Description
Alan Kohler business speaker sessions draw on more than five decades of covering the economy, markets and business. He has announced his retirement from the ABC after more than three decades, where he became known for his nightly finance reports, his graphs and his “that’s finance” sign-off.
Alan Kohler Business Speaker: Five Decades Covering the Economy
Alan began his career as a cadet at The Australian. He went on to edit the Australian Financial Review from 1985 to 1988 and The Age from 1992 to 1995.
After leaving The Age, he joined the ABC as business and economics correspondent for The 7.30 Report. He then hosted Inside Business from 2002 to 2013 and became the nightly finance presenter on ABC News. He will present his final ABC finance report on 16 December 2026.
In addition, Alan co-founded Eureka Report and Business Spectator, which were sold to News Corp Australia in 2012. He has also co-hosted the Money Café podcast.
In 2019 Alan was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the print and broadcast media as an editor, journalist and finance commentator. His books include Making Money, The Constant Investor, It’s Your Money and The Great Divide: Australia’s Housing Mess and How to Fix It.
His son, Chris Kohler, is Finance Editor at 9News. Chris is also available as a business speaker through Corporate Speakers Australia.
Alan Kohler Business Speaker Keynote Topics
AI, Productivity and the Balance Sheet
What Leaders Need to Know Before Writing the Cheque
Alan Kohler has spent his career interpreting the forces behind technological and economic disruption, from the dot-com boom to today’s AI revolution. Known for his ability to make the complex understandable, Alan provides a clear-eyed perspective on how artificial intelligence will reshape business, productivity and profitability.
In this keynote, he explains the economics of AI adoption, separating hype from reality. He outlines the two main paths, top-down automation and bottom-up enablement, and what each means for capital expenditure, workforce planning and risk management. As a result, audiences leave with a pragmatic roadmap for adopting AI that maximises value while protecting the bottom line.
Audience takeaways:
- Where real AI ROI will emerge in the next 24 to 36 months
- A step-by-step adoption model with guardrails and metrics
- Key risks: legal, data, IP and reputational challenges
- Workforce planning strategies for skills, roles and redeployment
Perfect for: CEOs, CIOs, innovation leaders and executives seeking to understand the true impact of AI on business and productivity.
Australia Now
Policy, Productivity and the Real Drivers of Growth
As ABC News’ long-time finance presenter and one of the nation’s leading economic storytellers, Alan Kohler has a unique gift for turning complex trends into clear, actionable insights. With five decades of reporting experience, he offers audiences a trusted, big-picture view of Australia’s economic future.
In this keynote, Alan connects the dots between policy, demographics, housing, technology and productivity. He explains the scenarios business leaders need to plan for, and why decisions made in Canberra and global markets ripple through wages, margins and investment. In short, this is the economy decoded for executives who need clarity, context and foresight.
Audience takeaways:
- The metrics that actually forecast growth and margin pressure
- How housing, tax and demographics collide with inflation and rates
- Practical scenario planning for labour, prices and investment
- Moves leaders can make now to protect margins and build resilience
Perfect for: Boards, executive teams, industry associations and leaders responsible for strategy and future growth.
Markets, Money and You
Cutting Through Noise to Make Better Capital Decisions
Alan Kohler has built his reputation as a trusted voice in finance through decades of reporting, analysis and commentary for the ABC, The Australian Financial Review and The Age. In this keynote, he brings that experience directly to the boardroom.
With his signature graphs, straight-talking style and wealth of experience, Alan shows leaders how to cut through the confusion of financial markets. He explains how interest rate cycles, credit conditions and liquidity directly affect corporate balance sheets. He also provides practical frameworks for boards, executives and investors to make smarter, more resilient decisions.
Audience takeaways:
- How rates and credit flow through to earnings and valuations
- Interpreting bank signals and liquidity as leading indicators
- Building dividend, buyback and capex resilience in any market
- Separating signal from hype in financial media and research
Perfect for: CFOs, CEOs, investors and leadership teams seeking sharper insight into financial markets and risk management.
The Great Australian Housing Mess
What’s Driving Prices and What Business Must Do Next
As one of Australia’s most respected financial journalists and commentators, Alan Kohler has spent more than five decades analysing the forces shaping the economy. In this keynote, he brings his trademark clarity, insight and sharp storytelling to one of the nation’s most pressing challenges: housing.
Alan explains how policy decisions, from rate cuts and capital gains to first home buyer grants and immigration, created a demand and supply imbalance that now drives affordability and accessibility. With an ability to cut through complexity, he shows business leaders why the housing market isn’t just a social issue. Instead, it is a powerful economic force affecting wages, productivity and corporate planning.
Audience takeaways:
- The four policy levers that continue to drive housing prices
- Why accessibility is the key metric for planning and risk
- How housing shapes wages, productivity and workplace dynamics
- Practical implications for business strategy and capital allocation
Perfect for: CEOs, boards, senior executives and corporate strategists navigating the impact of housing on talent, wages and consumer markets.
Book Alan Kohler as Your Business Speaker
Contact Corporate Speakers Australia to secure Alan Kohler business speaker sessions for your next conference, board or leadership event. You can also explore our other business keynote speakers.
