Ben
Darwin

Speaker Profile
Ben Darwin is a former Australian rugby union footballer, he played 28 times for the Wallabies between 2001 to 2003. He made his international debut for Australia in June 2001, against the touring British and Irish Lions in Brisbane.
During that time Australia won the 2001 Tri Nations Series over the British and Irish Lions retaining the Bledisloe Cup in 2001 and 2002 as well as participating in the 2003 World Cup. It was during the Wallabies' World Cup semi-final win against the All Blacks that Darwin sustained a neck injury that forced him to retire from rugby at the age of 27.
After retirement, Darwin made the switch from player to coach and media, his career highlights include:
• In 2005, being appointed as the Head Coach for North Sydney.
• In 2005-6, with the Super 14 club, the Western Force, as the Forwards Coach.
• In 2007, was part of the commentary team covering the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France for Australian Television Network, Channel 10.
• In 2008-10, Forwards Coach at the NTT Shining Arcs in Japan.
• In 2010-12, Video/Data Analyst at Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby Team.
• From 2012-13, Forward’s Coach for Suntory Sungoliath in Tokyo, Japan (Suntory were the undefeated National Champion).
Driven by a desire to introduce a greater degree of empirical analysis into professional sport, Ben started Gain Line Analytics in 2013. Gain Line Analytics is an operations and management consultancy with a unique perspective on success in professional sport and business. It is based on the belief that great teams are more than just the sum of their parts; great teams are the product of the linkages and connections within the organisation. As such Gain Line Analytics aims to help sporting clubs and organisations build these linkages and connections with a view to sustainable, long-term success both in the sporting and corporate arena. Using data analysis in such diverse industries as stockbroking, military, emergency services, airlines and professional sport, they have built a methodology around both the critical components of team success and more importantly why teams break down. This means Gain Line Analytics offers clients solutions that are grounded in evidence and real-world experience. Gain Line Analytics Measures, Analyses, Predicts and Creates Cohesion.
GLA now works with some of the biggest names in Sport across several fields. They are also working with large corporations to improve the performance dynamics based on the long and short term.
Gain Line Analytics offers services via Speaking engagements and Workshops. Topics covered in Speech includes:
• The concept of Cohesion through the interrelationship of team members.
• The understanding of an organisation’s Performance Capacity.
• The impact that Cohesion/TWI® has on an organisation.
• How skill is perceived within the market place and how its true impact is misunderstood.
• How the development of skill is related to Cohesion within a work environment.
• The dynamics around the transference of skill and the critical factors of the 3 Ps: People, Position and Program.
The Workshop, effective in small groups or up to a 60 people, includes the following:
• How growth innately affects companies Cohesion.
• Why resources and facilities are overemphasized with respect to success.
• How structure and shape can hinder or help the development of Cohesion.
• Understanding how Cohesion influences the mergers and acquisitions process.
• Why a lack of access to talent can be an advantage.
• The impact of talent development models.
Client Comments for Ben Darwin
Ben Darwin travels from Victoria Australia
Client Comments
Client Comments
- Ben presented at our National Dealer Group Conference in Singapore to over 150 financial advisers, staff and partners. We were thoroughly impressed with his ability to connect with his audience and nailed the brief provided to him. His presentation was engaging and entertaining and left the delegates wanting more. He was the highest rated speaker from the feedback received and I would definitely use him again. Would highly recommend Ben if you are thinking of a platform speaker.
ClearView Financial Advice & Matrix Planning Solutions - My Dealings with Ben and his strategies has given myself and our club an idea of what success looks like based around cohesion and familiarity. Ben understands teams, he has been first class in every way and I am sure his work will be at forefront for years to come.
Newcastle Knights - Upon hearing Ben speak, I was able to reflect upon my own experiences on the rugby field and directly relate to what he was talking about. It's obvious his knowledge of rugby is high, but the way in which he has expanded his research and applied it across a myriad of other team sports—and to comprehend how logical his findings are—really is an incredible feat. He is an expressive and motivating speaker who knows how to connect with his audience.
QLD REDS - The 'GAIN LINE' programme that Ben has assembled is the result of thousands of hours of high performance analysis. He has gone to great lengths to identify the points of difference and points of advantage in the high-performance arena. The results will challenge your paradigms of thought and will be well worth the time you allocate to invest in the future.
Panasonic Wild Knights - Ben Darwin is an engaging speaker, who knows his subject matter inside and out.
The way he connects incredible research in sports to real life scenarios in board rooms and club houses was something that really resonated with the room and left everyone wanting more.
Bens ability to break down huge rafts of information into easily digestible and relatable chunks was a breath of fresh air.
His self-effacing approach and dry humour make his style one that instantly relaxes the room and connects with everyone.
I would engage his services again in a heartbeat.
Channel Zero
Topics
Speaker Topics
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Topic Synopses
Cohesion AnalyticsWhat are the common traits of successful teams and how Gain Line Analytics is changing the way people think about the drivers of long term success. Ben will discuss why some commonly held beliefs about teams are usually misunderstood
Talent Development
How do we create a learning environment where the right people improve at the optimal rate. How do we help them to innovate and drive growth for the team.
Portability of Talent
Acquiring talent through the purchase of people or companies has long been a process fraught with danger. We help to understand how skill acquired may not be skillful any more.
Culture
The most misunderstood and yet overused topic in business and sport. Do you need to have a good culture to be successful? What does it even mean?
"Communication was exceptional."
Saint Kentigern College
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