Toni Nadal
Elite Tennis Coach | Former Coach of Rafael Nadal (22 Grand Slams, 74 Tournament Wins) | Director, Rafa Nadal Academy | Bestselling Author, Todo Se Puede Entrenar
Sally Capp
Former Lord Mayor of Melbourne (2018-2024) | First Woman Directly Elected to the Role | Trailblazing Business & Civic Leader | Authority on Leadership, Resilience & Cities
Sally Capp AO led Melbourne through its most testing years as the first woman ever directly elected Lord Mayor, guiding the city through the pandemic and some of the world's longest lockdowns. A trailblazer whose career is a series of firsts across business and government, she speaks with warmth and candor on leadership under pressure, resilience, and women in public life, drawing on real decisions with real stakes.
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Sally Capp biography
Sally Capp led one of the world’s great cities through its most testing years. As the first woman ever directly elected Lord Mayor of Melbourne, she guided the city through terror incidents and, above all, the COVID-19 pandemic and some of the longest lockdowns in the world, keeping a battered city connected, supported, and focused on recovery. Warm, authentic, and relentlessly practical, she has built a career on turning big, bold ambitions into results, and on opening doors that had never before been opened to a woman.
Leadership speaker Sally Capp AO served as the 104th Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 2018 to 2024, leading the city’s response to the pandemic with initiatives including the $300 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund, support for the homeless and small business, and city-shaping projects such as the Greenline along the Yarra and the renewal of the Queen Victoria Market. Her career is a series of firsts: the first woman on the board of the Collingwood Football Club, the first woman Agent-General for Victoria in the UK and Europe, and the first woman directly elected to lead Melbourne.
A Career of Firsts, and Leadership Under Pressure
Before entering public office, Capp built a formidable career across business and civic life. She began as a solicitor, held senior roles at KPMG and ANZ, co-founded a company she listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, and served as CEO of the Committee for Melbourne and Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. Appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2023 for distinguished service, she is today a Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne, working with its Centre for Cities, and serves on the boards of several charitable organizations.
As a speaker, Sally Capp is engaging, candid, and genuinely inspiring, drawing on hard-won experience at the very top of business and government. She speaks on leadership and decision-making in times of crisis, resilience and recovery, women in leadership and public life, and building great, liveable cities. Audiences leave with a first-hand account of what it takes to lead through adversity, and with practical, human lessons on courage, collaboration, and getting big things done.
Sally Capp Speaking Videos
From lockdown to boomtown | Sally Capp | TEDxMelbourne
Sally Capp on bringing Melbourne back // Edited highlights
Sally Capp Keynote Topics
Capp led Melbourne through terror incidents, a global pandemic, and some of the world's longest lockdowns, making high-stakes decisions under intense public scrutiny. She shares candid, first-hand lessons on leading in a crisis: how to communicate with empathy and honesty, hold a long-term vision when everything feels urgent, and keep a community connected and hopeful through its darkest moments. Practical wisdom in resilience for leaders in any field.
When the pandemic emptied Melbourne's streets, Capp led one of the world's most ambitious urban recovery efforts, including the $300 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund. She tells the story of how a city rebuilt its confidence, its economy, and its spirit, and draws from it a transferable playbook on recovery, reinvention, and finding opportunity in disruption, relevant to any organization facing its own moment of profound change.
As the first woman in a series of prominent roles, culminating in becoming the first woman directly elected to lead Melbourne, Capp speaks with authenticity about the realities of women in leadership. She shares her own path, the barriers she encountered and overcame, and why representation matters, inspiring women to step forward into public and corporate life and encouraging organizations to build the cultures that let them thrive.
Drawing on her time leading one of the world's most liveable cities and her ongoing work with the University of Melbourne's Centre for Cities, Capp explores what makes cities thrive, how great public spaces, culture, sustainability, and smart investment come together to create places where people want to live, work, and connect. A forward-looking talk for audiences interested in urban life, place-making, and the future of cities.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Sally Capp
Why Sally Capp?
Booking Sally Capp brings audiences a leader who has genuinely been tested, someone who guided a major world city through the pandemic and its longest lockdowns while holding its community together. She pairs that hard-won crisis-leadership experience with a trailblazing career across business and government full of barrier-breaking firsts, giving her rare authority on resilience, recovery, and women in leadership. Warm, candid, and inspiring, she connects with audiences through real stories and practical lessons rather than theory, and leaves them both moved and equipped. She is ideal for events on leadership, resilience, women in leadership, and the future of cities. To bring Sally Capp to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who is Sally Capp?
Sally Capp AO is a former Australian business and civic leader who served as the 104th Lord Mayor of Melbourne from 2018 to 2024, the first woman ever directly elected to the role. She led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and launched the $300 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund. Her career includes a series of firsts, including being the first woman on the Collingwood Football Club board and the first woman Agent-General for Victoria in Europe. Before politics she was CEO of the Committee for Melbourne and held senior roles at KPMG and ANZ. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2023 and is now a Vice-Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
What did Sally Capp do as Lord Mayor of Melbourne?
As the 104th Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sally Capp led the city from 2018 to 2024 through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Her tenure was dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Melbourne endured some of the longest lockdowns in the world, and her response included the $300 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund, support programs for the homeless, small businesses, and the arts, and a major push to revive the city's economy and vibrancy. She also advanced significant city-shaping projects, including the Greenline riverfront redevelopment, the renewal of the Queen Victoria Market, and the Power Melbourne community battery initiative, and was known for a "people and purpose, not politics" approach.
What topics does Sally Capp speak on?
Sally Capp speaks on leadership and decision-making in times of crisis, resilience and recovery, women in leadership and public life, and building great, liveable cities. Her keynotes suit events on leadership, resilience, diversity and women in leadership, and the future of cities. To book Sally Capp as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Sally Capp as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Sally Capp as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Sally Capp's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Sally Capp or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Sally Capp speaking fee?
Sally Capp speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Sally Capp to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Sally Capp.
How can I contact Sally Capp?
We only work with Sally Capp on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Sally Capp and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Sally Capp speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Sally Capp for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Sally Capp for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Sally Capp is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Sally Capp for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
