Resilience Speakers
Essential Talent represents New Zealand's leading resilience speakers: All Blacks coaches, a former police hostage negotiator, and people who have come back from extraordinary setbacks. They share practical ways to handle pressure, recover from knocks and keep performing through change. They're booked for teams going through restructures, high-pressure workplaces, leadership days and conferences around New Zealand and Australia.
Every speaker on this page is available to book through Essential Talent. Tell us what your team is facing, and we'll recommend two or three who fit.
Popular resilience speakers by topic
Practical resilience tools for the workplace: Lance Burdett, Dr Paul Wood
Performing under pressure in elite sport: Gilbert Enoka, Wayne Smith, Ian Foster, Ruby Tui
Coming back from adversity: Dave Letele, Mea Motu, Sam Bloom
Resilience and mental health: Sir John Kirwan, Mike King, Matt Chisholm
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a resilience speaker and a mental health speaker?
A resilience speaker focuses on how to handle pressure, setbacks and change, and keep performing. A mental health speaker focuses more on wellbeing, reducing stigma and getting people talking. There's a lot of overlap, and some speakers do both. If your focus is staff wellbeing or Mental Health Awareness Week, see our Mental Health & Wellbeing speakers.
Is a resilience talk right for a team going through a restructure or a tough year?
Yes, and it's one of the most common reasons clients book one. Handled well, a resilience talk helps people make sense of what they've been through and gives them practical ways to cope. Before the event, we'll talk with you about what your team has experienced, so the speaker can pitch it with the right tone and avoid sounding dismissive.
Do you have speakers for high-pressure or frontline workplaces?
Yes. Several of our resilience speakers have worked in high-stakes environments themselves, so they connect well with frontline, emergency services, health, sales and customer-facing teams.
Can resilience speakers run a workshop as well as a keynote?
Many can. A popular format is a keynote for the whole group followed by a practical workshop for managers or smaller teams, so people leave with tools they can use straight away. Let us know what you have in mind and we'll check which speakers offer it.
How far in advance should we book a resilience speaker?
We recommend booking 8–12 weeks ahead for most speakers, and earlier for the busy conference seasons (March to June and August to November). We can often arrange a speaker at short notice, so it's worth asking even if your event is close.
Do your speakers travel outside Auckland?
Yes. Our speakers present throughout New Zealand and Australia. Travel and accommodation are usually charged on top of the speaking fee, and we'll include them in your quote upfront.
How do I book a resilience speaker through Essential Talent?
Click "Enquire" on any speaker's profile or call 0508 825 368 with your event date, location, audience size and budget. We'll check availability and come back with a shortlist within one business day.