Amplify Speakers
Keynote Speakers in Australia
Australia runs a big, mature conference market spread across cities that are a long way apart. Sydney leads on financial services and corporate headquarters, Melbourne on professional services, healthcare and association congresses, Brisbane and the Gold Coast on government, resources and incentive programs, and Perth on mining and energy. Adelaide and Canberra carry strong defense, education and public sector calendars.
Australian audiences are friendly, direct and unimpressed by hype. Self-promotion and a hard American sell tend to backfire, while humor, plain talk and a speaker who does not take themselves too seriously go a long way. Content that acknowledges local realities, from the resources economy to the distances involved in running a national team, earns more trust than a talk built entirely on US examples.
Two of the speakers on this page are Australian. Glenn Marsden is based in Sydney, and Jamie Getgood, an Australian Leader of the Year recipient, counts Adelaide among his bases. The rest of the roster makes the long flight for the right event, and virtual is a strong option across the time difference.
Top Keynote Speakers in Australia
Strong choices for Australian events on the Amplify roster start with the speakers who are based there. Glenn Marsden, in Sydney, is a four-time bestselling author and founder of the Imperfectly Perfect Campaign, who speaks on mental health, identity and authenticity. Jamie Getgood, an Australian Leader of the Year recipient whose bases include Adelaide, led the workforce through the closure of the GM Holden plant and speaks on engagement and performance.
For mining, energy and industrial audiences, Dr. Mark DeVolder speaks on safety culture and getting to target zero. Mandy Gill and Amanda Lindhout bring resilience stories that suit an outdoor-minded country, Ross Bernstein has keynoted on all seven continents, and Erica Dhawan and Mike Robbins cover teamwork and culture.
There is no fee to event planners for booking through us.
Speakers Who Work This Market
Based in Australia
Strong Fits for Australian Audiences
Where Australian Events Happen
Sydney is the largest corporate market, with ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour handling major conventions and a dense calendar of banking, insurance and technology events in the CBD and North Sydney.
Melbourne rivals Sydney for conference business. The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is the largest in the country, and the city is a frequent host for medical, academic and association congresses.
Brisbane and the Gold Coast combine the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre with a resort coastline that is popular for incentive trips and sales conferences.
Perth is the capital of the resources sector, and the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre hosts mining, energy and engineering events. Adelaide has the Adelaide Convention Centre and strong defense, health and education calendars, and Canberra carries federal government and public sector meetings.
The Industries That Shape the Room
Mining, energy and resources. Western Australia and Queensland anchor one of the world’s largest resources sectors, where safety culture, fatigue and frontline leadership are constant themes. See our energy and safety speakers.
Banking, insurance and superannuation. Sydney and Melbourne host the major banks, insurers and super funds, whose leadership and sales events want substance. See our banking speakers.
Healthcare and the public sector. State health systems, government agencies and universities run large professional development calendars, and burnout and workforce retention come up again and again. See our healthcare speakers.
Practicalities for an Australian booking
Currency. Australia uses the Australian dollar. Speaker fees on our roster are usually quoted in US dollars, with travel billed separately, so build the exchange rate into your budget.
Travel and entry. Every visitor needs a visa or electronic travel authority before arriving, US and Canadian citizens included, and a paid speaking engagement can call for a specific visa rather than a standard visitor one. Start the paperwork as soon as the speaker is confirmed.
Time zones and seasons. Australia spans several time zones. Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are on eastern time, though Queensland skips daylight saving. Adelaide is half an hour behind Sydney, and Perth is two to three hours behind. Sydney is roughly 14 to 16 hours ahead of the US East Coast depending on the season, and the seasons are reversed, so a July conference is a winter event.
Lead times and travel. Allow six months or more. Flights from the US West Coast run 14 hours or longer, so speakers usually arrive two days early to recover, and business class is a common request for a trip this long. Virtual keynotes work well when the budget or calendar does not allow the trip.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who are the best keynote speakers for events in Australia?Strong choices for Australian events on the Amplify roster include Glenn Marsden and Jamie Getgood, who are based in Australia, plus Dr. Mark DeVolder, Mandy Gill, Amanda Lindhout, Ross Bernstein, Erica Dhawan and Mike Robbins. Tell us about the audience and we will tailor the shortlist.
Are there keynote speakers based in Australia?Yes. Glenn Marsden is based in Sydney, and Jamie Getgood, an Australian Leader of the Year recipient, counts Adelaide among his bases. Both remove the long-haul travel that a US-based speaker requires.
Do speakers need a visa to present in Australia?Yes. Every visitor needs a visa or electronic travel authority before arriving, including US and Canadian citizens, and paid speaking can require a specific visa type. Start the process as soon as a speaker is confirmed.
How far in advance should we book a speaker for an event in Australia?Six months or more is a safe window for a speaker traveling from North America, since the booking involves long-haul flights, a visa and recovery time. A speaker based in Australia can usually work to a shorter timeline.
How do fees and travel work for an Australian booking?Fees on our roster are usually quoted in US dollars, and travel is typically billed separately. Expect long-haul airfare, often in business class, and at least one extra day on the ground so the speaker can recover before going on stage.
Is a virtual keynote practical across the time difference?Yes, with planning. Because Sydney is roughly 14 to 16 hours ahead of the US East Coast, a morning session in Australia usually falls in the US afternoon or evening of the previous day, which many speakers can accommodate. See our virtual keynote speakers.
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Browse Australia Speakers by Topic
Every topic below is available for Australian events. Virtually the entire Amplify roster travels internationally, so where a speaker lives rarely limits who you can book. Pick the subject your audience needs and we’ll send a shortlist, usually within one business day.
By Topic
By Industry & Event Type
Sydney boardroom or Perth mining conference?
Tell us the city, the industry and the date. We will start with the speakers based in Australia and plan the travel for anyone flying in.