“My speaking and facilitation style is authentic, energetic, passionate and fun - I speak from the heart, opening the hearts of the audience and workshop participants."
Speaker/Facilitator Reel
Testimonials Video
“I stood and clapped - you sent shivers down the spine of 300 people in a room. That is how to talk!”
Head of Sustainability for Asia Pacific GHD
“Everyone loved your keynote and masterclass! We were thrilled! Thank you!”
Director Sector Engagement Local Government Professionals, Australia
Resources for Event Planners
Scroll down to the SPEAKER PACK buttons below to get:
Speaker bio (full and short)
Stage Introduction
Testimonials
Topics and more
Speaker Requirements
To help me deliver my best keynote or workshop, please provide:
A projector for a PowerPoint slide (no audio is needed)
Microphone (ideally a lapel mic)
Travel from Palmerston North, New Zealand
On stage, or Online?
I am available in-person and online, with the following offerings:
Keynotes
Workshop facilitation
Strategy facilitation
Downloadable Resources: Documents – Bureau friendly
Downloadable Resources: Videos – Bureau friendly
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Downloadable Resources: Marketing images
Click an image below to download
Downloadable Resources: Brand assets
“Your session was honestly mind blowing. You are just inspiring!”
Chief People Officer Real NZ
“You literally lifted the roof off! Thank you for your insane brilliance, Ellen!”
Chief Executive NZ Ethical Employers
Speaking, Workshop and Strategic Facilitation Topics
The following topics are my specialty areas
Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose Leadership
When people thrive, so does the organisation
The Best Version of You is You
Authentic leadership
It’s Not A Hand-out
#WorkSchoolHours - The commercially smart revolution that’s changing how we work
Stop Trying to Fix Women
…and start fixing the system
KEYNOTE AND WORKSHOP TOPIC 1
Ellen’s Best Seller
Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose Leadership
When people thrive, so does the organisation
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Dr Ellen Joan Ford draws on her research and practical experiences to drive organisational outcomes such as improved retention, productivity, engagement, well-being and ultimately, profit, by enhancing inclusive leadership capabilities and workplace culture. Her keynote shares stories and practical insights, and her workshop then facilitates discussion for implementation.
Ellen shares her inspirational experiences to demonstrate the power of Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose:
An officer in the NZ Army, leading soldiers around the globe, from Antarctica to the UK, Tuvalu to Afghanistan.
An academic and leadership researcher: MBA (exec), PhD, post-doctoral leadership research and co-author of a nation-wide primary industries leadership project for New Zealand’s largest export sector.
A volunteer at the heart of a humanitarian team who supported the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand after the fall of Kabul. Read Ellen’s team’s incredible story here.
The author of #WorkSchoolHours, based on the movement she founded to deliver better social and organisational outcomes (endorsed by CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons and dubbed a “must-read for any leader building a modern workplace”).
Ellen is a recipient of the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award, is Person of the Year – Manawatu Standard and KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year – Local Hero for her acts of leadership. Ellen is engaging, authentic and enthusiastic.
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Why, and how to create Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose in your workplace.
Why, and how to apply the #WorkSchoolHours principles in a variety of sectors.
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Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to the audience and participants)
“Ellen’s authentic ability to tell a story that combines her research, expertise and lived experience in leadership was extremely engaging and challenged all of us to think differently about how we lead our teams.”
Jason Hungerford Director, BCITO Te PŪKENGA
KEYNOTE AND WORKSHOP Topic 2
The Best Version of You is You
Authentic leadership
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Throughout our childhood and working lives, we have absorbed so many images and messages about what a ‘good leader’ looks like, and how a ‘good leader’ acts and behaves. In so many cases, this stereotypical ‘good leader’ is very different to how we see ourselves, and this can negatively impact leadership capabilities, teamwork, staff engagement and culture within the organisation.
Dr Ellen Joan Ford shares her decades of leadership research and lived leadership experiences, including an MBA (exec) and PhD focused on leadership, ten years’ military service leading soldiers around the world, and a volunteer task to support the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand after the fall of Kabul (read her team’s incredible story here), to demonstrate that the best leaders are those who are true to themselves.
A leader’s job is to create an environment where their team can thrive, and then direct that thriving energy at the task that needs to be achieved. How leaders achieve this is deeply personal and unique to each individual leader, and each of their team members.
Ellen’s upbeat session is filled with practical examples and tangible takeaways. Her warm approach encourages audiences and participants to open their minds and hearts and find their magic. We all have superpowers to offer this world, and when we harness what is authentic to us, we deliver the best outcomes for our teams and organisation.
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An understanding of the value of diverse leadership approaches to an organisation.
How to be a truly authentic leader.
How to encourage others to be their authentic selves.
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Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to participants)
“Ellen’s inspiring story and engaging delivery had our team in awe. She encouraged everyone to contribute to the workshop and the productive change has been evident with our Farm and Business Leaders.”
Tony Cleland Farm Investment Manager, Farmright
KEYNOTE AND WORKSHOP Topic 3
It’s not a handout
Why #WorkSchoolHours is the commercially smart revolution that’s changing how we work
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Dr Ellen Joan Ford started the #WorkSchoolHours movement to address the societal wide problem that sees parents needing to work as though they don’t have kids and parent as if they don’t have jobs. However, #WorkSchoolHours is not just for parents - it’s for everyone.
#WorkSchoolHours is underpinned by Ellen’s Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose leadership model, and is based on three principles:
Value that people have things they care about outside of work (children, or other)
Focus on outputs instead of hours
Give people more flexibility where possible
In addition to her TEDx talk of the same name, Ellen is the author of #WorkSchoolHours and has received wide-spread media attention for this movement (The Project, Breakfast, Radio NZ, NZ Herald, Stuff, Australian Women’s Weekly and more). The book is endorsed as commercially smart by multiple business leaders around the globe, including the CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons.
Ellen received the prestigious Sir PeterBlake Leadership Award for her success in driving socially and commercially smart change. Ellen’s engaging and uplifting session contains practical insights and immediately actionable solutions that can be used in any industry.
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How to apply the #WorkSchoolHours principles in a variety of sectors.
How to achieve better commercial outcomes applying #WorkSchoolHours principles
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Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to the audience and participants)
“Ellen speaks from the heart; she is genuine and authentic; she also draws on relevant and truly credible experience to back up what she is saying. Our exec team all gained a lot from our session with Ellen.”
Wing Commander Christopher Ross Commanding Officer 3 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force
KEYNOTE AND WORKSHOP Topic 4
Stop trying to fix women…
…and start fixing the system
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We need to stop trying to ‘fix’ women and start fixing the system. And the exciting part? Doing this is also good for men and good for organisational performance. After ten years of military service and completing her PhD focused on the experiences of women leaders, Dr Ellen Joan Ford spent 18 months in an advisory role to the Chief of the NZ Army, General John Boswell, who noted, “to Ellen’s immense credit, she has significantly influenced how Army is now approaching a range of diversity and inclusion challenges. Her contribution has been invaluable, her expertise, interpersonal and communication skills are superb.”
Ellen’s keynote and workshop provides solutions to the primary barriers causing the gender pay gap, and the under-representation of women in senior leadership roles. In addition to discussing the requirement for suitable fitting uniforms and equipment, using representative imagery (‘you can’t be what you can’t see’), eliminating harmful behaviours and valuing a wider range of leadership approaches, Ellen details the biggest barrier facing women in the workplace; the ‘Mum penalty’. Ellen’s session doesn’t dwell on the challenges; she is upbeat and enthusiastic about the exciting opportunities to cultivate inclusive leadership practices that benefit everyone.
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Practical suggestions for removing barriers facing women in the workplace.
How to create inclusive workplaces that benefit ALL genders, AND the bottom line.
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Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to the audience and participants)
“What truly set her apart was her ability to convey her deep understanding in a manner that was easily digestible and relatable to our audience. Her knowledge, passion, and ability to connect with an audience, speaking from both her mind and heart, is truly remarkable”.
Jane Yee Head of Podcasts, The Spinoff
More videos
TedX
Meet Ellen
Just for Giggles – my Amateur Rap Video 2020
4-min sample video
Emotional Afghanistan Reunion
“Ellen demonstrated a passion for leadership to deliver the extraordinary."
COO Craigmore Sustainables
“The team were kept rapt. Ellen is passionate, engaging and an excellent speaker.”
Director EY
“You were the hit of the day Ellen – you’re a star!”
Chief Executive NZ Food & Grocery Council
"Everyone said their highlight of the event was ELLEN!!”
Programme Director Diversity Agenda