Speaking & Events
Whether you're looking for an MC who can read the room, a keynote that sparks real conversation, a skilled panel moderator, or an engaging podcast guest, Jodie brings over 30 years of social impact experience to every stage and microphone.
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Jodie Willmer
Jodie Willmer is a facilitator, speaker, business mentor and consultant with deep roots in the social impact sector. She spent eight years as CEO of Travellers Aid Australia, modernising a century-old organisation. She's served on boards, reported to boards, and consulted at the executive and board level across not-for-profits, social enterprises and local government.
Often described as having a "disarming" way about her, Jodie has a rare ability to bring people into alignment, even when there are competing interests in the room.
In 2018, Jodie and her partner Rob moved 300 kilometres east of Melbourne to East Gippsland with no local contacts and no clients. Within months, she'd built a thriving network through genuine connection and word of mouth, becoming the go-to person in the region for strategic insights across the social impact sector and local government.
Through the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires and the COVID lockdowns that followed, Jodie and Rob supported over 300 business owners through mentoring programs with Business Victoria, Aerium and Monarch Institute. They also worked alongside community-led disaster recovery committees to help make strategic decisions and implement recovery plans.
In 2025, Jodie was called back to support the bushfire-impacted community of Halls Gap and surrounds, facilitating a community forum with Halls Gap Kitchen Cabinet and helping re-establish a local Business and Tourism Association.
Four ways to bring Jodie's experience, warmth and facilitation skill to your audience.
MC / Emcee
Jodie's facilitation background means she doesn't just introduce speakers and watch the clock. She reads the room, keeps the energy right, connects the threads between sessions and makes sure your audience stays engaged from start to finish. Her warmth and sector knowledge make her especially well suited to MC conferences, awards nights and community events in the social impact space.
Keynote Speaker
Jodie's keynotes are grounded in lived experience rather than theory. She draws on decades of leadership in the not-for-profit sector, her work in disaster recovery, and the lessons she and Rob have learned building a consulting practice from scratch in regional Australia. Her talks leave audiences with practical insights they can act on straight away.
Panel Moderator & Panellist
A great panel needs someone who can draw out the best in every speaker, navigate tricky dynamics and keep the discussion on track. That's facilitation, and it's what Jodie does best. She's equally comfortable moderating a panel of executives or sitting on one herself. Rob is also available as a panellist alongside Jodie as moderator.
Podcast Guest
Jodie is an engaging, thoughtful podcast guest who brings genuine depth to conversations about governance, leadership in the social impact sector, disaster recovery, building a consulting practice, and thriving in regional Australia. She and Rob are also available as a duo for podcasts exploring their shared journey and the Package Promote Scale framework.
Jodie can tailor a keynote to suit your audience, or choose from these signature topics. All talks can be adapted for different formats and durations.
Governance & Leadership
Why so many strategic plans end up in a drawer, and what people can do differently. Jodie shares practical lessons from decades of working with not-for-profits and social enterprises to turn good intentions into clear, workable plans that people actually follow through on.
Resilience & Recovery
Drawing on her frontline experience supporting communities and businesses through the public liability insurance crisis for tourism operators, the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, COVID, and the 2025 Halls Gap fires, Jodie shares what she's learned about leading when the ground shifts beneath you. A talk grounded in real stories, not theory, about how organisations and communities find their way forward.
Regional Business
When Jodie and Rob moved to East Gippsland, they had zero local connections. Within months they were winning work, and today they're a trusted go-to in the region. This talk is about the power of genuine connection, how to build a reputation from scratch, and why regional Australia is full of opportunity for those willing to show up.
Jodie & Rob Together
A joint keynote from Jodie and Rob, drawing on their book and over a decade of experience as independent consultants in the social impact sector. They share the framework they co-designed for building a consulting business that generates consistent revenue and genuine impact, without the stress and overwhelm. Jodie and Rob have spoken at the Airbnb Open in Paris to over 200 attendees across two sessions, Benefolk's annual "Gather" event for social impact consultants, conferences, webinars, workshops and retreats in USA, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.
Jodie is happy to develop a keynote tailored to your event theme and audience. Get in touch and we'll have a conversation about what would work best.
Over 30 years across not-for-profit leadership, governance, social enterprise, tourism and government. Jodie doesn't just understand the sector, she's led within it.
Described as "disarming," Jodie has a natural ability to bring groups into alignment, even when there are competing interests in the room. It's what makes her exceptional on stage.
Built a thriving practice in regional Victoria from scratch. Supported over 300 businesses through bushfires and COVID. Jodie knows what it takes to show up when it matters most.
Professional, prepared and genuinely invested in making your event a success. Jodie works with organisers to tailor content, manage logistics and make the whole process smooth from enquiry to delivery.
"Jodie has a remarkable ability to extract ideas and translate them into a strategic, structured, and commonsense plan. She is forward-thinking and always able to see beyond the immediate."
Christine Boucher CEO, Wellness Worx
"They didn't just give feedback, they helped me rethink how I package and promote my services so they really speak to what my clients need. Super generous with their time and advice."
Tammy Ven Dange Independent Advisor to NFP Leaders
"Jodie provided timely, succinct business advice. She shared valuable management system information and helped me rethink my market approach. I'd highly recommend Jodie to anyone looking for a skilled and honest mentor."
Mary Cate Willis Public Relations & Visual Storyteller
Local government
Not-for-profits
Community organisations
Education
Government funded programs
Purpose driven businesses
"The best outcomes happen when everyone in the room feels heard. Not just the loudest voice, not just the most senior person, but everyone. That's when real alignment happens, and that's when things actually move forward."
— Jodie Willmer
Package Promote Scale is the book Jodie and Rob wrote for independent consultants and service-based business owners in the social impact sector. It's built on the framework they co-designed and road-tested over a decade of running their own practice.
The book covers how to turn your expertise into clear service packages, promote them with confidence, and scale your business without burning out.