Information for Bookers

“Life can throw stuff at us, stuff we would never have planned for. Events that change everything. Dr Liz’s honesty & determination are an amazing demonstration of how you can turn that pain and grief for what you no longer have into something empowering & inspiring”

Dr Jess Morgan

Biographies

Short (58 words)

Dr Liz O’Riordan is a former consultant breast surgeon with 15 years’ high-pressure experience and a three-time cancer patient who understands leadership, communication, and resilience from both sides of the table. A best-selling author and award-winning advocate, she helps organisations build clarity, confidence, and connection under pressure through transformative keynotes delivered worldwide.

Medium (97 words)

Dr Liz O’Riordan is a former consultant breast surgeon with 15 years’ experience leading teams in life-and-death situations and a three-time cancer patient who has lived the realities of pressure, vulnerability, and communication breakdown. She now speaks to organisations about leadership and perspective, communication and psychological safety, and resilience and reinvention in fast-changing, high-demand workplaces. A best-selling author and Humanitarian of the Year award winner, Liz has spoken for global brands including Apple, Google, YouTube, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche. Her keynotes give audiences practical tools to stay calm, communicate clearly, and perform when the pressure is real.

Long (174 words)

Dr Liz O’Riordan is a former consultant breast surgeon with 15 years’ experience operating in high-stakes environments, and a three-time cancer patient who understands leadership, communication, and resilience from both sides of the system. This rare combination of surgical expertise and lived experience shapes the powerful keynotes she delivers to organisations navigating pressure, uncertainty, and cultural change. Liz speaks on leadership and perspective, communication and psychological safety, and resilience and reinvention, core themes for teams facing rising workloads, rapid change, and the need to stay connected under pressure.

A best-selling author, honorary doctorate recipient, Woman of the Year nominee, and Future Dreams Humanitarian of the Year, Liz brings clarity, candour, and deep compassion to every stage. She has spoken for leading companies including Apple, Google, YouTube, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, helping them strengthen communication, decision-making, and performance in demanding environments.

Through honest storytelling, humour, and practical frameworks drawn from the operating room, Liz equips audiences with behaviours they can use immediately to stay calm, think clearly, and perform with confidence when it matters most.

Stage Introduction Script

Please use this to introduce Liz onto the stage

Liz’s surname is pronounced O – Rear – Dun

Our next speaker for the [insert event name here] brings a perspective unlike any other. She spent 15 years as a consultant breast surgeon, leading teams in some of the most high-pressure environments imaginable. She has also faced cancer three times, giving her a rare understanding of what leadership, communication, and resilience truly look like when everything is on the line.

She knows how people react under pressure, what helps teams hold together when things get tough, and how clarity and calm can change the outcome in even the most challenging moments.

Today, she’s here to share the lessons she learned on both sides of the operating table and how we can use those same principles to [insert business challenge here OR : lead through uncertainty / communicate with confidence / stay resilient through change}.challenge, change, and uncertainty with clarity, control, and connection.

Please join me in welcoming surgeon, speaker, and best-selling author: Dr Liz O’Riordan.

FAQs

How long are Liz’s presentations?

Liz’s keynotes are normally 45 minutes long. She will work with event bookers to decide the perfect format and length for the event.

Does Liz engage with the audience during her talks?

Liz likes to ask the audience questions during her talks. She may ask them to stand up or to move around if they are able to. She also is happy to include a Q&A session.

Does Liz speak in person, virtually or both?

Liz is happy to do either. She needs a tech run-through before any virtual session to check the AV is working, and her virtual sessions are also interactive

Does Liz offer customised presentations?

Every presentation that Liz gives is customised to her audience. No two presentations are alike. She uses the briefing call to get detailed information about what success looks like for the speaker booker, and will tailor her talk to make sure she delivers.