Now Booking for 2026/27
AS SEEN IN/ON
"Dr Justin was a highly engaged speaker that immediately connected with the audience. His real life examples and easy-to-implement parenting advice hit home with all of our parents and carers. We've had a flood of feedback on how good the session was and how practical the advice was. Can't recommend highly enough!"
Kym Poynter, Client Partner - Zenith Media
In an era of teacher burn-out and rising student anxiety, school leaders don't need more theory.
They need evidence-based strategies to build resilience and belonging which is what Dr Justin Coulson does best..
About
Dr Justin Coulson
Evidence-based | Actionable | Engaging
Dr Justin Coulson is a leading keynote speaker for education conferences across Australia, dedicated to transforming school communities through rigorous psychological principles. He earned his PhD from the University of Wollongong, and he is world-class in bridging the gap between academic research and the high-pressure realities of school leadership.
Specialising in helping leaders move their schools from functioning to flourishing, Justin is best known for his work on building cultures of belonging, resilience, and intrinsic motivation. While his strategies are highly actionable, it is his dynamic and relatable speaking style that consistently earns him the highest engagement ratings at national education summits.
Dr Justin Coulson delivered an outstanding and highly engaging session for our Deputies and Curriculum Coordinators, centred on motivating learners and boosting classroom engagement. His insights into intrinsic motivation, the importance of meeting basic psychological needs for both students and teachers, and the power of autonomy-supportive practices were both practical and thought-provoking. What truly set this session apart was his ability to create a warm, collaborative atmosphere—encouraging rich discussion, shared experiences, and genuine connection among delegates. There was a wonderful balance of learning, laughter, and professional dialogue, with participants leaving feeling both affirmed and inspired. Dr Coulson’s professionalism, energy, and seamless facilitation ensured the session ran perfectly to time while maintaining high levels of engagement throughout.Julie Sampson - Independent Primary School Heads of Australia NSW / ACT
"In 2002, I lost my temper with my toddler in a big way - and while it wasn't the first time, it was definitely the worst time.
My wife told me the brutal truth:
"You're failing as a father - and a husband."
I searched my soul, quit my radio career and went back to school. After close to a decade of studies, I earned my PhD in psychology. I've spent 15-plus years helping thousands of Australian families, teachers, and students do what I had to learn the hard way."
Dr Justin Coulson
2026 Keynotes
2026 CONFERENCE TOPICS
NEW!
From Functioning to Flourishing: Building a Culture Where Everyone Belongs
The difference between a school that functions and one that truly flourishes isn't resources, results, or reputation. It's whether the people inside it feel like they matter.
Popular
Motivated: Why People Do What They Do
Management requires an understanding of how people work—for empathy, efficiency, and effectiveness. But people are complex.
Attitude is Everything
A positive attitude can transform a classroom. It inspires students, fosters collaboration, and creates a more engaging learning environment. But negativity? That can spread just as quickly, impacting student motivation and overall wellbeing.
"His ability to captivate an audience of more than 650 delegates was exceptional."
Dr Justin Coulson delivered an outstanding keynote on “Attitude is Everything” and followed it with an insightful masterclass on “Why People Do What They Do?” at the School Business Managers’ Association Qld (SBMAQ) Conference. His ability to captivate an audience of more than 650 delegates was exceptional.
Throughout both sessions, Justin kept the room fully engaged, there was constant laughter, nods of recognition and a genuine connection to the stories and messages he shared.
Justin’s presentation style is warm, relatable and grounded in practical experience. Beyond the formal sessions, he was generous with his time, happily speaking with delegates afterward and continuing valuable conversations sparked during his presentations. This willingness to connect personally added significant depth to the overall experience.
The feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive and I would gladly invite Justin back to future SBMAQ conferences. His contribution was memorable, impactful, and deeply appreciated by our members.
Leanne Buller
President
School Business Managers’ Association Qld Inc.
2026 Keynotes
Keynotes That Move Large Audiences to Act
Every keynote is tailored to your conference theme, your delegate profile, and the outcomes your organisation needs delegates to leave with.
Need Justin's full bio, topic synopses, and photos for your programme or board proposal?
Need a different topic?
These three are the most requested for conferences, but Justin's full library covers motivation, belonging, resilience, emotional intelligence, screen time, and more. Browse all educator topics → or just ask Caroline when you get in touch.
Track Record
Justin Has Worked With Some of Australia's Leading Education Associations and Conferences
0+
Years Speaking0
Books PublishedPhD
Psychology
#1
Parenting Podcast
RECENT & UPCOMING CONFERENCES
2025 - Completed
Australian Primary Principals Association National Conference
School Business Managers Association QLD Conference
ACCSSQ & CaSPAQ Conference
CareCONNECT Conference
YouthCARE Chaplains Conference
30th Anniversary of Council of Catholic School Parents NSW Conference
2026 - Completed and Upcoming
Victorian Association of Catholic Primary Schools Principals Conference
P&C QLD State Conference
Australian Childcare Alliance National Conference
Catholic School Parents SA
Victorian Principals Association Conference
ACCSSQ Conference
Client Snapshot
Conference engagements for 2026 are filling quickly. If your conference date is within the next 6 -12 months, reach out now to check availability.
How It Works
Meet the Conference Team
From your first question to the moment Justin walks on stage, you'll be looked after by people who genuinely care that the day goes well.
Caroline Martel
Sarah Wantier
Dr Justin Coulson
How It Works
From First Enquiry to a Keynote Your Delegates Remember
Conference planners often comment on how easy it is to work with the Dr Coulson team.
Here's a breakdown of what the process looks like for a typical engagement, from your first question through to the day itself.
01
Review the Materials
Everything you need is right here
Browse Justin's conference topics, watch the sizzle reel, and download the Speaker Kit - it's designed to be shared with a board or programme committee. If you still have questions, Caroline is happy to talk you through anything before you commit to a thing.
Justin's topics hit the mark and resonated with the audience. It was a perfect opening to our 3 days together and further lifted the energy in the room amongst our colleagues.
Kate Sorensen - IHG
02
Get in Touch
Fill out the form or email Caroline directly
It's easy to get in tough with Caroline via:
Email
Contact Form (Preferred)
Fill out the enquiry form below or email Caroline directly. Tell us your date and a little about your conference. There's no obligation - it's just the start of a conversation.
Justin was easy to work with, engaged the audience and delivered in a way that everyone was comfortable.
Mick Roach - Principal, St Anthony's Catholic Primary School
03
Let the team look after you
From here, we make it easy
Caroline will be in touch within 24 hours. From that first conversation through to the day itself, the conference team handles everything - content brief, logistics, marketing collateral, and travel.
You focus on your conference.
We take care of the rest.
From our initial meeting with Justin, we appreciated his eagerness to understand our particular audience and tailor his presentation to the context of our group.
Leanne Surjadi - Library Community Engagement Coordinator, Vision Australia
Let's Start the Conversation
Check Justin's Availability for Your Conference
Fill in the form and Caroline will come back to you within one business day. Prefer to reach out directly? Email Caroline - she manages all event bookings and PR endorsements and will make the process straightforward.
Contact Caroline: caroline@happyfamilies.com.au
For media interviews or podcast requests, please email info@happyfamilies.com.au
Booking for a school, not a conference?
Justin also speaks at parent evenings, staff PD days, and student assemblies.
Download the 2026 Speakers Kit
Justin's 2026 Education Speaker Kit — bio, synopses, photos, and testimonials.
