Resilience keeps you alive. Happiness makes that life worthwhile.
Ben Pronk DSC is one of Australia's most thoughtful voices on resilience, leadership, and what it actually takes to live well under pressure. After 24 years in the Australian Army - most of them in the Special Air Service Regiment, where he finished as Commanding Officer - Ben emerged with a Distinguished Service Cross for leadership in combat, multiple operational tours of Timor Leste, Iraq and Afghanistan behind him, and a clear-eyed view of what separates people who thrive in adversity from those who merely survive it.
Today, Ben writes, teaches, and speaks on the practical science of resilience and happiness. He is the co-author of 'The Resilience Shield', a bestselling framework for building durability in volatile times, and his second book 'We're All Going to Die: Practical Happiness for the Time You Have Left' (Pan Macmillan, June 2026) draws on 2,500 years of philosophy and modern neuroscience to argue that happiness is a skill — and that accepting our mortality is the most useful place to start.
As Managing Partner of Mettle Global, he helps boards and executive teams globally prepare for crisis and uncertainty. As adjunct faculty at UNSW's Australian Graduate School of Management , Australia's top-ranked MBA program, he designs and delivers leadership courses for senior managers.
Ben holds a Master of Defence Studies (Distinction) from King's College London and an MBA (Distinction, dux) from the University of Western Australia. He is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course and co-host of the Unforgiving60 podcast. As a keynote speaker, he blends combat-tested leadership lessons with the science of human flourishing — and isn't afraid of the question most speakers avoid: what's actually the point of all this?
Talking Points
We're All Going to Die
Duration: 60 to 90 minutesWe're All Going to Die
Ben's keynote is designed to remind you that we're all going to die - and to ensure that you can make the most of the short time you have left. Insightful, warm and witty, during this presentation Ben reveals the philosophy, science and secrets of true happiness, and equips you with practical, tangible and immediate tools to increase it. From exploring the wisdom of Stoicism, Hedonism and other schools of philosophy, to unpacking the detail of neuroscience and psychology, you will gain enlightenment on what happiness is, how it works and how you can get more of it. Let's make you happy. There’s no time to waste.
The Resilience Shield Keynote
Duration: 60 to 90 minutesThe Resilience Shield Keynote
This keynote will provide participants with a thorough working knowledge of the Resilience Shield model. Woven throughout with vignettes from the authors' experiences on the battlefields of Afghanistan, Iraq and Sierra Leone, it will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the constituent elements of resilience and stress, as well as an overview of the Resilience Shield model - an evidence-based and academically proven model of robust global resilience. It will also deliver practical and immediately actionable tools to begin strengthening individual resilience methodologies and awareness to assist leaders in developing individual and collective resilience within their teams.
Half-day Happiness Workshop
Duration: 3–4 hoursHalf-day Happiness Workshop
A deeper dive into the science and practice of happiness at work. Small groups, real conversation, and hands-on tools. Ben facilitates with the same directness and humour as his keynotes — but with room to go further and tailor it to your team's specific context.
Participants leave with:
- A personalised happiness audit — where you are and what to focus on
- An individualised 'Imminent Death Toolkit' for each participant to maximise happiness in the time we have left
- A shared language for your team to talk about wellbeing - without the cringe
Half-Day Resilience Workshop
Duration: 3-4 hoursHalf-Day Resilience Workshop
This workshop provides a far greater opportunity to dive into the detail of resilience and stress, and to allow participants the chance to develop their own, individualised Resilience Action Plan. Accompanied by an interactive workbook, the workshop will explore the practical methodologies, tools and techniques that our research has demonstrated contribute most to the development of a strong Resilience Shield. Participants will leave this workshop with a far better understanding of how to build resilience in their lives – and an actionable plan to immediately start implementing these changes.
Full-Day Happiness Intensive
Duration: 6–7 hoursFull-Day Happiness Intensive
For organisations who are deadly serious about happiness. A full day with Ben means going beyond surface-level awareness into pro-level happiness change. Participants work through the full happiness framework, apply it to their own lives and work, and leave with a concrete personal action plan.
Participants leave with:
- Deep understanding of the philosophy and science of happiness and how to apply this to your own life
- A bulletproof 'Imminent Death Toolkit' - built together during the session
- Team-level insights and shared commitments
- Actionable tools and frameworks to sustain the work after the day ends
Full-Day Resilience Exponent Course
Duration: 6-7 hoursFull-Day Resilience Exponent Course
The Resilience Exponent course gives an incredible opportunity for participants to dive deep into the topics of resilience and stress, as well as a real chance for an interactive discussion on how each individual can develop their own Resilience Action Plan, contextualised to their work and personal situation. In addition, the Exponent course is an accredited program, with participants receiving a digital badge and certificate in recognition of their Resilience Exponent accreditation.
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