Self-compassion is the best medicine for burnout.
Dr Olivia Ong is a TEDx speaker, HarperCollins author, and practising Rehabilitation and Pain Physician whose work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, resilience, leadership, and lived experience.
With over 20 years of medical expertise, Dr Ong delivers high-impact keynotes that translate complex nervous system science into practical, evidence-based strategies for resilience, burnout recovery, and sustainable performance. Her talks combine compelling storytelling with clinical authority, resonating equally with executive leaders, corporate teams, and frontline professionals.
Dr Ong’s unique point of difference is her rare dual authority as both physician and patient. Following a catastrophic spinal cord injury, she rebuilt her life and career—going from paraplegia to walking again. This profound lived experience, combined with deep expertise in neuroscience and pain medicine, allows her to deliver talks with exceptional authenticity, empathy, and scientific credibility.
She is a HarperCollins Australia author, with her memoir Back On My Feet releasing on 24 February 2026. A proven speaker, Dr Ong has delivered keynotes for MND Australia, the Australian Women’s Weekly Health Summit (alongside Jessica Rowe and Michelle Bridges), Women’s Agenda, and numerous national conferences, and is a TEDx speaker.
Dr Ong will also feature on ABC’s Australian Story in 2026, positioning her as a timely and in-demand voice on resilience, leadership, and human performance.
Talking Points
Back on my Feet: The Science of Radical Resilience
This keynote blends lived experience with cutting-edge neuroscience as Dr Olivia Ong shares her journey from spinal cord injury and paraplegia to walking again. Audiences learn how resilience is not a personality trait, but a physiological skill that can be trained. Through compelling storytelling and science-backed insight, Olivia reveals how adversity rewires the brain and how leaders can rise stronger from challenge.Back on my Feet: The Science of Radical Resilience
Key Takeaways
• A new understanding of how resilience is built in the nervous system
• Practical tools to recover faster from setbacks and stress
• Increased personal responsibility, motivation, and confidence in navigating adversity
• Stronger emotional regulation and psychological stamina
Burnout-Proof Leadership: How High Performers Lead Without Breaking
Burnout is not a personal failure. It is a nervous system overload. In this keynote, Dr Ong introduces her RESET Method to help leaders prevent burnout before it costs performance, engagement, and retention. This session reframes burnout as a systems issue and equips leaders to sustain energy, boundaries, and influence without self-sacrifice.Burnout-Proof Leadership: How High Performers Lead Without Breaking
Key Takeaways
• Reduced burnout risk and absenteeism
• Increased energy, focus, and leadership capacity
• Tools to set boundaries without guilt or conflict
• Measurable improvements in staff engagement and wellbeing
Reset Your Nervous System: Transform Stress into Clarity, Calm & Performance
This science-backed keynote translates polyvagal theory and neuroplasticity into real-world tools leaders can use immediately. Dr Ong demystifies stress physiology and shows how nervous system regulation is the missing link between pressure and peak performance.Reset Your Nervous System: Transform Stress into Clarity, Calm & Performance
Key Takeaways
• Simple nervous system regulation strategies that improve decision-making
• Greater emotional stability under pressure
• Improved productivity through physiological calm
• Faster recovery from high-stress periods
Lead With Self-Compassion: The New Competitive Advantage
Self-compassion is not softness. It is a performance skill. This keynote challenges outdated leadership models built on self-criticism and overdrive, showing how leaders who practise self-compassion outperform those who don’t.Lead With Self-Compassion: The New Competitive Advantage
Key Takeaways
• Reduced internal pressure and perfectionism
• Stronger emotional intelligence and team connection
• Increased psychological safety and trust
• Leaders who sustain excellence without burnout
Beyond the Pain: Leading Through Invisible Stress, Trauma & Chronic Load
Designed for healthcare, care, and high-pressure industries, this keynote explores how invisible stress, trauma, and chronic load silently undermine teams. Drawing from clinical experience and lived recovery, Dr Ong introduces trauma-informed leadership strategies that restore safety, clarity, and resilience.Beyond the Pain: Leading Through Invisible Stress, Trauma & Chronic Load
Key Takeaways
• Deeper understanding of how trauma affects behaviour and performance
• Tools to support teams through invisible emotional load
• Stronger staff retention and morale
• A safer, more resilient workplace culture
Video
How to Be Your Own Best Friend | Dr Olivia Ong | TEDxUniMelb
Dr. Olivia Ong’s keynote speech at our International Women’s Day event was inspiring and impactful. Her willingness to share personal and vulnerable moments in her life resonated deeply with ... keep reading Prestige Inhome Care
Dr Olivia Ong’s presentation was truly inspiring. Her personal journey, combined with her practical advice on building resilience and overcoming adversity, left a powerful impression. I believe anyone facing difficult life circumstances, health challenges, or high levels of stress would greatly benefit from her presentation. Thank you, Olivia, for such an uplifting and impactful session.
Dr Olivia Ong’s presentation was incredibly insightful and relevant far beyond the ALS community. Her message truly applies to everyone, and I found it both grounding and valuable. Thank you to MND Australia for making it possible to hear from Dr Ong - it was an incredibly worthwhile experience.
Dr Olivia Ong’s presentation was inspiring and deeply thought-provoking. It encouraged me to pause, practise mindfulness, and be kinder to myself. I would recommend her presentation to anyone, regardless of what they are going through in life, as resilience and self-care are essential for everyone. Thank you, Olivia, for such a fantastic and valuable session.
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