Speaking GIGS

Helping organisations make change, technology and AI adoption more practical, human and useful.

As the Director and Change Lead at The Change Factor, Sam brings a practical and people-first approach to topics including change management, technology adoption, AI literacy, digital workplace transformation and workforce capability. 

Her sessions are designed to cut through the noise, create clarity and leave audiences with practical ideas they can actually use.

Sam Rykers helps leaders, teams and organisations make sense of change when things feel complex, fast-moving or overwhelming. 

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About Sam 

Sam Rykers is the Director and Change Lead at The Change Factor, a change management consultancy based in Newcastle, Australia. 

Sam works with organisations navigating complex change, with a strong focus on technology adoption, workforce capability, digital transformation and the human side of change. She helps leaders, teams and employees understand what is changing, why it matters, and how to move forward with greater confidence. 

With qualifications in change management, organisational leadership and project management, Sam combines structured change practice with real-world delivery experience. Her work spans major technology implementations, Microsoft 365 adoption, ERP transformation, AI literacy, cyber security uplift, workforce engagement and capability-building programs. 

Sam is particularly passionate about making change accessible, useful and sustainable. She is known for translating complex topics into clear, practical language and helping organisations move beyond communication and training to genuine engagement, confidence and adoption. 

As AI reshapes the way people work, Sam speaks on the confusion, opportunity and responsibility facing organisations right now. Her sessions explore why employees are often overwhelmed by AI, what leaders can do to create clarity, and how organisations can build practical AI capability while still strengthening the human skills that matter most. 

Speaking topics 

Sam speaks on a range of practical, people-centred topics that can be tailored to suit the audience, sector and event format. 

  • AI adoption and literacy

    Helping organisations cut through AI overwhelm, build employee confidence and create practical pathways for safe, useful and human-centred AI adoption. 

  • Change leadership

    Supporting leaders to create clarity, reduce uncertainty and help their teams move through change with confidence and purpose. 

  • Technology adoption

    Helping organisations move beyond go-live and embed new systems, tools and ways of working in practical, sustainable ways. 

  • Digital workplace and Microsoft 365

    Supporting teams to make better use of the tools they already have, including Microsoft 365, collaboration platforms and everyday AI. 

  • Workforce capability

    Building shared language, practical skills and confidence so people can adapt, learn and work well through ongoing change. 

  • Accessible and inclusive change

    Designing change approaches that are clear, useful and realistic for the people impacted by them. 

  • Change in lean or resource-constrained environments

    Practical approaches for organisations that need to lead meaningful change with limited time, budget or dedicated change resources. 

  • Change capability in schools and education

    Helping education leaders and teams build shared change language, confidence and practical capability in busy school environments. 

Sessions can be tailored for executive leaders, people leaders, project teams, change practitioners or whole-of-organisation audiences. 

    • keynote presentations 

    • conference sessions 

    • practical workshops 

    • panel discussions 

    • webinars 

    • executive briefings 

    • custom in-house sessions 

    • team capability sessions 

  • Sam’s sessions are well suited to: 

    • leadership conferences 

    • change management events 

    • project management events 

    • HR, people and culture audiences 

    • digital workplace and technology adoption events 

    • AI literacy, workforce capability and digital adoption programs 

    • education conferences 

    • for-purpose and community sector events 

    • NDIS and human services audiences 

    • executive briefings and leadership offsites 

    • internal capability-building programs 

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Sam’s speaking style 

Sam is known for making complex topics feel clear, practical and human. 

Her sessions are conversational, thoughtful and grounded in real-world experience. She avoids hype and jargon, instead helping audiences understand what is actually changing, why it matters and what they can do next. 

Sam brings warmth, clarity and practical structure to topics that can otherwise feel overwhelming. Her goal is always to help people leave with more confidence, more clarity and a useful next step. 

Experience and credibility 

Sam brings hands-on experience leading change and adoption across complex technology and workforce transformation programs. 

Her work includes ERP implementations, Microsoft 365 adoption, cyber security uplift, AI literacy, digital workplace change, workforce engagement and organisational capability programs. 

She has worked with organisations across sectors including higher education, corporate, for-purpose and community-focused environments. 

Sam is also an active contributor to the Newcastle business community and regularly contributes to conversations about leadership, change, technology and the evolving world of work. 

Common themes Sam speaks on

  • Change management

    Helping people understand, prepare for and adopt new ways of working.

  • AI adoption and literacy

    Supporting organisations to build confidence, clarity and practical capability in the age of AI.

  • Technology adoption

    Helping teams use new and existing technology in ways that are useful, sustainable and human. 

  • Workforce capability in the age of AI

    Exploring how workplaces can build adaptability, confidence and human capability while technology continues to evolve. 

  • Leadership through change

    Helping leaders communicate clearly, reduce uncertainty and support their teams through complexity.

  • Digital workplace and Microsoft 365

    Supporting better collaboration, communication and confidence with the tools people use every day.