Big ideas about being human at work.
Dr Ash King is a psychologist, researcher and speaker exploring the psychology of work, creativity and being human.
Bringing together psychological science, industry experience and a healthy suspicion of corporate jargon, Ash speaks about the things that shape how we work and live: pressure, identity, creativity, burnout, motivation, relationships, authenticity and the increasingly complicated business of being human in a technological world.
Her talks are evidence-informed without feeling like lectures, practical without being prescriptive, and designed to leave audiences with ideas they’ll still be thinking about after they’ve left the room.
Ash is available for keynotes, conference presentations, panels, fireside conversations, expert Q&As and event facilitation, in Australia and internationally.
Signature talks
human after all: authenticity, creativity and the value of being human in the age of ai
AI can already write, design, analyse, imitate and create. So where does that leave us?
Drawing on Ash’s doctoral research into authenticity, identity and self-presentation, Human After All explores what happens to our sense of self and work when technology can increasingly replicate human output.
Rather than asking whether AI will replace us, this talk asks a more interesting question: what becomes more valuable about being human?
Creativity. Judgement. Connection. Curiosity. Empathy. Lived experience. Imperfection.
And why protecting those qualities may matter more than ever.
the long game: sustainable performance in a culture of more
Modern work rewards speed, responsiveness and relentless output. Human nervous systems remain stubbornly unconvinced.
The Long Game explores the psychology of sustainable performance: how stress accumulates, why high performers are particularly vulnerable to overload, and what helps people continue doing ambitious work without sacrificing themselves to it.
A practical rethink of performance, resilience and what it actually takes to build careers that last.
work is personal: identity, ambition and who we become through what we do
We like to pretend work is something we leave at the office.
Psychologically, things are rarely that tidy.
Work Is Personal explores the complicated relationship between identity and occupation: why achievement can become tangled with self-worth, why rejection and failure can feel so personal, and what happens when the thing we do becomes the way we understand who we are.
Particularly relevant for creative, entrepreneurial and high-achieving workforces, this talk offers a healthier way to care deeply about our work without becoming completely consumed by it.
Other areas of expertise
Ash can also develop talks and conversations around:
Burnout & Sustainable Performance
Psychological Safety & Psychosocial Wellbeing
Creativity & Wellbeing
Communication, Conflict & Human Dynamics
Leadership & Supporting Others
Stress & High-Pressure Work
Authenticity & Identity
Imposter Syndrome, Motivation & Procrastination
Talks can be tailored to the audience, industry and broader theme of an event.
Panels, conversations & facilitation
Some conversations need more than a microphone and a running sheet.
As both an experienced facilitator and trained psychologist, Ash brings psychological literacy, curiosity and sensitivity to discussions involving complex or emotionally charged material.
She facilitates live panels, fireside conversations, expert Q&As and industry discussions, creating conversations that are thoughtful, engaging and safe enough to go somewhere interesting.
Bring Ash into the conversation.
For keynotes, conferences, panels, facilitation and speaking enquiries, get in touch.