Amy Gildea


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Amy Gildea is an internationally recognised strategist reshaping what power and leadership mean in the 21st century.

An experienced International Development Executive with over two decades on the frontlines of diplomacy, humanitarian action, and system transformation.

From Gaza to Port Moresby, Kabul to Port-au-Prince Amy has led billion-dollar portfolios, rebuilt health systems, and navigated some of the world’s most complex geopolitical landscapes.

Renowned for her clarity, authenticity, and moral courage, Amy’s work sits at the intersection of statecraft, cultural intelligence, and systems change.

Her message is simple yet urgent: the future belongs to those bold enough to re-architect power not for themselves, but for the generations to come.

Keynote Topics

1. The Architecture of Power — Redefining Modern Leadership

Overview:
In this keynote, Amy Gildea dismantles outdated notions of power as dominance, control, and hierarchy — revealing how such models no longer serve humanity or the organisations that depend on it. Drawing on two decades of leadership across conflict zones, global systems, and boardrooms, she invites leaders to become architects of power: to design living systems that are inclusive, resilient, and built for intergenerational impact. Through stories from Gaza to the Pacific and insights grounded in Pasifika, ASEAN, and First Nations wisdom, Amy shows how reframing power from extraction to connection unlocks both human potential and financial performance

Key Takeaways:

  • Understand how legacy models of leadership limit innovation, performance, and impact.
  • Learn to design power systems that centre connection, reciprocity, and shared sovereignty.
  • Explore practical strategies to lead with courage, authenticity, and radical humanity.

2. Sovereign Futures — The Rise of the Global South

Overview:
This keynote explores the seismic shifts reshaping geopolitics, economics, and leadership as the Global South moves from the margins to the centre of global influence. Amy reframes sovereignty beyond borders — as a leadership paradigm rooted in kinship, cultural intelligence, and collective agency. Blending field insights with philosophical depth, she shows how leaders and organisations can align with this rising order — not through dominance or paternalism, but by co-designing futures where power is shared, resources regenerate, and dignity is embedded in every decision

Key Takeaways:

  • Gain insight into the geopolitical and cultural forces redefining global leadership.
  • Learn how to embed sovereignty, solidarity, and relational leadership into strategy and operations.
  • Discover pathways to authentically partner with and learn from the Global South.

3. From Purpose to Profit — Transforming Organisations for Impact

Overview:
Purpose without performance is sentiment. Profit without purpose is extraction. In this keynote, Amy demonstrates how the most future-fit organisations are those that master the balance of both — designing strategies where values and commercial success are not competing priorities but mutual accelerants. Drawing on experience leading billion-dollar portfolios through financial turnaround and social transformation, she reveals how purpose-driven leadership can create measurable impact, unlock growth, and future-proof organisations in an era where stakeholders demand more than quarterly results

Key Takeaways:

  • Reframe purpose as a strategic driver, not a branding exercise.
  • Explore proven models for aligning impact and profit to achieve sustainable growth.
  • Learn how to embed accountability, culture, and community into business models.

4. Wisdom in Leadership — Pasifika and First Nations Philosophies for Global Systems

Overview:
True innovation often comes from the world’s oldest knowledge systems. In this deeply reflective keynote, Amy explores how Pasifika, ASEAN, and First Nations philosophies — centred on reciprocity, balance, consensus, and kinship — offer profound lessons for leading in complexity. She demonstrates how these wisdom traditions can inform governance, climate strategy, digital transformation, and social policy, enabling leaders to move beyond transactional leadership toward systems that are regenerative, dignified, and designed for collective flourishing

Key Takeaways:

  • Discover how Indigenous and Pacific philosophies can inform modern strategy and governance.
  • Learn leadership practices that prioritise relationality, stewardship, and long-term impact.
  • Understand how embedding cultural intelligence can enhance resilience and legitimacy in global systems.