Speaking
Speaking
If you’re organizing a conference, retreat, summit, or strategic convening, you want more than a “talk.” You want a moment that clarifies what’s happening, shifts how people think, and gives them language they can actually use afterward.
Jesse Hirsh delivers keynotes and facilitated sessions that translate complexity into shared understanding — with energy, precision, and an insistence on practical literacy.
What audiences leave with
- A framework for making decisions under uncertainty (instead of reacting to headlines)
- Clear language for talking about AI, media systems, and institutional legitimacy without hype
- Better questions — the kind that reshape strategy, policy, and public communication
- A shared map of tensions and trade-offs, so teams stop talking past each other
- A sense of agency: what can be done now, by real people, in real institutions
Formats
Keynote (45–60 min)
High-energy clarity with a tight narrative arc and strong Q&A.
Fireside / interview (30–45 min + Q&A)
Best for executive audiences or public-facing events that need signal over spectacle.
Workshop (90–180 min)
Hands-on literacy: frameworks, exercises, and group sensemaking.
Moderation & facilitation
Panels, roundtables, and stakeholder conversations designed for emergence, not theatre.
Core topic areas
- Future of Authority — legitimacy, governance, and power in networked society
- AI literacy for leaders — what AI can and cannot do; how to govern it responsibly
- Media, disinformation, and democratic resilience — attention systems, narratives, polarization
- Agroecology as systems thinking — food systems as governance; resilience as design
Browse full topic pages: View all topics
Recent and notable engagements
A selection of conferences and organizations where Jesse has delivered keynotes, sessions, or featured talks:
- Exporttag (Vienna)
- Canada’s Innovation Corridor Summit
- ITUofT (conference session)
- Digital Main Street Forum
- Toronto Insurance Conference (Black Tie Dinner)
- CPJ RPC 150th anniversary event
- Agri-Food 2050 (headline talk)
(Full list available on request.)
Endorsements
“Brilliant, ethical, and forward-thinking — I recommend him to any group that values deep insight.”
— CEO, Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada
“Engaging, thought-provoking, and absolutely fantastic.”
— Canadian Health Informatics Association
“Deep understanding of modern society and technology.”
— Hon. Bob Rae
More endorsements: Read endorsements
Booking
To discuss fit, availability, and formats, email: speaking@jessehirsh.com
Include: date, location (or virtual), audience size, desired format, and your theme.