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 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

Flagship talk

The Human Premium

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

For decades, we've built careers on knowing more, thinking faster and having the answers. AI now dominates that space. So what becomes valuable when intelligence is no longer uniquely human? Wisdom becomes the premium.

But it has a shadow side. Without curiosity, expertise can harden into certainty, and what once made us valuable can become a prison of our own design.

Dara Simkin discovered this during ten days of silence. Through science, psychology, and play she reveals why our next advantage won't come from outsmarting the machines, but from loosening our grip on being right and staying curious when the old rules stop working.

We can automate intelligence. We cannot automate wisdom.

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

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

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

Full Stack Human

The five capabilities that matter more than any productivity hack

Drawn directly from the Wiley-published book of the same name, this keynote gives audiences a framework for understanding, diagnosing and rebuilding the leadership capabilities that no algorithm can replicate, not as a self-improvement project, but as a fundamental operating system upgrade for the way they work and lead.

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 foundation, 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 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?+

Send an enquiry below with your event date, audience and format. I'll come back within one business day with availability and a fee.

Book me

Book me for your event.

Keynotes run 45 to 90 minutes, in person or virtual, tailored to your theme. Send your date, audience and format and I'll come back within one business day with availability and a fee.