Dan Pontefract

Keynote Speaker | Vancouver, British Columbia

Future of Work
Leadership Strategist Award Winning Author & Culture Change Expert

Dan Pontefract Expertise Accessibility, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Business & Corporate, Business Ethics & Values, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Business Management, Business Technology, Business Transitions, Change Management, Collaboration and Communication.

Dan Pontefract

About Dan Pontefract

Dan Pontefract is a renowned leadership keynote speaker, award-winning best-selling author, future of work, and culture change expert. He has been a 4-time TEDx speaker and with expertise in leadership, engagement, and transformational change, Dan has achieved impressive career accomplishments, including two gold medals and numerous awards. He is currently the CEO of The Pontefract Group, where he helps organizations improve their leadership and culture. With degrees in leadership and adult education and a Doctorate in Professional Studies, Dan brings a wealth of knowledge and credibility to his speaking engagements. He is also a certified coach and has published four books on leadership and culture. Don't miss the chance to hear Dan Pontefract speak and empower you to reach new heights.

Dan Pontefract Videos

Dan Pontefract | Leadership Strategist Award Winning Author | Speakers

The Purpose Effect | Dan Pontefract | Tedxsfu

How Schools Can Save Companies from Collapsing | Dan Pontefract | Tedx

We are Losing the Ability to Think, and What to Do About It | Dan Pont

Tedxubc: Dan Pontefract: Mr. Classroomachev: Tear down This Wall

Dan Pontefract Interviews & Podcasts

“open to Think” – an Interview with Dan Pontefract

Episode 236: Leadership Strategist | Founder of Pontefract Group

Blend of Compassion in Leadership: Dan Pontefract [interview]

AI Needs a Human-first Approach with Tech Humanist Kate O'neill

Heather Mcgowan and Leading the Empowered Workforce

Three Masterclass Public Speaking Tips from Tedx Producer Dk

DAN PONTEFRACT BIOGRAPHY

Dan Pontefract is a renowned leadership strategist, author, and keynote speaker with over two decades of experience in senior executive roles at companies such as SAP, TELUS, and Business Objects. In these roles, he focused on corporate culture change, leadership development, employee experience, and overall performance improvement. Since then, he has worked with organizations worldwide, including Salesforce, Amgen, the State of Tennessee, Nestlé, Canada Post, Autodesk, BMO, the Government of Canada, Manulife, Nutrien, and the City of Toronto, among others. Dan Pontefract has firsthand experience in turning leaders and corporate cultures into a competitive advantage, and he believes that the future of work is now.

As an award-winning and best-selling author, Dan Pontefract has written five books: WORK-LIFE BLOOM, LEAD. CARE. WIN., OPEN TO THINK, THE PURPOSE EFFECT, and FLAT ARMY. His third book, OPEN TO THINK, won the 2019 getAbstract International Book of the Year. His fourth LEAD. CARE. WIN. won the 2022 Nautilus Awards Silver Medal for Leadership. Dan also writes for Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and other outlets.

Dan Pontefract is a renowned keynote speaker who has presented at four TED events and delivers approximately 50 keynotes annually. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business and has received over 25 industry, individual, and book awards. Furthermore, Dan Pontefract hosts the popular Leadership NOW series, where he interviews famous thinkers, authors, CEOs, and other incredible leaders. Through these interviews, he seeks to understand what makes leadership and people better.

Before leaving the world of full-time gigs in 2018, Dan Pontefract served as Chief Envisioner and Chief Learning Officer at TELUS, a Canadian telecommunications company with 50,000 global employees and over $14 billion in revenue. While at TELUS, he launched the Transformation Office, the TELUS MBA, and the TELUS Leadership Philosophy, all of which helped increase the company’s employee engagement to nearly 90%.

Prior to his ten years at TELUS, Dan Pontefract held senior executive positions for 12 years with SAP, Business Objects, Crystal Decisions, and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Dan’s career is interwoven with corporate and academic experience, coupled with an MBA, B.Ed, and multiple industry certifications and awards. Notably, Dan Pontefract is listed on the Thinkers50 Radar, HR Weekly’s 100 Most Influential People in HR, PeopleHum’s Top 200 Thought Leaders to Follow, and Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers.

In 2010, Dan Pontefract was acknowledged by CLO as a Vanguard Award winner. In addition, he was a 2-time winner by the Corporate University Best in Class Awards of the Leader of the Year in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, SkillSoft awarded Dan the ‘Learning Leader of the Year for his work at TELUS, and CLO Magazine also bestowed the Learning in Practice

Innovation Award. He is also the recipient of the 2012 Brandon-Hall Gold Award in Strategy & Governance. In 2015, TELUS became a 10-time winner of the prestigious ATD BEST award under his leadership and was the first-ever recipient of the ATD Hall of Fame distinction.

Dan Pontefract and his wife, Denise, have three children, two dogs and two cats and live in Victoria, Canada.

Dan Pontefract Topic Presentations

Dan Pontefract Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada delivers keynote presentations, workshops, fireside chats, moderated Q&A, and other presentation formats on a wide variety of topics. Each presentation is unique, customized and tailored for audiences, industries, conferences and event formats.

The Keys to Flourishing in Work and Life: It's Not Work-life Balance

The Keys to Being a Truly Caring Leader: Lead. Care. Win.

Purpose Fuels People: Why a Meaningful Role & Purpose-driven Organization Matter

Collaborative Cultures: It's the Secret to Organizational Excellence

We are Losing the Ability to Think and What to Do About It

Customized Workshops / Facilitated Sessions

Dan Pontefract Books & Articles

Work-life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team That Flourishes
Work-life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team That

A thought-provoking and empowering book that will inspire leaders to take a fresh look at a new coalescence between work and life. In...

The Purpose Effect: Building Meaning in Yourself, Your Role, and Your Organization
The Purpose Effect: Building Meaning in Yourself,

Pontefract combines years of experience and research on employee engagement, behavior and culture to create a work about the three crucial...

Lead. Care. Win.: How to Become a Leader Who Matters
Lead. Care. Win.: How to Become a Leader Who

Dan Pontefract is on a mission to change the world of work. Lead. Care. Win is his fourth book, and like the previous three is the product...

Flat Army: Creating a Connected and Engaged Organization
Flat Army: Creating a Connected and Engaged

Your people are your most valuable asset, and if you want them to excel (and your profits to soar), you'll need to abandon your traditional...

Does Your Workplace Have a ‘shadow’ Culture?
Does Your Workplace Have a ‘shadow’

Have you taken a deep look at your workplace culture lately? No matter how hard senior executives work at it, things can end up differently...

Are You Breaking These 5 Unwritten Slack Etiquette Rules?
Are You Breaking These 5 Unwritten Slack

While teams have been using Slack for communication and collaboration since long before COVID-19, the platform became a good substitute for...

Inside the Weird, High-powered World of Executive Coaches
Inside the Weird, High-powered World of Executive

In a boardroom 28 stories above Manhattan, a dozen private equity executives were sitting around a mahogany table, and once again, the...

How Telus and the University of Victoria Designed a Different Kind of Mba
How Telus and the University of Victoria Designed

When Kevyn McGregor finished his MBA at the University of Victoria in the fall of 2017, he didn’t take his newly minted degree and hit...

Dan Pontefract Speaking Testimonials

"Dan Pontefract challenged us to have clarity of purpose, both as individuals and as an organization. He related inspiring stories drawing on his experience in business, technology and academia. As he said, ‘There is no ownership without belonging.’"

Christian Pantel

Vice-President
D2L

"Dan Pontefract accomplished what we set out to do, which was not only to be inspirational, but also to leave everyone with tools and food for thought / self-reflection to improve their personal and professional lives."

Hermann Handa

FCT

"Dan Pontefract not only brought his presentation to life with his charisma, but also content, style and presentation finesse. Our members were especially interested in his thought provoking and top of mind topic on the future of work and how we’re going to be leading the next generation of leaders."

Cheryl Goodwin

CPA

"WOW what a talk! I have been inundated with positive feedback from Dan Pontefract’s keynote all weekend. You hit the nail on the head in terms of what’s happening in our organization and your examples really resonated with our group. One of our Execs was really thankful for how you directly tackled the ‘elephants in our room"

Vice-President
Manulife

"Dan Pontefract is a conference organizer’s ideal speaker. Not only did he inspire and energize our group, but he also masterfully adapted his content so it resonated with the audience and our conference theme. As a bonus, Dan Pontefract is able to nimbly navigate to adjust to a reduced time slot when other speakers went over time without sacrificing the impact of his session."

Director and General Counsel
BCLMA

"Dan Pontefract was excellent. He really took into account our briefing and developed a presentation that was spot on. Everyone learned something."

SVP Communications
CPPIB

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Dan Pontefract known for and what is their expertise as a keynote speaker in Canada?

Dan Pontefract is known for defined subject matter expertise based on professional experience and industry background. As a keynote speaker in Canada for conferences and conventions, their presentations align with organizational objectives and audience outcomes. Corporate keynote speakers in Canada are selected based on credibility, relevance, and practical application. Expertise alignment supports informed booking decisions. Read More

What topics does Dan Pontefract speak on for conferences, conventions, corporate events, and annual general meetings in Canada?

Dan Pontefract delivers keynote presentations on defined topic areas confirmed during booking. Canadian business speakers for corporate meetings in Canada align topic selection with event objectives and audience priorities. Conference speakers in Canada adapt messaging for conventions, trade shows, and summits. Topics are finalized prior to written confirmation. Read More

How do I know if Dan Pontefract is the right fit for my audience, conference, convention, or AGM?

Dan Pontefract is evaluated based on audience alignment, event objectives, and subject matter relevance. Event planners booking keynote speakers in Canada for corporate conferences review experience, delivery style, and industry context. Canadian business speakers for annual general meetings must align with program goals and audience expectations. Fit is clarified during the pre decision call. Read More

Where is Dan Pontefract from and where do they speak across Canada?

Dan Pontefract is from Vancouver, British Columbia and is available for events across Canada. Conference speakers in Canada frequently travel nationally with defined travel terms. Corporate keynote speakers coordinate scheduling through structured agreements. Availability is confirmed through formal inquiry. Read More

Is Dan Pontefract available as a virtual keynote speaker for online conferences, webinars, or hybrid events in Canada?

Dan Pontefract is available as a virtual keynote speaker for online conferences, corporate webinars, and hybrid events in Canada. Virtual keynote speakers in Canada deliver structured presentations adapted for remote audiences. Format, platform coordination, and timing are confirmed during booking. Virtual availability is documented through written agreement in Canada. Read More

Does Dan Pontefract deliver keynote presentations, workshops, training sessions, breakout sessions, fireside chats, or panel discussions?

Dan Pontefract may deliver keynote presentations as well as workshops and breakout sessions. Canadian business speakers for corporate training in Canada define session length and format during booking. Conference speakers may also participate in fireside chats or panel discussions depending on program design. Session formats are confirmed in writing. Read More

How do I contact Dan Pontefract to check availability and begin the booking process in Canada?

Dan Pontefract is contacted through Speakers Bureau of Canada to confirm availability and event details. Event planners and meeting planners typically schedule a pre decision call to clarify format, objectives, and scope. Booking begins once event requirements are defined. Written confirmation follows agreement execution. Read More

How do I book Dan Pontefract for a conference, convention, trade show, summit, or corporate meeting in Canada?

Dan Pontefract is booked through a structured agreement process confirming availability, fee structure, and logistics. Booking keynote speakers in Canada for conventions and trade shows includes written contracts and defined payment terms. Canadian business speakers for annual general meetings require scope confirmation before date holds convert to confirmed status. Booking is finalized upon agreement execution. Read More

How much does it cost to book Dan Pontefract as a keynote speaker in Canada?

Dan Pontefract keynote speaker fees depend on event type, audience size, format, and location. The cost to book a keynote speaker in Canada varies based on preparation scope and delivery structure. Corporate keynote speakers in Canada confirm fees through a booking agent and written agreement. Final pricing reflects defined scope and contract terms. Read More

Are there additional costs to hire Dan Pontefract for a corporate event, convention, or trade show in Canada?

Additional costs to hire Dan Pontefract may include travel expenses, extended sessions, workshops, meet and greets, emcee duties, or event host roles. Keynote speakers in Canada for business conventions often separate honorarium from travel and related logistics. Canadian business speakers confirm these components in writing before agreement execution. All additional costs are outlined contractually. Read More

How far in advance should I book Dan Pontefract for a conference, convention, or business meeting in Canada?

Dan Pontefract should be booked once event dates, location, and format are confirmed. Conference speakers in Canada often secure dates several months in advance. Corporate keynote speakers for annual general meetings may have limited availability during peak seasons. Early inquiry improves confirmation certainty. Read More

Is Dan Pontefract represented by an agent in Canada and how is the agreement handled?

Dan Pontefract is represented by Speakers Bureau of Canada for booking coordination and agreement management. Keynote speakers in Canada often work through an agency to formalize contracts and payment handling. Agent representation ensures structured communication between organizers and the speaker. Representation clarifies agreement terms before confirmation. Read More