to understand or act on, then choose the speaker.

How do I choose the right business keynote speaker?

Choose the speaker whose expertise and delivery format match the audience and event goal. Ask for a written outline showing the central idea, examples, takeaways and customisation. Compare current work, relevant sector experience and whether the speaker can move from inspiration to practical application.

Should a keynote speaker also run a workshop?

A workshop can add value when the event needs practice, discussion or implementation after the keynote. It is not always necessary. A concise keynote may be right for a large conference, while a keynote plus workshop can work better for leadership programs, sales meetings and internal team events.

How far ahead should I approach a Sydney keynote speaker?

Approach preferred speakers as early as practical, particularly when the event date, venue or audience is fixed. Availability varies widely. Early contact also leaves more time for briefing, tailoring, promotion and travel planning. Confirm every commitment in writing rather than relying on an informal conversation.

Can a Sydney speaker present virtually or interstate?

Many Sydney-based speakers offer virtual delivery and travel for events, but the available formats differ by person. Confirm the location, platform, session length, technical requirements and travel arrangements directly. The best format is the one that supports audience attention and the result the organiser needs from the session.

Conclusion

Sydney gives event organisers access to business keynote speakers with very different kinds of credibility. The list includes founders, executives, researchers, futurists, advisers and professional speakers working across leadership, AI, growth, culture, customer experience, governance, communication and change. That breadth is an advantage when the event brief is clear.

The next decision is not which name sounds most impressive. It is which perspective will help this particular audience think and act differently. Start with the event outcome, shortlist a small group by topic and ask each person to respond to the same written brief. That makes it much easier to compare relevance, approach and practical value.

A strong keynote should make sense inside the whole event. It should connect to the theme, respect the experience in the room and create language or ideas people can use after the applause. Choose the speaker whose work best supports that job, then put the topic, audience, format and expected outcomes in writing before the date is locked. The written brief is the simplest tool for keeping that choice focused and fair across every option.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

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