Bernie Kelly

Funky Fifty Year Old Founder

Inspirational leadership involves vision, risk, confidence and character...character built by a set of
profound and potent experiences through which specific values and principles are learnt, developed
and internalised. Welcome to the basis on which Bernie Kelly lives his life.

In 1986, in front of a 5000 live Reno-USA audience, Bernie Kelly at the age of 28, won 3rd place in
Toastmasters ‘World Championship of Public Speaking' to become the youngest Australian ever to
win a place in this global event. Three months later, he ran the New York Marathon in 3 hours and
16 minutes. He ran rim to rim of the Grand Canyon as preparation!

In his young adult years, he was voted ‘Young Australian of the Year' by Jaycees Australia and played
State Under 19's and 23's Cricket for Queensland.

Bernie is currently a top 3 finalist in the Queensland Pride of Australia Medals in the category of
‘Inspiration'.

Despite being one of Australia's most sought after Corporate Teambuilding and Leadership
Development Trainers, Bernie's passion is the development of Vision-driven and Values-centred
Student Leadership. ”Developing leadership confidence and skills in our youth is a true investment in
tomorrow. It is much more satisfying than helping companies boost their share price!" Bernie claims.
This belief fuelled Bernie to create The Australian Student Leadership Conference which annually
attracts over 1500 School Captains, Prefects and Student Council Representatives from both Private
and Public Schools throughout Australasia. Furthermore, students are invited each year to
participate in Bernie's East Africa  - Kilimanjaro Expeditions and his Nepal and India Encounters. So
far 346 people have participated in these immersions.

Bernie has delivered key note addresses in India, South Africa, Tanzania, Singapore, Bali, New
Zealand, and USA on ‘Inspirational Leadership' and ‘How to Build Winning Leadership Teams'.
"Many school's model of leadership is nothing more than ‘behaviour management'. Student Leaders
telling other students ‘to pull their socks up at the school bus stop' is a people management skill, not
leadership. Leadership is leaving the world you touch a better place. Leadership adds value. The
‘good role model' definition of student leadership is still valid but antiquated and it is unattractive to
potential student leaders. They fear that they have to be someone they are not and they are
becoming concerned with the response of peers. However, when you present leadership as an
opportunity to ‘leave a legacy' and ‘make a difference' you stimulate a different response
entirely...one that is exciting and inviting. Let's inspire our students to truly lead!"