Embracing emerging technology: AI and the future of work.
Rael Bricker is a seasoned entrepreneur who turned a major health scare into motivation. In 2013, after a season of triathlons, he decided to run a marathon as part of a plan before turning 50. During training, persistent neck pain led to the discovery of two blocked arteries. Rael narrowly avoided a life-threatening event and underwent surgery to receive two stents.
This experience became a turning point and helped him discover his purpose: sharing the journey of achieving excellence with business owners and entrepreneurs around the world.
After more than 30 years as a serial entrepreneur across education, finance, and fitness, Rael has made it his mission to share his knowledge and expertise with others. Seeing moments of clarity and connection as people integrate his insights into their businesses continually reinforces that this is where he is meant to serve.
His partnerships combine real-world experience with strong academic credentials, including an MBA and an MSc, enabling him to guide individuals and organisations toward excellence.
He has served as President of Professional Speakers Australia (Western Australia) and was elected to the national Board of Professional Speakers Australia in 2023. From 2026, he will serve as the inaugural President of the Professional Speakers Australia Charitable Foundation.
True to his surname, Rael is focused on laying the right bricks—building strong foundations for personal and business success on the journey to excellence.
For The Illawarra Connection, Rael will deliver a clear, practical, business-focused understanding of how artificial intelligence will reshape society, the workforce, and leadership. Rael has been hands-on with AI tools long before they dominated the headlines, integrating them into real business environments to drive efficiency, innovation, and culture change.
This keynote explores where AI is truly heading—how it will transform decision-making, workforce capability, customer expectations, and the very structure of organisations. Rael will dive into the realities: the opportunities, the risks, and what leaders must prepare for now to stay relevant in a rapidly shifting landscape. His address will provide us with practical tools that can be deployed immediately, as well as a roadmap for integrating technology with culture, leadership, and strategy.
AI is not replacing people—it’s empowering those who are ready to embrace it. Rael’s goal is to equip our members and guests with the insight and confidence to lead that change.