Inspiration

For these Australians of the Year, uncommon valour was their common virtue

Each and every year, our nation celebrates the achievements and contributions of Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards. These everyday Aussies inspire and challenge us to make our own contribution to create a better Australia. Needless to say, it takes a pretty special person to win this honour. Or, in this year’s case, persons.

Book Excerpt: The Way Of The Spiritual Entrepreneur | Pauline Nguyen | Inspirational Speaker

Pauline Nguyen is one of Australia's most successful entrepreneurs. She is the owner of the Red Lantern, the most awarded Vietnamese restaurant in the world and author of her best-selling memoir Secrets of the Red Lantern. Pauline is an inspiring speaker who connects with her audience in a profound way - she helps awaken and focus people to change their own story for a better future.

Q & A with Royal Australian Navy Pilot Kate Munari | Leadership Speaker

Kate Munari is leading and succeeding as a female in a male-dominated workplace. She is the only female Australian Navy pilot to fly operationally in Afghanistan and has recently retired from the Royal Australian Navy after 17 years of service. As a speaker, Kate is engaging right from the start and will enthral any audience with stories from a harsh and unique workplace whilst inspiring everyone to realise that stereotypes and seemingly insurmountable odds shouldn’t stop them from pursuing their goals.

Autobiography Book Excerpt: Defy Your Destiny | Fiori Giovanni | Inspirational Speaker

From a child soldier to a successful businesswoman, Fiori Giovanni’s story is one of facing impossible odds and overcoming them. Faced with an arranged marriage at 12, she defied her parents. Recruited into the Eritrean army at 14, she defied authority, sending her on a harrowing journey that crossed 5 continents and 20 countries in search of knowledge, personal growth and wisdom; eventually settling in Australia. Fiori is now a highly sought after keynote speaker and a respected Business and Executive Coach.

Inspirational Speaker Fiori has recently released her autobiography and has shared the first chapter with us.

My Journey Founding & Leading a Tech Start-up ‘for good’ | Jeremy Meltzer | Leadership Speaker

Jeremy Meltzer is one of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs. He is a speaker on ‘business for purpose’ and the Founder of i=Change, Australia's fastest-growing social enterprise tech start-up. i=Change was a 2018 finalist for Optus Innovator of the Year and won Australia Post’s Online Retail Industry Award for ‘best-bootstrapped growth initiative’ - the first time a social enterprise won this award in Australia.

Here Jeremy shares insight into his journey co-founding and leading a tech start-up, with a focus on changing retail for good!

Insights into Launching & Managing a Social Enterprise | Simon Griffiths | Business Speaker

Simon Griffiths is the Co-Founder and CEO of Who Gives A Crap, a profit-for-purpose toilet paper company that uses 50% of its profits to build toilets in the developing world. He is an outstanding entrepreneur and philanthropist who has built two social enterprises, generating donations of more than $1.9 million. His work has been covered by countless media outlets around the world, including The Huffington Post, MTV and The Stanford Social Innovation Review.

One Minute with Chelsea Pottenger | Internationally Accredited Mindfulness & Meditation Expert

Ambassador for The Gidget Foundation and R u OK?, Chelsea Pottenger is known for her great audience connection, warm energy and outstanding content as a thought leader in Mindfulness and productivity for the corporate world. An internationally accredited mindfulness and meditation practitioner, Chelsea has worked with big brands such as eBay, Uber, GrainCorp, Cook Medical, AON, Dexus Property and Mercedes-Benz.

‘To Do’ Lists are not Critical | Michael Crossland | Inspirational Speaker

Michael Crossland defied the odds of not only life-threatening cancer but was the sole survivor of a horrific cancer drug trial. He has shared his inspiring journey, speaking across 22 countries, with audiences now exceeding 500,000. His autobiography, 'Kids Don’t Get Cancer', is a number one bestseller. Michael shares with audiences his insight and experience on topics such as overcoming extreme adversity, embracing change and the power of optimism and resilience.

Here the Inspirational Speaker shares his thoughts on doing away with the 'To Do' list and replacing it with a 'To Stop' list, for one good reason - investing in yourself.

Book Excerpt | Able: Gold Medals, Grand Slams and Smashing Glass Ceilings | Dylan Alcott OAM

Dylan Alcott OAM has never let his disability get in the way of what he wants to achieve. A three-time Paralympic gold medallist, a four-time grand slam tennis champion, a presenter on triple j and also regularly appearing on Channel Ten’s The Project and Channel 7 Sports. His achievements are endless. But Dylan's biggest passion is to inspire people and to change the way people with disabilities are perceived. In 2017 he launched the Dylan Alcott Foundation, which he created to help young Australians come to terms with their disabilities.

Dylan shares his story in his new book 'Able' and he has kindly given us a sneak peek of the prologue and chapter one.

From Corporate CEO to High Profile Health Coach | Q&A with Samantha Jackson

Samantha Jackson has lived a life of bravery. From surviving a life-threatening illness aged 15 and then going on to complete year 12 the same year, to rising through a successful corporate career to the height of CEO, without ever stepping foot on a university campus. Sam has transitioned from leading multi-million dollar corporate entities to coaching people in their health and nutrition. She has kept with the theme of bravery, enlisting Braveheart Mel Gibson himself as one of her most recent clients.

Here Samantha talks to us about transitioning from CEO to Health Coach, being truly healthy and working with Mel Gibson.

One Minute with Leadership Speaker Pauline Nguyen | Entrepreneur, Refugee & Award Winning Author

Pauline Nguyen is one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs. Having escaped Vietnam on a boat and survived a Thai refugee camp, Pauline has overcome adverse beginnings to transform her approach to success by re-engineering her beliefs, questioning the status quo and hacking cultural norms. Pauline is the owner and co-founder of Red Lantern, the most awarded Vietnamese restaurant in the world. She is the best-selling author of 'Secrets of the Red Lantern' and her new book 'The Way of the Spiritual Entrepreneur' is due for release in February 2019.

One Minute with Inspirational Speaker Jelena Dokic | Tennis Star, Refugee, & Best-Selling Author

One of Australia’s most successful tennis stars, Jelena Dokic had victories over many number one players and rapidly ascended through the world rankings. However, Jelena's time in the world elite was beset by dark and traumatic off-court struggles.

Jelena recently penned the best-selling autobiography 'Unbreakable', a book which details her career and her life. She writes of the struggles of being a refugee, dealing with poverty, bullying, discrimination, injury, depression, and the physical and emotional abuse she suffered for over 20 years at the hands of her father and coach.

Here Jelena shares some insight into her struggles, her past & her exciting future.

Book excerpt - Capture My Attention: How to Stand Out Online with Creative Content - Jordana Borensztajn (Business Speaker)

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

Jordana is the author of Capture My Attention: How to Stand Out Online with Creative Content, which is a complete guide to creating online content that will attract attention and make you stand out from your competitors. She has kindly shared Chapter 6: Creativity: The Core Ingredients so you can enjoy a snippet of this highly entertaining and engaging book. 

Best-selling autobiography: Unbreakable - Jelena Dokic (Inspirational Speaker)

On and off the tennis court, Jelena Dokic is truly remarkable and is one of Australia’s most successful tennis stars. However, Jelena's time in the world elite was beset by dark and traumatic off-court struggles. Jelena recently penned the best-selling autobiography 'Unbreakable', a book which details her career and her life. She writes of the struggles of being a refugee, dealing with poverty, bullying, discrimination, injury, depression, and the physical and emotional abuse she suffered for over 20 years at the hands of her father and coach.

The Inspirational Speaker has kindly shared an excerpt from her book 'Unbreakable'.

New book launch: Worth Fighting For - Dana Vulin (Inspirational Speaker)

Dana Vulin faced a tragic turn of events that changed her life forever when she experienced a violent and unprovoked attack. Dana’s attacker had been stalking her, motivated by a false belief that Dana was involved with her estranged husband. The attacker broke into Dana’s apartment doused Dana with methylated spirits and set her on fire causing horrendous third-degree burns to 64% of her body and face. Within seconds, Dana’s former life, her physical functioning, her independence and her goals and dreams were ripped away.

The inspirational speaker has kindly shared an extract from her new book to give you insight into the day her life changed as she knew it.