Why you want a speaker who's been offshore, off-grid, and on an operating table
This year, I’ve done three things that might seem completely unrelated:
Sailed across open ocean from New Zealand to Fiji.
Shared a fine-dining experience with my family at Blue Duck Station, deep in New Zealand’s back country.
Had my appendix out unexpectedly, and learned what it feels like to go from full throttle to full stop.
As a Speaker, MC, and sales trainer, these three moments have further shaped how I show up for audiences - and why I believe lived experience matters on stage and in the training room.
1. Sailing: The art of trust and adaptability
When you're four days into the Pacific, with no land in sight, you discover the difference between theory and practice. The weather doesn’t care about your plan. Equipment fails. Sleep becomes a rare currency.
In that kind of environment, communication must be clear. Leadership must be shared. And adaptability isn't optional - it's survival.
This isn’t unlike the dynamics in a high-performing sales team or a high-stakes conference environment.
As a facilitator, I bring that ocean-tested adaptability to every room: reading the wind, adjusting the sails, and staying calm when the situation calls for it. It’s not a metaphor
for resilience - it is resilience.
2. Blue Duck Station: Presence, storytelling, and design
Tucked away in a remote valley, Blue Duck Station serves up more than meals - it creates an experience. It’s intentional, immersive, and deeply human.
That’s the kind of engagement I strive for when I’m on a stage or leading a session. Whether it’s a keynote or a team offsite, I’m not there to download information - I’m there to curate an experience. One that people feel, remember, and talk about later.
Because just like great food, great communication isn't about volume. It’s about flavour, timing, and connection.
3. The Appendix: An unscheduled reboot
Then came the curveball - appendicitis. One minute I’m planning the next quarter, the next I’m in a hospital bed contemplating how fragile momentum really is.
Strangely, it was a gift. It reminded me how important it is to pause. To listen to your body. To notice what’s working - and what’s not. It also means I’m now much better placed to go to Antarctica if I need to!
That same awareness is what makes me a better coach and trainer. I don’t bulldoze through an agenda; I sense when a room needs to breathe. I create space for reflection, humour, and to go where we need to go, in real-time.
Why it matters
You don’t want a speaker who’s just memorised scripts and talking points. You want someone who’s lived through challenge, change, and complexity - and come out with clarity.
You want someone who can bring energy without ego, structure without stiffness, and humanity without cliché. The odd Dad joke is ok though!
I bring an adventure mindset to every engagement. Not because it sounds good in a brochure - but because that’s how I live.
So if you're planning a conference, a sales refresher, or a leadership retreat and you're looking for someone who can truly connect, adapt, and lead with presence - I’d love to talk.
