A leading Australian speaker and trainer, Paul is on a mission to re-ignite the creative fire inside companies that they have buried, or lost, or otherwise misplaced. He seeks to open hearts, minds, and spirits with big ideas and a swift kick in the creative pants. Once described by a colleague as equal parts zen and espresso, Paul Fairweather understands that to make ideas happen you need a combination of both the creative and practical, coining the word Pragmativity. Paul is a firm believer in good old Australian and American Ingenuity, the ability to be Clever, Original and Inventive. He is a great collaborator and communicator, and provides a rare wisdom and connection between the creative and practical elements of leading people and a building a successful business. An architect by profession, Paul was co-founder and CEO of award-winning Fairweather Proberts Architects, now Bureau^proberts, an international architectural firm working across the globe. Paul gave up architecture to try other things, including standup comedy, after having the slow moving epiphany that there are not a lot of laughs in architecture. He’s also credited as a chair and product designer, illustrator , property developer, podcaster, inventor, adventurer, entrepreneur. writer, and artist. Paul has been responsible for numerous chair designs, including the iconic Mr. Curly Top. He is a high-profile artist who regularly exhibits around Brisbane and in 2001 was an Archibald Prize finalist, Australia’s most prestigious art prize. Paul is an accomplished public speaker and trainer and combines his natural wit and his visual sensibilities to deliver entertaining and informative keynotes, masterclasses and programs with clarity and humour.