Speaking
Helping audiences see the hidden patterns shaping people, organisations and systems.
Ideas that connect psychology, systems thinking, complexity and human behaviour — delivered through stories, frameworks and, when appropriate, live music.
SIGNATURE TALK
The Problem
with Solutions
Every person solves problems. But what if every solution also creates a new system?
We are trained to solve problems by fixing what we can see. But in complex systems, interventions can create consequences that only appear later. This talk explores the hidden feedback loops, incentives and patterns that can turn good solutions into new problems.
The audience will explore:
- Why well-intentioned solutions can produce unintended consequences
- How feedback loops shape behaviour and outcomes
- Why complexity changes the way we should approach problems
- How seeing relationships differently can lead to better decisions
ABOVE: From a live presentation of When Solutions Become Problems
Ideal for: Designers, leaders, professionals and curious thinkers.
ABOVE: Using music to make complex systems tangible during When Solutions Become Problems
Interested in bringing this talk to your organisation?
Other Talks
Why Smart People Repeat the Same Mistakes
Why intelligence doesn't protect us from predictable behavioural patterns.
The Hidden Patterns Behind Human Behaviour
What psychology reveals about the systems shaping the way we think, decide and act.
What Complexity Science Teaches Us About Leadership
Why leadership in complex environments requires a different way of seeing.
Speaking Formats
Keynotes
Big ideas designed to challenge assumptions and create memorable moments.
Lunch & Learns
Practical explorations of human behaviour, systems and complexity.
Fireside Conversations
Interactive conversations that connect ideas to real-world challenges.
Workshops
Hands-on sessions for exploring patterns, systems and better ways of thinking.
Delivery Formats
10-minute Thought Provocation
A concise idea designed to challenge assumptions and spark conversation.
30-minute Lunch & Learn
A focused exploration of one idea with practical relevance.
60-minute Keynote
A memorable journey through a complex idea, combining storytelling, frameworks and audience engagement.
90-minute Workshop
An interactive session designed to turn concepts into practical ways of seeing and thinking.
Who I Speak To
Leaders & Executives -------
Seeing the patterns behind organisational behaviour and decision-making.
Curious Minds -------
For people who enjoy seeing familiar problems from unfamiliar perspectives.
Designers & Innovators ------
Understanding how interventions interact with complex systems.
Teams of Knowledge Workers and Professionals ------
Making complexity easier to navigate and act upon.
Explore the Ideas
Why Smart People Repeat the Same Mistakes
Intelligence alone does not protect us from repeating patterns. Explore how habits, incentives, emotions and hidden assumptions shape our decisions, and learn why even the smartest individuals and organisations can become trapped in familiar cycles.
The Hidden Patterns Behind Human Behaviour
Why do people procrastinate, avoid change, seek certainty, or repeat the same relationship patterns? This talk reveals the deeper psychological and biological forces that influence behaviour, helping audiences better understand themselves and the people around them.
When Solutions Become Problems
Many of the challenges we face today began as attempts to solve yesterday's problems. Through stories, science and systems thinking, discover why well-intentioned solutions often create unintended consequences—and how to recognise them before they become tomorrow's challenges.
What Complexity Science Teaches Us About Leadership
A keynote exploring how leaders can create the conditions for adaptation, coordination and emergence rather than trying to control complex systems directly.