David Downs
- Speaker
Resume
Summary
David has had a successful career in the private and public sector, with senior roles at organisations such as Microsoft, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.
David is a published author on New Zealand Innovation, with two highly successful books – No.8 Re-wired, and No.8 Recharged.
He’s an ex-comedian, TV and Radio actor, semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, and a genetically modified organism who documented his battle with cancer in his book A Mild Touch of the Cancer.
David co-founded sosbusiness.nz a not-for-profit initiative to help cafes and other small businesses during covid-19. It quickly became a huge hit and to date has sold over $2 million in vouchers for over 2500 small businesses.
David released a new book, Silver Linings in March 2021, and continues to act as a consultant for government and industry, as well as a director on a number of boards, including as chairman of The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust and the Well Foundation.
David is now CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious organisation marketing New Zealand to the world.
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Comedian, author and corporate executive David Downs got a man-cold.
So like any good male, he ignored the symptoms until they got so bad his wife forced him to see a doctor. A barrage of tests followed, with David all the time protesting they were unnecessary – until it became clear that what David thought was a mild touch of the flu was in factor a pretty major touch of Cancer.
Immediately swinging into action, David publicly documented his entire journey battling cancer from a comedian’s-eye view, with a high-profile column on Stuff.co.nz, and regular appearances on TV’s The Project. As a senior executive with 20 years’ experience, David is well versed in leadership and the importance of knowing yourself, so his battle with cancer was also a journey of self-discovery and realising how the human mind can overcome what the human body has to endure.
If Chemotherapy was a theme park, David would suggest you read the terms and conditions before entry… Unfortunately, now a season-ticket holder, David will entertain and inspire you. His talk is full of hope and inspiration, with thoughts on the impact of humour and positive psychology along the way – with detours into resilience and the power of control.
David’s talk can flex from 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the audience and format.
David has had a successful career in the private and public sector, with senior roles at organisations such as Microsoft, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.
David is a published author on New Zealand Innovation, with two highly successful books – No.8 Re-wired, and No.8 Recharged.
He’s an ex-comedian, TV and Radio actor, semi-finalist for New Zealander of the Year, and a genetically modified organism who documented his battle with cancer in his book A Mild Touch of the Cancer.
David co-founded sosbusiness.nz a not-for-profit initiative to help cafes and other small businesses during covid-19. It quickly became a huge hit and to date has sold over $2 million in vouchers for over 2500 small businesses.
David released a new book, Silver Linings in March 2021, and continues to act as a consultant for government and industry, as well as a director on a number of boards, including as chairman of The Icehouse, the Hi-Tech Trust and the Well Foundation.
David is now CEO of The New Zealand Story, an ambitious organisation marketing New Zealand to the world.
-----
Comedian, author and corporate executive David Downs got a man-cold.
So like any good male, he ignored the symptoms until they got so bad his wife forced him to see a doctor. A barrage of tests followed, with David all the time protesting they were unnecessary – until it became clear that what David thought was a mild touch of the flu was in factor a pretty major touch of Cancer.
Immediately swinging into action, David publicly documented his entire journey battling cancer from a comedian’s-eye view, with a high-profile column on Stuff.co.nz, and regular appearances on TV’s The Project. As a senior executive with 20 years’ experience, David is well versed in leadership and the importance of knowing yourself, so his battle with cancer was also a journey of self-discovery and realising how the human mind can overcome what the human body has to endure.
If Chemotherapy was a theme park, David would suggest you read the terms and conditions before entry… Unfortunately, now a season-ticket holder, David will entertain and inspire you. His talk is full of hope and inspiration, with thoughts on the impact of humour and positive psychology along the way – with detours into resilience and the power of control.
David’s talk can flex from 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the audience and format.
(* = native)
New Zealand*
(* = native/fluent)
French, Te Reo Maori
Comedy, Comedy Improv
Author, Comedian, Writer, Presenter, Public Speaker