Sydney-based, speaking globally

Keynote speaker for technology and telco

Dom Thurbon built and sold an AI-enabled tech company, and has worked with Microsoft, IBM, Singtel and Optus. His talks and workshops cover the hardest part of new technology, which is getting your people and customers to adopt it.

Check Dom's availability See the presentations

A small sample of the technology and telco organisations Dom has worked with

“Thank you, Dom. It's because of purpose-aligned long-haul partners like yourself that we broke new ground and raised the bar. Change does not happen overnight and never alone.”

Andrew Buay, Asia Vice President, Singtel

Dom's view on technology and telco

If any industry knows what it feels like to live on the leading edge of change, it's technology and telecommunications. But the truth is – the sectors that build the future are normally also the ones most exposed to it. Generative and agentic AI are rewriting product roadmaps, operating models and business cases seemingly overnight; telcos are under pressure to turn massive infrastructure investment into new sources of value while customers treat 'always on' as a basic right; and every organisation is now fighting an escalating battle against cyber threats, scams and data breaches that put customer trust on the line every single day.

And that's before we mention the war for talent in a market where skills have a shorter shelf-life than ever, intensifying regulatory scrutiny of everything from data and privacy to AI and critical infrastructure, sky-rocketing customer expectations, and relentless pressure on margins from both global giants and nimble new entrants.

As someone who has spent two decades not just working with but also building technology businesses, I would make an important observation: whilst technology is often the most interesting and profound part of a transformation, it's rarely the hardest. Without a doubt, people are the hardest part of change. Whether it's rolling out AI inside your own tech business, bringing your customers on the journey of your latest product, or helping teams adapt to yet another restructure – the truth is, companies don't change, people do. And in a world drowning in misinformation, deepfakes and 'AI slop', the organisations that win won't just be the ones with the best tech; they'll be the ones people trust.

Dom

Dom Thurbon has spent two decades working in and with the world's most innovative businesses. He offers a unique fusion of practical, first-hand experience 'in the trenches' and global insights as an author, speaker and successful entrepreneur. At just 23, he started his first business, which he grew to over 100 staff delivering for clients in more than 15 countries. He was also founder of an AI-enabled tech company, EI, (sold to Qoria in 2022), and spent five years as a Partner at EY. His latest book, To Be Honest…, looks at trust, truth and the rise of the misinformation age – and what these things mean for businesses trying to innovate and grow in a climate of falling trust and rapid technological change.

“A level of passion and professional rigour that is second to none. He took a complex topic and made it accessible, interactive, and highly engaging for our C-suite audience. If you want a speaker who can challenge perspectives while keeping the room hooked, Dom is the perfect choice.”

Director of Marketing, APAC & India, Iron Mountain

Whether it's inspiring a room of engineers, product teams, sales leaders or executives about the human side of technological change, or working with leadership teams on strategy, innovation and transformation, Dom has worked with some of the most influential technology and telecommunications companies in the world. He'd love nothing more than to bring that energy, insight and provocation to your next event!

Presentations for technology and telco teams

Dom builds every presentation for your event from research into your industry and a briefing with your team. Each one can run as a keynote, a workshop or both.

Leading the change you sell: thriving in the ever-changing world of tech and telco

Whether you're a global tech giant, a telco, a SaaS scale-up, a managed services provider or an in-house technology team, it's almost a cliché to say "your world is changing faster than ever". Across more than 4,000 CEOs in over 115 countries, more than 40% say their business will cease to exist within the next 10 years without radical transformation. In tech and telco, that pressure is supercharged: AI, shifting customer expectations, regulatory change, economic volatility and the relentless pace of innovation mean the market will likely change more in the next five years than it has in the last 50.

And in the tech space, you're not just "living" through change – you're building it, selling it and implementing it for your customers.

But the truth is, companies don't change, people do. Research shows the companies getting the most value from AI are spending twice as much on people as they are on algorithms and technology. The future is not a place we are going, it's a place we are creating – and the best leaders and teams in technology right now are the ones who start from the belief that we are pilots, not passengers.

So, in this dynamic, practical and uplifting presentation we will:

unpack the four forces of change reshaping technology and telecommunications, with a specific focus on AI and emerging technology, and what they mean for your customers, your people and your business model
examine the basic human responses to change that everyone in your business (and your customers' businesses!) will experience – and why the human element is the make-or-break factor in getting real value from new technology
look at a simple toolkit for shaping our response, moving from "change is happening to me" to "I have the power to shape the future", including practically applicable strategies for leading change internally and helping customers adopt it

More on this theme: The Human Element of AI

Winning trust in a trustless world: technology, truth and the misinformation age

We are no longer living in the information age, but rather the misinformation age. False stories are 70% more likely to be shared on social media than true ones, and spread up to 20 times faster. Generative AI has made it easier than ever to create content that looks real but isn't – from deepfakes and synthetic voices to hallucinated facts and industrial-scale scams. And the technology and telecommunications sector sits right in the middle of it: building the tools, carrying the traffic and, increasingly, being held responsible for what happens next.

At the same time, trust is the currency your business runs on. Customers are handing over more data than ever, regulators are watching more closely than ever, and a single breach, outage or over-promised product launch can undo years of brand building overnight. High-trust businesses are shown to be more innovative, more productive and faster growing than low-trust businesses – so in a world where trust is bottoming out, the opportunity for those who get it right is enormous.

Dom Thurbon literally wrote the book on trust and truth in 21st century business. His latest book, To Be Honest…, looks at the rise of the misinformation age, what's causing it, and how we go about using simple tools to rebuild trust.

So, in this inspiring, practical and provocative presentation he will:

look at the causes and drivers of misinformation – the role technology plays in both creating and solving the problem, and why it matters to your business, your customers and your industry
unpack what this means practically for technology and telco businesses – from responsible AI and data stewardship to transparent customer communication and the promises we make in sales and marketing
examine the three levels of truth-telling (self, sector and system), and how a culture of truth and transparency drives innovation, agility and engagement inside your teams
explore a toolkit for "making truth happen" inside our businesses and with our customers, to win the battle for trust in an increasingly trustless world

More on this theme: Making Truth and Trust Happen

Check Dom's availability

What clients say

“Dom's presentations for our senior client audience were right on brief and really inspired people about the potential to unleash collaboration and innovation in their organisations. He speaks the language of business, and his dynamic and engaging style effects real behavioural and attitudinal change. A real hit with our audience.”

James Gorry, Business Unit Executive, IBM

“A fantastic, dynamic presenter who really demystified the whole 'tech' thing for us. Engaging, entertaining and – best of all – really valuable to us in the way we work!”

Learning & Development Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

“WOW! What a truly terrific, inspiring and informative session you ran. The room was just buzzing after you finished and so many of our members told me how much they had enjoyed your session.”

CEO Forum Group

“A resounding success, thanks to Dom's exceptional skills, professionalism, and warmth. We are already looking forward to welcoming Dom back to the Forum stage next year. Frankly, I can't imagine holding the event without him!”

Sarah Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, ADIA

Your Event Deserves a Keynote They'll Never Forget.

Get in touch and check Dom's availability for your next conference, summit, or corporate event.

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