Calm When It Counts (Keynote and Workshop)

Rob Redenbach’s signature presentation, Calm When It Counts, builds the capacity to stay steady under pressure by framing de-escalation as resilience in action and an essential skill for leadership and life. It is designed for anyone whose work involves people, judgement, and moments that matter. The result is less conflict, better decisions, and greater clarity when options blur.

The 45-minute keynote suits plenary or conference audiences, while the half-day workshop is better suited to smaller, more interactive groups. Humour supports engagement in both formats, but Calm When It Counts is not a comedy routine. It delivers evidence-based guidance on how to de-escalate pressure before it distorts judgement. You can read more about the approach here.

Experience and Perspective

Rob Redenbach works with leaders and teams to de-escalate pressure early and shape what happens next, before the moment decides for them.

His perspective comes from experience in high-risk environments, including time spent protecting aid workers in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea, and from adapting principles from those settings to leadership and everyday life.

That adaptation is reflected across a range of publications, from the official journal of the U.S. National Tactical Officers Association to Virgin Australia’s inflight magazine, as well as guest appearances on Conversations with Richard Fidler and the Building Resilient Kids podcast.

He has also built a parallel career as a storyteller, with sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Sydney Opera House.

This combination of experience and craft, together with a Master’s degree from the Australian Graduate School of Policing and executive education at Harvard, underpins keynotes and workshops delivered in 23 countries across more than 1,000 conferences and professional settings.