Conference Speakers

Our experienced and knowledgeable speakers could be the highlight of your conference or team event. Our speakers have a few suggestions for content, but they have wide experience and want to design a presentation that's right for you. Let's talk about what might get your audience buzzing.

Check out...

Ralph Brown on staying resilient and motviated - and fun with business writing

Michael Brown on preparing for a media crisis

Alana Billingham on decisions to change your life

Need an emergency speaker? Contact us. We'll do our best to help.

RALPH BROWN

Ralph specialises in the psychology of success - including resilience and the essential skill of written communication.

He is an inspirational and motivational speaker, with substance. He will present simple, practical ideas your attendees will use.

Ralph is the author of Success at Work and at Home which combines the latest research with his own experience working with thousands of New Zealanders and Australians. His latest book is The Village That Could - an inspiring fable about 'the 15 ways to develop your resilience'. His other books are Making Business Writing Easy and Making Business Writing Happen (Allen and Uniwin). He is a judge of the 2010 New Zealand Plain English Awards.

Some suggested topics for your conference...

How do we stay resilient and motivated in challenging times?

• What the world's top achievers do to stay motivated, persistent, focused and optimistic when the going gets tough.
• How to use the same ideas yourself and with your team.

(See Ralph's article on resilience) View Ralph's interview with Alison Mau on TVNZ's Breakfast programme. (Click on the list of videos - top right.)   

Let's have some fun with business writing

How about an entertaining session to provide your participants with a simple, focused way to develop their writing skills? You might be surprised how much fun an audience can have learning about writing.

It's a great way to start or enhance a plain English culture in any organisation.

Ralph will get them laughing and learning. He'll create memories.  They'll leave with a simple writing and editing method they can use for the rest of their careers. 

Read Ralph's article on informality in business writing

Is he any good?

Here's what the National Speakers' Association said about Ralph's address to its members:

'He captivated and informed us for an hour. It was a superb performance. His engaging, relaxed manner was the mark of a true professional, using anecdotes, research, absorbing content and humour. It was a presentation not to be missed.'

Ralph is Managing Director of Media Associates and has a background in business, psychology and journalism - with both Television New Zealand and the BBC.

See Ralph Brown's Blog for his observations on topics including resilience, motivation and writing.

Contact us about the the possibility of a Media Associates speaker for your conference or meeting.

MICHAEL BROWN

Michael is a leading authority on training in media and presentation skills. He has wide experience as a communicator - as a teacher, television journalist, presenter and director for TVNZ and on secondment to the BBC. He has trained spokespeople throughout New Zealand for more than 18 years.

Michael's books on news media and presentation skills are distributed throughout the world. They are in their fourth and third editions.

A suggested topic...

How would we handle a news media crisis?

• How how to set up your systems before any crisis develops
• What to do when it happens
• How to set up and run a news conference;
• How to get help – and why you should not hire a spin doctor (as in deceptive spin)

Read Michael's article Why hiring a (deceptive) spin doctor is a very bad idea.

Contact us about the the possibility of a Media Associates speaker for your conference or meeting.

Is he any good?

What Michael Brown's audiences are saying about his presenting style:

• "The presenter was one of the best I have ever come across."
• "First-class."
• "Excellent presenter."

See Michael Brown's Blog for his observations on presentation and news media skills.

Contact us about the the possibility of a Media Associates speaker for your conference or meeting.

ALANA BILLINGHAM

Alana is a Media Associates' specialist in negotiation, investigative interviewing, resolving conflict and people skills. She coaches executives and team leaders in communication skills and helps teams work together more effectively.

Dynamic decisions: How to change your life

A moving, challenging, hilarious journey that will inspire you to be all you can be. A chance to discover the secret power of living in the moment and learn how to make dynamic decisions that will change your life forever.

Is she any good?

Alana is a very experienced and relaxed presenter, adept at building a rapport with a wide variety of audiences. She has a great sense of humour. Her presentations are fun - and productive.

See Alana Billingham's blog. Read Alana's article on assertiveness.

Contact us about a speaker for your conference or a facilitator for your meeting.

Media Associates offers business training on a range of communication and personal development topics including resilience, public speaking, writing, negotiation, news media skills and leadership. See our list of business training topics.

Experienced speakers and business trainers available for your conference or meeting.