In an era when 'game-changer', status quo disrupter', and 'new standard' are tossed around regularly, there are only a small handful of brands and technologies that serve as the indisputable, iconic personifications of those monikers. YouTube is one such entity. Serving as a website, a brand, and a verb, YouTube is the world's largest and most popular video sharing site and the third most visited site globally. At the genesis and development of this phenomenon is its co-founder and former CEO, CHAD HURLEY. Equal parts businessman and Silicon Valley maven, Chad's transition from working at PayPal to founding and growing YouTube has truly become the stuff of legend in business, technology, social and educational circles around the world. In 2007, Chad and his partner sold YouTube to Google, Inc. for $1.6 Billion and still serves as the company's advisor. From the lectern, Chad discusses the rise of YouTube and managing its meteoric growth. He shares the lessons learned from the unique experiences of creating a 'game-changer', 'status quo disrupter', and 'new standard' in technology and how content is consumed and shared in the modern era. He also explains what's next in the ever-evolving landscape of emerging technology, the shifting paradigm of media production and distribution and how YouTube continues to evolve in order to stay on top.

SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES

"Sisters are doing it for themselves" 1985 was the year when the Eurythmics teamed up with Aretha Franklin and released this track. It was around the same time our CEO, Leanne Christie, started Ovations Speakers Bureau! But sadly for the speaking industry there weren't many 'sisters' on the speaking circuit back then.

Our resident BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) expert David Thomas was recently interviewed on ABC News for his views on China's ongoing economic diversification. As a specialist in the region's economy, David urges Australian businesses to come to grips with the motivations behind Chinese investors before they're left behind.

 

Danielle Di-Masi was recently featured in News.com.au's piece on the decline of eye contact and its effect on a business' bottom line.

As one of our sales trends specialists Danielle believes that eye contact is fundamental to business life.

Dare Jennings, the founder of iconic Australian clothing brand Mambo is at it again.

When Deus Ex Machina first hit the Sydney landscape with its funky, retro motorcycles reminiscent of classics from the WWII Italian era, no-one could have imagined the international success that would follow. Now in his 60's Dare Jennings stands at the head of another clothing empire, again strongly incorporating elements of surf culture. Deus has become a lifestyle brand that speaks to those who love freedom and individuality, much like the man behind the brand.

In this video Leanne Christie, Chief of Everything O, dropped into the Sydney store to chat with Dare about his incredible capacity for creating polarising products that create and lead fashion trends throughout the world.

Exclusive boardroom breakfast with Dare Jennings at Deus Ex Machina!

Are you looking for a trendsetting speaker with a proven history of creating iconic brands?

We're offering event planners a one-off opportunity to meet with Dare at an exclusive boardroom breakfast event on the 22nd of October 2013. Tour the fabulous Deus Ex Machina premises and hear one of the most compelling and relevant business speakers in the industry.

Call now - only 6 places available! (02) 9818 6622

World-class emcee, comedian, keynote speaker and entrepreneur. He is also distinguished debater, voiceover artist and expert in specifically tailored event hoaxes.

Elliot Epstein enables senior managers and sales teams to master the next level of persuasive business communication in order to drive those bottom line results. Elliot works with many top 100 Australian companies, high profile sports people and BRW fast 100 companies, improving everything about the way they present. In addition Elliott is also an experienced MC for conferences, sales, leadershi ...

On 16 March 2008, the HMAS Sydney (II), missing for over 60 years, was located off the West Australian coast. HMAS Sydney (II) was tragically lost in November 1941 along with its entire crew, following a fierce engagement with the German raider HSK Kormoran. As Chairman and founding member of the Finding Sydney Foundation – the organisation created to discover the location of the Sydney - ...

After joining the Insurance Industry at age 24, John enjoyed excellent sales success and was appointed Divisional Manager at age 28. He continued in that role for the next 14 years. Now he is a husband, a dad, and a grandfather. He is also in the unenviable position where he can speak with authority on a fatal car crash in which he received serious life threatening injuries; the result from which he was classed as unemployable at age 42. At the time of the car crash John was married with four daughters, he was a successful agency manager and of course we had a mortgage, leased cars, education commitments etc. etc. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon John's working life was taken from him in the most violent of ways when he was involved in a horrific car crash in which an 18 year old girl was killed. "Thank heavens the crash wasn't my fault! At that time I didn't know that I was about to face years of rehabilitation and counselling". Four months after the crash John's employment was terminated, and soon after that the doctors would tell me him that he would never work again. By this time he was already receiving Income Protection benefits, the regular fortnightly payment that would become his financial lifeblood for the next 16.5 years. With the help of doctors and his family he worked hard at recovering his mental and physical self, only to be dealt the cruellest of blows just thirty months after his car crash, when his youngest daughter Carmen (age 18) was killed in a car crash.

Jason Stevens could never be described as average. As a footballer his talents have always been obvious, from his early days playing with St George, where he played a Grand Final at the age of just 20. Today he is widely regarded as one of the two best props in the country, and the best in New South Wales. But wait - there's more! Stevens has a university degree in commerce, and though it's an a ...

BLUE MAN GROUP is best known for their wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The blissful party atmosphere created at their live events has become the trademark of a BLUE MAN GROUP experience. ...

Four-Time Olympian, Championship-winning Player and Head Coach, Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, Brand Ambassador Shane Heal is one of Australia’s most recognised personalities and respected sporting figures. His is a reputation forged representing Australia at four olympic games and playing professionally for more than 20 years in Australia, europe and in the world's best league, the ...

Matthew Hoggard MBE is one of the most successful international cricketers to have played for England. He currently plays for and captains, Leicestershire County Cricket Club where, after leaving his home county of Yorkshire, he has had a successful period. He was a vital member of the inspirational England side that won the epic 2005 Ashes series and has been a model of consistency throughout his ...

Ginni is currently the resident doctor on Seven's Sunrise and The Morning Show. She is also the health expert for Women's Health magazine, a columnist for Practical Parenting and the co-author of bestselling book “Why am I so Tired?”. In her general practice in Sydney, Ginni has pursued a special interest in Women's Health and Pediatrics, she is also a mother of 6 in a blended and on to ...

Bill Cates CSP, CPAE, has revolutionised the way professionals and small business owners acquire more high value clients with referrals and other relationship marketing strategies. His books, Get More Referrals Now! and Don't Keep Me a Secret! have established Bill as the foremost expert in building a thriving referral based business. Bill's latest book is Beyond Referrals: How to Use the Perpetua ...

Undoubtedly Australia's premier couturier, Alex Perry has added a new level of glamour to our fashion industry with his breathtaking gowns. The designer 'du jour' for celebrity red-carpet dressing and high society weddings, Alex Perry is at the top of his game. With his often frank, but always humorous, insights into the workings of the local and international fashion industry, Alex is a highly r ...

Back in the late 1980's New Zealander Robyn Pearce, as a solo mother of six and burnt out real estate agent, learnt her time management skills the hard way! Once she'd conquered her own bad habits, people started beating a path to her door for help. As a speaker and author, she has been delighting global audiences with the top level productivity skills she had to learn - or she'd have gone down in ...

Heather Swan has shattered three world records in extreme sport, she's climbed soaring Himalayan mountains, flown a wingsuit from 6604 metres, flown bird style across the Australian Outback and across Sydney Harbour. She's a recipient of Australian Geographic's 'Spirit of Adventure Award, she's been featured twice on '60 Minutes', twice on 'Australian Story' in two feature documentaries and on Nat ...

The brilliant talent of The Rechargeables is a full event solution. Training or education session, MC, entertainment spot, comedy, or energisers this improvisation group deliver every time. Improvisation by nature demands fast thinking and flexibility; this combined with the corporate experience of The Rechargeables give you a resourceful team for any event. The Rechargeables are the first comedy ...

While still at high school, Ben Mendelsohn appeared in the role of an enslaved Inca in the Heidelberg Theatre Companys production of "The Royal Hunt of the Sun". After several early television roles, including The Henderson Kids, he attracted notice in his breakout film, The Year My Voice Broke, winning him the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor. His next major role was in ...

In addition to being one of the only female Creative Directors in the world of MadMen, at 20, Kieran was also one of the youngest Creative Directors to lead a multi award winning advertising agency. In an impressive career, she has lead multi-national accounts across multidisciplinary departments and businesses working at McCann, Smart, Kindred and VCD (a team she helped found and build into the agency of the year in her first three years in the industry). In that time, Kieran also directed the Strategic and Creative team behind the most successful new product launch in Australian history, won awards around the world for creativity and effectiveness, spent three years running Australia's premier creative school, AWARD, and coauthored 'Shift' with her business partner Dan Gregory. She is currently the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at research, training and innovation think tank, The Impossible Institute, teaching and lecturing at The Miami Ad School and has spoken to audiences as diverse as the UN in Singapore (as part of a group working to end human trafficking), sales teams for Coca Cola, leadership forums and education summits. All while producing work for markets as far flung as the United States, Russia, SE Asia, Europe, Oceania and TEDx Sydney. Kieran is a passionate advocate for the commercial power of creativity and a return to more human engagement, cultures and leadership.

Prepare to be entertained, energised and enlightened on a journey of memorable customer service and marketing ideas, that will enthrall, enthuse and most certainly inspire your teams and delegates. Geoff Ramm is the creator and author of 'Celebrity Service' and 'OMG Marketing'. He's a multi-award winning speaker who has challenged and inspired audiences across five continents. With a genuine ...

Mark W. Schaefer is a globally-recognized blogger, speaker, educator, business consultant, and author. Mr. Schaefer has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for nearly 30 years. He specialises in social media training, and clients include both start-ups and global brands such as IBM, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and the UK government. Mr. Schaefer has advanced degrees in marketing and ...

Jason Jelicich is CEO and founder and of an organisation devoted to creating more connected people and healthier working cultures. For the past 20 years, Jason has been teaching, training and guiding others from all walks of life. He has developed literally hundreds of educational programs for employees and their leadership teams, as well as working with troubled teenagers on the side. But on a ...

Kerry O'Brien is one of the most prominent and respected names in Australian journalism. He has won many accolades, including the top award in journalism, the Gold Walkley. In the past 35 years, he has worked in newspapers, wire service and television news and current affairs, as a general reporter, feature writer, political and foreign correspondent, interviewer and compere.He is currently the h ...

Mark "Squiz" Squirrell OAM has lived a high risk and high impact life. Squiz was awarded the coveted "Green Beret" whilst serving with the Australian Commando's and then went on to work across the globe as an International Aid Worker. Squiz escorted food convoys through the Gaza Strip, negotiated with the Liberation Tigers of Tamel Eelam (Tamil Tigers) and brokered deals with Somali Clansmen to ensure the safe delivery of United Nations food aid. These experiences inspired Squiz to summit Mt Everest to raise awareness of global hunger in 2006.  

Vince Sorrenti is one of Australia's most celebrated comedians and a dynamic keynote speaker. With over 200 live events a year, five Mo Awards, and a career in TV, film, and writing, Vince brings intelligence, humour, and energy to every stage. He crafts tailored keynote experiences that inform, entertain, and leave a lasting impact-making him a standout choice for any audience.

Since the day Paul delivered a fridge to Sydney's Nova969 resulting in him landing his first job in the entertainment industry, he has established himself as a professional radio presenter, TV host, voice artist, stand-up comedian, MC and musician. After climbing the ranks of radio station promotions, Paul became an on-air presenter under the nickname 'Fridgy'. Five years later and he had presen ...

John Lees is a sales and marketing specialist, totally focused on 'serious sales development.' His range of conference presentations is original, full of proven strategies, highly motivational, humorous and very entertaining. John was a senior marketing and sales executive for Schwarzkopf, in Australia and NZ and then on an international basis, and he is the author of five books on business de ...

Robbi Mack has a vivacious gift to help people embrace the emotional layers that drive performance, relationships, and engagement in business and life. ?Heartbeatz? is where our hearts engage with our minds to elevate performance. Understanding human connection enhances communication, strengthens teams and builds collaborative high performing cultures. At the core of business is the heart of the people driving its success. Why Heartbeatz? Quite simply, increasing complexity demands increased capability; emotions drive people and people drive performance. Any organisation who is experiencing low engagement, a problematic culture, relationship disharmony would benefit from Robbi Mack's ?HeartBeatz?, it will raise the pulse of the business from flat-lining to vibrant!

 

Scott Bales, a dynamic force in today's digital landscape, stands at the forefront of "The Digital Shift," an era of rapid innovation, cultural evolution, and technological transformation. As a visionary thinker, Scott's expertise lies in bridging the gap between the profound changes in behaviour and culture prompted by digital advancements. His personal mission is to drive a positive impact on humanity by applying technologies.

With over twenty years of global experience in innovation and implementation strategy, Scott has become a renowned consultant and speaker. He is celebrated for articulating groundbreaking ideas with compelling clarity and enthusiasm.

Scott has worked globally with brands like Microsoft, Google, Deloitte, Amazon, VISA, AIA, and many more. His entrepreneurial journey includes a pivotal role as Chief Mobile Officer for Moven, the pioneering digital bank, earning him the title of a 'Digital Warrior.' Scott uniquely combines his deep understanding of human motivations with an intense passion for technology.

In an era dominated by the digital revolution, Scott advocates for technological adaptability and embodies it. His extensive involvement includes Advisory Boards and Counsels in Banking, Diversity and inclusion, Startup Accelerators, and aligned non-profits, firmly positioning him as a leader committed to shaping the future of business and technology.

Scott's work was founded in his academic studies, holding a Masters of Business, Masters of Information Technology, and post-graduate Business Law and published his works best-selling books "Mobile Ready: Connecting With The Untethered Consumer" and "Innovation Wars," which are vital resources for corporations seeking to implement impactful and successful innovation programs. His work continues to inspire and guide businesses navigating the ever-evolving digital era.

Fraser Doherty is the founder of SuperJam, the 100% fruit jam company. He started the company at the age of fourteen, using his Gran's recipes. Since then, SuperJam has grown to supply over 2,000 supermarkets around the world, selling millions of jars along the way. SuperJam has been entered into the National Museum of Scotland as an 'Iconic Scottish Brand', has won over 20 innovation awards and ...

One of the UK's most prolific public intellectuals and commentators on politics and ethics, Anthony Grayling has written and edited over twenty books on philosophy and other subjects. Among his most recent are The Good Book, Ideas That Matter, Liberty in the Age of Terror and To Set Prometheus Free. Anthony is Founder and Master of the New College of the Humanities, a private for-profit undergrad ...

When you want your organisation to thrive, when you want your brand to become iconic, when you insist on owning your industry, there is no alternative: Douglas Kruger helps you to position yourself so that the business comes to you. He is an internationally renowned speaker and business author, who is passionate about growing brands, equipping sales teams and creating thought-leaders. Dougl ...

Adam Ferrier is a leading Australian consumer psychologist, brand strategist, and founder of Thinkerbell-an agency known for blending creativity with behavioural science. Thinkerbell was named the world's top creative agency in 2021 by BestAds and won Mumbrella's Full Service, Creative, and PR Agency of the Year titles in the same year. Adam is the author of The Advertising Effect and Stop Listening to the Customer, and a regular TV panellist on shows like Gruen Transfer. A Cannes Gold Lion and Effie winner, Adam's speaking style fuses behavioural economics, creativity, and psychology to deliver powerful, unconventional strategies that drive real change.

Don't you just love a good book?

One that challenges, inspires and takes you on a journey. Fortunately some of our favourite authors in the House of O are both compelling and prolific!

And we've got four sensational TRENDING books from our speakers to give away!

Not many people can say they have reached the summit of Mt Everest. Sharon Corhs has and in doing so, she became the 1st Breast Cancer survivor in the world to achieve this. Sharon is an ordinary yet inspirational Australian who showed incredible strength and determination to go on and do something truly extraordinary. Sharon now travels throughout Australia delivering inspirational present ...

Steve Farber is the president of Extreme Leadership, Incorporated, and the founder of The Extreme Leadership Institute, organizations devoted to the cultivation and development of Extreme Leaders in the business community, non-profits and education. His third book, Greater Than Yourself: The Ultimate Lesson In Leadership, was a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller. His second book, The Rad ...

As Melbourne's gangland war gathered momentum during the late 1990s, another battle was being fought within the police force by one brave cop. Young detective sergeant Simon Illingworth had joined the force to serve the public and make a difference. His world was forever shattered when he confronted police corruption head-on. Watching Melbourne's toughest killers working alongside his own colleag ...

Luke Jacobz is the Host of X Factor the highest rating series on Australian TV. He is a versatile actor, fun loving, likeable, enthusiastic, cheeky and professional presenter and host. As the host of Australia’ most popular TV series for 4 consecutive series, X Factor is viewed by an average audience of 1.5M per show. Luke Jacobz is currently one of Australia’s best known and popular ...

In the last few years we've started to see a trend in the corporate world towards embracing and supporting employees through more than just remuneration. Intrinsic motivation has become the order of the day, where staff are rewarded with loyalty, appreciation and space for personal and professional development.

It's a trend that champions creating more meaningful workplaces, personal responsibility and ownership of their role in the organisation.

The speakers below represent the new wave of leadership best practice, helping organisations the world over to discover a new path to leadership success.

Being a futurist isn't about having a crystal ball - although it might sometimes seem that way!

More realistically a futurist is able to spot the trends that are occurring right now and divine what that means for business and technology in the near future. Our favourite futurists don't just help businesses stay ahead of the game - they create it, inventing ground-breaking products that can change the world.

One of the greatest trends in our understanding of business performance has been the shift towards addressing the underlying needs of staff beyond just remuneration.

While everyone loves a bonus, employees care more about their day-to-day quality of working life and business is in the midst of a quantum shift towards more people-friendly environments.

It's an acknowledgement of one of the core truths of business: a fulfilled workforce is a productive workforce.

The world of sales is in the midst of the greatest upheaval in history.

Radical internet pioneers continue to redefine the sales experience online, while digital communications have fundamentally changed the way we interact business to business. Our bricks and mortar businesses are not immune to these changes, even those few without websites struggle to deal with how business has changed in an interconnected world.

Captain David Evans is a renowned aviation leader and crisis management expert, best known for his role in safely landing QANTAS Flight 32 after a catastrophic engine failure. As a Senior Check Captain, he played a crucial role in managing cascading mechanical failures, making split-second decisions, and leading his crew through one of QANTAS' most dangerous near-disasters. His focus on teamwork, leadership, and situational awareness-rather than blindly relying on technology-was key to saving lives. Now a sought-after speaker, he shares powerful insights on crisis leadership, decision-making under pressure, and the human factors that drive success in high-stakes environments.

Jordana Borensztajn is a social media strategist, presentation skills coach, author and humourist who inspires, educates and entertains audiences with action-packed and high-energy presentations and workshops.

Peter Buckley has worked with some of Australia's top corporate entities as Keynote Speaker, MC, Voice Artist and Presentation Skills and Media Skills Coach and Mentor. He spent 24 years 'on-air', including 12 years at Brisbane's B105 during its halcyon number-1 ratings period, where he was Assistant News Director following a stint as News Director at FM104/MMM. He is a regular Corporate Mentor ...

Dr Jason Fox is a motivation strategy & design expert who shows forward thinking leaders how to influence work culture, drive progress and build for the future of work. A big part of Jason’s work involves unpacking the latest trends and developments in work culture and gamification – removing the hype and adding the science to make work work. His adventures include working with t ...

Moira Kelly (AO) - International Humanitarian and Global Peace Maker A wonderful and inspirational speaker, Moira's natural charm, sense of Humor, enthusiasm and down to earth manner makes her an outstanding and not to be missed speaker. A natural speaker who holds her audience spellbound, you could hear a pin drop whilst this motivated woman brings some of the stories back to life. This remar ...