Ali Ahmadi Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Ali Ahmadi

  • Ali Ahmadi helps organisations respond to disengagement, burnout, change and resilience through keynote experiences that are practical, memorable and transformative.
  • What sets Ali apart is the rare combination of perspectives he brings to the stage: the lived extraordinary experience of a refugee, the strategic lens of an engineer and a director, and the stage presence of an award-winning storyteller.
  • His unique approach connects human experience with organisational challenges, helping teams build clarity, engagement and momentum in fast-changing environments.
  • Ali equips individuals and leaders with practical tools to adapt through change, overcome pressure and grow with greater resilience and intention.

Topics for Ali Ahmadi

  • How I was smuggled out of Iran and found a GPS
    Finding direction through uncertainty, change and challenge
    In this engaging keynote, Ali Ahmadi explores the growing challenges organisations face in a working world shaped by pressure, disruption and constant change. Drawing on his experiences as a refugee, a professional engineer and director, and a dynamic speaker, Ali helps leaders and teams build the resilience, clarity and connection needed to navigate uncertainty. Through powerful stories and practical insights, he equips audiences to respond to challenges more effectively, strengthen engagement, and turn adversity into momentum.
    Key takeaways
    • Setting meaningful goals – Attendees will understand how setting clear, ambitious goals can serve as an internal compass guiding them through both professional and personal challenges.
    • A new lens on gratitude – They will gain a fresh perspective on gratitude as a strategic tool for reframing challenges and uncovering opportunities.
    • Building self-confidence – Participants will leave with insights on cultivating self-confidence in their work and personal lives, empowering them to face obstacles head-on.
  • The re-engagement GPS
    Reconnecting people to purpose, performance and possibility
    With disengagement costing organisations more than ever, Ali Ahmadi’s Re-engagement GPS addresses a hidden cause of disengagement: the gap between personal purpose and organisational goals. Drawing on his journey as a refugee, and his experience as an engineer, director and award-winning speaker, Ali equips audiences to rediscover meaning in their work, navigate uncertainty, and move forward with greater clarity, ownership and energy. A practical keynote that reconnects people to their work and impact
    Key takeaways
    • Gratitude as a Reframe - Use gratitude to shift perspective, reframe challenge, and reconnect to possibility.
    • Purpose as a Compass - Reconnect to purpose to reignite motivation, deepen engagement, and create clearer direction.
    • Self-Confidence in Action - Build the confidence to take ownership, navigate challenges, and contribute with greater impact.
  • Map for change
    A refugee’s guide to navigating workplace change through realisation, transition and adoption
    Key Takeaways
    In Map for Change, Ali Ahmadi reveals how the refugee experience mirrors what many organisations feel in times of change: uncertainty, disorientation and the challenge of adapting to a new reality. Drawing on his own journey as a refugee, and his experience as an engineer and director, Ali shares a practical framework of realisation, transition and adoption to help audiences navigate disruption with greater clarity, resilience, ownership and confidence.
    • Recognising change early: Recognise the signs of change early, make sense of what is shifting, and prepare before uncertainty becomes disruption.
    • Navigating the in-between: Navigate the discomfort of change, stay grounded in the in-between, and move forward with greater clarity and resilience.
    • Embracing the new reality: Embrace the new environment, build confidence in what comes next, and adapt with greater ownership and intention.
  • Hosing down burn out
    Rethinking burnout through how we work, live and show up
    In Hosing Down Burnout, Ali Ahmadi brings a fresh and deeply human perspective to one of today’s biggest workplace challenges. Drawing on his experience as a refugee, engineer and director, he explores the deeper patterns that drive burnout and keep people in survival mode. Through powerful storytelling and practical insight, Ali helps audiences rethink burnout at its roots and build a more sustainable way of working, living and showing up.
    Key Takeaways
    • Rethinking how we work: Recognise how the way we work, not just the workload itself, can quietly drive burnout and drain sustainable performance.
    • Strengthening how we live: Understand how lifestyle, recovery and daily rhythms shape our ability to sustain energy, focus and wellbeing.
    • Reshaping how we show up: Identify the internal patterns that emerge under stress and respond with greater awareness, intention and self-leadership.

Testimonials for Ali Ahmadi

Ali has a genuinely warm and grounded presence that immediately captures people’s attention which is no small feat in a world full of constant notifications and distractions. His ability to connect with an audience feels effortless and authentic. What truly sets Ali apart is his storytelling. He has a rare talent for weaving meaningful insights into real-life experiences, making his message relatable across any topic or audience. You don’t just listen to Ali speak you feel engaged, understood, and inspired. I would highly recommend Ali to anyone looking for a speaker who is both impactful and deeply authentic.
Payble

On behalf of the RPSA Board, we've been selecting Keynote Speakers for our Annual Conference through ICMI for quite a few years now. We were particularly impressed with Ali Ahmadi as our keynote speaker earlier this month. Ali held the 90+ audience fully engaged for the entire hour. Ali's presentation 'Pillars of Resilience' was very well structured, thoughtfully delivered and deeply inspiring. Ali speaks about resilience, leadership and personal accountability not as abstract concepts, but as lived experience. Having overcome systemic discrimination, life-threatening circumstances and immense personal adversity before arriving in Australia in 2008, his story is powerful. Yet his message is not one of hardship — it is one of ownership, growth, mindset and possibility. Ali came across as authentic and grounded. He is self-aware, emotionally intelligent and highly relatable. Ali's message is not cliche or superficial--rather, it's practical, honest and empowering. The feedback from our attendees was overwhelmingly positive. With this year's conference theme, "The Power of You," Ali's keynote could not have been more relevant. It added tremendous value to our conference, and I would highly recommend Ali to any organisation seeking a speaker who can inspire meaningful reflection and real behavioural change. 
Revenue Professionals SA

Excellent delivery, held the audience captive. Made the talk relevant to the audience.
Traffic Management Association of Australia

Ali’s story is truly harrowing, but his demonstration of resilience and determination in the face of danger and uncertainty is inspiring. He is a natural story teller and he has such a unique story to tell.
CIO
G’day Group

Ali’s story is awe-inspiring and heartfelt but put simply, one of strength, courage, resilience and of instinctive survival. His journey was challenging and shocking at times but also authentic and uplifting...Ali is truly inspiring!
Government Director

Ali’s story is something that makes you realise the strength and resilience that lies within each individual human being. His story is a testimony to that, and a lesson for people to push their boundaries and believe in something greater for themselves.
Director
Determined 2

Ali’s presentation is engaging and inspiring and provides audience with a complete shift in perspective. I highly recommend Ali to anyone who wants a complete change in perspective for their audience.
Senior Leader
Unley High School