Behind the Scenes with Andrew Gill - Great Keynote Speakers

One of the highlights of my work is that I have the opportunity to meet people from all over Australia and the world. For short bursts of time, I get to rub shoulders with fascinating experts and transformative speakers. Very fortunately, some of these people have become friends or we have formed a mutual high regard having met and worked alongside each other. In all cases, I have appreciated more about their unique abilities and strengths.

As part of my professional journey, I have had opportunities to conduct brief interviews with some of Australia’s finest keynote speakers and I would like to share these Behind the Scenes insights with you.

When selecting a keynote speaker there are many options. The key is to engage the right keynote for your organisation, with your messaging and conference “take-aways” in mind. Consider what their role will be - to set the agenda, to talk about a specific topic or experience, give an update on industry, or talk about broader global affairs.

It is important to ensure that you can meet with the keynote prior to their presentation to outline your objectives and outcomes. Brief your keynote speaker and ask them to tailor their material or refer to your company’s objective or key messages during their presentation.

Consult with your keynote about actions to come out of your conference and pre-plan to deliver these to delegates when you return to your workplace. This could be in conjunction with a related interview or grab from the keynote alongside your CEO or other significant presenters for use in  post-conference content.

I encourage you to think outside the box about what else your keynote can do and how you can expand the keynote speaker experience after their presentation: can they take part in a Q&A session, can they meet and mingle with delegates during the next break, will they be taking part in a panel discussion or workshop later in the program? A great keynote speaker elevates your content and ensures your conference is truly memorable.