"Felicity is electric on stage. The new face of what is possible."
An in-demand speaker with a global following
Felicity challenges how we think about engineering, leadership and the future we are designing for society. Her entrepreneurial mindset and 20 years of industry experience help leaders and teams rethink inherited assumptions, navigate complexity and expand what is possible for the future of engineering, leadership and the communities we serve.
Felicity’s ideas have impacted over 33,000 people from board rooms to stages across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the USA where she headlines events such as Qantas’ Engineering Leadership Day, PwC’s Graduate Open Day, the United Nations’ Gender Equality Workshop and Westpac’s Women in Technology Forum.
Felicity is proudly represented exclusively by Saxton Speakers.
“Felicity’s evidence-based approach to storytelling is the secret sauce”
Watch Felicity in Action and Get a New Perspective
Speaking Topics
The Future of Engineering: Legacy by Design
Engineering is at a crossroads. The future will not be defined by new tools alone - but by new ways of thinking and acting.
This keynote reframes engineering as a discipline that works with human behaviour, with the natural world and with long-term legacy in mind, rather than against them.
Audiences explore how to:
Reconnect work with purpose, creativity and meaning
Design systems that elevate people rather than exhaust them
Increase trust, innovation and performance through human-centred engineering
Shift from reactive problem solving to proactive system shaping
Perfect for: Engineers, executives, boards, policymakers, educators and anyone shaping the systems we all live within.
Outcome: Audiences leave energised, grounded and equipped with a new roadmap that restores purpose, amplifies impact and ensures today’s work becomes a legacy worth standing behind.
Designing for Diversity: Belonging for Everyone
Belonging does not happen by accident. It is something we design.
This keynote explores diversity, inclusion and belonging as not just a cultural issue but a systems and design challenge.
Audiences explore how to:
Leverage research backed, real world examples of what works for their workplace
Empower themselves and others to authentically and confidently contribute at work
Design workplaces where diverse perspectives strengthen performance and innovation
Shift the conversation from “fixing women” to redesigning systems so everyone can thrive
Perfect for: International Women’s Day, International Women in Engineering Day, leadership forums, psychological safety initiatives and organisations committed to empowering their teams.
Outcome: Audiences leave with practical tools to strengthen belonging, improve team performance and create workplaces where more people can contribute, perform and thrive.
Leadership by Design
Leadership is not a title. It is a series of decisions about what we value and how we act when the path is uncertain. In a world of increasing complexity, the most effective leaders are not those with all the answers, but those who lead with clarity of purpose and intention.
Drawing on more than 15 years of leadership experience founding and growing multiple organisations, Felicity explores how values-driven leadership enables individuals and teams to navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Audiences explore how to:
Lead themselves first by developing clarity of values, purpose and decision-making frameworks
Empower others to perform at their best
Navigate uncertainty with confidence rather than waiting for perfect information
Lead systems and culture by modelling the behaviours and values that shape how teams operate
With practical examples and real-world leadership insights, Felicity demonstrates how intentional leadership strengthens trust, improves performance and helps organisations thrive in complexity.
Perfect for: Emerging leaders, senior leaders, executive teams and organisations looking to empower leadership at every level.
Outcome: Audiences leave with practical tools to lead with intention, make better decisions under pressure and create environments where people and ideas can flourish.
Engineering the Unexpected
Careers can be unexpected and unpredictable. Felicity Furey never expected to be an engineer, be in a minority group, set up five businesses or be passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. But that is exactly how her engineering career has unfolded.
In this inspiring keynote, Felicity draws on her own journey into engineering and her work inspiring the next generation of innovators – the challenges and the wins to explore how you can build your own personal career jungle gym, reframe challenges and unlock new possibilities that you could never have imagined possible.
Audiences explore how to:
Develop an engineering mindset that reframes challenges as opportunities
Apply creative and critical thinking to solve complex real-world problems
Build confidence navigating uncertainty and designing a future that does not yet exist
Engage the next generation in engineering, STEM and the possibilities of innovation
Through inspiring stories and practical insights, Felicity shows that engineering is not just a career. It is a powerful way of thinking that can shape the future of our communities, industries and planet.
Perfect for: Schools, universities, early career programs, STEM initiatives, industry associations and organisations committed to inspiring the next generation of innovators.
Outcome: Audiences leave energised, confident and equipped with a new mindset to navigate challenges, create opportunity and engineer their own future.
Additional Speaking Topics
Felicity tailors each session to your specific context and audience bringing a human centered and practical approach without being prescriptive, empowering audiences to take action. Additional topics include:
Innovation beyond industrial-era thinking
Why innovation stalls when systems ignore human behaviour and how reframing engineering unlocks creativity and progress.
Diversity, inclusion and identity in engineering
Expanding who belongs in engineering and why identity shapes outcomes more than capability alone.
The next generation of engineers
Inspiring, engaging and retaining future engineers by reconnecting the profession with meaning, impact and purpose.
Testimonials
Ford International Women's Day Event
Ford Australia invited Felicity to speak at our recent International Women’s Day event. Her presentation about how she started her social enterprises in the STEAM space were inspiring and provided positive energy to a room of local high school girls and Ford employees. Alongside her personal stories of success she gave the audience an informative, engaging and fresh perspective on what it means to be 'An Engineer' in the modern world. Thank you Felicity!
Louise Nance, STEAM Specialist Asia Pacific, Ford
“Felicity is one of the most inspirational and authentic leaders of our time. Recently Felicity spoke to our Beca Women - She Leads affinity group and was incredible with her insights into people and human behavior, and her vision for a future where women thrive and prosper doing things they may never of dreamed of! Felicity is funny and honest, and willing to share her knowledge and experiences with those around her. I recommend Felicity to any group or organisation looking for help to lift and transform their people to Aspire to great things!”
Priyani de Silva-Currie MNZM
Catholic Education Melbourne Science Week
“I was so insanely impressed with your insight and ideas today and wanted to let you know! Your message of being bold and courageous, and viewing challenges as an opportunity to clarify my values was really powerful - I often feel dismayed and impatient with slow change and insufficient progress. But you’ve inspired me to consider engineering! Another one converted...”
Georgia, Year 12 Student, Melbourne
FYA Board and Leadership strategy Day
Felicity has regularly been invited to be the keynote speaker at events and panels run by the Foundation for Young Australians. We have found her to be a captivating, imaginative and powerful communicator whose story and points of view resonate deeply with the young people in our community. FYA considers her a role model for young women pursuing careers in STEM and firmly support her work in promoting gender equality in engineering and mathematics. She is a delight to work with and we fully endorse her as a presenter that will both inform and inspire.
Mathew Benetti, Social Innovation Manager, FYA
World Engineers Convention ‘Is the future of engineering human’
“Great to have fresh views and to see drive and passion”
“Knowledgeable and inspiring!”
“Could we have a six star [rating option] option please”
Audience Feedback
“Having spent more of my studies in engineering as a minority, I was Inspired hearing Felicity Furey share similar experiences during her keynote IWD speech. I am grateful for her insight on navigating these challenges, and for the continuous momentum her work has contributed to increasing diversity across STEM disciplines”
Natasha, Chemical / Mechanical Engineering Student
Australian German Business Summit - Future of STEM
I requested Felicity speak at the Australian German Business Chamber of Commerce Summit about the future of STEM. Felicity presented on stage with C-suite executives from leading Australian and German companies. Felicity was highly impressive, inspiring and demonstrated leadership with practical examples for business leaders to prepare for the future of STEM. I applaud her for the impact she is having to engage young people in STEM and the difference she is making.
Gavin Smith, President, Bosch Australia
Felicity really connected with the audience. She changed the perception of engineering for young women and some have now changed their career direction. Felicity is amazing!
Central Queensland University
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