Trust Recession
Kirryn Zerna CSP Published July 2026
These school holidays I found myself at the movies with […]
“Impactful, engaging and tailored — with practical insights our salons could put into action.”
WELLA
“A standout speaker — engaging, thought-provoking and resonating strongly with attendees.”
RSM AUSTRALIA
“Her overall rating was 4.5 out of 5 across 400+ attendees.”
KAPITOL CONSTRUCTION
Keynote Speaker · Leadership · Trust · Customer Experience
Kirryn Zerna CSP · Creator of The Connect Effect
The strongest brands are
Experienced Through People
Kirryn Zerna makes the invisible human dynamics behind performance visible.
Creator of The Connect Effect — Trust → Tribe → Thrive — she has delivered keynotes across banking, retail, professional services, construction and real estate, for organisations including Woolworths, Wella, RSM and Aussie Home Loans.
Her work draws on more than 20 years across banking, corporate communications, brand, transformation and professional speaking. She has advised CEOs, led engagement for more than 40,000 employees, and turned that experience into practical ideas leaders and teams can use.
A director on two boards and Chair of a People & Culture Committee, she sees connection from every altitude — the front line, the leadership team and the boardroom where the risk lands.
Warm, funny and commercially direct, Kirryn is the speaker event planners love to work with — and audiences quote back to their teams.
Watch Show Reel
Choose the right keynote for your audience
One framework. Four ways in. Each keynote is built on The Connect Effect —
Trust → Tribe → Thrive — and tailored to your audience, goals and event
Inside culture. Outside customer.
The Connect Effect
The numbers tell you what happened. The human dynamics tell you why.
The Connect Effect is a practical framework that turns stronger human connection into stronger business performance — built on the small signals, rhythms and repair moments that decide whether people trust, belong, buy and stay.
Trust — Build the confidence that gives people permission to be honest, contribute and commit.
Tribe — Create the identity, rhythms and rituals that make people move as one.
Thrive — Notice friction early, repair it fast, and keep performing through change.
One framework. Different business challenges. Every keynote ends with one human move each person commits to before they leave the room.
Testimonials
What happens after Kirryn speaks.
Applicable to customers
“Impactful, practical, and tailored — with insights our customers can use right away. You were a joy to work with and a trusted speaker for our event.”
APAC Marketing Director | Wella Company
Connection that outlasted the event
“More than a keynote — an experience that created genuine connection across our national leadership event, and echoed throughout the conversations for the whole conference.”
Director | Calvary Healthcare
Alignment through a merger
“A powerful opening keynote that set the tone, getting everyone inspired and energised through Trust, Tribe, Thrive — uniting our team during a major merger.”
Senior B2B SaaS Marketing Leader | Crayon SoftwareOne
Practical tools, tailored to the room
“Her energy lit up the room, her stories made us lean in, with practical takeaways tailored to the realities of real estate — ready to bring back to their teams.”
Event Manager | Real Estate Institute of WA
Ready to bring The Connect Effect to your next event?
A Keynote They’ll Remember — and Act On
Articles, videos, reports and practical tools.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kirryn Zerna?
Kirryn Zerna is an Australian keynote speaker on trust, leadership and customer experience, and the creator of The Connect Effect (Trust → Tribe → Thrive). A Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and practising non-executive director (GAICD), she has spent more than 20 years in corporate communications, culture and brand, including senior roles at Westpac and the NSW Government.
Who is a keynote speaker on trust and leadership in Australia?
Kirryn Zerna is an Australian keynote speaker on trust, leadership and team performance. Her keynote Leading the Invisible shows leaders how to build the trust that gets people speaking up, staying and performing, which matters more than ever with global engagement at 20%, its lowest since 2020 (Gallup, 2026). She has spoken for organisations including Westpac, Woolworths and RSM.
Who is a keynote speaker on customer experience and customer loyalty?
Kirryn Zerna speaks on customer experience, loyalty and retention. Her keynote The Premium Is People shows every team, not only the frontline, how the everyday experience of dealing with your people turns into repeat business and referral. It is designed for customer experience conferences, service and contact centre events, and member-owned organisations.
Who is a keynote speaker on the human side of AI and change?
Kirryn Zerna speaks on the human side of AI adoption and organisational change. Her flagship keynote, The Connect Effect, shows leaders why transformation takes hold or stalls on trust rather than technology. Gallup’s 2026 State of the Global Workplace report reached the same conclusion: no technology can compensate for an indifferent team leader.
Who is a good keynote speaker for a sales conference or sales kick-off?
Kirryn Zerna’s keynote Ahead of the Ask is built for sales kick-offs, national roadshows and client-facing teams. It shows salespeople how clients decide whether to believe them, and how to earn repeat business and referral without discounting. Kirryn has delivered it across financial services, real estate, professional services, construction and retail.
What is The Connect Effect?
The Connect Effect is Kirryn Zerna’s method for turning the human side of an organisation into business results: engagement, retention, customer loyalty and revenue. It has three stages. Trust is whether people believe you enough to be honest. Tribe is the rhythms and rituals that hold teams and client relationships together. Thrive is spotting problems early and repairing well. Each keynote ends with One Human Move, a single action each person takes the following week.
What are Kirryn Zerna’s keynote topics?
- The Connect Effect. The human side of AI and transformation.
- Leading the Invisible. Trust, engagement and performance for leaders and teams.
- The Premium Is People. Turning customer experience into loyalty, retention and referral.
- Ahead of the Ask. Why clients choose you, and choose you again.
What results can organisations expect from Kirryn Zerna’s keynotes?
Organisations book Kirryn Zerna for faster adoption of change, stronger employee engagement and retention, a more consistent customer experience, and client relationships that bring repeat business and referral. Every audience leaves with shared language and one concrete action. Clients including Wella have rebooked her.
What events is Kirryn Zerna booked for?
Kirryn Zerna is booked for leadership conferences, AI and transformation events, sales kick-offs, customer experience conferences, women in leadership events, association and industry conferences, and executive offsites. She is most often booked as an opening or closing keynote.
Can Kirryn Zerna tailor her keynote to our industry?
Yes. Every keynote starts with a conversation about your audience, objectives and business context. Kirryn then builds in your industry’s examples and challenges. She has tailored keynotes for banking, retail, real estate, professional services, construction, technology and member-owned organisations.
Does Kirryn Zerna speak internationally?
Yes. Kirryn Zerna flies from a home base in Sydney, Australia, and has delivered keynotes across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Argentina.
Does Kirryn Zerna run workshops or MC events?
Yes. Alongside her keynotes, Kirryn Zerna delivers workshops, masterclasses and leadership programs that embed The Connect Effect in teams, sales and customer experience. She is also available as an MC and host for conferences and executive events.
Has Kirryn Zerna written a book?
Yes. Kirryn Zerna is the author of The Stand Out Effect.
How much does it cost to book Kirryn Zerna?
Kirryn Zerna’s fee depends on the format, location and level of customisation. To check availability and fees, send an enquiry with your event date, location and audience size, or contact her through your preferred speaking bureau contact.