Navigating Change and
Transformation

Keynote Speaker | Strategist | Facilitator | Event Host | Author

Are you driving a strategic shift, major change program or cultural reset?

Or perhaps your people are flagging and need an energy boost?

Whether you have specific projects or challenges to navigate such as Gen AI adoption or far broader needs, my role is to help your leaders cut through the noise, find focus and avoid the downsides that come from unclear priorities and poor decision-making.

As a result, they’re better equipped to adapt to change, seize opportunities and work collaboratively to deliver results.

My work is informed by more than a decade of high-performance team leadership followed by 16 years working with leaders across all sectors, including multi-sector collaborative projects.

As a taster, you may want to download my book chapter outlining how you use collaborative and purpose-driven methods as a ‘a new lens for innovation’.

Keynote Speaking

I provide guidance and tools that help leaders, teams and organisations thrive in these challenging and uncertain times. You can download my speaker kit, where my topics include:

Navigating Change With Purpose: How to adapt with clarity, focus and impact
The Future of Leadership: Building adaptive leaders for a volatile world
From Confusion to Clarity: Turning disruption into opportunity

Audience members leave feeling grounded and confident, with a clear and practical lens for navigating change and delivering results for their organisation.

My speaking style is described as motivating, engaging and down-to-earth, and I have extensive experience with in-person, hybrid and online formats.

You can book me for events, off-sites, facilitated sessions, conferences, roadshows, talent development and leadership programs.

To explore working together, make contact, book a discovery call or call me on +61 (0)408 259 633.

Quicklinks: speaker kit | showreel | bio | event organiser info

Services

▸ Keynotes and presentations prepare your people for new thinking and change (speaker brochure).

▸ Facilitations mobilise people and stakeholders in taking action.

▸ Workshops and programs go deeper, developing the mindsets, relationships and skills.

▸ Hosting, emcee and panel discussion services ensure event success.

▸ Event curations build shared knowledge, connections and trust.

▸ Project support for overcoming roadblocks and improving success rates.

About me

I’m a former corporate high-performance team leader who has since worked with hundreds of leaders, teams and organisations on their pressing challenges.

Achievements include co-founding Purpose Ignition, publishing Connecting Profit With Purpose, launching two podcasts and appearing in media such as The CEO Magazine, CPA’s InTheBlack and the AFR report on purpose in business. I’m also an accredited ‘master facilitator’ with critical thinking specialists, Janellis, and co-convenor of the Impact Hour sustainable business event series.

Born and bred Tasmania, I currently reside south of Sydney in the magnificent Illawarra region. I’ve played in a folk / blues band, delivered my second child in a bathtub and have a historical family connection to the Cadbury chocolate factory in Hobart.

Also see my bio page.

Purpose Ignition 🔥

“Purpose Ignition” is a collaboration between Carolyn Butler-Madden and myself – we’re two of Australia’s leading and established experts on purpose-driven leadership and business.

We believe that creating a healthy planet with shared prosperity depends on inspiring and empowering purpose-driven leaders to positively change the way we do business from the inside out. Our collaborative zone focuses on the vitally important work of shifting from a win-lose to win-with mindset and illustrating what that looks like in practice, along with connecting people to a meaningful organisational purpose.

We deliver keynotes, workshops and programs, and curate exclusive online and in-person events, and you can find out more here.

Private Dinners & Programs

Part of our Purpose Ignition range involves curated events and programs to galvanise purpose-driven leaders so they can navigate their journey with more confidence.

They value making connections with experts and like-minded peers across different industries who understand their challenges and needs.

Business Author

I’ve been featured across a range of media platforms and publish my newsletters via email and LinkedIn.

Connecting Profit With Purpose contains instructional case studies spread across industries and business types as well as inspiration and methods for purpose-led innovation.

On reflection, the cover is a little bland, however I like to think the diverse range of examples and accomplishments in it are beautiful!

“Commitment to social purpose is becoming a competitive advantage, and corporate leaders who want to master this approach need to read this book” – Mark Kramer, Harvard Business School

Explore Working Together

If this resonates, you can make contact by emailing hello@philpreston.com.au, use this web form or schedule a no-obligation discovery call to gain clarity on how a purpose-driven approach can help you take on your challenges.

What My Clients Say

I received a lot of positive feedback about the workshop and your facilitation. People seem to be really keen to start implementing their new knowledge.

Coordinator Group Shared Value, IAG
Our event has been made so much richer because of your experience and approach. You’ve been awesome!

Marketing & Communications Lead, JLL Australia
The discussion gave the various stakeholders in the room a broader perspective of the issues we face and how it impacts what our businesses are trying to do.

Executive Director, Westpac
As a community we have decided to focus on youth unemployment and Phil has helped us engage with local companies to open up their thinking around sustained solutions and win-win outcomes.

Regional Coordinator, NSW Dept of Family & Community Services
Phil helped us think more broadly about business partnerships to identify and explore shared value opportunities in our goal to improve Indigenous health.

GM Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Danila Dilba Health Service
Phil’s engaging style, thought leadership and practical case studies added huge value to each delegate and the overarching program. Great stuff!

Director, Australian Food & Grocery Council
His ability to engage with people, to challenge and to stimulate new ways of thinking, while providing us with a clear strategic approach was highly skilled.

Deputy Director, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet
Thank you so much for the session today. Great feedback from everyone!

Head of People & Advancement, Claim Central Holdings
Thank you Phil, your simple, systematic approach has made a significant impact in this strategic project.

Project Manager, University of Wollongong
Phil’s session was excellent – it hit the mark perfectly and got everyone in the room in the right frame of mind for the day ahead.

Divisional Chief Executive, Challenger Group
Your session really set the scene for the critical nature of purpose for our People Lead Team offsite.

General Manager, People, BlueScope
Thank you so much for yesterday. Your session led to some really strong conversations and a fabulous team training day.

Owner, Fernwood Fitness Woonona
Phil was an amazing facilitator. He took the time to understand our goals and worked with us to run a series of successful events with businesses. I cannot recommend Phil highly enough.

Research Project Professor, Australian Catholic University
Thanks to Phil Preston for helping us brainstorm and collaborate in our afternoon session.

QBE Foundation Manager
You’ve done an exceptional job, valuable personally and in terms of what we can do collectively.

Executive General Manager, Australian Unity
Phil is a fantastic communicator and makes everything seamless. Highly recommend Phil as a strategic thinker and engaging presenter.

Secretariat, TCI Oceania
Phil guided us through ... with questions that caused reflection and vulnerability. Excellent. Thanks Phil!

Syndicate Chair, CEO Institute
Phil delivered an insightful and inspiring session on leading through change, with fresh perspectives and practical strategies for our up-and-coming leaders.

CEO, Business Illawarra