The AHG Congress

Peter Buckley

Master of Ceremonies

Peter Buckley works with some of Australia’s top corporate entities as Keynote Speaker, MC, Moderator, Talent Development Mentor, Voice-artist and On-camera Presenter.

He’s a true communicator, having spent 24 years “on-air”, including 12 years at Brisbane’s B105FM during its halcyon number-1 ratings period, as Assistant News Director after having been News Director at FM104/MMM.

The entertainment industry allowed him to MC and Host events from corporate and retail functions through to fun celebrity auctions. Radio realised opportunities for him to interview, talk and associate with actors, athletes, businesspeople, church and community leaders, developers, entertainers, governments, industry leaders, Premiers, paupers, superstars and WW1 Veterans.

Peter hosted the Brisbane Broncos’ game-day Boardroom Functions for two seasons at Suncorp Stadium and has been MC/Moderator for many conferences and events including the Franchise Council of Australia, Cerebral Palsy League Awards (presidential autocues, televised), Theiss Excellence Awards, Repco Authorised Service, and Vice Regal Functions.

Craig Rispin

AI for everyone: Enhancing productivity

Craig Rispin is one of the world’s leading futurists – he is an expert in emerging business, people and technology trends – and how companies can profit from them.

Craig’s keynotes and strategic planning are powered by Artificial Intelligence research of over 1 million data sources – revealing the future of any industry or major topic. 

He has over 35 years of experience working where the future has been created – with some of the most innovative organisations in the world.

Some of his clients include: BHP Billiton, Canon, Colonial First State, IBM, Kimberly-Clark, King & Wood Mallesons, NRMA, Sportscraft, Symantec, Toyota, Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and hundreds of professional industry associations.

An award-winning keynote speaker and CEO mentor, Craig generously shares his knowledge about innovation, trends and how you too can think like a futurist.

Over the course of an impressive career, he has addressed conference audiences as large as 16,000 people on five continents and consulted with CEOs of leading companies worldwide. In doing so, Craig is consistently rated the best speaker at conferences with the toughest audiences in the world including: CEOs, Lawyers, Bankers, Accountants, CIOs and even teenagers!

Above all else, Craig shows his clients how to: Know First, Be First and Profit First.

Key topics of conversation at the AHG Congress:

• Embracing ChatGPT and AI Agents: Discover how conversational AI is revolutionising workflows, improving decision-making, and enhancing productivity across departments.
• Forecasting the future: Trends and Predictions in Technology: Gain insights into the next wave of tech innovation. From automation to augmented intelligence, we’ll explore what’s coming and how to prepare.
• Governance and Ethics in the Age of Data: As data becomes a cornerstone of strategy, ethical considerations and governance frameworks are more critical than ever. This session offers guidance on navigating the complexities of responsible AI use.

Dr Tim Baker

Leadership and People Performance

In today’s competitive hospitality and gaming environment, success doesn’t just come from strategy, systems, or even service — it comes from influence. The most effective leaders and organisations know how to shape decisions and behaviours, often without people even realising it. This keynote explores the science of unconscious influence and persuasion, demonstrating how subtle cues, framing, and conversational styles can significantly impact the responses of staff, patrons, and stakeholders.

Dr. Tim Baker stands as a leading global authority on leadership development and change management, celebrated for his dynamic presentation style and actionable insights. With an impressive track record of over 3,800 seminars, workshops, and keynotes delivered to more than 50,000 participants across 14 countries and 21

industries. Tim has a proven ability to inspire and transform the mindsets of leaders everywhere.

“From the deserts of Saudi Arabia to the innovation hubs of Finland, Tim has partnered with some of the world’s most esteemed organisations, including Boeing, the Singapore Armed Forces, Unilever, Nokia, and SAP. His expertise empowers leaders at all levels to navigate complex changes and unlock their full potential.”

What truly distinguishes Tim is his versatility. He excels not only as a consultant but also as an executive coach, organisational development specialist, gifted facilitator, post-graduate lecturer, and acclaimed author of 19 books, with his latest work being Successful Self-Leadership: An Inside-Out Approach in Seven Steps, published by Business Expert Press, New York.

Tim’s unique talent lies in his ability to merge rigorous academic research with practical, real-world applications. Backed by his internationally recognised doctoral research, honoured with the Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Award, his evidence-based approach offers solid foundations while ensuring that audiences leave with fresh perspectives and immediately applicable tools.

Recognised as one of the 50 Most Talented Global Training and Development Leaders by the World HRD Congress, Tim continually pushes the envelope of leadership thinking. Whether he captivates audiences on stage, engages students in the classroom, or facilitates discussions in the boardroom, his infectious energy leaves an unforgettable impact, inspiring leaders to embrace change and drive meaningful results.

“Tim Baker’s presentation skills are clearly very good, and he consistently impresses with the enthusiasm, energy, and intensity he brings to his work. I can thoroughly recommend Tim in his work as a trainer and consultant involved in change and development.”

Neville I. S.

Derrick McManus

Sniper Survivor. Expert on Durability and Peak Performance

Derrick McManus’s story is one of raw determination and unbreakable willpower where the grit and determination to fight for life were put to the ultimate test. Doctors said, “All the textbooks say he should be dead, but he obviously hadn’t read the textbooks.”

“In a hail of gunfire, Derrick was hit 14 times in less than five seconds. Massive life-threatening injuries should have killed him, but he refused to go down without a fight. He returned fire and so began the longest siege in South Australian history – 41 hours.”

Derrick was lying on the ground, fully conscious and bleeding for three hours, it took every ounce of his mental, physical and emotional strength to manage his mindset and body for survival, even as he watched his blood pooling on the ground next to him.

Derrick’s story is an inspiration for anyone who has ever been told that something is impossible. He is a true warrior who never gave up, fought against the odds till the very end and won.

He shows you that the physical, mental and emotional inner strengths he used to survive the shooting are the same strengths we all possess. He’ll also show you how to access them to create your own success against the odds.

Derrick is an international keynote speaker, workshop facilitator and researcher of the philosophy of ‘Human Durability’. His research includes collaborations with all three South Australian Universities and The Military and Emergency Services Health Australia. He still pushes the boundaries of human performance just for fun. His 2023 effort was riding his mountain bike in the Himalayas higher than Mt Everest base camp.

Human Durability is Derrick’s passion. It is the ability to not only be resilient and bounce back from adversity but to sustainably perform at optimal levels physically, mentally and emotionally, no matter the challenge. This incorporates sustainable physical performance and mental health.

I would certainly recommend Derrick to any organization seeking a dramatic account of going against the odds and achieving goals through sheer determination.

Public Sector Workforce Relations