Speaking Engagement FAQs

Contact James directly at James@jamesmelliott.com or use the enquiry form on this page. In your message please include the event name and date, location, expected audience size, the keynote topic you have in mind, and any specific brief or requirements. James reads every enquiry personally and responds within 48 hours.

James typically books 6 to 12 weeks in advance for major events. For large conferences, annual events, or dates in high-demand periods, earlier is always better. If you have a specific date in mind reach out as soon as possible to check availability — dates fill faster than most organisers expect.

James accepts a limited number of engagements each year to ensure every audience receives the full version of his talk — not an adapted or shortened version. This means availability is genuinely limited. If you are interested in a specific date, reach out early.

James is based in Sydney, Australia. He is available for domestic and international engagements and has spoken to audiences across Australia, the United States, Canada, and internationally. Virtual keynotes are also available for organisations unable to accommodate in-person travel.

James offers four signature keynotes:

• Making the Invisible Visible — clinical innovation and precision medicine in trauma recovery
• From the Diamond to the Director — leadership, culture, and reinvention from elite sport to executive leadership
• Trauma Is Not Destiny — the science and lived experience of recovery from trauma. James's flagship talk.
• Human Judgment in the Age of AI — ethics, accountability, and human oversight in healthcare technology

Full descriptions, audience fit, and format details are available on each individual keynote page.

Yes. James works directly with event organisers to ensure his talk is calibrated to the specific audience, context, and outcomes the event requires. When you make an enquiry please share as much detail about your audience and brief as possible — the more James understands about your room, the better he can serve it.

James is available for keynote addresses of 45 to 75 minutes, panel discussions, workshops of half or full day, conference presentations, board presentations, grand rounds, podcast and media appearances, and virtual engagements. If you have a specific format in mind that is not listed here, ask — James is flexible.

A standard keynote engagement includes the talk itself, a Q&A session, and pre-event consultation with the organiser to align on content and outcomes. Additional options include post-talk book signings, complimentary signed books for attendees, and custom signed copies for sponsors or VIP guests. Ask about these options when you enquire.

Yes. When James speaks at your event, attendees can leave with more than a memory. Complimentary copies of his books for attendees, post-talk signings, and custom signed copies for sponsors or VIP guests are all available as part of the engagement package. Contact James to discuss what works for your event and budget.

Speaking fees vary depending on the event type, format, location, and requirements. Please contact James@jamesmelliott.com with details about your event and he will provide fee information promptly. James is committed to making his work accessible and will always have an honest conversation about what is possible.

Yes. James's speaker one-pager includes his full credentials, keynote descriptions, research impact, and booking details — built specifically so you can forward it to the people who need to approve the decision. Download it directly from this page.

Reach out and tell James about your audience and what you need the room to feel when he walks off the stage. He will recommend the right keynote honestly — and if none of his current talks is the right fit, he will tell you that too. James values the right match over any booking.

James has spoken at medical conferences, allied health symposiums, corporate leadership events, university programs, men's health forums, survivor communities, annual dinners, board strategy days, and community organisations. If you want to know whether he has experience with your specific context, ask him directly.

Watch the short video clips on those specific speaking pages to hear James speak in his own voice. Download the speaker one-pager. Read the testimonials from event organisers who have had him in their room. And then reach out — James will have an honest conversation with you about fit before any commitment is made.