CEO of New Zealand Story, innovator and cancer survivor

Overview

David Downs is the CEO of New Zealand Story, a celebrated author, ex-comedian and one of the most loved speakers on the NZ circuit. A former general manager at NZTE and senior leader at Microsoft, he is also a cancer survivor whose CAR-T cell treatment turned a terminal diagnosis into a remarkable second life. He brings business smarts, warmth and humour to every stage.

Who is David Downs? David spent 13 years at Microsoft in New Zealand and as regional director for South East Asia, followed by a decade as General Manager at NZ Trade and Enterprise, before becoming CEO of New Zealand Story. He is the author of No.8 Re-wired, No.8 Recharged, A Mild Touch of the Cancer and Silver Linings. He chairs The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust and the Well Foundation, and is a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Career Highlights • CEO of New Zealand Story • Bestselling author of No.8 Re-wired, No.8 Recharged, A Mild Touch of the Cancer and Silver Linings • Former General Manager, NZ Trade and Enterprise, and 13 years at Microsoft • Chair of The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust and the Well Foundation • Co-founder of sosbusiness.nz, raising $2m+ for small business during Covid-19 • Semi-finalist, New Zealander of the Year

Key Speaking Themes • Resilience, optimism and positive psychology • Storytelling for leaders and brands • Innovation, technology and the New Zealand story • Leadership, governance and growing high-impact businesses • Humour, hope and the human side of business

What Your Audience Will Gain David is funny, moving and practical. Audiences laugh, learn and leave with a sharper view of leadership, storytelling and what really matters when life gets hard.

Ideal For • Leadership and CEO conferences • Health, wellbeing and resilience events • Innovation, technology and start-up summits • Sales kick-offs and team offsites • Awards nights, gala dinners and MC roles

Frequently Asked Questions...

What does David Downs speak about? Resilience, optimism, storytelling, innovation, leadership and the New Zealand business story.

What is David Downs's current role? He is CEO of New Zealand Story, the agency telling the story of New Zealand to the world.

Has David Downs written a book? Yes — four. No.8 Re-wired and No.8 Recharged on NZ innovation, plus A Mild Touch of the Cancer and Silver Linings on his cancer experience.

How did David Downs survive cancer? After a year of chemotherapy and a terminal diagnosis, he was accepted onto a CAR-T cell clinical trial in the United States and has been cancer-free since.

What boards does David Downs chair? He chairs The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust and the Well Foundation, and sits on the government's Small Business Advisory Group.

Is David Downs available for workshops as well as keynotes? Yes. David runs storytelling workshops for leadership teams alongside his keynote speaking and MC work.