Sydney

Dave helps you and your team quickly win over a room, build trust and draw others in. A comedian at night and strategic communications adviser by day, Dave brings proven expertise in making serious ideas engaging, accessible and fun, giving you practical insight into how to become more magnetic, persuasive and successful in both formal and informal settings.

Drawing on more than 20 years in strategic communications and thousands of speaking events, Dave works with you to become more confident, more engaging and more effective across all forms of communication – from high-stakes public speaking to the small talk that happens in the margins of meetings. The result is a team that communicates with greater clarity, confidence and persuasiveness when it matters most.

A former ABC journalist, speechwriter to the foreign minister, executive communications adviser and partnerships specialist, Dave has worked across politics, crisis situations, complex financial negotiations, public events and senior stakeholder environments. He combines that experience with his know-how in rapport-building, humour and audience engagement to help you navigate stakeholders more effectively, bring your best self into the room, be heard, and have your ideas taken up by others.

Dave runs workshops and MCs events through his three organisations – The Speaking Lab, Future Science Talks, and the Sydney Comedy School – partnering with leading organisations across Australia to improve teamwork, confidence, influence and communication skills. This gives clients a rare mix of strategic communication, practical facilitation and genuine entertainment value.

A natural at putting others at ease, while also quickly identifying what the room needs and what the event needs to achieve, Dave helps your team become more impactful, confident and connected. A trusted adviser to senior leaders across Australia, he brings the experience, warmth and humour to make every event – internal or external – feel uplifting, empowering and memorable.