Speaking Services
Dr Luella Forbes
Speaking on:
LEADERSHIP | STORYTELLING | CULTURE
Lead Better Change: Talks for 2026-27
See me speak
Recorded live at the Rethink Change Conference, Sydney, May 2026.
A speech to change practitioners about the importance of middle managers.
A Soundbite from the Rethink Change Conference about why change needs rethinking.
From my Career Stories Podcast:
The connection between purpose and burnout.
A discussion about the reasons for change.
The importance of care in terms of trust.
The important role managers play in implementing change.
Why me?
25 years delivering large scale change, mergers and restructures.
More than 15 restructures and mergers delivered.
2 doctorates in change, leadership and storytelling.
More than 100 leaders coached through restructures
Organisations are implementing more change than ever, even before we factor in AI. Organisations rely on change for survival. Large changes such as mergers, systems changes and transformations are critical.
It’s not just about changing organisations, but also changing working lives. Led badly, the negative impact of change is significant, and often for leaders as well as teams. And it’s almost impossible to get right.
I’ve spent 25 years delivering and consulting on large transformations, mergers and restructures for global organisations including KPMG, Chevron, Prudential and Mercer.
I help senior leaders to lead complex change, bringing my experience as a leader, program director and organisational change expert to find the balance between delivery and culture that creates the best environment for change.
Each one is practical and built for leaders who have to deliver business outcomes but want to look after their people at the same time.
My doctorate, completed at Durham University (UK) and emlyon business school (France), examined the role and impact of stories in managing organisational change. I split my time between the UK and Australia and love travelling the world so am available to speak in Australia and Asia, UK and Europe.
Current Speaking Topics
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![Change Ready Leaders in the age of AI]()
Change Ready Leaders in the Age of AI
For organisation heading into an AI transformation.
What does good change leadership look like when faced with the challenges of the future? More change than ever, more risk and quicker decision-making change what our leaders need to do. -
![Lead Change Well]()
Lead Change Well
Most popular for Senior Leadership Teams
Change is the new normal. So what does good leadership look like in times of change? Give your leaders confidence in implementing the change agenda in your organisation. -
![Leading Change From Anywhere]()
Leading Change From Anywhere
Great for middle managers and team leaders
Middle managers are the gatekeepers of change and can make or break its success in your organisation. Empower them to lead change and open the gates.
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![Becoming the Leader They Remember]()
Becoming the Leader They Remember
Works well as a closing keynote
You can deliver the business outcome and look after your people. The most memorable leaders find a way to do both. How do you want to be remembered?
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![Leveraging Change for Performance]()
Leveraging Change for Performance
Great for Executive Teams setting up a new change program
How do you harness the change you are implementing to improve your performance? Stay focused on what’s important and create a step change for your organisation.
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![Storytelling for Change]()
Storytelling for Change
Drawn from Luella's Doctoral Research
Trust is at the centre of any change. How do you harness storytelling to create trust, and inspire action in your team? And what are the three stories all leaders should be able to tell?
Testimonials
What people say
"I thought the presentation was very good in terms of content, duration and your delivery style. The three themes of creating clarity, caring enough to tell the truth, and everyone having a role to play are easy to digest and start the thought process of how to apply. For a 45-odd minute session I got so much out of it and am already planning the application for my team."
— Scott, Senior Leader, WA State Government
"Thanks for the session on creating trust through change last Friday. We've heard great feedback so far, and there have been some queries and people interested in follow-up information."
— Chris, Organising Manager, Perth
"I loved your research and reminder how important it is to equip supervisors and managers, and how to do it. As change people we know this but it often falls into the too hard basket."
— Carly, Change Manager, Sydney
"Thank you so much for your help, understanding and support. I have really appreciated it. It's been a hard road, not yet over, but made much easier by having you on the journey."
— Deputy Director General, WA State Government
"You were fabulous. Your research insights were appreciated."
— Janine Ellison, Co-founder, Rethink Change Conference
"Percolating on the need for storytelling in organisational change. I can think of many ways to adopt the 3 things she talks about, that resonated well. Thanks for the opportunity to go deeper in the conversation."
— Christina, Senior Leader, Sydney
"It was great to see you, and to hear you speak so passionately about the change space. I really enjoyed your presentation, and I'll be sure to get some more life out of your analogies."
— Sam, Senior Leader, Perth
"I very much enjoyed your presentation to the senior leadership team, to the extent that I was telling a colleague at another department about it today."
— Ann, Manager, WA State Government
"So good to hear the summary of your research. I loved your analogies re passing the message onto different teams. Also fascinated by your academic research into storytelling. It would be great to hear even more about that one day. Sounds like a presentation in itself!"
— Brenda, Change Manager, Sydney
About Dr Luella Forbes
I've spent 25 years delivering and consulting on large transformations, mergers and restructures for global organisations including KPMG, Chevron, Prudential and Mercer. I was a Program Director for one of Australia's largest super-fund mergers, led part of the COVID response for WA and I've helped organisations create engagement, and commitment to deliver significant change my whole career.
Change and storytelling expertise
Two doctorates in change, leadership and storytelling. Thesis: “Storytelling for Change: Telling Trusted Change Stories”.
Former Australian lead for KPMG's global Change Management and Change Leadership methodology for 8 years, now used across all KPMG member firms.
Culture and engagement
Coached more than 100 leaders through restructures, including KPMG's national Partner in Charge and 60 lead partners through its own 1,400 FTE restructure.
At least 15 formal consultation processes with employees and unions, with no formal issues raised and no delays to implementation.
Led KPMG's Perth People and Change practice for two years, with a 97 per cent engagement score, the highest nationally.
Change delivery
Worked on more than 15 restructures and mergers across Mercer, AMP and AXA, Westpac and Lloyds, Chevron and the WA State Government.
Program Director, Mercer's acquisition of BT Super and Advance. A $60m program with around 500 delivery and subject matter experts, moving $65bn of AUM, 880,000 members and 330 staff into Mercer Super on time and on budget.
Program Director, VaccinateWA: the only system in Australia ready at the point of first vaccination, and winner of the 2021 IPAA WA award for Best Practice in Digital Transformation.
Director, SafeWA: Australia's leading QR code application.
Head of Change, Mercer Pacific: designed a three-year, $30m regional change program and took it through to global capex approval.
Get In Touch
You can call me on +61 416 098 354, or email hello@luellaforbes.com, or book a call:
