Resilience & Leadership Expert, Former Strategist at the UK Foreign Office, Former Strategic Lead at RethinkX & Voted Among the Top 5 Best Storytellers at the Speaker Awards
Ronan Harrington’s Biography:
Ronan Harrington is an internationally recognised expert on resilience, leadership and sustainable high performance, known for helping organisations thrive in conditions of rapid change and uncertainty. Drawing on a unique blend of experience across government, strategy, organisational transformation and human performance, he has become one of the most sought-after keynote speakers in the corporate world. Ronan is particularly known for developing practical frameworks that enable leaders and teams to achieve ambitious results without sacrificing wellbeing, adaptability or long-term success. His work resonates with organisations facing increasing complexity, making him a highly valued keynote speaker for conferences, leadership summits and business events around the world.
Ronan’s academic and professional journey reflects the breadth of expertise he brings to the stage. He earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Galway before completing an MA in Economics for Transition at Schumacher College, where he explored new approaches to economic and social systems. He later completed a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford. Early in his career, Ronan worked as a Strategist at the UK Foreign Office, contributing to scenario planning initiatives focused on the future of global change. He went on to become Strategic Lead at RethinkX, where he contributed to the influential publication ‘Rethinking Humanity’. As a Resilience Specialist with Mycelium, he helped develop programmes that were later highly commended by the This Can Happen Awards, further establishing his reputation as a leading thinker on resilience and organisational performance.
Ronan’s expertise has been recognised through numerous industry accolades. He was named a LinkedIn Top Voice on Public Speaking and has built a significant following through his thought leadership on leadership, resilience and communication. At the Speaker Awards, he was voted among the Top 5 Best Storytellers and was Highly Commended as Best Live Speaker, reflecting both the quality of his content and his ability to engage audiences. His reputation as a dynamic presenter was further demonstrated when he delivered a keynote at HRTechX that received a standing ovation from more than 500 attendees. These achievements highlight his ability to translate complex ideas into compelling stories that inspire action.
Why Hire Ronan Harrington?
What sets Ronan apart as a keynote speaker is his proven ability to bridge strategic insight with practical application. His model of Sustainable High Performance has attracted the attention of some of the world’s most influential professional services firms, leading to partnerships with Deloitte, EY, PwC and KPMG to support organisational transformation and leadership development. Audiences value his evidence-based insights, engaging storytelling and actionable frameworks that can be implemented immediately. Whether speaking to senior executives, people leaders or large conference audiences, Ronan delivers thought-provoking presentations that leave a lasting impact, making him an outstanding choice for organisations seeking a keynote speaker who can inspire resilience, leadership excellence and sustainable success.
Ronan Harrington’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Ronan Harrington’s remarkable career:
- 2025 – Partnered with all 4 of the Big 4 (Deloitte, EY, PwC, KPMG) to implement his new model of Sustainable High Performance
- 2024 – Became a LinkedIn Top Voice on Public Speaking
- 2023 – Voted Top 5 Best Storytellers at the Speaker Awards
- 2023 – Highly Commended: Best Live Speaker at the Speaker Awards
- 2023 – Named LinkedIn Top Voice on Public Speaking
- 2022 – Delivered a keynote at HRTechX to a standing ovation from 500+ attendees
- 2021 – Resilience Specialist, Mycelium (Programme Highly Commended by This Can Happen Awards)
- 2020 – Strategic Lead, RethinkX – “Rethinking Humanity” publication
- 2013 – Strategist, UK Foreign Office: Scenario planning for 2030
- 2013 – Master of Public Policy, University of Oxford
- 2012 – MA, Economics for Transition, Schumacher College
- 2005 – BA, Psychology, University of Galway
Videos
Ronan Harrington’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Our Leadership Team is still talking about it and it has prompted a very healthy and open discussion about how we build resilience for ourselves and our people. Thank you Ronan – you were brilliant.” – Scott, Head of Financial Consulting, Deloitte
“Insightful, authentic and engaging. His personal story is highly compelling and I would recommend anyone working in a high performance culture or role to spend time with Ronan.” – Chris, VP Technology, IBM
“I left Ronan’s talk truly speechless and determined to take better care of myself. A rare, powerful alchemy that goes so far beyond a typical “keynote speaker” it seems a miss to even refer to it as that.” – Julia, Director, Employee Experience AKQA
“Ronan’s keynote was one of the stand out moments at our conference. A 500 person standing ovation and by all accounts, not a dry eye in the house.” – Oliver, Managing Director, HR TechX
“The event with Ronan was a full success! He gave a very inspiring and engaging speech and touched everybody in the room – intellectually and emotionally. He organised a very good mix between presenting facts & figures, giving practical tips and initiating short breakout-sessions to ensure full engagement of all participants. Ronan fulfilled 100% of our expectations.” – Thomas, CFO Siemens Energy
“Ronan is a world class resilience teacher. His ability to connect leaders to themselves and each other is rare.” – John, Head of Strategic Relationships, KPMG
Speaking Topics
Ronan Harrington‘s Official Keynote Topics:
- Candour Unleashed: Mastering Difficult Conversations
- Back in the Groove: Power Moves for Better Mental Health
- Extraordinary Productivity: From Busyness to Brilliant Impact
- Boundless Growth Mindset: Shatter the Success Ceiling
- High‑Performance Leadership Talk Show: Hard‑Won Wisdom, Live
- Relational Excellence: The Psychological‑Safety Advantage
- Human‑First AI: Future‑Proof Performance for the Automation Era
- Leading Resilient High‑Performance Teams
- High Performance, Low Burnout
- Permacrisis Resilience: Thrive When Chaos Is the New Constant
- True Resilience: A Story That Touches Home
- Sustainable High Performance: From Endurance to Resilience
How Much Does Ronan Harrington Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Ronan Harrington?
Ronan Harrington’s speaking fees typically reflect their exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.