Think for yourself
See more clearly
Make better decisions
Live on your own terms
Speaking
Keynote speaker on strategy and leadership
Smart, funny Kiwi yarns. Practical tools in plain English.
Alicia McKay is a dynamic and engaging speaker who’s appeared at more than 50 conferences across New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.
- ALGA
- ICMA, Florida
- Fonterra
- NZ Treasury
- SkyCity
- LGNZ
- LG Pro
- WasteMINZ
- SPANZ
- Chartered Accountants ANZ
- ThinkTank Media
- LinkedIn Local
- LGNZ Mayors’ School
- L’Oréal
Speaking topics
Strategy | Unleash your inner strategist
Strategy isn’t something you have - it’s something you do. How to zoom out, see the bigger picture, and act on what matters.
Given at: LG Pro VIC, Fonterra, ACENZ, Corporate PA Summit
Change | The new normal
How to navigate change, complexity, and uncertainty. Practical ways to make decisions and move the needle on the things that matter.
Given at: SkyCity, FMG, NZ Treasury, Dairy Women’s Network
Priorities | Do the right sh*t
How to set clear priorities and turn ideas into reality. Focus on what matters.
Given at: #VID19, ALGIM, Public Sector Morning Out
Systems thinking | When in doubt, zoom out
Move from people to problems. How to channel big-picture perspective and think in systems.
Given at: WasteMINZ, LGMA, SPANZ, FarmRight
Critical thinking and AI | The Subjective Era
Human judgement in the age of AI. Why we need critical thinkers more than ever, and how to lead in the new era.
Given at: LinkedIn Local Auckland. New.
Public leadership | The paradox of public leadership
How to make progress inside irreconcilable tensions - long-term v short-term, practical v political, accountability v flexibility, speed v legitimacy.
Given at: ALGA, LGAQ, LGASA, ICMA, Australian Department of Infrastructure
Other topics I speak on: local government, entrepreneurship, careers, consulting, facilitation, collaborative decision-making, women in business, power literacy, accountability, long-term thinking, working harder for your opinions.
Ways to work together
Keynote
45 to 60 minutes, tailored to your theme and audience. In person or online.
MC and facilitation
Half, full, or multi- day. I keep the programme on time, the energy up, and the panels sharp.
Masterclass
2 to 3 hours. A hands-on workshop that goes deeper on one keynote topic, with tools people practise in the room.
Team day
A full day with your leadership team to set direction, reset strategy, or work through a hard decision.
My approach
Tailored to you
Before the day, I learn about your audience, your industry, and what’s keeping them up at night, then build the session around them.
Fully interactive
Audience engagement at every step. Real stories, practical frameworks, and a few laughs, so the ideas stick after the applause.
Ideas that stick
People leave with language they repeat and tools they can use (not a photo of a slide they’ll never look at again.)
Reads the room
Keynote, MC, panel, or workshop. I adapt on the fly, bring fresh material for every audience, and always speak to time.
What organisers say
Alicia is up-front and tells it like it is. She is also very good at engaging with the audience. Alicia doesn’t read off notes. — Nic Quilty, Chief Executive, WasteMINZ
Alicia has delivered keynotes for our summits, on the virtual stage and in person. In either setting, Alicia exceeds expectations. — Cass Brownlow Davies, Corporate Partnerships Manager, ThinkTank Media
Your ability to make people laugh at something while really questioning it at the same time was incredible. — Keri Little, LinkedIn Local
Case studies
May 2024WasteMINZ Conference May 2024Click through to watch the hilarious - and powerful - videos from Alicia's high-impact keynote about perspective.
Aug 2022Alicia McKay hosts 1,000+ Mayors and CEOs at ALGA's NGA in 2022The ALGA National General Assembly in Canberra, July 2022. Keynote, MC and workshop presenter. Watch the videos!
Aug 2022Alicia McKay speaks to female founders at the SODA Rise Up event in Hamilton, August 2022Alicia McKay tells women in business why they are made for this.
May 2022Alicia McKay MC ReelAlicia McKay is an experienced facilitator, host and MC
Aug 2021Helping L'Oreal leaders approach change conversations more strategicallyFiring up leaders on a team development day with strategic facilitation skills.
Sep 2020Auckland District Health Board, Online, September 2020Alicia McKay spoke to the ADHB change manager community of practice online - watch a video excerpt inside!
Questions
What happens once we send an enquiry?
We'll be in touch to talk dates, topics, pricing, and travel. Once you’ve booked, we send you all the collateral you need. Then, we check in beforehand so timing, logistics, and setup are sorted.
How much does a keynote cost?
Keynotes start from $10K. Combining sessions on the same day works out better for both of us.
What collateral do you provide?
A headshot, bio, and conference brief, plus speaker requirements and procurement details, so the process is easy.
What are your speaker requirements?
I’m low-fuss, usually speak without slides, and prefer a hand-held microphone on stage, plus one or more roving mics for audience participation. See the full requirements.
What happens on the day?
I arrive early and ready to go, check in with your AV team, and work with you on timing and vibe. I always speak to time, and can stretch or shrink my slot if needed.
Check availability
I book out a year in advance, so get in touch as soon as you can.