Dara Simkin

Keynote speaking

Make your event the one they're still talking about.

Why our biology wasn't built for this pace of change and the play science behind why it matters.

Dara Simkin speaking on stage
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“Dara provides plenty of practical tools and tips that executives can take back to their teams. Our dialogue has shifted in significant ways.”
Clare Morgan, Group Executive, ANZ
“The feedback was fantastic, and I was stunned by the impact the play-based activities had.”
Richard Blundell, Director Customer, PwC
“All I can say is "wow". I don't think we've ever had a leadership series talk like this before.”
ICC Sydney
“The energy in that room could've powered a small city!”
Carman's Kitchen

For events that need to

Do more than fill a timeslot.

  • Create genuine momentum, not just fill a timeslot
  • Give people a shared language and a new lens on change
  • Send people back to work with something they can actually use
  • Leave a lasting impression on the audience, and on the event itself
Audience laughing and engaged during one of my keynotes

Speaking topics

Four signature talks.

Diverse colleagues in animated conversation in a warmly lit office

01

The Human Premium

Why curiosity, imagination and experience are the only things AI can't replace

Knowledge is now democratised. What commands a premium, and always will, is human curiosity, imagination and experience. Learn how to identify what is distinctively human in your organisation and amplify it deliberately.

Key takeaways

  • What makes human intelligence irreplaceable in an AI-shaped world
  • How to build conditions where imagination and curiosity flourish consistently
  • Why the organisations pulling ahead aren't working harder — they're thinking more humanly
Adults laughing while building with colourful blocks in a workshop

02

Don't Fear Change, Play With It

How to turn uncertainty into curiosity, confidence and capacity

Disruption is no longer an event. It's the operating condition. Learn why play is the most important capability you can build for navigating a world that won't stop changing.

Key takeaways

  • Why our biology wasn't built for this pace of change
  • How to develop improvisational boldness when the outcome is unknown
  • Concrete tools for turning uncertainty into forward momentum
Woman laughing freely in a colourful creative studio

03

Playful Intelligence

Why play is the antidote to mediocrity

Adults don't lose the capacity for play, we suppress it. Learn how conformity leads to mediocrity, why mediocrity leads to irrelevance, and how to rebuild the boldness to show up fully for your work and your life.

Key takeaways

  • The forces that trade boldness for belonging
  • Why play is a severely undertrained muscle not a lost one
  • How to rebuild playful intelligence as a daily practice
Diverse team standing together in a modern workspace

04

Full Stack Human

The five capabilities that matter more than any productivity hack

My keynotes are shaped around your theme, audience and moment you're in. No off-the-shelf deck, no vanilla material.

Key takeaways

  • The five human capabilities and why they matter more than any tool or technique
  • A personal diagnostic to identify where your gaps are
  • Concrete practices to start rebuilding — not someday, but this week

Take it further

Experiential Learning.

Every keynote has a half-day or full-day workshop built around it where the ideas go deeper and the learning becomes something your people can integrate come Monday morning.

Check out the intensive →
Workshop participants laughing while holding an 'Act It Out' prompt card

WHAT YOU'LL GET

What it actually delivers.

A room that moves

Expect participation, unexpected moments, and an energy shift you can feel. Every keynote is designed as an experience, built on neuroscience, play methodology, and a decade of enterprise facilitation.

Ideas that land and stick

Every keynote is built around a clear, transferable framework. People leave with something concrete, not just inspired, but oriented.

Tailored to your event

My keynotes are shaped around your theme, audience and the moment you're in. No off-the-shelf deck, no vanilla content.

A speaker who's done the homework

Backed by my research with RMIT University and a global toy company, co-author of Full Stack Human (Wiley, 2026), and trusted by companies like McKinsey, IKEA, PwC, AGL, ANZ, and Chevron.

What's included

Everything I bring.

Conferences, leadership summits, all-hands events. 50 to 5,000 people. In-person or virtual.

  • →Pre-event briefing to understand your audience and context
  • →A fully tailored keynote
  • →Participant takeaway framework or resource
  • →Post-event debrief available on request

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Do you tailor the keynote to our event?+
Always. I don't do off-the-shelf. My keynotes are shaped around your theme, audience and the moment you're in. No off-the-shelf deck, no vanilla content. The pre-event briefing is where that starts.
What length options are available?+
Keynotes run from 45 to 90 minutes. Half-day and full-day workshop formats are also available, see Leadership Programs.
Do you speak internationally?+
Yes. I'm based in Melbourne and speak across Australia and internationally. Happy to discuss travel logistics.
Are you available for virtual events?+
Yes, my virtual keynotes are designed specifically for the format, not just a webcam version of the in-person session.
How do I check availability and fees?+
Book a chat below and I'll come back to you within one business day.

Let's talk

Book me for your event.

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