You can't always choose your room, but you can choose your attitude.
A bold business leader, public servant and relentlessly optimistic innovator, David Downs is the Chief Executive of Education New Zealand, leading the government agency responsible for promoting New Zealand’s world‑class education system to the world.
David’s professional journey spans senior leadership roles across government, global corporates and entrepreneurship. He previously served as a General Manager at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and held senior positions at Microsoft, both in New Zealand and as Regional Director for South East Asia. He later became Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Story Group, a role he has held since 2021, leading the government‑funded organisation responsible for shaping and marketing New Zealand’s international brand. Alongside his corporate and public service career, David has founded and led successful businesses of his own and is widely respected for his ability to turn complex challenges into practical, human‑centred solutions.
A Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, David has held a number of influential governance roles. He has served as Chair of The Icehouse, The Hi‑Tech Trust, and The Well Foundation, and as Chair of the Government’s Small Business Advisory Group. He is also part of the Executive Advisory Committee to the CEO of the Department of Internal Affairs, contributing strategic insight across innovation, enterprise and public sector leadership.
David is a published author and widely respected commentator on New Zealand innovation and leadership. His books No.8 Re‑Wired and No.8 Recharged became highly successful explorations of Kiwi ingenuity and growth mindsets. During the Covid‑19 lockdowns, he co‑founded sosbusiness.nz, a not‑for‑profit initiative enabling bars, cafés and small businesses to sell vouchers online. The platform generated more than $2 million for over 2,500 small businesses, with all funds going directly to the businesses themselves. Drawing on this experience, David later authored Silver Linings, published by Penguin Random House, examining the innovation that emerged during the pandemic in New Zealand.
In 2018, David’s life took an extraordinary turn when he was given a terminal cancer diagnosis and less than a year to live. After months of chemotherapy and a series of remarkable events, he gained access to a groundbreaking clinical trial in the United States and survived. Now describing himself as a “genetically modified optimist”, David has shared his experience openly through his bestselling memoir A Mild Touch of the Cancer, later adapted into a documentary film. His charity initiative Down with Cancer raises funds to help make revolutionary CAR T‑cell therapy accessible in New Zealand.
An ex‑comedian, television and radio actor, and semi‑finalist for New Zealander of the Year, David brings humour, humanity and perspective to leadership and life. He studied at Massey University, the University of Auckland, and Stanford University, and continues to advocate for resilience, optimism and purpose‑driven leadership in New Zealand and beyond.
Talking Points
Personal resilience surviving terminal cancer
David had a public battle with terminal cancer and ultimately won, thanks to luck, science and personal resilience. In this entertaining and touching talk, David shows how personal resilience is built in adversity.
Personal resilience surviving terminal cancer
The Why, What and How of Storytelling - Workshop
In this practical, entertaining workshop, David demystifies storytelling and shows why it’s one of the most powerful tools leaders and organisations have. Drawing on his experience as CEO of New Zealand Story, an innovation leader, cancer survivor and former comedian, he unpacks the science of why stories cut through – and how they drive trust, behaviour change and action. Participants learn simple frameworks to craft and share stories that connect head and heart: from six-word stories to value-based narratives that bring strategy and culture to life. The session balances insight and laughter with hands-on practice, so people leave with stories they can use the very next day – in town halls, sales meetings, boardrooms or one-on-one conversations.The Why, What and How of Storytelling - Workshop
Key Takeaways:
• A clear understanding of why storytelling works – the brain science behind attention, emotion and memory.
• A simple, repeatable story structure leaders and teams can use for presentations, pitches, change programmes and internal comms.
• Practical tools to uncover and shape real stories from your organisation – customers, team members, origin stories and values in action.
• Personal practice in crafting short, impactful stories (including six-word stories) that build connection and credibility.
• Increased confidence to use story in everyday leadership moments: from performance conversations to board updates.
• A shared language and set of story prompts your organisation can keep using to align messages with purpose and strategy.
How to Live a Joyful and Nourishing Life - Workshop
In this uplifting and highly interactive session, David Downs helps leaders and teams explore what it really means to live a joyful and nourishing life – at work and beyond. Drawing on positive psychology, brain science and his own remarkable personal story, David shows how joy, balance and meaning are not “nice-to-haves” but key drivers of performance, creativity and resilience. Far from a static talk, this is a dynamic, laughter-filled workshop where participants reflect on where they find joy, connection and nourishment, and then work together to design realistic habits they can take back into their daily lives. The session works as a 60- or 90-minute conference breakout or plenary, and every attendee receives a practical “Joy Cheat Sheet” to help embed the ideas long after the event.How to Live a Joyful and Nourishing Life - Workshop
Key Takeaways – the audience will:
• Understand key principles of positive psychology and how they impact happiness, resilience and performance.
• Identify their own personal sources of joy, meaning and nourishment across life and work.
• Learn simple, evidence-based practices and micro-habits to boost wellbeing and balance.
• Experience a shared, energising conversation about wellbeing that strengthens connection and culture.
• Leave with a personalised “Joy Cheat Sheet” of practical ideas to sustain joy in everyday life.
New Zealand innovation
David is an expert in the history of NZ innovation with 4 books on the topic from NZs earliest innovations, to today. As a trustee of the Hi-Tech Awards, David is well up to date with New Zealand’s innovations and breakthroughs.
New Zealand innovation
Silver Linings - The positive stories and lessons from Covid-19 in NZ
The covid-19 crisis created huge issues for the world, but in New Zealand, it also created some amazing Silver Linings... in this talk, David takes us through some of the great lessons from Covid-19 and shows how adversity creates opportunity.
Silver Linings - The positive stories and lessons from Covid-19 in NZ
MC
David is a popular and engaging MC who believes the main job of the MC is to keep the crowd engaged, entertained, energized and on topic. David has MC’d for the Space Industry, government meetings, industry conferences, investment summits, company retreats and more. He engages the crowd and the speakers to ensure a memorable event. His business and personal experience can help enhance the content, and his personal style ensure speakers and panels are well engaged – and on time!
MC
Bad meetings and how to avoid them
If you work in business, you've had a bad meeting. In this entertaining talk, David gives tips and tricks on how to avoid the worst mistakes, and actually enjoy your meetings!
Bad meetings and how to avoid them
Cancer - a user's guide
No-one wants to get cancer, and often if you do, you know nothing about it. In this entertaining and educational talk, David gives a synopsis of one of our old foes, and how we can beat it...
Cancer - a user's guide
Video
TEDx Tauranga | Don't Humour the Tumour
TEDx Auckland | Reflections of a Genetically Modified Optimist
David is an extremely engaging speaker. He offered insight into his own personal experience, the practical and emotional skills he used while he and his family were going through this time a ... keep reading NZ Groundspread Fertiliser Association
David was brilliant to work with!! All our guests commented on his speech being the highlight
Thought he did well, appreciated his honesty and the personalized twist, as well as understanding the nature of our team and throwing in the awesome T-cell display at the end. Just what our team needed to start thinking about mindset!
Very engaging and great story teller, delivered at the right level for the audience.
David was an absolutely fantastic speaker. His story was so inspiring and many of our conference attendees said he was the highlight of the conference for them.
He was hilarious! So engaging and really gave off such a strong message to the power of positivity. Amazing story, amazing guy.
David did a great job of reading the room and applying an insightful perspective about how NZ is seen by the world. It made for an insightful, interesting and humorous contribution to our speaker line up.
Really enjoyed having David at our Staff Day. He was inspirational and entertaining. He engaged with everyone in the room.
