Rachael Robertson returned to Australia after 12 months in the Antarctic, where she successfully led the 58th Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Davis Station. She was only the second female to ever lead a team at the Station and one of the youngest ever leaders.
This leadership role is a truly unique experience. Antarctica in winter is totally inaccessible which means once the last ship leaves at the end of February, no one can leave the base under any circumstance (not even if you are dying) until the ship returns in November. it's a 24 hour a day, every day of the year, leadership role.
Rachael was responsible for all aspects of life on the Station, from the safety and welfare of over 120 expeditioners in Summer, to the delivery of the Australian Government's $30mn science program. In any circumstance, this would be a tough role, but for a female in a male dominated environment, it was also a very challenging one!
Prior to this Rachael held senior operational management roles for 16 years in a range of complex and challenging environments and now works in the field of leadership development sharing her experiences.
Since returning to Australia, Rachael has completed her MBA and written two best-selling books. The first, Leading on the Edge, is based on her year in Antarctica. In 2020 she released her second best-seller, Respect trumps Harmony which provides the tools to build resilient, high performing teams based on research and case studies collected over 15 years.
She is an international keynote speaker and has presented at over 1,500 conferences around the world.
Talking Points
365 Shades Of White
If you're looking for an opening/closing keynote; a lively and unique session within a conference program; or an after-dinner speaker that will inspire, challenge and entertain your audience – this is it.365 Shades Of White
This presentation provides a compelling insight into the highs and lows of 18 strangers living in complete isolation in the most remote place on the planet, for an entire year. With awe-inspiring images of Antarctica, plenty of humour and using real-life stories, Rachael takes the audience on an emotional journey revealing the truth behind life in this most fascinating and isolated environment.
Rachael has a treasure-trove of funny, inspiring and moving stories for this keynote presentation. She will work with you to ensure that, no matter the theme of the event, your audience will be challenged and delighted.
Key Takeaways:
- Love on the Ice - What happens when 18 men and women are stuck inside for nine months!
- Bacon Wars - How a dispute over how to cook the bacon nearly derailed a $30M science program!
- Plane Crash - Rescuing 4 people, 500km away, in a blizzard.
- Antarctic Winter - Every family, workplace and team has one. How to inspire each other during the long dark times.
- Emperors - Lessons from Emperor penguins about looking after each other.
Future. Woman. Leader.
How women can get to the top and stay thereFuture. Woman. Leader.
Rachael offers the practical, confidence-building advice women need to advance their careers and lead. Whether addressing a corporate women's group, a business school or an international conference, her approach is forward-thinking and creative, equipping women with tools they can use immediately.
The last twenty years have seen seismic shifts in women’s participation in the workforce. And yet, as a group, women still struggle to reach and maintain the top seats. What’s getting in the way then?
It's a nice idea that women can "lean in" but Rachael knows success requires more than that, particularly in male-dominated industries. Women must forge their career, push open doors and sell their success. Success is an active pursuit not a passive experience.
In this keynote Rachael speaks to both women and men to provide the insights and tools to create a powerful career.
Key Takeaways:
- Regret what you did, not what you didn't do - This is the most powerful enabling motto you can have.
- Get senior male sponsors - Women's groups are essential but Rachael will show you how to find and maintain senior executive male sponsors who believe and will further your career.
- 80% is good enough - Not fully equipped for the next role? Don't worry about it, dive in!
- Sideways is just as good as up - Expertise and competence gained through lateral moves will make you trusted and indispensable.
- Higher duties are critical - Create your next promotion by putting your hand up for acting roles.
Remote And Dangerous
Practical tools for increased safety leadershipRemote And Dangerous
Every workplace presents unique challenges to people and their employers. Teams must have a culture of safety and respect. Safety Management Systems alone are not enough. Each individual in the team must have the ability to influence and persuade those they work with and show safety leadership. Rachael Robertson successfully shaped a resilient, safe and successful team in the most remote and dangerous workplace in the world, Antarctica.
Antarctica is an isolated and inherently dangerous environment. Strangers are thrown together 24x7 and live in complete isolation, with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Mental and physical safety is paramount, but so is the requirement to meet targets, be productive and efficient.
Rachael Robertson faced these challenges head-on with the team she was given. She created a culture characterised by respect and safety and now delivers her unique stories and tools to organisations that know personal resilience and an open culture are key factors for staff health and safety. Her presentation is memorable, full of hilarious stories and unique insights.
Key Takeaways:
- Bacon Wars - Why every organisation has a coffee cup sign in the kitchen and what it means about safety.
- Plane Crash - How to bounce back from setbacks.
- Lead from where you are - How people can show great leadership even if they aren’t formally a “leader.”
- No Triangles - Communication tools that build respect.
- Antarctic Winter - How to maintain a safety focus for the long haul.
- Respect Trumps Harmony - Why a nice culture is dangerous.
Change is the New Business as Usual
How to make your organisation change-readyChange is the New Business as Usual
It's a truism, but change is the new constant. It can be unsettling, energising and create extreme fatigue. In this keynote Rachael provides the tools to navigate this world of "flux" that dominates business today and build teams that anticipate, prepare and lead themselves through change.
Change readiness is the ability to continuously initiate and respond to change in ways that create advantage, minimise risk, and sustain performance. A major lesson from those who have created a change-ready culture is that there is no end point. One change may be addressed, but others are always emerging.
In this keynote Rachael identifies the four most powerful techniques to build an organisational culture that thrives on change.
Key Takeaways:
- Trust is the Glue - Pay attention to the small moments, the everyday interactions that build or destroy trust.
- Respect Trumps Harmony - We won’t all see eye-to-eye, but you can build respect through direct conversations.
- Never Waste a Good Crisis - Crises are tough but they create an opportunity to lead, and to be seen leading.
- Celebrate the Small Achievements - No matter how small, stop and celebrate each forward step.
- No Triangles - Build respect and resilience in your team with direct conversations.
Leading On The Edge
Extraordinary leadership stories & insights from the most extreme workplace on the planetLeading On The Edge
The challenges leaders face are practically the same in every workplace. Leaders must acknowledge and navigate through the perpetual scrutiny, the frequent isolation, and the need to keep going when you feel you have nothing more to give. And through all this, must be authentic, resilient, innovative and adaptable!
Leading on the Edge resonates with audiences seeking inspiration and tools to build their leadership capability.
Whether you’re leading a team in an isolated, remote workplace or arm-wrestling spreadsheets in a busy corporate office, the same rules apply. Great leaders embrace the technical, political and personal domains. They know how to get the most out of their teams, even when it feels like they are navigating in the dark without a compass.
This is Rachael's most popular keynote full of practical and proven tools, hilarious stories and stunning photos and videos. It is suitable for every event from small group to a conference extravaganza.
Key Takeaways:
- Bacon Wars - Why it's critical to major in the minor things (and why every organisation has a coffee cup sign in the kitchen).
- No Triangles - How to build a culture of respect through direct conversations.
- Plane Crash - Tools to support leaders through emergency, turmoil and adversity.
- Resilience - Tools to look after yourself and develop your ability to stick at the tough stuff and endure the bumps.
- Respect Trumps Harmony - How to avoid falling into the "harmony" trap and unlock results & innovation.
- Sunday Breakfast - Understand the scrutiny of leadership, manage the spotlight.
The Future Of Teamwork
How to quickly create an innovative, collaborative & high performing teamThe Future Of Teamwork
Today's and future teams are very different from what they once were. Now we’re mobile, flexible, real-time and connected. We’re expected to deliver results immediately. The ability to harness diversity to create high performance is critical. Rachael shaped a highly successful expedition team in Antarctica and now shares the critical tools she uses to quickly create innovation, collaboration and high performance in teams.
Few of us get to choose our teams or have the luxury of a year or so to achieve peak performance. Technology and changing attitudes have enabled rapid mobilisation but can also exacerbate the “people challenge.”
Because, fundamentally, teams are about people. We need new ways to create the environment where fresh teams can build a collaborative culture and deliver results quickly.
In this keynote Rachael identifies the most powerful techniques that teams can use to drive innovation, collaboration and high performance.
Key Takeaways:
- Bacon Wars - Why it's critical to major in the minor things.
- Respect Trumps Harmony - You don’t have to always see eye-to-eye, but without respect your team will fail.
- No Triangles - The practice of direct conversations, go straight to the source.
- Antarctic Winter - Every workplace has one; keep teams inspired and motivated during the long dark times.
- Emperor Penguins - Why it’s critical to protect the tribe so the individual thrives.
- Lead without a title - Leadership is a behaviour; build collaboration and teamwork.
Video
Rachael Robertson | Virtual Showreel | Saxton Speakers
Rachael Robertson (CSP, MBA) is a former Antarctic expedition leader, Chief Ranger and leader with 20 years of 'extreme' leadership experience. She is a best-selling author and leadership guru whose talents are in great demand from leading organisations around the globe.Rachael Robertson | Antarctic expedition Leader | Saxton Speakers
"I have never received so much positive feedback from a guest speaker as I have this time. People continue to tell me how impressed they were with Rachael's story. She provided a fantastic i ... keep reading Crown Casinos & Hotels
Rachael Robertson was excellent with her presentation yesterday at our ABMVSS AGM and PD day. Rachael is warm, engaging, down to earth and very honest and approachable. Our members really enjoyed her presentation yesterday and as they were leaving the venue I could hear many of them speaking about their own 'bacon wars' and the tools Rachael provided when dealing with such situations.
Rachael delivered a brilliant presentation – she was intelligent, humble and engaging – and delivered it all with a dose of humour (not an easy task before 8am!). We’ve already received lots of wonderful feedback from attendees to this effect. I’ve had attendees comment to me that they left the event feeling inspired, energised, hopeful and motivated – I felt all of these things and more.
Inspiring presentation, had the audience enthralled, inspirational and would highly recommend.
We enjoyed the presentation immensely. A terrific balance of stories and safety lessons. Rachael made them credible by relating them to our day-to-day workplace.
We enjoyed Rachael's presentation very much. Her 'down to earth' style and 'out of the box' stories of her experience in Antarctica meant that the audience was able to engage with her very quickly and remain interested throughout her entire presentation. There was a terrific balance between her stories and her leadership lessons which were made all the more credible by Rachael relating them to what was happening on a day-to-day basis. Her photographs were enchanting and enabled everyone to gain an understanding of life down there, which was an added bonus. Her honesty and her humour were also really well received.
Excellent, absolutely outstanding! Rachael received a standing ovation. She was the last of 4 speakers on the day and had everyone spellbound, laughing. Rachael was an inspiring speaker with a warmth and genuine approach.
Rachael was very well prepared and really gauged her audience well. I was very impressed that she tailored her presentation to the target audience. I was also impressed with her professionalism. Rachael was very open during the question time and gave of herself both in time and revelation.
Rachael would be one of the best guest speakers I have ever had speak at my events. She is captivating and interesting, real and inspiring.
The evening was excellent. Rachael was great to work with and integrated with our audience with ease. The feedback from Rachael's presentation was fantastic. She was very professional, engaging and enthusiastic about her subject. A lady with remarkable leadership skills and passion. This is one extraordinary leadership experience that involved so many challenges and in such an isolated and remote situation - what an enormous year it must have been, a fascinating adventure story and I personally really wish Rachael the very best with her future.
We were delighted with the feedback on Rachael from our advisers. Evaluation forms contained phrases such as: "Excellent", "Truly inspiring", "Interesting" and "Fantastic presenter - very informative and interesting". Working with Rachael over five events around Australia was a delight. She has a very professional and flexible approach".
Rachael was engaging and responded well to the group. Her experiences are extraordinary and she did a great job of relating what she learnt. She was also able to illustrate the similarities between her roles and those of my team. In one word, "Terrific!"
