REFERENCES

Referee: Cornelia Forsthuber-Auyayr, Program Managerment,

Company: Urban Future, Global Sustainable Cities conference (3500 attendees annually)

Event:

Keynote Talk, Leading with Meaning, for Urban Futures @Helsingborg Conference
Leadership Workshop, Preventing burnout, for Young Leaders Program @stuttgart

Cornelia Forsthuber-Aumayr

Programme Manager, Urban Future Conference

After having been a speaker at our conference in Helsingborg, we invited Ross back the following year to our Stuttgart conference. He delivered a truly unforgettable session for our Young Leaders cohort on preventing burnout and working with meaning. This session was indeed special - not least because the air conditioning broke down on a scorching 40-degree day. Ross swiftly relocated the entire session outdoors under a tree. What followed was one of the most heartfelt, grounding, and transformative conversations of the programme. Ross shared his personal journey of recovering from burnout and rediscovering meaning through unexpected and playful work, weaving it into a powerful message about self-leadership and authenticity. The session was emotional, warm, full of insight and humour, and sparked several moments of realisation among our Young Leaders. Participants walked away reconnected to their purpose, their values, and with a renewed sense of confidence to lead with meaning. I would highly recommend Ross for his deep emotional intelligence, storytelling magic, and ability to create space for growth, vulnerability, and transformation. He has a rare gift for turning challenge into opportunity and empowering people to shift their perspectives.

Referee: Cornelia Forsthuber-Auyayr, Program Managerment,

Company: Urban Future, Global Sustainable Cities conference (3500 attendees annually)

Event:

Keynote Talk, Leading with Meaning, for Urban Futures @Helsingborg Conference
Leadership Workshop, Preventing burnout, for Young Leaders Program @stuttgart

Cornelia Forsthuber-Aumayr

Programme Manager, Urban Future Conference

After having been a speaker at our conference in Helsingborg, we invited Ross back the following year to our Stuttgart conference. He delivered a truly unforgettable session for our Young Leaders cohort on preventing burnout and working with meaning. This session was indeed special - not least because the air conditioning broke down on a scorching 40-degree day. Ross swiftly relocated the entire session outdoors under a tree. What followed was one of the most heartfelt, grounding, and transformative conversations of the programme. Ross shared his personal journey of recovering from burnout and rediscovering meaning through unexpected and playful work, weaving it into a powerful message about self-leadership and authenticity. The session was emotional, warm, full of insight and humour, and sparked several moments of realisation among our Young Leaders. Participants walked away reconnected to their purpose, their values, and with a renewed sense of confidence to lead with meaning. I would highly recommend Ross for his deep emotional intelligence, storytelling magic, and ability to create space for growth, vulnerability, and transformation. He has a rare gift for turning challenge into opportunity and empowering people to shift their perspectives.

Samantha Dzabic

Organisational Development Director, NSW Department of Planning and the Environment, Sydney, Australia

I had the pleasure of knowing and collaborating with Ross Reekie since 2009. What consistently impresses me is his remarkable ability to cut through complexity and get straight to the heart of any issue. His talent for developing practical frameworks that actually work is something I've witnessed firsthand. Throughout our professional relationship, I've been fortunate to facilitate introductions and open doors for Ross within organisations like Sydney Water and the Department of Planning. These opportunities allowed him to deliver his exceptional approach to workplace transformation. His workshops have a special quality about them - they don't just address surface-level issues, but bring people together and foster authentic connection. There's something about Ross's approach that helps participants build the kind of meaningful relationships that make organisations thrive. Among our collaborations, one project stands out - his work with Create NSW. The organisation was navigating a significant leadership transition at the time. Despite having 350 incredibly passionate people doing meaningful work, there was a pervading sense of disconnection and uncertainty floating around. Ross stepped in with an energising keynote and interactive workshop focused on reconnecting people with what makes their work meaningful. It was exactly the tonic we needed. The atmosphere in that room was electric - you could feel the shift happening. People walked out visibly lifted, reconnected with their purpose, and renewed optimism. What impressed me most was how completely it transformed attitudes toward the change process. What makes Ross special is his genuine warmth and playfulness, coupled with this remarkable ability to make everyone feel truly seen. He has this knack for disarming resistance, taking complex concepts and making them accessible, all while weaving in humor and heart. He's not just brilliant at what he does - he's an absolute joy to work with. I couldn't recommend Ross more highly to anyone seeking a speaker who can fundamentally shift how people think and feel about their work.

Referee: Samantha Dzabic, Director of Organisational Development,

Company: Department of Planning & the Environment, NSW, Australia (20,000 staff)

Event:

Keynote Talk & Half-day Workshop for 300 staff of Create NSW (Gov Arts & Culture driver) on Leading with Meaning & Purpose
Keynote Talk - Greater Sydney Commission for 250 staff creating the future of Sydney
Keynote Talk - Department of planning for 500 Urban PLanners on Connecting with meaning and Purpose

Role: Keynote Talks (many)

Topic: Leading with meaning and purpose

Samantha Dzabic

Organisational Development Director, NSW Department of Planning and the Environment, Sydney, Australia

I had the pleasure of knowing and collaborating with Ross Reekie since 2009. What consistently impresses me is his remarkable ability to cut through complexity and get straight to the heart of any issue. His talent for developing practical frameworks that actually work is something I've witnessed firsthand. Throughout our professional relationship, I've been fortunate to facilitate introductions and open doors for Ross within organisations like Sydney Water and the Department of Planning. These opportunities allowed him to deliver his exceptional approach to workplace transformation. His workshops have a special quality about them - they don't just address surface-level issues, but bring people together and foster authentic connection. There's something about Ross's approach that helps participants build the kind of meaningful relationships that make organisations thrive. Among our collaborations, one project stands out - his work with Create NSW. The organisation was navigating a significant leadership transition at the time. Despite having 350 incredibly passionate people doing meaningful work, there was a pervading sense of disconnection and uncertainty floating around. Ross stepped in with an energising keynote and interactive workshop focused on reconnecting people with what makes their work meaningful. It was exactly the tonic we needed. The atmosphere in that room was electric - you could feel the shift happening. People walked out visibly lifted, reconnected with their purpose, and renewed optimism. What impressed me most was how completely it transformed attitudes toward the change process. What makes Ross special is his genuine warmth and playfulness, coupled with this remarkable ability to make everyone feel truly seen. He has this knack for disarming resistance, taking complex concepts and making them accessible, all while weaving in humor and heart. He's not just brilliant at what he does - he's an absolute joy to work with. I couldn't recommend Ross more highly to anyone seeking a speaker who can fundamentally shift how people think and feel about their work.

Referee: Samantha Dzabic, Director of Organisational Development,

Company: Department of Planning & the Environment, NSW, Australia (20,000 staff)

Event:

Keynote Talk & Half-day Workshop for 300 staff of Create NSW (Gov Arts & Culture driver) on Leading with Meaning & Purpose
Keynote Talk - Greater Sydney Commission for 250 staff creating the future of Sydney
Keynote Talk - Department of planning for 500 Urban PLanners on Connecting with meaning and Purpose

Role: Keynote Talks (many)

Topic: Leading with meaning and purpose

Referee: Katrin Leitgeb, head of Operations & Story-telling

Company: Leads & Content

Event: Corporate Influencer Program for the Cambridge Institute

Role: Keynote Talk (30mins)

Topic: Follow the sparkles: How to be your authentic self at work

Katrin Leitgeb

Program Manager, Leads & Content

“Ross delivered an inspiring keynote, showing how authentic presence creates real impact. His insights on finding your sparkles inspired our participants to communicate with clarity and confidence - not perfectly, but genuinely. I highly recommend him for his energy, emotional warmth, and sense of fun!”

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROSS?

Referee: Katrin Leitgeb, head of Operations & Story-telling

Company: Leads & Content

Event: Corporate Influencer Program for the Cambridge Institute

Role: Keynote Talk (30mins)

Topic: Follow the sparkles: How to be your authentic self at work

Katrin Leitgeb

Program Manager, Leads & Content

“Ross delivered an inspiring keynote, showing how authentic presence creates real impact. His insights on finding your sparkles inspired our participants to communicate with clarity and confidence - not perfectly, but genuinely. I highly recommend him for his energy, emotional warmth, and sense of fun!”