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Speaker Biographies
Brett Rutledge - Master of Ceremonies
 Brett Rutledge is recognised as one of the most skilled and versatile communicators in the southern hemisphere and is heavily in demand as a dynamic business speaker, facilitator and coach. He is also Australia’s only World Champion of Public Speaking and one of just five outside North America.
International competitors in the World Championships and even other World Champions regularly ask Brett for advice and coaching to assist them in their own aspirations and many use Brett as an example of a gifted communicator who is both different and genuine.
As one of Brett’s clients said… “He just knows his stuff so well and his ability to read people and situations and take the room to where they need to go is just awesome!”
His entrepreneurial spirit has seen him in business since he was 18 and he has gathered a wealth of experience in Human Resources, Sales, Strategic Marketing and Organisational Culture as well as degrees and awards in many of the same subjects. That experience has seen Brett employed in senior consultancy roles with many of Australia and New Zealand’s most successful companies.
His communication skills and abilities are so honed and nuanced that Brett can change his voice and his approach in over 150 different ways. Accents, age and even personalities can all be mimicked or impersonated with the sort of speed most of us reserve for normal, everyday conversation.
Brett is an utterly unique talent whose ability as a mimic, practical business knowledge and powerful delivery are guaranteed to both entertain and inform.
Jeffrey McMullen - A Life of Extremes
Few living storytellers have seen as much of the world as this one. Over forty years of world wandering have seen Jeff McMullen squeeze at least ten lifetimes into one. “A witness to the joys and the cruelty of our modern age“ said the British archaeologist, John Romer of Jeff’s first book, “A Life of Extremes”. Reporting from the front lines on more than thirty wars, seeing the genocide in Rwanda and the irradiation of Kazak villagers was one kind of extreme. But it was the journeys to some of the world’s greatest beauty that kept this storyteller wide eyed. Swimming with whale sharks, diving in the Galapagos Islands, climbing active volcanoes and traveling across the great wilderness of Antarctica have made this reporter deeply appreciate that every breath is precious.”
Jeffrey McMullen appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Richard Ward - Lloyd's: Building a World Class Global Market
 Richard Ward joined Lloyd’s as Chief Executive Officer in April 2006. Previously, Richard worked for over ten years at the London-based International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), re-branded ICE Futures, as both Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman. Prior to the IPE, Richard held a range of senior positions at British Petroleum (BP) and was Head of Marketing & Business Development for energy derivatives worldwide at Tradition Financial Services. Between 1982 and 1988, Richard worked as a Senior Physicist with the Science and Engineering Research Council, leading a number of research and development projects. Richard Ward has a 1st Class Honours Degree in Chemistry, and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Exeter University. He is married with two children and lives in London.
Professor Neville Norman - The Economy and Australia Today
Your view of economics will never be the same after listening to Professor Neville Norman. One of Australia's leading economists, Professor Norman discusses the economy and its future in a style which is entertaining as well as authoritative, informative and relevant to everyday business practice. Professor Norman is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Melbourne since 1992 and senior advisor to many business, State and Federal government bodies.
Professor Neville Norman appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau
Jonar Nader - How to Lose Friends and Infuriate Terrorists
How many organisations know how easy it would be to ‘take them out’? How many managers possess a healthy level of paranoia? Jonar Nader warns that we remain vulnerable until all employees learn that information is easily snatched from the hands of those who do not know its significance. In this presentation, Jonar will explain the anatomy of terrorism, and he will discuss the risks in relation to fraud, scams and sabotage that could bring cities and organisations to their knees. What are the risks of us losing our way of life? What civil unrest could we face? Jonar fired his first pistol at the age of six. He experienced the kickback of a double-barrel shotgun at seven. By ten, he was handling machine-guns that stood taller than himself. He has lived in the thick of a bloody battle on the streets of Beirut, where he tasted war and all its horrors. Jonar left school at the age of fourteen and pursued a corporate career with IBM, Acer, and Compaq/HP. Today, Jonar is dedicated to teaching others how to live a zestful and enchanting life. He is a Director of the Sydney College of Divinity, and Chairman of Logictivity. He advises officials and policy-makers about social threats and national security. Jonar is the author of several books, including 'How to Lose Friends and Infuriate People'. He was the co-founder of the Australian Information Technology Society, and the co-founder of the Leadership Foundation. General Peter Cosgrove said, ‘Jonar is a wonderfully restless spirit. He has an unquenchable zest for life and for people that is infectious and irrepressible. He has a warm inclusive approach to leadership and team building. He is one of the most persuasive modern workers on leadership I have encountered.’
Jonar Nader appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Linda Nicholls AO - Improving Performance and Managing Risk
Successful organisations need high level responsiveness to opportunity, increased flexibility and continuous innovation. But how do you improve performance and innovate with acceptable risk? In big business and small business, insurance organisations and cultures leave little room for experimenting and no room for mistakes. Success demands evidence based practices that de-risk the growth agenda and deliver high performance. Growth comes from creating upside potential by wisely choosing which risks to take. High performance comes from managing both ‘what might go wrong’ and ‘what must go right’.
Linda Nicholls AO appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Peter Holmes A Court - Leadership and Change
Business entrepreneur Peter Holmes A Court is Chairman of White Bull Holdings, a private investment company which has a varied and balanced portfolio of managed investments and direct investments in growing businesses and in commercial real estate. The focus is on capital growth and providing management input to businesses to grow and expand the business. He is Chairman of ISFM, a management company providing specialist services to the sports, leisure and entertainment industry and founder and Chairman of The Passionate Group.
In 1993 Peter formed Back Row Productions, operating in New York, London and Sydney – producing over 20 shows in 30 countries and 300 cities world wide. Acts included Tap Dogs, the UK’s Eddie Izzard and the US’s Jerry Seinfeld. Peter returned to Australia in November 2000 and until January 2004 held the position as CEO of the Australian Agricultural Company and was responsible for re-listing AACo on the Australian Stock Exchange. Founded in 1824, AACo is Australia’s oldest continuously operating company and today is the largest cattle company in the world managing over 600,000 head of cattle over 15 million acres.
Peter Holmes A Court appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Arron Wood - The Insurance Industry and the Environment
Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year Arron Wood has never been regarded as coming from the traditional greenie mold. Don’t expect the traditional doom and gloom of the usual environmental voice. Join Arron as he asks the question ‘If we’re willing to insure our car why wouldn’t we be willing to insure our children’s future?’ His presentations combine an interesting mix of humorous country boy childhood anecdotes with the serious message that Australia needs to be part of the new multi billion dollar green economy. Arron will make you believe we need a paradigm shift from viewing the current environmental situation as a crisis to the greatest opportunity since industrialisation for Australia to lead the global community in innovation and education. Arron believes we need to move from conservative risk management and abatement towards becoming a dominant player in the booming environmental services industry. Arron’s insight and ability to identify emerging environmental markets and risks to existing markets has seen him speak at the Australasian Mutuals Institute Annual Conference, the KPMG Graduate Induction and the Ernst and Young Human Capital Forum to name but a few.
Arron Wood appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Belinda Yabsley - Customer Relationship Management, Innovation and Service Excellence
Belinda focuses on ways to deliver exceptional customer service as a means to developing longer lasting and profitable relationships with clients. The ‘Q’ - yes cue - invariably comes from the customer, she says. In a culture, where we tend to accept poor levels of customer service as the norm, Belinda will share with you her secrets and highlight customer experiences which has earnt her an international reputation for delivering and rewriting the rules on customer service excellence. The results can be exponential when you know how to pick up on those cues and enhance or tailor your service to suit. Belinda’s principles of exceptional service that generates sales through existing customers and referrals can be used in all sizes and types of organisation and are easily learned.
Belinda Yabsley appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Tom Potter - Inspiration, Change and Cutting Through to your Customers
Tom Potter, founder of Australian owned Eagle Boys Pizza, left school at 15 and found himself jobless at 23. He opened his first pizza shop in Albury, New South Wales in 1987 and proceeded to build the business to become Australia and New Zealand’s largest privately owned pizza company.
Tom is a country boy, starting his business with a minimal education and very little money behind him. Tom built Eagle Boys to become one of Australia’s home-grown retail and franchise successes, through radical change, innovation and at times unusual business and marketing tactics. Along the way, Eagle Boys won various National Franchising Awards and Tom was awarded with the Australian Financial Review’s Young Business Person of the Year. He was chosen to give the valedictorian speech at his graduation class at Harvard Business School.
Tom is one of Australia’s most outstanding retailers, entrepreneurs and inspirational leaders and his straightforward, no nonsense approach endears audiences to be inspired to change and cut through the clutter to achieve higher results at all levels.
Tom Potter appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Andrew May - Survive the Demands of Business - Avoid the Roadrunner Syndrome
The rapid speed and intensity of modern business demands a new way of approaching performance. Today’s workplace is a highly competitive cauldron sharing many similar characteristics with the world of the high performance athlete. Intense effort, the ability to thrive under pressure, focused concentration and the capability to recover are all fundamental to success. Being able to consistently perform at your peak requires a balance between intense effort and essential periods of rest and recovery. You cannot be 100% efficient if you are on 24/7. Andrews presentations will equip you with the skills to understand the four different performance zones – chill, thrill, spill and kill - recognise when you are suffering from Road Runner Syndrome and tap into your Energy Personality to make every day productive – even when you’re feeling flat!
Andrew May appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
Jean Kittson - More Women Live Longer than More Men and More Men than Women Mow the Lawn
 Comedian, broadcaster, author and actor, Jean Kittson is one of Australia’s best known and most popular performers. Her rapid-fire wit and ability to think on her feet have earned her such accolades as "magnificent", "outstanding", and "pivotal" from clients who have enjoyed her enthralling performances.
In preparation for this year’s great Steadfast Convention, Jean has researched insurance and her research reveals that women are far more involved in the decision to buy insurance than men.
Why is this so?
Is it because more women live longer than more men and more men than women mow the lawn, and because they keel over frivolously from the effort, whenever it suits them, women can’t trust them to handle important financial decisions? Yes.
Jean has acquired comprehensive house, contents, car and shoe coverage against meteor strikes, Argentine fire ant infestation, glacier collision, metal fatigue caused by volcanic eruptions on the F3, hair loss in rogue carwash incidents, musk ox running loose in the family room, alien carjacking, and the Earth suddenly being sucked into the Sun. But not against very persuasive salespersons. She is hungry to meet more.
Jean Kittson appears by arrangement with Sydney Speakers Bureau.
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