Amanda Johnstone

"Armed with influential thought-leadership skills and a tenacious drive to transform the role of technology, it is Amanda who is propelling the future wellbeing of the human race. " - THE CEO MAGAZINE

Amanda not only communicates the future of thought leadership via social audio, media and live on stage - she goes beyond other futurists and directly builds award-winning social impact products that make the world a better place.

Quick-witted and compelling, she warmly engages with audiences, motivating them to be better as both individuals and corporate entities. Amanda's message is universal, and she shares it with the authenticity of a young leader who is a genuine role model for change.

She is an altruistic pioneer whose inventions are directly playing a role in lowering the suicide rate globally. Her inspiring approach to the intersection of emotion, empathy, vulnerability and technology make her an exceptional leader and a captivating evangelist for the positive change toward mental wellbeing for all. Her passionate life purpose is to provide access to care for those who don't feel they deserve a place in the world, by modelling vulnerability. Her work and personal life enable her to live that into action.

As one of Australia's most globally acknowledged AI technologists and technology communicators, Amanda's contributions have been celebrated by TIME as a Next Generation Leader and by The CEO Magazine with the Start-up Executive of the Year award, underscoring her significant impact in social impact technology. In 2023, LinkedIn awarded her as a Top Voice in Artificial Intelligence, one of only 1500 top voices globally of nearly 1 billion users.

Recognised as a subject matter expert in both emerging technology and modern leadership, Amanda lends her insights to esteemed organisations including YPO, Zoom, Allianz, Leap, Kellogg's, Universal, Stanford, Women Making Waves, The Education Department, Schmidt Futures, Optus, ADMA and Google Cloud, among others. She has built a substantial following on her social audio channel, engaging 300,000 subscribers and reaching tens of millions.

An award winning entrepreneur for over 20 years, it was at the young age of 17, Amanda co-founded award-winning retail chain, Sebachi, in Tasmania. Under the mentorship of Cotton On founder, Nigel Austin, Sebachi became one of Australia's first e-commerce stores in the early 2000's.

Amanda has always been passionate about social issues, as Australia's first Youth Development Officer at 18 in local government at the West Tamar Council - she also took on philanthropic roles in management, policy and strategy in suicide prevention at a youth suicide prevention retreat in Tasmania for fifteen years. Her many personal experiences with suicide, inspired Johnstone to invent her proprietary mental health App, "Be A Looper" and EmotionAI technologies.

Speaking topics

Modern Leadership: Empowering Change through Empathy, Diversity, and Inclusion:

As an award-winning CEO in social impact and STEM, Amanda embodies the essence of next-generation leadership, defined by empathy, diversity, and inclusion. Her approach mirrors the traits of the world's most disruptive entrepreneurs, leading with purpose to catalyse positive change. Amanda demonstrates that visionary leadership is not an inherent trait but a cultivated mindset, guiding individuals and organisations to new heights.

In 2024, Amanda delves deeper into intersectionality and the critical role of leaders in fostering teams that feel valued within a social economy. She addresses vital aspects of modern leadership, including meta leadership, sustainable development goals, and vulnerability, with a focus on inclusion and diversity.

Her success and recognition in business and leadership have positioned her as a pioneer in areas like productivity, intrapreneurship, entrepreneurship, and empowerment. Amanda also emphasises the importance of nurturing future leaders and individual wellness.

Join Amanda in 2024 for an insightful journey into the heart of modern leadership, where the focus is on creating a more inclusive, empowered, and well-rounded workplace and world.

Navigating the AI-Transformed Workforce

Learn about the evolving job landscape in the Artificially Intelligent era and how to adapt successfully. Gain valuable knowledge on reskilling and the creation of new roles, along with actionable steps to stay ahead in this changing environment.

The Future of Technology

Explore the revolutionary intersection of human biology and technology. Understand the impact of the Internet of Bodies in various sectors and how to harness its potential for health, education, and human optimisation. Understanding how facial and emotion recognition software, alongside

Women in Leadership

"Leadership is about creating space where all voices are heard and valued." - Amanda Johnstone

Amanda Johnstone, a trailblazer in leadership and STEM, brings her unique perspective to International Women's Day 2024 and beyond. With the theme #InspireInclusion, Amanda's keynote encapsulates the essence of empowering women in leadership and across diverse fields.

Expect a keynote filled with personal anecdotes, evidence-based strategies, and actionable insights. Amanda's message is clear: the rise of women in leadership is a journey of collaboration and mutual respect, not a competition between genders. It's about embracing change and working together to create a world where everyone, regardless of gender, can succeed based on their capabilities and aspirations.

Her keynote will explore the evolution from the era of power suits to a more inclusive and empathetic leadership style. Amanda's story of seeking mentorship from Nigel Austin at 16 years of age and her approach to building diverse teams highlights the importance of asking for help, offering help and embracing vulnerability.

Amanda's mantra, "Only when diverse perspectives are included, respected, and valued can we start to get a full picture of the world," is a testament to her belief in inclusive leadership. She emphasises the need for leaders to be authentic, to acknowledge their own areas of growth, and to foster an environment where both men and women can thrive.

Testimonials

It has been an absolute delight working closely with Amanda during the past year. Her ability to bring our board and executive into a modern way of thinking about future focused technology has been revolutionary to our business and me personally. Amanda's knowledge and connections are second to none. Her easy going presentation style and ability to allow non tech people to conceptualise such topics as AI has made ouR transition into a tech enabled business possible. I highly recommend Amanda.
Preston Rowe Patterson CEO, Greg Sugars OAM

Amanda has one of the most inviting presence and trust building attitudes that I've ever worked with. Not only she is a technological guru, but she is an accomplished executive with several companies founded and a focus on using her skill and network to do good for society. I first encountered her during her hit Clubhouse show "Talk Nerdy to Me" in which I was first drawn to the very real and noble and raw technology and personal conversations advancing the field during the pandemic in several areas including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Crypto, NFTs and more generalized topics. Amanda's work has been recognized by TIME as a Next Gen Leader, and she has an international audience and reputation as an international leader. I have absolutely enjoyed my existing collaborations with Amanda and highly recommend working with her should you get the chance.
Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of NASA JPL, Dr Chris Mattmann

Amanda is a leader and disruptor like no other. She is a magnanimous beacon of hope for all entrepreneurs and organisations. She is my go-to for anything AI and web3 related. Her mind-bending perspectives and money can't buy access to world-class thought leaders keep her ten steps in business and innovation. Amanda pushes boundaries in technology but is realistic in commercialisation, proven by her achievements in business.
Executive Chairman of Hydralyte and Top Shelf International, Adem Karafili

The team loved it and it had a fantastically uplift impact on us all. Thank you.
Managing Director Kellogg’s, Anthony Holme

Amanda is a power house with an abundance of knowledge, but most importantly has the ability and patience to communicate in a way that you can understand even as a beginner. After spending 2 hours with Amanda my team and I were inspired and understood a clear path forward for how AI can be utilised in the business and the benefits associated as a result. Each member of my team all spoke to me individually afterwards and explained how much they thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and how they were all able to connect so well with Amanda and found her so inspirational. I have only praise for Amanda both as an individual and as an educator. Anyone is lucky to work with her and undoubtedly she will add value to your business.
Managing Director, Ben De Rango, Mossman Clothing

Amanda Johnstone has been an inspiration and a delight to work with. She exemplifies exceptional leadership, and her inspirational approach, drive and curiosity is so engaging. We're very grateful for her generosity in sharing her time and knowledge with us so far and we're looking forward to her presentation at our upcoming TasICT / International Women's Day event.
TasICT, Events Manager Katharine Jayne

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