
AUTHOR • SPEAKER • CEO • FOUNDER
Jarrod McGrath has an extraordinary depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise around work, accountability & governance. Jarrod’s work resonates most with boards, CEOs, and senior leaders navigating scale, regulation, and the growing expectation that work must be transparent, traceable, and defensible.
JARROD MCGRATH—
GOVERNING WORK IN AN AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Jarrod McGrath is a globally recognised speaker on how organisations design, govern, and evidence work in an increasingly complex and accountable world.
Drawing on more than two decades of real-world experience across workforce systems, operating models, compliance, and large-scale delivery, Jarrod helps leaders understand why good intent is no longer enough — and what must change when work becomes a governance issue.
His presentations challenge conventional thinking about leadership, HR, payroll, and technology, reframing work as a system that must be designed, governed, and defended — not just managed.
MY CURRENT SPEAKER TOPICS
Jarrod’s keynotes focus on the structural challenges leaders now face as accountability, regulation, and scrutiny reshape how work must be governed.
From Workforce to Work Intelligence: Governing Work in an Age of Accountability
Modern organisations are under growing pressure to demonstrate trust, transparency, and control — not just intent. As workforce operating platforms mature and systems of compliance emerge, leaders are being held accountable for how work is designed, governed, and evidenced. This keynote introduces work intelligence — the ability to clearly see how work, rules, and outcomes connect end-to-end — and explains why traceability is becoming a board-level issue. Designed for senior leaders navigating scale, regulation, and automation, this session reframes work as a system that must be governed, not just managed.
Leading as a Modern CEO in an Age of Accountability
The role of the CEO has fundamentally changed. Today’s leaders are expected to balance performance, people, risk, regulation, and reputation — often in real time. This session explores how modern CEOs must lead in environments where decisions are increasingly visible, traceable, and scrutinised. Jarrod examines the mindset shifts required to lead confidently in complexity, where accountability is shared across systems, not isolated to functions or individuals.
A New Operating Model for a New World
Most organisations still operate on structures designed for a different era — hierarchical, siloed, and disconnected. This session explores why modern workforce platforms, compliance expectations, and digital work require fundamentally different operating models. Jarrod outlines how organisations can redesign structures, decision rights, and flows of work to support speed, trust, and accountability in a networked world.
Systems of Compliance: Fixing Wage Theft Without Breaking Trust
Wage theft is rarely the result of intent — it is almost always a failure of systems. This session reframes compliance as a design challenge, not a policing exercise. Jarrod introduces the emerging concept of systems of compliance, where obligations are embedded into how work is designed and delivered, rather than managed after the fact. Using real-world experience, this talk shows how organisations can reduce risk, rebuild trust, and move beyond reactive compliance models.
Designing Organisations That Can Scale, Govern, and Adapt
As organisations scale, complexity grows faster than capability. This session focuses on how HR, workforce systems, operating models, and governance must work together to support sustainable growth. Jarrod explores how organisations can move from fragmented decision-making to connected design — enabling scale without losing control, culture, or credibility.
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FOR A SPEAKER WHO CHALLENGES HOW WORK IS DESIGNED, GOVERNED, AND DEFENDED?

If you would like to enquire about getting Jarrod McGrath to speak at your event please drop the JM team a line here.
We recently had the pleasure of having Jarrod speak at our business networking event and could not have asked for a better speaker. Jarrod, a consummate professional, connected well with the audience and delivered a presentation that was insightful and authentic. The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with people deeply impressed with his knowledge, experience, and passion for the topic. Working with Jarrod was a pleasure; he helped make our event a resounding success. We would highly recommend Jarrod to anyone looking for a dynamic and impactful speaker.
Dr Penny Sweeting, BN, MN, PhD she/her
Associate Vice Chancellor Sydney Region

"Jarrod has provided practical insights around the importance of aligning purpose and people to drive results amid so much change and uncertainty. This is a must-read for any leader navigating through these complex and challenging times."
Alicia Roach, Founder and Joint CEO, eQ8

"In The Modern CEO, Jarrod brings additional awareness of Indigenous and First Nations learnings, especially around system thinking and the connection of people, family, community, society and planet. These do not have to be competing priorities; they can coexist and provide benefit in the modern corporate world."
Ben Bowen, CEO, Indigenous Literacy Foundation

"I commend Jarrod for providing CEOs a practical, must-read playbook for leading with a people-centric philosophy. At the core of this is the alignment of organisational purpose with people’s purpose."
Tracy Angwin, CEO, Australian Payroll Association

"Jarrod shifts the focus on people from HR to the CEO, and gives leaders a practical guide to drive results. A must-read."
Marc Havercroft, President, Go1

"Jarrod shares valuable insights and practical tools to help business leaders align people with organisational purpose."
Amanda Simms, CEO, Simms & Associates

"The modern CEO has to navigate the hard and soft side of business and people simultaneously, being candid yet showing care. The CEOs and business leaders who build and tap into their people and cultural intelligence will stand out."
Anoushka Gungadin, Experienced CEO, FemTech Executive and Non-Executive Director

"Jarrod has captured evolution and innovation and leadership brilliantly in The Modern CEO. A modern CEO is on an evolution of self-awareness bringing human-centred philosophy with commercial practice into business. Leaders will do well to leverage the insights from The Modern CEO and the four foundations of purpose, people, leadership and operations. Should they do so they will create sustainable success, grow the best talent and make a meaningful contribution to their community. Isn’t that what great leadership is about? Thank you, Jarrod, for bringing The Modern CEO to life, as I have no doubt leaders will be thanking you for many years to come as they learn to futureproof themselves and their organisation."
Monica Watt, CEO, Incredible Buzz, and former Group Chief HR Officer, ELMO Software

"This book is designed to help people on their journey, and I know you will be drawn in by the way Jarrod brings this to life."
Chris Wilesmith, Group CEO and Managing Director, Jaycar Group

"Leadership is only as valuable as the followership it garners. Human to human inspiration and connection is the competitive edge that creates the performance advantage in the market. It is at the heart of the Modern CEO’s toolkit."
Nicky Sparshot, Global Chief of Transformation Unilever, former CEO & EVP, Unilever Australia & New Zealand

"Brimming with honest and actionable insights, this book is a rare and timeless imperative for any person in business. It is an invitation to adopt a human-centred approach as fundamental to leadership. The Modern CEO is a self-benchmarking tool you can use to measure your ability to successfully lead the current and future workforce."
Jason Averbook, Former CEO and Co-Founder, Leapgen Global Leader, Mercer | Leapgen

"As a CEO in today’s constantly evolving world, it’s crucial to have a dynamic, people-focused leadership approach. Navigating the complexities of the digital age can be challenging, but Jarrod’s book provides invaluable insights that will equip CEOs with the tools they need to succeed. Whether you’re a current CEO or aspiring to take on the role in the future, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their leadership skills."
Christine Mikhael, CEO, LJ Hooker Group
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"The world – and the world of work – has changed for us all, and business leaders must evolve their thinking and their leadership styles in order to meet business objectives in an environment where people and talent are the true source of competitive advantage. Through research, his own experiences, and interviews with global experts and thought leaders, Jarrod has created an immensely valuable handbook for CEOs and business leaders that can help them understand the skills and approaches necessary to lead their teams well. The future of work will certainly be volatile and uncertain, but it is also full of opportunity for those who lead their teams and their businesses well."
Jennifer McClure, CEO, Unbridled Talent, and Chief Excitement Officer, DisruptHR LLC

