Max Walker

Profile

Max Walker
A life time in the spotlight

Passion, strategy, excellence

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In the space of five decades Max Walker has travelled an amazing journey from schoolboy sporting prodigy to one of the most recognisable faces and voice in Australia. Along the way he played Test Cricket for Australia in a golden era and VFL/AFL football for the Melbourne Football Club. He then continued to be center stage in the highly competitive sports media arena as host of the Nine Network's Wide World of Sports. He is an author of 13 books.

Max is also a successful entrepreneur with directorships in a number of companies. Academically, he qualified from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a Fellowship Diploma of Architecture and practiced as an architect for 10 years. Max's transition from the sporting fields to the hypnotic world of media was seamless....a natural charismatic communicator on radio and television. An extension of that natural story telling ability resulted in seven No1 best sellers in Australia, his aggregate book sales stretched beyond one million copies.

Max is also one of Australia's most sought after public speakers. He has presented in excess of three and a half thousand performances throughout Australia and around the globe. He has captivated audiences in Rio de Janeiro, New York, London, Hong Kong, Orlando, Singapore, Hawaii, Bangkok, Dubai, Vancouver, Harare and Johannesburg. Add 3,000 hours of anchoring 'live' television programs to the much travelled and well-educated life experience and it is easy to describe Max Walker as the 'complete all rounder'. The smile and enthusiasm is contagious. As a talent Max is consistently described as 'extremely user friendly'.

The Max Walker Company utilises the many multimedia, communication, marketing and creative skills all under the one umbrella. In fact after a lifetime in the spotlight, the name Max Walker has become a brand that is synonymous with integrity, credibility, and success.

Topics

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

The reputation Max Walker brings to the role of Master of Ceremonies is a reflection of his ability and vast experience. As a national television presenter, more than 3000 hours of live television required him to be “word perfect”, to maintain the integrity of the content, and to keep a tight rein on the running sheet.

An instantly recognisable face, Max brings to this role, professionalism, relevance flexibility and injection of personality, which enables him to make a strong connection with his audience - in total a seamless presentation.

KEYNOTE PRESENTER

Given Max’s vast life experience and genuine curiosity for what makes people and organizations tick, he consistently produces tailor-made keynote presentations full of relevance and impact.

It is his education, confidence and ability to deliver that takes the risk or “unknown quantity” from the speaker equation.

Max is well travelled; an elite athlete, an extraordinary communicator and a successful businessman who loves nothing better than to push the creative envelope.

His content and topics have continued to evolve and refresh. They include:

• Understanding Emotional Intelligence and harnessing people potential
• The Essence of Change…recognising the sign post to the future
• The Architecture of your business…manifesting the future
• The Race for Excellence has no finish line
• Passionate People Power
• You can’t live life without an eraser…..a lesson in re-engineering
• Marketing to the Heartland…creating an authentic fingerprint with emotional connection
• Reactivate… Rejuvenate… Regenerate… Relate… Results… Revenue
• Communication is a Contact Sport…emotional mind mapping

CONFERENCE HOST

To set the scene for delegates to be inspired rewarded and entertained is a challenge Max Walker thoroughly enjoys. Hosting a 1, 3, or 5 day event is a regular assignment for Max. He draws on his business, sporting, architectural and media background to stimulate and educate. With his flair and personable manner Max makes himself readily easily accessible.

Clients invite him back year after year, because of the strong relationships he establishes – he genuinely is a “people” person, a great value add for conference organisers.

FACILITATOR

Max has devised a series of learning sessions aimed at delivering the following...

• Understanding Emotional Intelligence
• Communication skills
• Building teams that can win
• Life balance…re-engineering
• Creativity and mental mapping
• Small business – manifesting the future

Max draws on his business, architectural, sporting and television background to stimulate and up skill participants during these workshops. These workshops are tailored to clients’ specific requirements.

Excerpt from “Ladies & Gentlemen” by Max Walker and Mike McColl Jones

Throw a television camera with a red light in front of most people and they will freak out. Take away the coloured light and cameraman and call it a radio studio and the circumstances change, but it is no less difficult to perform well. Both are different again from the traditional stand-up-and-deliver technique of an after-dinner speaker.

Question and answer in the media can be a minefield. Ask anyone who has been misquoted or written about out of context.

I use the word “communicator” to describe what I do for a living. Imagine the engine has four different gears.

In radio it is a constant chat, no black spots – creating word pictures. As Alan McGilvray said, ‘Imagine you are speaking to a whole bunch of blind people – keep them happy and you will be well on the way to success.’

In television the pictures are already there. I have heard it described as using the three Es: emotion, enthusiasm and education.

We have described the art of being on your feet in public. Here you have feedback from your audience, the ability to use body language, tone and eyeball contact, different methods of delivery and all the other skills we have discussed as well as audio-visual aids.

Writing is a different gear again, particularly storytelling. The written word is very different to the spoken word. In the text the creator of the story has to explain in more detail the sense of taste, sound, touch and smell to bring two-dimensional words and paragraphs to life.

All four gears are satisfying to communicate in, but it is a good start to understand that each is different. Varying skills are required to use them effectively.

Become a student of language and people. Dare to be unpredictable. Never be dull or boring. Believe in your own ability. Back yourself. Practice will not make you perfect but the exercise will make you a whole lot better. Good luck!

Television Tips

• Don’t worry about which camera, it’s their job to find you.
• The moment you sit down in front of a TV camera you will appear to be 4kg heavier than you really are. That’s why skinny people look best on TV.
• Don’t worry. Once make-up has finished with you, there is nothing you can do.
• People have a tendency to rush. Relax and slow down – consciously speak a little slower. Suck a mint before you on … it’ll clear your throat.
• Remember, the slightest move is exaggerated.
• Politicians love the ’16-second grab’. Any longer and the network won’t use it.
• Keep your hands still – together, clasped. Any gesture should be small, like a show of an open palm.
• As your interviewer researched you, you should do the same on them.
• When interviewed, don’t try to convey too much information. Short answers are always more easily understood.
• Study the other people being interviewed, and practice every day. Watch presenters and learn from the strengths and weaknesses.
• When you think you’re going to ‘er’ or ‘ah’, take a pause.
• Remember it’s natural to blink – don’t stare at the camera. It’s unnatural.
• Always have a glass of water nearby. You may dry up
• Coloured clothing will work better than white on camera.

Testimonials

"A dream to work with and the ultimate professional. Max's ability and willingness to go above and beyond the norm by mixing freely with guests and clients alike make his presentations something special."
Leo Burnett Advertising

"Max was very easy going and terrific to deal with. His talk was just right for the occasion."
ANZ-International Network

"Able to convey appropriate message across nationality barriers - not all our audience was Australian and therefore wasn't necessarily familiar with Max's history. A great bloke!"
Nokia Telecommunications

"His professionalism showed through with a calm acceptance of any changes to the running sheet or non appearance of finalists. As M.C. he was able to keep the program progressing smoothly with his humorous 'add libs' and strong direction on stage."
Telstra Corporation Small Business Awards

"Did an excellent job under very trying circumstances. I would recommend Max Walker strongly for any such activities. Will strongly consider for future functions."
Master Builders Association (NSW)

"Max would come close to being the best suited mediator we have ever had for the National Insurance Brokers Association's convention. The right combination of wit, intelligence and cooperation. Perfect!!!!"
Waldron Smith Convention Network

"Max is the perfect talent. Intelligent, organised, interested and compelling in performance. He never loses enthusiasm for the task at hand and is extremely responsive to new material, changes or advice. He actively contributes rather than taking a passive role as the talent. Max's great experience as a presenter and commentator is invaluable and his ability to constantly assess the big picture during performance means that he is always in control of pace, content and delivery. I look forward to the next occasion when I can work with Max again."
Photomation

"You were an absolute success. The team raved about how well you hit the mark and are all drawing many ideas from your speech. They thought we had briefed you for hours, which is a testimony to how well you did on the night considering we only talked for 10 minutes."
Head of Sales Effectiveness Personal Banking, ANZ Bank

"Max was very well received by our audience, He spoke from the heart with passion."
Senior Account Co-ordinator Hoo Marketing Pty Ltd

"All five hundred and fifty delegates had an excellent week and your 'closing presentation' of the Conference not only had them all smiling but also left them on "A HIGH". Max your presentation certainly 'hit the mark'. Your sporting stories were fascinating, however you put them in the context of the challenges our industry faces at this time. As an organizer of the Conference I appreciate your professionalism and "no fuss" attitude, many delegates commented how approachable you were on the day. You proved yourself to be a real people person.
Franchisee, McDonalds

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