Lead the way: The future of Leadership – Staying authentic in the era of AI

Dr Ellen Joan Ford is terrifyingly ambitious about improving the working world for people and for organisations. New Zealand media have described her as an “extraordinary leader” and a “change-the-freaking-world person”.

As an award-winning leader, researcher, military veteran,international speaker, TEDx speaker, facilitator, consultant andparent, Ellen draws on her research and practical experiencesto drive organisational outcomes such as improved retention,productivity, engagement, well-being and ultimately, profit, byenhancing inclusive leadership capabilities and workplace culture.

Ellen has delivered keynotes to thousands of people, and has worked with multiple corporate and government organisations, including KPMG, FMG, NZDF, Craigmore Farming, EY and Metcash across a variety of sectors such as professional services, construction, defence, engineering, health, education, tourism, hospitality and primary industries.

Ellen’s research and commercially smart ideas to improve the working world have been published globally and she is a sought-after media commentator and podcast guest. She has completed her MBA (exec), PhD and post-doctoral research focused on leadership and is the co-author of a nationwide primary industries leadership project for New Zealand’s largest export sector. Using the findings from her PhD, Ellen spent 18 months in an advisory role to the Chief of the NZ Army, General John Boswell, providing recommendations for positive change to benefit all.

General Boswell wrote, “To Ellen’s immense credit, she has significantly influenced how Army is now approaching a range of diversity and inclusion challenges. Her contribution has beeninvaluable, her expertise, interpersonal and communication skills are superb.”

Ellen doesn’t just research, advise, deliver keynotes, and facilitate workshops about leadership, she has decades of experience practicing leadership. As well as leading teams in the corporate sector, and running her own business, Ellen had a highly successful career serving ten years as an Engineer officer in the NZ Army, leading soldiers around the globe, including in Antarctica, Afghanistan, UK and much of the Pacific, as well as scholarship exchange tours to Australia, Japan and Indonesia.

A decade on from her military career, Ellen was at the heart of a volunteer team who supported the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand after the fall of Kabul. She was recognised nationally as the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year - Local Hero as well as Person of the Year - Manawatu Standard.Ellen is the author of #WorkSchoolHours: A revolution for parents, workplaces and the world, based on the movement she founded to deliver better social and organisational outcomes #WorkSchoolHours has received wide-spread media attention (The Project, Breakfast, Radio NZ, NZ Herald, Stuff, Women’s Weekly and more) and has been dubbed a “must-read for any leader building a modern workplace.” The book is endorsed by multiple business leaders around the globe, including the CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons. Ellen received the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for her success in driving workplace change.

It is the culmination of these experiences that led to Ellen’s leadership model: Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose. She shares stories with her audience in a way that is relatable, highly engaging and full of practical takeaways. Ellen is passionate, authentic and speaks from the heart with warmth, enthusiasm, bubbliness and fun.