Dan Aubin is a speaker, facilitator, and leadership coach with over 25 years’ experience working across the fields of communication, performance, education, and organisational development.
His professional journey spans elite sport, performing arts, academia, and executive education. Originally from Ontario, Canada, Dan trained as an elite gymnast before touring internationally as a circus performer and physical theatre artist. He has worked in large-scale stadiums, intimate boardrooms, and remote communities—bringing a unique ability to engage diverse audiences and translate insight into practice.
Dan holds higher degrees in English, Drama, and Communication Studies, and spent seven years as a full-time academic at Charles Sturt University, where he lectured in the School of Communication and Creative Industries. During this time, he was awarded for excellence and innovation in teaching and developed research-informed frameworks for the creative process and communication.
In addition to his academic background, Dan has held executive and creative leadership roles in the arts sector, including serving as CEO and Artistic Director of the South Australian Circus Centre. He has worked extensively with leaders and teams across government, health, education, not-for-profit, and creative industries—supporting them to navigate complexity, communicate with impact, and lead with clarity and confidence.
Dan is the founder of Daring Humans, a South Australian-based consultancy delivering keynote presentations, strategic facilitation, and leadership development programs throughout Australia. His work draws from evidence-based models including Dynamic Systems Theory and the ACT model of psychological flexibility, and is known for combining theory with movement, storytelling, and experiential learning.
He lives with his family on the Fleurieu Peninsula and continues to be active in youth development, education, and regional leadership programs.
Talking Points
Balancing the Shifts: The Acrobatics of Being Change-Ready
In today’s fast-moving world, the ability to “find balance” is often seen as the ultimate goal. But real balance isn’t something we arrive at—it’s something we continuously engage with. In this high-energy, story-rich session, Dan Aubin introduces a fresh perspective on change-readiness: one drawn from his experience in gymnastics, circus, and leadership. He explores what it means to adapt in real time, like an acrobat, using his Three Chairs of Adaptability framework to empower individuals and teams to meet uncertainty with awareness, agility, and connection.Balancing the Shifts: The Acrobatics of Being Change-Ready
Key Takeaways:
A mindset shift from resisting change to actively balancing with it
A practical understanding of the Three Chairs of Adaptability: Awareness, Adaptability, and Connection
Tools to navigate personal, team, or organisational change with more confidence and fluidity
Immediate strategies to help shift from Control → Curiosity, Perfection → Play, and Individual → Collective Balance
A memorable keynote experience that builds internal capacity for resilience and adaptive leadership
The Acrobat’s Guide to Leadership: Balancing Risk, Resilience & Decision-Making
Leadership isn’t about standing still in the chaos—it’s about adjusting in motion. Drawing on his background in elite gymnastics, circus, and strategy facilitation, Dan explores how leaders can build trust, make agile decisions, and thrive in high-stakes environments. This session unpacks what it means to lead like an acrobat—reading the moment, making micro-adjustments, and holding balance when conditions are uncertain.The Acrobat’s Guide to Leadership: Balancing Risk, Resilience & Decision-Making
Key Takeaways:
An embodied metaphor for leadership agility and strategic balance
Insights into Dynamic Systems Theory as it applies to high-performance leadership
Practical strategies for decision-making under pressure and managing risk with confidence
Tools to build collaborative, high-trust teams that can move through complexity together
A compelling case for redefining leadership as movement, not position
The Mindset of Innovation: Embracing Creativity & Risk
Innovation doesn’t happen in perfect conditions—it thrives in uncertainty. In this inspiring and practical session, Dan shares how leaders and teams can foster creative confidence by embracing experimentation, reframing failure, and nurturing a culture of bold thinking. Using stories from performance and entrepreneurship, he invites audiences to shift from perfectionism to play, and from predictability to possibility.The Mindset of Innovation: Embracing Creativity & Risk
Key Takeaways:
A reframe of failure as fuel for growth and innovation
Techniques to unlock creative confidence and take meaningful risks
Tools for shifting team culture from certainty to curiosity
A framework to foster safe-to-fail environments where new ideas are welcomed
Real-world inspiration to embed innovation into leadership, culture, and strategy
Video
Dan Aubin | Saxton Speakers
You built an amazing connection with the audience through storytelling – and I could feel the trust increasing as you made your way through the presentation... Interesting, engaging, interac ... keep reading Local Government Professionals Australia (LGPro) SA
Dan, your ability to connect with the audience was incredible. Thanks for your inspiring message that kept us captivated with your humor and insight. The way you made 'balancing' a tangible skill we can apply every day was unforgettable. I’ve been to many keynotes, but yours stood out as both inspiring and practical. Your message on resilience and embracing risk resonated with everyone in the room, and we’ve received great feedback from the event’s attendees.
Dan connected brilliantly with our staff, he brought great energy to the Keynote address which filled the room. Staff were totally engaged and responded with great enthusiasm. The stories were very memorable leaving a lasting impact with the core messaging! The session was also great fun. We can’t wait for the return visit!
One of the most powerful, intelligent and fun speakers I have encountered.
