For more than 30 years, I've worked with leaders on the decisions, beliefs and behaviours that shape their organisations. I bring that practice into the room to challenge your audience to build leadership that lasts beyond any one person.
30+years in practice
Since 1999running a leadership development organisation
Asked back4 times by SEGRA
2026 AFR BOSS Most Innovative Companies finalist Circle Leadership Global
01 / THE SIGNATURE KEYNOTE
What happens when the leader leaves the room?
If leadership disappears, what you have is a dependency on an individual.
Build leadership into the business and the business stops waiting for the leader.
Structure tells people who has authority. Architecture tells them what has authority: purpose, values, vision and mission. Replacing the person at the top can leave the same dependency intact. This keynote asks what the organisation must hold in common so sound decisions keep moving.
01
Run the Leave-the-Room Test. Recognise where decisions and direction still depend on a particular person being there.
02
Examine the four pieces of architecture. Look at how purpose, values, vision and mission guide decisions for people and AI agents.
03
Start with five decisions. List the last five decisions that waited for you. Identify what your team needed to decide without you.
FOR CONFERENCES, ASSOCIATIONS & LEADERSHIP TEAMS
For executives, people leaders and business owners who want sound decisions to move beyond a few key individuals.
PUT DAVE ON THE AGENDA
A strong idea. Ready for your committee.
The keynote, takeaways, recommendations, additional formats and booking process in one easy-to-share PDF.
Direct. Human. Unafraid to challenge. Get a feel for the thinking, the delivery and the conversation Dave brings to a stage.
SHORT CLIPS · REAL ROOMS
A few moments. A different perspective.
Explore decisions, culture and the experience around the keynote. Start with “Teaching your team what to say no to” for a practical example of shared decision principles.
Clips 1–4 of 5Swipe or use the arrows. Choose a clip to play.
Go deeper: watch a full keynote +
Have more time? See how Dave develops an argument with a specialist audience. Start with the AHRI WA closing keynote, then explore the additional business session below.
Another perspective: business evolution +
WHY DAVE?
Conviction on stage. Care behind the scenes.
01
A point of view with a point.
Leadership as an organisational property gives your audience a different lens for the decisions they face every day.
02
Practice behind the provocation.
30+ years of leadership practice across three continents. Running a leadership development organisation since 1999.
03
Your audience comes first.
For APA Florida, preparation included reading the association's by-laws and attending an executive committee meeting.
04
One fee. More than a keynote.
Your agreed speaking fee includes travel, accommodation and event transfers, arranged by Dave. One proposal, with the practical details agreed upfront.
I’m there the day before and the day after my speaking engagement. We agree how that time can add value to your programme, including the scope of any additional contributions.
In the room. In the conversation.
“A stand out in my 21 years of convening.”
Kate ChartersSEGRA Convenor
RELEVANCE YOU CAN RECOGNISE
Different rooms. The same depth of care.
A different audience deserves a considered conversation. Here is what that has looked like in practice.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
APA Florida
The room
A plenary for planning professionals at APA Florida’s 2024 annual conference, which welcomed more than 1,100 attendees in person.
The preparation
Reading the association's by-laws and attending an executive committee meeting, alongside the plenary and breakout work.
“It was very evident he spent much time researching us as an organization in order to cater his presentation to our audience, a very specialized group of highly-educated professionals.”
Allara Mills-Gutcher, AICP Managing Principal, The Planning CollaborativeLEADERS & ENTREPRENEURS
FWD Fest
The conversation
The future of work, risk and opportunity at the FWD Executive Leadership Day.
The partnership
Working with the event's broader vision and the community in the room.
“A collaborative partner who goes above and beyond to align his contributions with the broader vision of the event and community.”
Repeat invitations from the people responsible for the event.
4×
SEGRA
3×
LevelUp Emerald Coast
2×
Kimberley Economic Forum
2×
APA Florida
THEIR WORDS. YOUR PEACE OF MIND.
What happens on the other side of the mic.
SEGRA · CONFERENCE CONVENOR
“A stand out in my 21 years of convening.”
Kate ChartersSEGRA Convenor
APA FLORIDA · CONFERENCE PLENARY
“It was very evident he spent much time researching us as an organization in order to cater his presentation to our audience, a very specialized group of highly-educated professionals.”
Allara Mills-Gutcher, AICPManaging Principal, The Planning Collaborative
FWD EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP DAY
“Beyond being an outstanding speaker, Dave is also a collaborative partner who goes above and beyond to align his contributions with the broader vision of the event and community.”
“Dave challenges leaders to measure their success by the lasting capability they build in others, rather than by how indispensable they become.”
Sue Mason-BakerManaging Director, Mingary Care
ASSOCIATION BOARD & MEMBERS
“I plan to have him back to work with our association in the future and very much look forward to more learning and inspiration!”
Stefanie Dodge Svisco, QASExecutive Director, APA Florida
LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
“From the outset, the audience was engaged. Dave has a natural ability to connect with a room, and that connection translated into a level of energy and participation that I honestly did not anticipate.”
Brian Turner (MBA)Centre Manager, Sunshine Plaza Shopping Centre
DISTRICT32 · ENTREPRENEURSHIP
“The feedback from our members has been outstanding.”
Dean KeatingDirector, D32 Business Network
BUSINESS MAXIMISED EVENT
“The feedback speaks for itself. Dave is an exceptional speaker and business leader and I highly recommend him for any keynote speak or leadership workshop.”
Lorraine GarvieCo-Founder & CEO, D32 Business Network
RECRUITMENT YARNS · FELLOW SPEAKER
“I've seen a lot of people speak on Leadership, Culture and Sales over the years and Dave shared insights that were fresh, relevant and did so in a way that was engaging and memorable.”
Stacey CopasKeynote Speaker, Resilience Rocks®
Recommendations 1–3 of 9Read at your pace. Swipe or use the arrows.
THE AUTHOR BEHIND THE IDEAS
Keep the conversation going.
Three books. More ways to challenge how we lead, work and build organisations.
FOR THE PERSON MAKING IT HAPPEN
A strong choice. An easy next step.
The idea needs to fit your programme. The details need to work for you.
A RESOURCE FOR YOUR DELEGATES
The Leave-the-Room Test
The keynote starts the conversation. This helps your delegates take it back to work.
Explore why leadership belongs to the organisation, then use the ten-question worksheet to find where decisions still depend on one person.
Share it before the event to introduce the question, or in your follow-up email to turn the keynote into a team conversation. Ask delegates to bring the ten-question worksheet to their next team meeting.
Download a biography, MC introduction and speaker photo. Use the event briefing checklist to shape the conversation with Dave.
Will this fit our audience?+
Share your industry, event theme and who will be in the room. Discuss the audience's challenges with Dave to establish the right fit and focus for your event.
What should we include in an enquiry?+
Your event name, date or preferred date range, location, audience size and the change you want the conversation to begin. Include your budget if it is already set.
What does Dave’s speaking fee include?+
Your agreed speaking fee includes the keynote, travel, accommodation and event transfers, arranged and paid for by Dave. The proposal sets out the total and what is included. If your team prefers to make the travel arrangements, agree that with Dave when booking.
Dave is available the day before and the day after his speaking engagement. Discuss where he can add value, such as a breakout or time with your board or executive committee. The proposal confirms which contributions are included and any separately quoted work, including follow-on workshops.
Do you offer virtual keynotes and other formats?+
Yes. Dave delivers in person and virtually. You can also discuss a conference breakout, leadership workshop, board or executive committee session, or panel contribution. Agree the format, duration, preparation and scope in your proposal.
How do we prepare for the session?+
Start with your audience, event theme and the decisions or challenges delegates face. Bring relevant background and your intended outcomes to the briefing conversation so the focus can be agreed together.
What about recording and technical requirements?+
Include your proposed room setup, AV arrangements and any recording or livestream plans in the brief. Agree requirements and permissions with Dave before the event.
What materials can our team use?+
The organiser resources include a short biography, MC introduction, speaker photo and event briefing checklist. You can also download The Leave-the-Room Test to share with delegates before or after your event. Agree the final session description, introduction, promotion and technical requirements when the event is confirmed.
YOUR NEXT EVENT
Give your audience something they can't unhear.
Who’s in the room, and what do you want them to think about or do differently? Start there, and tell Dave about your event.
All-inclusive speaking fee. Travel, accommodation and event transfers included. Scope agreed in your proposal.
DAVE CLAREKEYNOTE SPEAKER & AUTHORCheck availability 
