Keynote speaker
The ChallengeEvery organisation has a communication challenge; a strategy that isn't taking off, a culture that isn't shifting, a team that isn't aligned. I help leaders understand why, and what to do about it.
Drawing on two decades of frontline journalism, military service, and academic research into human behaviour and strategic communications, I give audiences the frameworks and confidence to drive real, lasting change.
Leading Stories
Changing beliefs and behaviours through storytelling.
Leading StoriesAs leaders, the stories that we tell matter. Ash takes skills from journalism and influence campaigns, and applies them to leadership and business.
As a coach to experienced senior leaders, and a mentor to students starting out, he has an insight into the challenges and opportunities across generations, which is vital for the modern workplace.
Ash’s presentations are a masterclass in:
Strategic communications
Changing the beliefs & behaviours of a critical audience through stories.
Human-centred leadership
How to foster a culture of psychological safety and trust.
Deliver with confidence
Why emotional connection beats rational persuasion.
Idetifying with stakeholders
Identifying stakeholders, working out how to speak to them, and thinking about the impact on secondary and accidental audiences.
Setting targets
Aligning personal motivations with goals.
Seeking balance
Finding serendipity, purpose, and fulfilment in work and life.
Clients include
Why We Travel
Understanding motivations to make travel better.
Why We TravelWe spend more on travel than any other pastime, but our travel experiences can sometimes feel unfulfilling. After twenty years of exploring the world, Ash wanted to know why.
After interviewing anthropologists, geneticists, psychologists, astronauts and more, he believes it’s because we out too much focus on what we do during travel (the mechanism), rather than why we leave home in the first place (our motivations). By knowing this, we can develop better travel experiences for ourselves and for visitors, and reach them through compelling stories.
Clients include
Ash is regularly asked to share his insights on:
Building fulfilling travel experiences.
The new trends in travel and tourism.
Why travel will grow in the era of AI.
Understanding traveller motivations.
Common mistakes in travel marketing and PR.
The power of authenticity and stories in the AI era.
Building truly sustainable travel and tourism.
How to reach audiences through stories.
The Human Advantage
Leadership, curiosity and connection in the AI age.
As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, the qualities that make us human are becoming more valuable.
Drawing on insights from his leadership training and research, his award-winning book Why We Travel, and his reporting from more than 50 countries, Ash explores the psychology of curiosity, motivation, identity, and human connection.
This keynote examines why empathy, storytelling, cultural intelligence, and shared purpose remain essential leadership tools in an increasingly automated world.
Audience takeaways
Why curiosity drives innovation and adaptability
The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership
How shared stories create stronger teams and cultures
Storytelling for business
Communicating with clarity, trust and impact.
Helping leaders communicate with greater clarity, influence, and authenticity.
In this practical and engaging keynote, Ash shares the storytelling tools used by journalists, broadcasters, and strategic communicators to help leaders communicate with greater clarity, influence, and authenticity.
Drawing on experience across media, government communications, and leadership training, Ash explores why audiences connect emotionally before they engage rationally; and how organisations can create messages that will influence both internal and external audiences.
Audience takeaways
Why curiosity drives innovation and adaptability
The importance of emotional intelligence in leadership
How shared stories create stronger teams and cultures
What People Are Saying
“Ash was a great speaker and had a wonderful, relevant speech.”
— Duke of Edinburgh’s Award“Ash was very professional and great fun to work with - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him.”
— The Telegraph“We have had such positive feedback from your interesting and inspiring talk.”
— Aspire Leaders of Luxury